Nothing pithy or dynamic to write about. Just some pictures of ridiculously gorgeous flowers growing in my garden… and a chicken or two.

another annie's annual primrose

love-in-a-mist (something, something-acea I forget)

snapdragon from above - look i'm god!

Introducing my new baby chickens!

nice ass, chick!

Rob, you proud of me?

I understand it’s cold and snowing elsewhere in the world. But here, in Half Moon Bay, CA – it’s almost 70 degrees.

In tribute to this fabulous weather that is inspiring emergence in my garden, here are some lovely emergence related links.

Take a moment to indulge:

Emergence

emergence

Emergence

emergence

Emergence

Right now, at HMB Nursery, there is a myriad of 4″ annuals. We are finally coming out of the age of red and white holiday bullshit, and headed – trowel first – into Spring.

I spent my morning sinking 4″ dark blue pansies in the ground, amongst some California poppies, and adjacent a giant blueberry in mid hibernation. I love planting this size, since it’s so easy to quickly fill in an area in your garden with color. I kneel, dig, plop out said annual, plop in the ground and cover.

I can plant a pansy in under 5 seconds – give or take clay soil. It’s one of my many dark gifts.

I know I’ve been skimping on the words in some of my posts… but sometimes there just doesn’t need to be. I’m loving the dandelions in my backyards right now… having fun playing with my new camera and ever present “weed” crop!

The day started out as any other day, in any other garden, in any other town.

I put my shit kickers on (see below) before work, since I knew I’d be working at a house that has a lawn that looks like shit in desperate need of aerating. The boots are the perfect blend of cuteness/function, as they inevitably sink into the grass. When I walked through my garden, to get to my truck, to get to said shitty lawn – I stopped short, noticing the fabulous Chocolate Cosmos in full bloom. I love Chocolate Cosmos, not just because they grow easily and make for interesting color in the garden – but because they truly smell like chocolate! Any thing that has no calories but gives you the same satisfaction as eating a pint of chocolate gelado – is huge in my book.

Above – previously noted shit kickers.

After work, the day ended on a bit of a somber note. I couldn’t get the thought of chocolate chip cookies out of my head, since smelling those cosmos earlier in the morning – so I thought it prudent to make a batch of cookies. As you can see, I was impatient and didn’t let the butter do it’s buttery-thing properly, so they were ruined. I walked away disillusioned, crest-fallen and a little resentful of the cosmos.

Chocolate cosmos planter BEWARE!

Akebia quinata is a fabulous vine. It grows similar to a honeysuckle, but without the fragrance. It has lovely little chocolate flowers that cluster in bells at the top of the new growth. It’s perfect for growing and mixing with clematis or roses. You can find this at most nurseries (even the dreaded homeless depot) and they grow like crazy. I buy them in one gallons since they grow so fast, and plant them against anything they can grasp.

Here are some other things going on in the garden:

Sprout, Queen of the deck garden.

I love this type of columbine. It’s planted in a medium terra cotta pot, with plenty of peat moss mixed in the planting soil. I love the fluted royal purple petals it puts out. Very simple and understated. Below is a little greenhouse I made years ago, housing some holy basil and italian basil.

Fabulous Carnivorous Flower

I cut back all the foliage on the carnivorous plants Dustin gave me, replanted them in peat and have been watering lots. This blossom blasted up quickly and have been a gorgeous little spot of yellow amongst the terra cotta on my deck. Next to it, a lovely little snail setting up shop on my kniphofia flower, next to the sweet peas.

I love this verbascum. I bought it at Annie’s Annuals and have had it in this pot for a year. It’s located right by my front door and beckons to be petted when ever I rush in and out during the day.

Lastly, the verbena and sweet pea intertwined. They are both in a fairly small terra cotta pot on the steps, but seem to be very happy. You brush by them every time you go up or down the stairs.

Viola seed pod in February

This little viola pod was just about to burst from the couple days of warm weather we had. Luckily I captured it in a glass bottle I keep for seeds. This will dry out for a bit, then be planted in the early Summer in the pots on my deck.

For another great source to buy seed online, check out www.seedsavers.org

They are a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seed. I buy most my flower seeds here and last year’s cover crops seed for my farm. They come in excellent quality and fairly fast shipping.

If Laura hadn’t reminded me I would have almost forgot to grab my ticket to the SF Flower & Garden Show early… having to bum a ticket at the door like I did last year. I’m usually one of those dorks that loves to get tickets early, print out directions early, schedule things… and so on. If I don’t control plan ahead of time, I get itchy. So luckily, I’m ahead of the game this year. (Thanks Laura!!!!!!!)

I absolutely love the flower and garden show (who doesn’t? It’s flowers and garden stuff!)…. but I do take a little issue with pictures of people gardening – when they are not dirty! It’s like, seriously? Who are you fooling. I mean it’s one thing to accidentally fall asleep in a mushroom patch wearing jewels, but it is quite another to be at a potting bench not covered in soil. Plus – that child should probably be whining about not being able to go inside and watch Barney or something, rather than perfectly posing… right? (Do kids still watch Barney?)

Beyond that – the SF Flower & Garden is fantastic and I’m going (Carla, you’re coming with… and buying me a corn dog or something.) Afterwards, be sure to tune back in about my findings….

For more info about how you can get your sweet buns to the show, go to….

www.sfgardenshow.com

Winter's repose

I went to clip this little guy earlier today, but found him most endearing and decided to leave him instead.