Times Past but not Forgotten...

Yesterday I came across a blog of an old acquaintance from years ago. She is a wonderful gardener, but more so a Beautiful Artist. Many years ago in Leesburg, Virginia I was blessed to be able to take a class from her. I was in heaven to just sit there in her prescence. Soaking in everything she taught us!! She was just one of those teachers that could explain things so you would understand just how to do what she wanted you to. Even the books she wrote were written in a way you just knew exactly what to do and do it right!!!

But it brought back so many memories of times past! For those of you that only know me on this Blog as a gardener and not a painter, I painted for years. I began at age 12 when I took my first class at the YWCA. It went on from there... I taught painting classes in my home studio to hundreds of students for 27 years. It seems like a life time ago...
So I picked up my camera and started taking pictures of just some of the things I have around the house that my girls insist I put up every year at Christmas I haven't painted in 4 years, I really need to start again.
I guess life has it's way of just taking you in different directions. I miss my students, but have made some wonderful friends over the years. I am working full time now and love my work. I have learned how to do stained glass and of course I am really gardening like crazy. Working in the summer at a Garden Center and volunteering at West Virginia University Greenhouse in the winter. I love to play in the soil and plant my many seeds.

Well I hope you enjoy the pictures..
Just click on image at top of Christmas Stockings...

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale

You can tell it is the first of the year almost...
The seed catalogues are coming in the mail everyday!!!
Tom swears he is going to hide them, but I am one step ahead of him. My daughter already ordered lots of seeds and gave them to me for Christmas. She swore she wouldn't get me seeds for Christmas since she got me dirt for Mothers Day!!! But she knows what I like!!! Thank Goodness...So with some of the seeds I have collected from last summer I am ready to start planting. I may just have to start a few next week.. JUST BECAUSE.
The grow light has been going since fall with lots of things I propagated to save for this summer.
I just can't wait to set up the portable greenhouses and start some planting. But that is another 8 weeks away at least. The Profusion Zinnias are waiting...

The Butterfly Weed is waiting...

Now I have a new Christmas Present to read, and it is a good one too! I'm going to make my own Hummingbird feeders and maybe even a few Orchard Bee houses.

As I have always said "Spring can't come too soon for me"...

This book came from a collection

of beautiful spring things

at Cracker Barrel...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

PS see the little thing below this that says Coments???

Say hi so I know who has been here.....

Merry Christmas too all.....

The Poinsettia are still alive contrary to all belief that I can't do this.. But I am determined to keep them alive this year...Tis the season... Just a little under an hour til the big day.

Am I ready??? Well as ready as I'm going to be. Most of the food is cooked,Cakes are baked,the annual Onion bread is ready!! Everyone has their own traditions. Ours is dinner here on Christmas day, and it is not dinner without that bread.. When I was 19-20 and first married I found a recipe book and thought I would try my hand at baking bread. We liked it so much we have been making this every year since...

It is Onion Filled Braided Loaf....

This is a new recipe this year... One that anyone can make. Just pick your favorite cake recipe or cake mix. Then make a bunt cake...

Top with butter frosting add a little more milk so it is just a little thinner, this was it will pour right over the sided...

Sprinkle with clear sprinkles to look like show. Make snow flakes out of white chocolate, Just melt and put in a baggie and cut tip off . Make on a piece of waxed paper. Let set and add to cake. They will stick to frosting...

Just a cute way to decorate that plain cake!
The Tables are set and ready to go...

Now it is time for bed, SANTA WILL BE HERE SOON...

Have a Very Merry Christmas...

Lynn

Poinsettias-Poinsettias-Poinsettias...

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

This Is Beautiful...

What a beautiful day at the greenhouse at WVU... It was cold and snowy outside and toasty warm inside...

I remember the day the little Poinsettia plugs came in, they were so small...

Now they are big and beautiful and in full color...

In fact all different colors! Thirty different Varieties...

There is a lot of work that go into those tiny plants that came in last July,before they are ready to sell for the Christmas season. But those who take care of them on a daily basis are wonderful, and also patient...

But while I was there for just 4 hours they made lots of sales to many that were in the Christmas Spirit... Getting ready for parties and the Holidays with family and friends . Some buying for friends and family, just glad they had stopped by to see all the varieties of the beautiful flower.

Here is a little video telling you how to care for your plant and how to get them to flower next year...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChCN2dm2DCQ

They have so many beautiful cultivars of this wonderful Plant!!!
This one was one of my favorites.

If you haven't stopped by to get a few of these beauties now it the time!!! Check out your nearest greenhouse...

While I was there I got a surprise!!! One of the Bonsai Trees were in full bloom. It was the Jade Bonsai. I don't think I have ever seen a Jade plant in bloom. I just wanted to take lots of pictures. I am always amazed at what I will find at the greenhouse each time I go. I had no idea 4 weeks ago this plant would be in full bloom...

WOW!!!

This is why I enjoy going to the greenhouse so much. I get to see all the blooming flowers all year long. For those who know me I am not a WINTER PERSON... Anything but... I hate to be cold and I hate to be inside. So you don't see me outside much in this cold weather. But I make up for that with my many inside winter projects... This winter it will be a one hundred year old couch I am going to refinish and reupholster.. I can't wait til spring is here!!! I'm ready to plant some seeds.

Well it is time to go back and decorate a little more. I will try to post at least once a week for the next few weeks. I do need to do some shopping since I only have a few gifts ready!

Have a Good One,

Lynn