Musings in the morning

Well I got up because my sleeping was done and it is a nice quiet time to read email and check out Goggle reader to see who has has put up new posts. I don't follow a lot of blogs or pages but it is nice to follow a few and see what is going on in blogger land. One thing about this is that the blogger can be in any part of the world!
My second reason for getting up early was to try and get some new pictures up on my own blog.

This I will do later.

But I see that I have been tagged by the folks over at Aagaard Farms in the Ten Things That Make Me Happy thing that is going around the garden blog world.

So what makes me happy is 1) Having a roof over our heads, warm beds and food on our table; 2) Being connected to the world  just this way; 3) Having good neighbours who enjoy coffee and desert in the evening; 4) New garden friends I have made through the internet (Russia, Poland, Sweden and all over); 5) Spring in the air; 6) Joyful music and talented singers/players; 7) Finding folks of the same faith who give me encouragement; 8) Seeds of all kinds coming from all corners of the world; 9) Having a "good wife" (Proverbs 31:10-31). She's what makes things happen here; 10) Creation - the incredible natural world around us(I know some of you think it happened some other way, you are welcome to your opinion so let me have mine).

There are more (like our only son getting married this spring) but good for now. So who to tag in this?

Lisa at Northern Exposure Gardening, a true northern gardener.

Kathy at Cold Climate Gardening who allowed me a Guest Post some time back.

Ewa at Ewa in the Garden who always has great pictures from Polish places and her garden.

Rob at Rob's Plants just a great resource for gardeners.

Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm who is a gardener and painter.

Craig at The Blue Honeysuckle Blog who writes a number of blogs on a number of topics.

Ms. S at Gardening with Latitude whose real name I am not sure of. She has some wonderful picture stories along with her garden thoughts.

These folks all have so much to offer and I hope you enjoy the trip!

Update on Clematis morning mist blooming - more to follow

Big bloomers!

New blooms are popping out here and there. There is a bud on the Clematis Vancouver Morning Mist but I am thinking we might miss it if we are away.

Red Lion Amaryllis #2 has 2 very big flowers and the orchid continues to produce more as well.

Many lilies continue to germinate both Asiatics, trumpets, and daylilies.

And a single Clematis "Chinook" seedling. There were about 8 but he rest died in November when we were away and somehow the care was not right.

No Blue Honeysuckle seedlings yet.

A winter is white

Well we have had many white days lately and I have loaded some picutres to my Picasaweb album "White Days".


By the way thanks to all the folks who are dropping by and leaving comments. I will try to keep up as we go but it seems there is always some project on the go.

This and that

Well things are happening in spite of winter weather here in Saskatchewan. There are lilies germinating under lights in the plant room, buds and flowers on indoor plants (even a Large Flowered Clematis that did not get into the ground), and interesting finds on the Gardenbuddies Forums. First for the pictures.  Here are:

 Phalenopsis "Yellowboy". This is one of 4 orchids which my wife is coddling to keep living and blooming.

Clematis crispa which is growing in the terrarium and continues to bloom all through winter. There are more buds coming. Sadly there is nothing here to cross it with although I have Clematis Vancouver Morning Mist in a pot inside and it will be blooming soon with one bud showing.

Amaryllis "Red Lion These were on a clear out at Walmart for $1.24 Canadian. I should have bought more. These blossoms paid for both bulbs I bought and the other bulb is going to do better than this.

Saintpaulia  "Patricia Jean" which we have had since 1979. I am not sure if this is the original plant  or a leaf start but I had this plant before we got married! This is not the best picture as the edges should be distinctly white and the purple color deeper. They are in the bright sun so the colr is lighter.

And the lilies are starting to germinate already. Very nice to see in this winter season.

And the wildlife has taken refuge in my terrarium. This snake has been fed a few "Neon Tetra" fish to keep it going (Not sure if it is her or she) but everything we read says baby mice or mice. We are a little squeamish about that but we want to keep it alive long enough to let it go in the garden in spring.

On another topic, the Gardenbuddies forum is a great place to learn of many things "plant". There is a particularly good thread about biological treatments which you can link to here. This is something I need to investigate, particularly as it pertains to foliar feeding plants to help with nutrition but also disease and pest  control. Be sure to check it out and sign up to support and follow Gardenbuddies. One of the best on the net.