Spring has come to South Alabama, and I plunge into a sort of gluttony, grasping far more than I can afford in time and energy to plant and transfer and tend, a lot of triage gardening, and the forced practice of balance. My method is to work outside until I cannot stand it anymore and have to take time to write and read, and when things get really out of control in the kitchen, I clean. I’ve actually picked up hens and put them in a few garden spots to weed for me. They do a great, if careless job. We’re having many a night of hotdogs and beans for supper. I would like to remember that spring does this to me, so I can prepare myself.
St. Joseph’s Lily. My first, and it is grand. I’ve read it is hardy. We shall expect the best from it.
Ajuga is a magical plant. Do you believe it–I’ve read the description of the ajuga flower as being of no consequence. Not to me!
Louisiana Iris, had them several years, and this is the first they’ve bloomed, thanks to abundant rain this season. I have deep purple one’s too.
Homestead verbena. The fragrance is a delight, and the blooms lasting in a vase.
They come up like magic. These showed up between the ponds three years ago. I thought the sword leaves must be some sort of weed, but they were pretty. Then I began having these sprout in various places around the yard. I learned here on GBBD that they were heirloom gladiola plants. Each year the group has gotten larger between the ponds, and this year they are blooming like crazy, to my heart’s delight.
Stella D’oro daylily, troopers.
My abundant thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for beginning GBBD all those years ago. Visit her site to see more gardens from around the world!
Curtiss Ann Matlock 
Beautiful! Treasures everywhere!
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Amy– thanks so much for the reminder that treasures are everywhere, all I have to do is see them. 🙂
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I always consider gardening – digging in the dirt, pulling weeds, etc. – as cheap therapy. It clears the mind and you can mindlessly accomplish something at the same time, besides getting your Vitamin D.
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Oh such beautiful flowers Cuz. You are such a good gardener…I think you should pat yourself on the back, your hard work is paying off…Thank for sharing…Love to all you folks down South….
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One Hippeastrum this year, next year dozens. We took a short ride Sunday and I could not BELIEVE the Amaryllis beds in people’s yards. I am so happy with one at a time.
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Love those heirloom glads; such bright color and absolutely maintenance free! Theyy be the most perfect flower in my garden.
I give myself permission to garden all I want in the spring, knowing I’ll have time for other activities in the smear when it’s too hot to be outside.
Happy gardening, hugs from Texas.
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Dear friend, thanks for the reminder that there will be all the time I need, in the heat, and just because the truth is that I’m right where I need to be at any given moment. 🙂 Oh, you are right about those heirloom glads! They appear to grow wild here, and I just love their spikey leaves!
XxxOoo CurtissAnn
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Your flowers are all just lovely, but I’m in love with that St Joseph’s Lily! What a stunner! I think I will look for this at my local nursery.
A foot of very wet snow fell here today and more is expected between now and Wednesday. Very grateful for it as it will lessen the fire danger this summer. Only my crocus had bloomed so far. I’m happy to wait on the hot weather and mosquitos. And bindweed.
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Yes, Denise, after so many dry years in Oklahoma and then Here, too, where it was not supposed to be dry at all, I see even snow as beautiful. Grateful not to have any :), and grateful for an abundance of rain this year.
Sending hugs, CurtissAnn
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Easter morn with lilies fair
Fills the church with perfumes rare,
As their clouds of incense rise,
Sweetest offerings to the skies.
Stately lilies pure and white
Flooding darkness with their light,
Bloom and sorrow drifts away,
On this holy hallow’d day.
Easter Lilies bending low
in the golden afterglow,
Bear a message from the sod
To the heavenly towers of God.
-Louise Lewin Matthews
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Thank you, Ionia, for the precious and lovely poem. Words as beautiful as blooms.
Sent from my iPhone
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