The reason: because it also gives me a place to enjoy flowers, birds and butterflies in those same areas that caused my muscles to ache for days after enlarging flower beds. It's where I can watch my girls play and use their imagination in the same place we carried in load after load of heavy paving stones and wheelbarrows full of soil. A place to think about things while I weed or prune. A place to watch my plants that were once a foot tall when I planted them in that hard, root filled ground, suddenly become giant flowering shrubs that are feet taller than me many years later. These are just some of the reasons I love my garden. I know most gardeners feel the same about there's as well. For all the pain it can give us, the return in pleasure it brings is almost endless.
Even on another rainy day in February it has given me:
Birds coming to be counted. The Pine Siskins made their first appearance of the year during the Bird count this weekend.
Finding that the Daffodils do have flower buds this year. This might not seem like a big deal to some, but I've had terrible luck getting flowers from them. Do other people peer in between the foliage looking for buds or is it just me? ☺
Plants that I transplanted at the worst time of year still growing and actually look better than ever. Clematis 'Nelly Moser' never usually looks very good for me, the reason I moved it was to give it a chance in a new spot, looks like it likes it's new home.
The pond garden makes me happy all year, but right now with the iris reticulatas and Tete-a-tetes daffodils blooming I love it even more.
Surprise blooms. Last year on Valentine's Day the Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) were just barely poking through the ground, this year it's almost in bloom.Happy Valentine's Day! ♥♥
I was taught that if Daffodils don't flower it could be they aren't planted deep enough. Also some bulds such as Hyacinth won't flower again if forced for indoor use the previous year. These bulbs are best thrown away after use as they aren't reliable. Jake.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see a bud on your daffodil. Everything is looking rather Spring-like. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Valentine's Day Catherine!
ReplyDeleteAnd I understand why! I love my garden to and I hope it'll be as beautiful as yours in a few years. Happy Valentines day / gittan
ReplyDeleteour Daffs are a little ahead of mine, I just have fat buds. I also echo your sentiments "why I love my garden"
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines
I meant YOUR daffs......
ReplyDeleteI should slow down and proof read before publishing, I am always in such a hurry. *grin*
Dear Catherine, I am so very glad that, despite the inevitable trials and tribulations associated with gardening, you gain such pleasure from yours.
ReplyDeleteFrom now onwards is certainly one of the most exciting times in the garden.
Hi Catherine~~ I'm wondering if anyone else is having ZERO luck logging on to Blotanical. I came here to check. Maybe it's my computer being weird.
ReplyDeleteI love your garden too! Your daffs look happy and I bet you're being wooed by your Daphne. I'm always amazed at how quickly the clematis take off. Yours looks mighty healthy.
I love that spring is coming early and its mild temperatures are coaxing our little treasures back from their winter slumber. If I'm not mistaken last year and the year before were merciless, cold, lingering winters which makes this year extra nice.
You're not the only one who stops to examine the buds. Glad to hear you're getting some buds forming! It's also nice to see flowers of any kind right now, nothing happening here!
ReplyDeleteYou hit it right on in the pain department - at least for me. But seeing my flowers do their thing sure eases it and makes it more bearable.
ReplyDeleteWoW! Your daffodils are almost open. Wonderful and the bleeding heart I just can't believe. I can't wait for my new one to start and it's suppose to bloom all summer. How exciting.
It's fun to see your place now, I recognize right where you're taking the picture from and know where everything is. LOL
Can't wait to come back in the midst of everything blooming!!!
How exciting to see your bleeding heart blossoming already, Catherine! I do love those, and hope mine will make it through this winter, since I just planted them for the first time last summer. I love any buds or blossoms, so yes, if snow wasn't covering things, I would be searching for daffodils and any signs of budding...it will be a welcome sight to see. I love your pond, too. I would have put another one in last summer when we re-did the yard, but we have SO many trees around that I would be constantly cleaning it out and I just didn't want to do that again. But I look forward to yours, and when the flowers are all blooming, it really looks wonderful. Happy Valentine's Day! Jan
ReplyDeleteI heart your garden too :-)
ReplyDeleteOur daffodils have plump little heads not yet opened, but hard to believe is one of our older rosemary plants in near full bloom.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean on what we will go through to have a garden: a back surgery 8 years ago proved that I should not attempt to move large rocks and wheel barrows filled to the brim. ;)
Happy Valentine's Day Catherine.
Hi Catherine ~ How wonderful that your daffs are showing some buds and your clematis looks happy in its new location. Another month or so and your gardens will be blooming like crazy. I look for buds too on plants, and talk to them too! Gardens are a lot of work, but the joy they bring us is well worth it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day ~ FlowerLady
It's looking pretty exciting over there, Catherine! (Yes, I peek within the leaves of daffodils, etc.) Happy Valentine's Day :-)
ReplyDeleteIt constantly amazes me that you are north of us, but in a higher garden zone. Can't believe how much farther along your spring is! We are still buried in snow, with more coming.
ReplyDeleteJake - That's what I was worried about, this last fall I was really careful to make sure they were the correct depth. Guess I finally succeeded.
ReplyDeleteGrace - I haven't been able to get on Blotanical either. Maybe they are doing some updating?
Yes, the Daphne is just starting to bloom. Last winter it got snowed on so many times it barely opened any flowers at all.
Happy Valentines Day to you too Catherine!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day to all you bloggers! I am a bit envious that you can grow bleeding hearts. Two flowers from my childhood I love are bleeding hearts and lily of the valley, and I am so far not able to grow them for a year and have them bloom.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, my blueberries look great and my cantuas do too.
I have the same feelings as you for my garden. Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean...in the spring, I can hardly walk (or sleep because of the pain!) for several days and nights until the garden is all cleaned and set up for the coming plants.....
ReplyDeletehere that will be in April or May.
Great post, Catherine. It's great to have someone put in words how I feel about my little plot on this earth. Happy to see things are sprouting for you. I know in my head there is work being done under all this snow...I guess a little faith is required in this case. Thanks for your encouragement on my site! Kelly
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you too! This post was a lovely love-letter to your garden. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, Catherine, you're way ahead of us here in Ohio! It will be April before we see Bleeding Hearts blooming. But seeing yours gives me hope!
ReplyDeleteWe had pine siskins at our feeders today, too! I'm doing The Great Backyard Bird Count for the first time this year. If you are going to do a follow-up post to your count, let me know over on my blog. When I do mine, I'll post a link to your post!
Happy Valentine's Day!
I am also having trouble blooming the narcissus in pots but the ones in soil bed are blooming freely. I am sure you will enjoy its blooms. You have shared very pretty garden of yours, the blooms and the pond is looking very cute. Happy V's Day to you too belated though.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to see plants budding up.
It was another frosty start this morning here. It feels like the coming spring is weeks behind last year
Looking good Catherine!
ReplyDeleteWe just received our veg seeds in the mail. Time to get some going. I'm starting to get excited about spring. We have a few tulips peeking up.
perfect - posting about loving your garden is the best way to celebrate v-day! no dopey hallmark cards for the garden; that would utterly offend...
ReplyDeleteI love seeing things coming up in your beds and pond. Even Dicentra coming up. Nelly does look as if she is liking her new spot.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe we are getting another snow storm today girl? I can't LOL!
omg, bleeding heart too! I'm feeling sick. I need a trip to somewhere warm!!! I love your garden too Catherine. It's fabulous and with blooms all 12 months of the year, it really can't be beat!
ReplyDeleteI luv how you luv your garden. Seeing the bleeding heart in your garden makes me VERY eager for spring.
ReplyDeleteRead in USA Today last week that your January was the warmest ever recorded. You must be among the few experiencing a mild winter.
donna
Catherine, I know some gardeners claim to like the work of gardening; but, like you, I find it hard painful work. (I keep my heating pad plugged in and ready throughout the gardening season.) But I love all the pleasure my garden brings me after I've done the work. And today, I love all the pleasure your garden has brought me! -Jean
ReplyDelete