10 Things To Get Ready for Spring Gardening

Hybrid Tea Rosie O'Donnell Fading

January is inventory month. It’s time to reflect and take stock of things. We anxiously wait for the first robin, a sign that spring is here in the north. I know growing up in northern Illinois was brutal. I can tell you stories of snow so high it covered the Continue Reading

My Favorite Things, Raindrops on Roses

Whiskers on Kittens

[listly id=”2ky” theme=”light” layout=”full” numbered=”yes” image=”yes” items=”all”] Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with Continue Reading

The Rose Garden That I Love

Fragrant Cloud, Gaga's Garden

“Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.” Alfred Austin A rose garden shall have my vote. I encourage you to do the same based on these self-evident truths from the beautiful book written by Alfred Austin called The Garden That I Love 1894. Imagine a Continue Reading

Rose Garden Labors That Dazzle

Ingrid Bergman Graced with Rain Drops

Here’s my contribution to the American Labor force on this Labor Day. May it brighten your Day. How do you spend Labor Day? I usually spend Labor Day working in the garden. Did you know that Labor Day, also known as International Workers Day has been around since 1882? Labor Continue Reading

Roses, Rain and Rainbows

Rainbow Sorbet

On Thursday, August 2, 2012 it rained. It has not rained for 45 days in Central Illinois. Central Illinois is known as the heartland. Famous for soybeans and fields of corn “knee high by the 4th of July,” the corn was fully chest high this year before the drought fully Continue Reading