bsmitch's Blog

As I watch the weather news from the west coast to the east coast, from the north to the south, it can be joyous or it can be depressing. The changes in weather happen in such extremes that it changes our moods right along with it. One minute it's warm and sunny, the next minute it cold and stormy. We all need a smoother. Some thing we can look at and take joy in while we wait for some consistency this spring. I think that is why I plan an inside winter garden. I maintain this garden through winter and most of spring, so I'll have a haven of colorful beauty too hid in when the outdoors turns nasty, like today.

Cheers you up, doesn't it. I'm including all five of the pictures I took a few minutes ago. If they make you smile, I have done my good deed for the day.

Smile now and I wish you all a great day and happy gardening, Bill Mitchell

When you get to be in my age bracket, you tend to forget things. Last fall I planted pots with tulip bulbs to force blooming in the house in the late winter, early spring. I just discovered the third one in the compost pile and brought it in a few days ago and when it hit the warm temperature, it grew like bamboo. It's starting to bloom and is almost two feet tall.

The almond bush is also blooming. It follows on the heels oh the forsythia bush. The braches are covered with small carnation like blooms. 

I had a simple trellis out in the front that the passion flower vines climbed on and it was almost destroyed by the wind damage we experienced last summer. I designed and built a new one this and I drove a pipe to help support it against any wind. It's about eight feet in the air with a flange mounted log cabin bird house. I hope we get some birds to rent it this year.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

This has never happened to us in my life time. This particular Christmas cactus never bloomed for sixty years until I was diagnosed with cancer twelve years ago. It has bloomed every year in December since then. We were not paying any attention to it except to water it and planning on hanging it back out on the porch in May. As I walked by, I noticed a couple of new buds on it. Then on closer inspection, hiding in the back was this beautiful bloom. It must have opened on the first day of spring. I am so pleased and amazed.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

I was waiting for my hyacinths to deliver a excellent show. The daffodils are on the way out, so today was the last chance to get them both. The two pictures are from different angles.

I have some wild flowers that want to say Spring again.

I was in Somerset yesterday for Sandy's physical therapy on her foot. I went to Lowes and fell in love with these two orchids. I guess they are my Spring 2009 present to  Sandy and me.

They each have five or six unopened buds on the stem. So with proper care and love, we should be enjoying these for a month or two.

I hope everyone is enjoying this first day of spring and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

I just want to say welcome to the start of happy spring 2009.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

Can you believe what we woke up to this morning. Two days after my "Spring in the air" statement in my last blog. Kiki and Morris are staring out in disbelief at the sight of two inches of snow.

Mother nature has a way of putting us in our place and saying," It's still winter for seven more days'.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

I am starting some seeds inside and some outside this year. These are marigolds and zinnias.

Thes
e are outside in the cold frame. Zinnias and Hollyhocks.

There are some areas that are showing us that spring is in the air. Eight more days, but we wont tell the early bloomers. The  forsythia is always one of the first.

In the front are the Hyacinths and Daffodils. The hyacinths are just beginning. I hope to see a much better show.

This is the second year for the rock garden. Many of the plants from last year are starting up. It doesn't look like there will be much space for new ones.

I have several spots where I grow bee balm. I love to smell these plants as the sun warms them in the spring.

And there is my neighbors dog Daisy watching over everything as I photograph my garden. She gives me a lot of comfort since the passing of April.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

It is the first warm day after some bitter cold this past week. It is going to be in the upper 60's and low 70's for at least the next ten days. I photographed the first daffodils on the Mitchell Place here in Russell County Kentucky. You can also see tulips starting in the back ground. The bee balm is starting in the kettle.

Here'
s a close up.

Nothing really spectacular, but it is a start. Fifteen more days to Spring 2009.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell