Joys of Spring!

I adore springtime. When I return home each day, I like to walk around the yard to see the latest buds and blooms. My Katy Road Pink rose is covered in blooms!

My new Rio Grande peach tree has its first leaf.

The Bridal Wreath spirea looks like it is covered in snow. This was one of the very first plants I planted in our yard!

It almost takes my breath away.

I have only had my Chinese Fringe flower for several years. It looks fantastic when backlit by the setting sun! The leaves will become a maroon color as they age.

This amaryllis bud holds the promise of something beautiful!

I just bought this Angel's Trumpet at the plant sale. Not only is it gorgeous, but it has a wonderful scent!

This geranium is happy to see warm spring sunshine too!

Thank you to all who left sympathetic comments for my poor Oprah. I let Ethel and Aretha out of the pen while I watered and pulled weeds this afternoon. They love to scratch around. I am looking for a few more chicks. I would like a couple of "Easter Egger" chicks. They lay blue/green eggs.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Sad News!

Poor Oprah. She was snatched from the chicken coop during the night. I went out on Monday morning to find her remains in my garden. The chicken coop was left open during the night by mistake. Someone was told to do it, but got distracted and forgot.

This is one of several prints I found nearby. I think it is a raccoon. Does anyone else recognize the print? Since I only have Aretha and Ethel left, I will may get a few more chicks.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Competition and Clowning!

The District Track meet for our middle schoolers was last Friday. I missed my son's Triple Jump. (He placed 4th and his close friend placed 3rd.) The photo is one of his jumps on the Long Jump. He ended up "scratching" all three of his jumps because his "mark" got moved. His distances wouldn't have placed anyway. It is not his best event.

What could he be contemplating?

Oh, Hi Brian! He ran the second leg of the 400m relay. His team placed 1st.

I wonder what they are discussing. Perhaps hurdle running tips. Dustin has school records for the 300m hurdles and the 110m hurdles. Brian placed 2nd in the 300 hurdles. He was still 3 seconds away from Dustin's record.

Brian also ran the 2nd leg of the 1600m relay. They placed first. It was pretty warm when the meet started. By the end it was cold! The sun went down and a cool front came through.

It is a proven fact that clowning around helps keep you warm!

They must be really warm!

The runners look a bit tired! Brian's close friend, Garrett, broke Dustin's 110m hurdle record that night.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

This Can't be Tuna Salad!

I first tasted this tuna salad at a monthly Bunco gathering. It turned out that I already owned the cookbook where the recipe was found. The cookbook is Ropin' the Flavors of Texas by the Junior League of Victoria.

The recipe calls for dried green bell pepper. I have a little left in my jar, but not enough. I have a hard time finding it in our grocery stores. So I just used fresh bell pepper very finely chopped.

The most time-consuming part of the recipe is cooking the rice!

The recipe calls for mayo and sour cream!

It is also best prepared the night before!

This Can't be Tuna Salad

1 (6-ounce) package long grain and wild rice

2 (6-ounce) cans spring water tuna, drained

1 cup salted cashews, coarsely chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons dried green bell pepper

1 tablespoon dried chopped onion

1 tablespoon Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Salt or seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Prepare rice according to package directions; cool.

Combine rice, tuna, cashews, mayonnaise, sour cream, bell pepper, onion, salt and pepper flakes. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Serve on a bed of mixed lettuce, croissants, hollowed out sourdough rolls, or in an avocado half.

This recipe is best prepared at least one day in advance so the nuts can soften and all of the flavors can blend. It also freezes well.

Ya'll Come Back,

Lorilee

Sweet and Startling Surprises!

I like the different textures and shades of green in these plants!

The Texas Wisteria is covered in tiny buds! This is a sign of a sweet surprise to come!

YIKES! Well, not exactly my words when I opened my compost bin and found this snake skin! I hope I never meet the owner!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Happy Rain!

Ahh, a happy rain gauge leads to happy plants!! Of course this all makes for a happy gardener.

These Evening Primroses found their way into my yard.

My Bridal Wreath Spirea is just beginning to bloom. I am looking forward to full bloom.

The Satsuma Mandarin is also just beginning to bloom. It smells wonderful too!!

No daylilies blooming yet, but the raindrops adorn the leaves nicely.

Even the classy striped Cannas look nice with the extra bling!

Eventhough it is not complete, I guess I can share my latest project. I am working on a dry creek along the fence on the South West side of the house. Water is standing after the rain, so I guess I need to do more digging on the other side of the fence to help it drain. Woohoo, more digging! Happy rain, happy plants and a happy gardener!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Hysterical Hens to Happy Hens!

I tilled my garden on Sunday to get it ready for planting. The noise of the tiller made my hens hysterical! I had to catch each one and put them in the coop!

When I finished tilling, I let them out while I pulled out the grass. They were in hen heaven scratching alongside me!

"That's my bug, I saw it first!"

Enjoy, girls. After the garden is planted, it will be off-limits for quite awhile!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

New plants

I thought I would share the plants that I purchased at the VCMGA plant sale last Saturday. The first plant is Datura inoxia, The second plant is Coleus (Solenostemon scutellaroides), and the third is Perilla Magella

This is Scented Geranium-nutmeg, and Creeping Jenny (Lisamachia).

I purchased these plants for my veggie garden-Sweet Basil, Emerald Giant Bell Pepper, Rosa Bianca Eggplant, Celebrity tomatoe and a Brandywine tomato.

Last of all is Vick's Plant (Plectranthus tomentosa). It smells like Vick's! I paid $26 for the plants.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Purple Martins and plants

The VEG has Purple Martins in their houses! Why haven't I seen any on mine?

I couldn't resist sharing a few more photos of flowers. I believe this is some sort of poppy.

The fog was very heavy that morning. It didn't clear off until mid morning.

Even the seed pods are pretty!

This plant is called Bat-faced Cuphea. The blooms are rather small. I would like to add this plant to my garden. Of course, I bought some plants too, and I will share.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Plant Fever!

Each Fall and Spring, our Victoria County Master Gardener's Association has a plant sale. They have good plants at good prices, and they sell out of the unusual stuff fast! If you want something in particular,you need to be in line before the doors open. After purchasing my plants, I usually walk through the VEG or Victoria Educational Gardens. The above flower is a Chinese Lantern (Abutilon x hybridum) a perennial that originates in South America.

The waterfall and pond is gorgeous. They have huge koi in it too!

The entrance into the second phase of the garden leads one through a pergola covered in white climbing roses. I loved the petals on the pavers.!

The Indian Blankets were so pretty with the dew still on them. They are a native wildflower in Texas. Since it is still early spring, many things are not yet blooming. I'll have to make a trip to the gardens in May! The VCMGA is also sponsoring a tour of several private gardens in May. I can't wait!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee