Thursday, April 15, 2010

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day April 2010

Spring has arrived in our garden almost overnight it seems. In this garden, entering it's 5th year under my hand: 2 of which were spent pregnant and by mid-summer there was no bending over for me... There is much to be done to get it in shape before it gets away from me again.

So here we go on this April 15, 2010 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day on a walk through my garden to see what is in bloom.



Native violets are dispersed throughout the garden...



A random Pansy that survived from the fall 2008 plantings...



Hellebores starting to fade in color but seed pods are growing nice and plump...



Phlox growing which needs a massive cutting and possible move or removal...



The name of this vine and early purple bloomer is slipping my mind at the moment. I have a love hate relationship with this plant. In some areas it stays for now, in others it gets ripped out. Depends on my mood when weeding really...



The crab apple tree out front of the house is in bloom...



...and what a pretty place it is to hang a little gord home for the ever returning Carolina Wren!

Into the wooded areas of the garden for some of mother nature's handy work...


The Jack-in-the-pulpits are starting to make their appearance...



The May flowers and spring beauties are carpeting the floor of the woods...



As are these weeds which I am personally trying to pull out as many as I can every year.



To what end I am not sure, but I want to try to stop their spread if I can...



The lovely blood root plants are getting quite large now and are about finished blooming for the spring. I missed them photographically this year...



And some yellow violets at the woods edge...



Chloe is now 2 and is entering her third summer sharing my garden with me. She is becoming quite the little nature girl too... I couldn't be more thrilled with her interests!



Her new brother Riley, just 3.5 months old, will start to spend some more time outdoors too as the weather warms up...

This year I would like to be more consistent with posting on my blog for the monthly Garden Blogger's Bloom Day on the 15th of every month. We'll see how I do!

I will also be contributing to the Beads-of-Clay Blog mid-month with postings on ceramic glaze testings... I really love working in clay. And seeing people enjoy wearing my pendants, which are inspired mostly by nature, really brings things full circle for me



Make sure to stop by later here or to my Marsha Neal Studio Blog to see how this kiln firing turned out and to see if these flower pendants make it into my Etsy shop...

*UPDATE: Here is one of the pendants that came out of this firing 
(Cutout Flower Pendant in Blue Molasses Glaze):


Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are enjoying your garden...

- Post From My iPhone

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring Cleaning, Outdoor Style...

Ok, my first picture is of where the fairies in my garden live:




It feels great to spend a little time outdoors, especially when I get some of those forever lingering "one day I want to..." off if my to do list. Wish I could find a good metal rake that the handle or head stays on for more than a few good pulls...



Saturday was spent cleaning out the garden, then weeding, then dividing and transplanting some perrenials.



It was nice to be able to actually see the soil and what new plants were making a comeback this season... Lots and lots of little new plants!!!




And I have my very first Hellebore baby!!! This 'mother' plant has been here since 2006 and the seeds have finally matured into this little one - SO relieved to see them!




This Hellebore is starting to get it's seeds.




And I have started on fixing the garden steps...




They need a little clean-up and plantings now...

Ok, getting bloodwork done... My turn!
-- Post From My iPhone