Wednesday, September 15, 2010

September Plant of the Month


Hello Gardeners,

Looking for some fall color other then the change of leaves? Then try Chelone 'Hot Lips' which begins blooming in late August and blooms through September. You can't beat this partial shade plant.

Happy Fall Gardening








Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Early Spring in Minneapolis


In case anyone is wondering it has been 161 days since we last saw any color in the landscape other than white, black, various shades of grey and the occasional green evergreen. Not much of a color pallet. Today though, I saw the first garden color since our first snow last October 10th. A handful of spring crocus where in bloom on a south facing slope. If you too want a some early spring color after a monochromatic winter one of the best selections of these tiny beauties is at http://www.odysseybulbs.com/springcrocus.html.

Happy Spring.

First Crocus
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by Christine Klocek-Lim
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This morning, flowers cracked open
the earth’s brown shell. Spring
leaves spilled everywhere
though winter’s stern hand
could come down again at any moment
to break the delicate yolk
of a new bloom.

The crocus don’t see this as they chatter
beneath a cheerful petal of spring sky.
They ignore the air’s brisk arm
as they peer at their fresh stems, step
on the leftover fragments
of old leaves.

When the night wind twists them to pieces,
they will die like this: laughing,
tossing their brilliant heads
in the bitter air.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

2009 Midwest Magazine Contemporary Landscape display by Stonepocket

The theme was Black and White. White Indiana limestone is surrounded by Mexican beach pebbles and black panels hang the only color in the exhibit. The water colors really pop against the black background. The artist of the watercolors is Nancy Yermakoff. Birch stems are placed in glass containers along with Mexican beach pebbles to silhouette and contrast against the black panels. Grey and white granite benches and bird baths add more dimension and interest to the theme. Please visit stonepocket.com for more design ideas.