"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Monday, April 16, 2012

Spring flowers.

We have enjoying some nice mild weather here.  The sun has been out and even when the clouds cover it, it still definitely feels like spring is in the air.  How nice to have some windows open and feel some fresh air inside!  The girls are out on spring break this week and we're off to a nice start to it.

 Tulips around the yard are beginning to bloom.

 The fish are swimming around quite a bit.  I got the pond cleaned out after this picture, it usually requires a few minor cleanings in the spring.

 An unusual Frittilaria.

 Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls'

 White Bleeding Hearts

 Old-fashioned Bleeding Hearts, I have lots of these, I just love them!

 A Frittilaria, the one and only.

 And here's an update on the chicks.  At the top left is Tina, she's the largest, below the yellow one is Chirpy, the little one on the roost in Blossom (she must be the slowest growing chick ever, but otherwise she's fine), the other brown chick is Sunny.  The bigger chicks are getting their feathers, testing out their wings and their personalities are really showing.
If you remember we had originally gotten four.  Well, a friend recommended we go check out a feed store that she had gotten her chicks at.  She thought I would really like the stuff they sold there.   A woman there showed us some chicks and my husband asked my girls and I if we wanted a couple more.
 We said yes!  This is Elke and Inge - Barnevelders.  They are a couple of weeks younger and a couple of the older chicks have been chasing them, so we have divided the brooder with chicken wire so they can eat and rest without being bothered.  A couple of times a day I put them all together when I can watch and make sure they are doing okay.  Once these two are a bit bigger we'll let them all stay together.

 Gracie is totally fascinated with the chicks.  She likes to sit on my lap and watch over the side of the brooder while the chicks hop around.  Today I took each of the four big chicks out to meet her.  Gracie followed Tina all over and neither seemed bothered by the other.

 Tina likes to sit on top of the feeders and when the cover is off she pops her head up to check things out.

I've had some time to garden as well as watch the chicks.  I was able to get the potatoes planted, fertilize the roses, lots of weeding and planted some things by the picket fence.
Hoping everyone is seeing some sun, or at least an end to the cold weather soon!
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

30 comments:

  1. Catherine, isn't it fun to be starting a new growing season? I enjoyed my peek into your garden. And lucky you! Chicks! I've wanted to get some, too, but DH is not on board. But our son and his family are building a coop and getting chickens in the next couple of weeks. I'll have all the fun without the work. ;-D ~~Rhonda

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  2. Spring seems to be arriving! I love how the yard changes and each walk through brings new flowers. We have a poor pitiful looking bleeding heart, so I bought a new one to help give it an idea of what it should look like. They both are small, but next year one might get bigger and flower. Enjoy spring break!

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  3. Catherine its such a pleasure to come back and see your garden in Springtime bloom .

    And a delight to see your chicks and how Gracie is enjoying them too

    Great pics.

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  4. The chicks are so cute, especially in the photos with Gracie.

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  5. Your tulips say Spring! Is that a red primrose in the background in photo #3? It's very pretty. Gracie is adorable with the chick....enjoy your week with the girls. I do hope your weather permits ya'll to spend every minute outside.

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  6. I love the photos of pup and chicks getting along! So cute! And look at your beautiful flowers. It truly looks like spring over here Catherine. Beautiful. Not so much in Southwest Saskatchewan. :(

    Happy April Catherine!
    xo Catherine

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  7. You are having such a good time with the chicks! When they get bigger you are going to have a good amount of eggs (crossing my fingers) How young are they when you can tell sex? Bet Gracie will have a ball when they are closer to her size!
    Love your Bleeding Hearts, both white and old fashioned.

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    1. Janet - I'm hoping we get lots of eggs too! They "sex" them when they leave the hatchery. It's a 90% chance they will all be girls. Otherwise I think it's a few months before you can know for sure. Hopefully no roosters, or they'll have to find a new home.

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  8. Great top photo of the tulips. The bleeding heart are lovely plants. And how cute are those chicks!

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  9. The dog and the chicks are so cute together. And beautiful flowers; you're ahead of us Maritimers but we're happily following!

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  10. Looks like spring has sprung in your area and the skies are pretty. I see the sun shining. I love tulips and yours are so pretty. Wish we could grow them here. I bet it's too late for me to get any blooms from my new bleeding hearts. I figure they will need a year to get established but I have never grown Bleeding Hearts. Gracie looks so gentle with the chicks. Buddy and Gracie looks so much alike. How much does Gracie weigh. Buddy is around 25 pounds and is overweight. I walk him a good bit every day now to encourage a healthier weight. The vet is on me about it.

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    1. Gracie is about 13 pounds. She's not a big eater, in fact she could care less about it and some days waits until late to even eat. She does love treats though and that's one word she really knows :)

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  11. Beautiful blooms!! I pop over here periodically to see what you have going on, especially with your pond. Ours is on it's second summer, and the photos of yours gives me a vision to look forward to!! It's coming into itself already this year. I was also tickled to read your chicken story. .as we have a similar one this year too. We brought home 8 a few weeks ago, and they have been fun to watch develop! I'll have to sneak back soon to check your progress!! Thanks for all the beautiful photos of your blooms! I enjoy seeing how gardeners in other parts of the country do their thing!

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    1. How fun that you got chicks too! They sure are a lot of fun.

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  12. I always have to chuckle at the checkered Frittilaria. They are so pretty but checks on flowers always look like an oddity somehow. LOL! The chicks are really growing and two more new ones. Your going to have to make a bigger chicken house just in case you want to add to them. You need one with the feathery topknots and fluffy tails on them. LOL!

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  13. The sunshine has been so welcome! And now....it's gone. drat. I'm enjoying following your chicken adventures. My old fashioned bleeding heart did not make it from last year. Slugs. Can you believe they ate the whole thing? I must have giant slugs. I very much enjoyed the pictures of your bleeding hearts! Cheers, Jenni

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  14. More chicks!!! Too cute. Looks like spring there.

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  15. This is a funny post! Lovely pictures! 8)

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  16. Wow! I knew I had some serious catching up to do with all my favorite blogs lately, but WOW - a lot has happened for you since I last visited! Chicks! I am so excited for you and eager to follow their progress! I have applied for a summer "chicken apprenticeship" here in Brooklyn - part of a cooperatively run coop, and I'm hoping to be offered a spot so that I can learn first hand about raising and caring for hens. In the meantime I'll be paying close attention to yours! Your checkered Fritillaria is stunning - love those. Your bleeding hearts are lovely too - I especially love the white one!

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  17. the chicks are adorable....love the bleeding heart...that unusual Frittilaria is Fritillaria uva-vulpis or Fox’s Grape...I have it and love it...hoping it will grow in...

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  18. Your flowers are so lovely!!! :) Would you ever be interested in selling a few seeds? :)

    I'm always up for growing something new!

    http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/

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  19. It is a treat to visit your blog with so many unusual (for me) flowers, and now the cute chicks!

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  20. The chicks are so sweet. I went to my first chicken show last weekend, & saw many new (to me) breeds. What fun! I must get some bleeding hearts! And, oh yes, fertilize the roses!

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  21. Those chicks are so sweet! Love the photos especially with your dog.
    Glad you had some pretty sunshine, your garden looks amazing!
    We'll be there this weekend to look for a house...looks like we'll be greeted with some of that PNW rain. (we love it)

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  22. Glad you're keeping us posted on your chicks. I looked up Barnevelers, hadn't heard of them, but, pretty hens! I'm sure you'll love them. We just got our 3 little ones yesterday. And the sun is shining in Boise, with a little intermittent rain; the ideal spring.

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  23. What stunning & colourful blooms!! You are so far ahead of me, a pleasure to have a sneak preview. :)

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  24. What lovely photos,I am glad Spring has arrived nothing nicer then a Spring fresh house.

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  25. What a sweet family of chickies you have! I love that Gracie is so docile with them. How quickly they grow. Just like kids.

    Total rain and ick here today but I'm looking forward to the sunny, warm weekend we've been promised. Love your flower and pond photos too.

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  26. I bet your family is having a blast with the chicks. They are so adorable, especially with Gracie. Do you know if a rooster is in the group? I was wondering if they sex them that young.

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  27. The photos of the chicks and the dog and chicks is so cute!!!! How fun! Our Bleeding Heart just started coming back- agreed, I love it too. Your fish pond looks beautiful- jealous it is so clean!!! I have not cleaned ours as it makes it easier for the raccoons to see in.... you can see down about a foot and a half but it is no where near as clear as yours. Yesterday when I was feeding the fish I saw BABIES! I hope they don't get eaten. They are so cute!!! I have three different varieties of gold fish in there so no idea what kind they are at this point but I hope they make it. I saw about 6 yesterday. Way too small to get a shot of (cause I tried).

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