Joyous Easter wishes to all.........

Ruth, I have not killed my Cannibas plants....yet!! The four that I planted have four leaves now...still very small. Lots of TLC from Annie.....don't want to kill the babies.

Enjoy your weekend.....be safe...be happy....and don't forget to smile!!

Annie

Easter blessings to you too Annie As well as the rest of my gardening friends.

I know all about TLC for your seedlings. I have two flats of seedlings and I tell my husband “I have to go check on my babies”.

Ruth, my dil buys a concoction from a neighbor that has the elderberry juice. I use losenges when we start feeling sick. I never thought of growing it.

Storms brought cool weather again but I was able to do a bit of weeding. After going through two pair of cheap gloves this week, I bought myself a good pair. Really like them.

Neighbor bought my hubby rib eye steaks for his birthday so we will grill those for Easter.

I’m getting over this pandemic stuff. still so hard to believe what has happened. I pray every night for those who have been touched by this awful virus. A guy I used to babysit for when I was a teenager beat cancer twice only to die of the virus last week. It sucks.

enjoy your Easter everyone. Margo

Happy Easter! A bad storm is supposed to show up later today and into tomorrow so I went out and took a few flowers pictures while they are still pretty.

Happy Easter!

Jeanne, those flowers are gorgeous!

Happy Easter - Rained all day today so glad the Family/Grandkids celebrated yesterday.

Jeanne hope you are OK. These high winds are terrible and awful tornadoes last night..

The storm was frightening - sure kept me awake for a long time, but once it was daylight and I could see outside, everything looks pretty good and we have power which a lot of people don't have this morning. So sorry for all who have suffered damage.

My kids in Summerville SC sent a video of a storm that blew through triggering the tornado sirens. Twister spotted 5 miles away but no touchdown. There was one that hit in Hampton. This storm has wreaked havoc to people who are already dealing with the virus. Shirley and Jeanne, glad you made it through fine. High winds are supposed to hit here. So glad we had our weak trees cut down.

Love your pictures Jeanne and Shirley.

Most of you know I grew up in North Georgia. The storms hit really hard there last night. I stayed up until 1:00 following posts on facebook. The death toll is up to 7 now with 23 injured. My nephew and wife lives less than an 1/8 of a mile from where one of the tornados touched down and most of the deaths were. I believe all my friends and family members there are safe.

Prayers are needed for all the storm victims from yesterday's devastating tornadoes across the South.

I just read that as of this morning (Tuesday) there's 8 dead and 49 injured.

the storms are coming in. I would hate to be with out the news. But then again??? the whole situation is seeing how you deal with waiting. I got to walk the garden last night. everyone gardens seems ahead of us in Dayton. my front is still a perfect picture. still mid 30s at night.

I know as Gardeners you see the lilies and lobilias and thrift getting ready for next month.

Hi It’s been a couple of years since I have been in the OBF, I traded for the first time again this year in the New Years trade. Wanted to reconnect. I have also started a Free Online Facebook group Sunday Sowers and I am having my first online swap this Sunday anyone interested please join us, info on the website or Facebook page. Have been doing pretty well, have had several health issues but doing well now. My mom currently lives with me and we just started Hospice care. I am a travel RN as well, but since moms condition has been declining I have chosen to care for mom. It has been hard to not sign up to help as I still have my NY license and am licensed in NC but I know for now my place is here with mom. My plants and garden provide me a peaceful place to respite. I look forward to seeing all your pics and updates. Here are a few things blooming for me now. My bunny tails, peas, and tomatoes. Happy planting! Kim

Margo, I received your letter Monday afternoon and sorry I am just now responding. It was a beautiful letter and I enjoyed learning more about you and your family, home and gardens. I will be posting more about me in a message to you soon.

Hope everyone is ok from all the storms we have been having. We had really high winds here too but luckily no tornadoes, a lot of clean up with fallen branches and some trees around the neighborhood.

I have been working from home for a month now and some of my coworkers have just started getting sick. I am worried about them with fevers and cough, even the younger people get hit hard. I am hopeful it is not COVID-19.

We just learned an elderly neighbor down the street passed away a couple of days ago and he hardly ever went anywhere. We are getting more and more reports of people we know from the Cleveland, OH area also becoming ill and some have also passed. I am praying for our country and for our world. Please everyone stay safe and stay home if you can.

Kim, welcome back and my thoughts and prayers are with your mom, you and your family. It isn’t easy to deal with that. Glad you have your gardens to escape to.

Susan, I hope your coworkers do ok with the virus. I think it is starting to touch more and more people personally now. A man I babysat for years and years ago fought cancer a couple times and then passed from the virus. I am no longer friends with the family but it hurts my heart. A man from where we moved from three years ago passed last Saturday then his wife passed Monday. its so hard to believe this is happening in our country.

I hope everyone can check in and let us know they are ok.

I have no words for the unreal world that has been created by this virus. yes I am hiding at home. Because it is out there waiting. I will wait till smarter people then me to figure out how to get ahead of it. I still feel blessed for a safe home. I hope everyone is blessed with the same.

Love seeing the gardens waking up. Raining and cold. went to the docters for meds today and stopped in Lowes. Everything $1. I picked up a handful of succlents to dress up the house. also got some callas. I never get them to bloom when I buy corns.

takes to long. Will I get a rebloom? #hoping

Susan, good deal. I don’t do indoor plants or I’d check at my husbands store.

we did stop at a new greenhouse that opened near us. I was thrilled to find 2 new coral bells and a couple other things. Their plants look great so I’m going back for my annual flats next week. That will be the only other shipping I do this year. We hesitate to do too much for fear of the virus.

im going to attempt to post a picture of one of the tulips that my friend brought back for me from Italy last fall. They are so pretty.

In the back of my mind the cactus/succlents for fairy garden for summer. That might be my theme for my swap. I saw this as a cute way to use those cute teacups.

I am buying local for a few new plants this year. But I have over 100 petunias ready to go out.

Happy Birthday Ruth!!!

Good morning friends!

Love your beautiful pictures on this thread. Being home, furloughed, has me stir crazy but our home is looking better than ever. Except our yard, it is tore up, putting in a new drain field. Horrible!

I have had trouble typing in the houzz forum. Autocorrecting, adding things I didnt type, not letting me add words or correct. Has anyone else had these problems? How did you fix it? I dont have these problems anywhere else on the web.

Y'all stay healthy and safe!

Checking in.....hoping everyone is well....staying busy.....not getting bored....doing "new" things of interest......experimenting with food in the kitchen....watching good movies/TV.....cleaning out closets, cabinets, the attic, drawers, the garage, the garden shed, taking on projects that were on your bucket list etc...etc...etc.....I know one person who actually painted all the walls in her garage bright red. She said she just needed something different to do and it made her feel so happy. Kind of cool......

I have to say, I absoloutly love some of the songs, that everyday folks at home have created, changing the words COVID style, to songs like Kokomo, Bohemian Rhapsody, My Favorite Things etc......they are not making light of COVID but putting some humor to make us smile and laugh.

There are truly some very creative people in this world. If you have not seen some of them, check out YOUTUBE!

Pot update....out of my four plants, I did lose one. My sticky fingers pulled one baby out of the soil accidently. I could not save it. But I have another three seeds doing there germination thing in wet paper towels. So very interesting....not surprised.....with Covid and people staying at home, pot use is way up, as is alcohol use. Increased pot use might be just in CA because it is legal....not sure. They even deliver the stuff in person here in CA.....you can order online and it will be delivered to your home within 1 hr. How the times have changed over the years.

Susan, I have never found any plant, houseplant or not, for a $1 at Lowes. Good haul!!

Enjoy your Sunday.....be happy...smile! And be safe!!

Annie

Susan lucky you getting plants at Lowe's for $1 especially the callas. Glad you are working from home. I know a lot of people are doing that now.

Kim-So glad to see your post, welcome back. I love the bunny tails, are they bulbs? You are a special daughter taking care of your Mom.

Annie - Yes I have heard cute songs and sayings about the COVID. They for sure make us smile.

I have started selling plants this year and it's nice getting customers to visit and see. No better place than outside to keep a distance and be safe.

Love seeing the irises. looking forward to summer starting. the rose bushes are budding . most of all the tomatoes and others went back outside today. A couple of low nights making me take them in the house.

Do any of you have an outdoor greenhouse? We are toying with the idea of getting one and wonder about the plus and minuses.

I'm loving everyone's pictures and hearing how your all doing.

Kim and Promise, good to hear from you. Promise, hope those terrible tornados didn't get too close to you. I know they hit Chattanooga and Cleveland and know that's pretty close to you and very close to Faye.

I cleaned out my seed box in February and sent over half my stash to my niece in Tennessee. So of course now I've ordered a bunch more.

I'm trying to get a few planted at a time but not much luck with germination yet. I'm hoping for a lot of cutting flowers this year, especially zinnias. This week I ordered a few seeds from a couple of companies I had never heard of. Anybody grow Early Riser beans? Sounds like one that can handle our heat but maybe too late for spring sowing.

Memorial Day is hugh

Black Magic, looks much darker and like velvet in person

but my lavender and pink one seems to have disappeared

Gonna have to get my camera out. Pictures taken with my phone look much better except when I post them here

Anybody have a few extra seeds of Queen Anne's Lace 'Dara' ? Only need a few to get a start as it's probably going to be invasive.

I was going to order from Baker Creek but they were sold out. So my next plan was to buy Botanical Interest seeds. Several nurseries here sell them. Wrong, they're sold out too. I could order from Select Seeds or Johnny's but don't want to pay their high postage for one pack of seeds.

I've never ordered groceries on line but I haven't gone anywhere in over 3 weeks now. Hubby and daughter are still working so they pick up what we need. I've been out of several things I get at Central Market but they haven't had any available slots open for pick up. Today it showed they had openings. I spent hours looking thru over 300 pages and finally was ready for check out. They had one slot open for next Monday between 7 and 8 pm. I did not want to pick up that late. Besides that The Voice is on then. I'll check tomorrow and see if my items are still there and if they have an opening.

Happy Earth day.

Ruth, that’s crazy. The news keeps promoting no grocery store shopping, only delivery or curb side. The wait is too much now, can you imagine if that was all there was? hubby and I are going to Aldi at senior time. They have it on tuesday and Thursday at 8am. We will see how busy it is. I now have a box of gloves, useable masks, sanitizer, and wipes in the back seat. I also have a small plastic bag lined garbage can always on the ready in the car for our discarded wipes and gloves. apparently there’s a lot of ignorant people just dropping them in the parking lots expecting the workers to pick them up. Like they aren’t already taking a chance for us.

waiting for the temps to climb up a bit and I’ll be going outside for the day. Woo hoo. Thank God I love to garden cause otherwise I’d go stir crazy.

Happy Earth Day

Update on my order. Checked this morning and they have a slot open for today 6:30-7:00 pm. Yea. I'm guessing someone cancelled because of today's weather. Forecast (Pay attention today North Texas! Golf ball size hail or larger possible, winds in excess of 60 mph and a few tornadoes are possible. Timeframe is between 9 am and 3 pm for #DFW #wfaaweather). Just dark and light rain sprinkles right now so no gardening today.

We were under a tornado watch until 9 pm but never got anything except hot and sunny all afternoon.

I loved the curb pick up thing. My slot was 6:30-700 pm. We got there at 6:29 and was loaded and ready to go at 6:34. I said no to substituting on about half of my things but they did substitute one pasta and my chicken, and another pasta and arrabiata sauce was out of stock. Other than that they had everything on my order.

Tomorrow I should get more seeds planted.

One more picture, 'Felicia' hybrid musk rose

Ruth, beautiful gardens. Glad the pick up thing worked out. Hubby and I went shopping this morning during senior hour at aldi. We were in need of fresh veggies and fruits. They always have a full selection at good prices. Fruit salad with dinner tonight.

hubby needed a piece of wood he preordered at Home Depot. The amount of people there was crazy. I stayed in the car.

pouring rain today so no outside work done. We did stop at a new Amish owned greenhouse and I bought a flat of flowers. A needed two but the didn’t have a big variety. I did get thre beautiful big fancy coleus.

Ruth, no Queen Ann Lace seeds here.......love Larkspur but notice it has not reseeded well here this year.

Re: ordering groceries online.....I tried a few weeks ago with two different chains out here. The local store says they deliver and then when you checkout, they say sorry no delivery. I did not really need anything but was curious how it worked. Many people out here have said that it is not worth it....a wait of one week or they cancel the order a week after you placed the order and on the day it is to be delivered or half the items you ordered were not delivered but you were charged.

I am hosting the lusty month of May.....don't know what I am doing yet but there will be no mailing to swap partners.

Happy weekend to all!! Be safe!!

Annie

hello Girls I love looking at everyones garden waking up. I have joined a group that Adopts a senior 2020. I wish I could make it special for all of them. One lady has mailed out 300 postcards. I am choosing 4 to send a card and gift card to. the grocery store is depressing. all the changes and I am on guard to stay out of everyones way. we have been eating less then ever. Just not craving anything. I make a list so not to have left overs. Can not wait for fresh tomatoes and green beans!!!!

Ruth beautiful pictures, I have never grown larkspur but sounds interesting. I cleaned out my seeds too. I don't have the patience to wait on tomato seeds & cucumber seeds to grow so I buy plants to get results quickly I guess.

We always have our Garden Club Plant Sale in May so I was trying to figure out what to do with all the irises blooming in the downtown gardens since I'm sure the sale will be canceled. I put pictures on FB and set up times for people to come and buy them yesterday. We made $454.00 just selling bearded irises so I was pleased.

Susan they are doing the same here with the adopting a senior 2020. Thankful someone comes up with these ideas. A group also got together and bought all the nursing home residents tablets since family can not visit with them.

I have not been in a store in 7 weeks. With the heart problems I figured I should not take any chances. Our daughter does all the shopping for us. I am taking PT but they only allow 2-3 people coming in at the same time. A worker comes behind you and sprays everything that is touched.

Nice to read updates from those who posted. It sounds like everyone is staying well which is the important thing. Another storm ahead for Wednesday night. It's just one after another and I'm still in the early phases of getting the downed tree taken care of and estimates on my roof repair. When the wind kicks up, I am ready to hide!

Some local people I know have been using the grocery shopping services. I have simply continued to go to the grocery store myself. There are few shoppers there and almost everyone wears a mask and it seems like I can get in and out of the store quickly. I am one of those people who really likes to see the product in person, but I understand if health concerns keep you away. I would not go into a crowded store. I doubt I see more than 5 people the whole time I'm in the store and that includes the cashier. Once I get home I wipe everything down with a bleach and water solution. I let my mail sit in the garage for a day before I bring it into the house. So many things to deal with. It certainly is a new world.

Well, now that I've talked about food, I guess it's time to decide on something for dinner. The pets have already had theirs. They know exactly when it's time for their meals. Never saw animals who are this accurate.

Stay well. Stay safe.

Thank you for hosting Ruth It was nice hearing from everyone and seeing everyone's lovely flowers.

Thanks for making the month fun, Ruth. It's kind of a "new world" to host the month here at Houzz, too.

Today I went to a local nursery to pick up some potting soil, curbside. First time I've driven my car in over a month. I noticed an unusual noise on the way home but no warning lights on. Just before home a low tire light came on. Tire was completely flat when I got home and hubby said it had a pencil size hole. I think it was a sign that I shouldn't have gone out. A lot of things are opening back up in Texas tomorrow, but I think I'm just going to continue to hang out at home.

I got a lot of garden work done this week. We've had beautiful weather most of the week other than storms and hail a couple of times.

Central Market has been out of arrabiata sauce so tonight I made my own for dinner. Turned out pretty good. I may quit buying the jar stuff. My daughter has been on a bread baking kick, so she's keeping us supplied with her experiments. Doesn't help me eat gluten free when she keeps sending breads and cake.

Thanks everyone for checking in and stay safe.

Ruth, glad you made it home before the tire went completely flat.

Hubby and I went on a drive today because it was cold and rainy and we just wanted to get out. A greenhouse i follow but have never been to was advertising they had there geraniums for 99 cents to we decided to check them out. Oh did I have fun. They had small sized perennials for 1.69. I say small but they are fair sized. I bought a variety of 14 and then 4 pink pampass grass. I was so excited. They look so healthy and strong. I picked up 6 geraniums as well as a few other things. I can't wait to get them all planted.

Thank you Ruth for keeping the group together this month. Margo

Ruth,

Thanks for a super month of April........loved your ROLL CALL!!

I am hosting OBF for May....I will get something up by Sunday....just a little fun LOL!

Happy May....be safe!!

Annie

Hi ladies. I havent checked in in a long time. It feels like forever. I miss the swaps. And the chat, games etc. I just havent had anything to trade since I lost my garden after two moves about 4 years ago. I have a couple dollar tree bulbs going, cant find much of anything. I sure wish I could find all my seeds from before I moved. They are still in storage and no where to be seen. Im sure most of them are not any good anymore. My mom got a rat problem and Im sure they got to the seeds in her garage (my storage..)my ex took them out of the 5 gallon bucket they were in and put them into a box(didnt know) I did start a couple of peas, and cucumbers but I have nowhere to plant them (the darn squirrel keeps coming and eating the tops off of everything - I had a freesia with a bud on it this morning and went out later on and it was chewed off. I cant win. My daughters husband said he would build me a small greenhouse but still waiting on it to happen. ) Its too hot here to just out plants in the yard. (high desert) I miss my garden like crazy!

hi Nikki Yes it would be hard to to not have any type of garden. maybe time to start a begonia or cactus collection. I have gotten some small ctcus on sale. and love looking at them in their colorful pots.

Nikki, good to hear from you. I think Susan is right on the cactus idea. Also container gardening is probably your best bet.

Hi Ruth, Susan. My garden has always been containers. But I dont have any protection from the squirrels or sun. Im not too fond of cactus. Being in the desert they are everywhere. I will admit their flowers are beautiful. I see ones that bloom bright pink everywhere. Also see white blooms but not as much. I do love seeing the pink ones. They are very bright. close to a fuschia. I used to have about 300 containers full of stuff. Im down to about 30 and half of them didnt do anything. Ive been trying to get my hands on a couple of wood pallets to make a couple flower boxes for out front, will have to get more chicken wire and cover them.

Hi Nikki what a nice surprise to see your post. Always good to see members join in after a long period.

Ruth loved your April theme and so good to see everyone joining in.

Annie-Looking forward to your May theme. I know it will be a good one.

I sold plants at the local Farmers Market this morning and really enjoyed it. I'm a people person and love to meet and talk to those who are shopping at the market. Years ago I sold at the market every Saturday but then started selling at the house so stopped going.

It was definitely a beautiful day today and another one coming up tomorrow.. Happy gardening everyone.

Hi Shirley,.

Shirley, do you dig a bunch of plants and sell them bare root or do you repot before taking to the market? Seems like a lot of work either way.

It was a beautiful day here too but I didn't do anything in my yard. Went to the park instead and enjoyed their wildflowers.

Nikki, I'd love to see some pictures of your surrounding desert flowers. I watch the home remodeling shows in California more for the scenery than the remodeling. I love checking out all the beautiful flowers. Texas has a lot of cactus and I used to not like anything that even resembled cactus. Now I like them and even have a few. I've created a bed out front with Agave and Texas Red Yucca. The Texas Red Yucca is on the left side and in front of the salvia is Fall aster. I'm trying to control the size of the agave by keeping it in a pot. (I know, not real cactus lol)

Ruth - The flowering cactus arent everywhere. They are here and there, i will try to get some pics when I go out in the morning to pick up my granddaughters school lunch.

ocotillo

this one is every open lot and anywhere where there isnt any buildingsoc

The last one is looking out my front door

That's some beautiful flowers. Thank you for posting them. Gorgeous fuchsia, pink and yellow flowers and I really love the ocotillo . The fifth one looks like Texas Red Yucca.

I don't know if you have the Mexican palo verde tree in your area. I love that one. I tried to grow it from seeds, but not one of them germinated.

That might be texas red yucca, They are all over the place here but I think theyre planted. Im not sure if we have the palo verde tree here or not. The flowers on the ocotillo are really pretty. They grow great out here but are not wild. I once took some seeds off of a ocotillo and was able to grow them but lost them shortly after. Id love to try again but havent gotten a chance.