Cold outside, warm in...

Yes it's February in the frozen upper-midwest… and we've got freezing rain today (yuck!)...

Even the squirrels don't like it, this guy is hungry & going after the corn, but at the same time hugging the tree as tight as he can while he eats (he's on the lee side & staying dry)… but inside…

My Freckle-Face continues to bloom, she's been blooming for a few months now, apparently to her it's Spring inside :)

This also makes it feel like Spring on a yucky-outside day, a bouquet of flowers that a friend gave me, just the sunny colors needed on a gloomy day.

Here's another indoor plant that's not sure what season it is… one of my little Pelargoniums has a nice bloom cluster…

That's all for the living blooms for now…. but have you ever wondered what a Gardener might do during the "off" season, well…  I've been making jewelry, and of course my garden is an inspiration, so here are a few of my garden-inspired pieces for you to enjoy!

"Garden Wall"

Vine-inspired earrings

Vine, leaves, ….

Flower...

Flower...

If you like my jewelry keep an eye on my Art Blog, sometime in the near future I should be set up to sell… not yet…

Blooms in Winter...

I'm enjoying the daughters of the Pelargonium that, last year, got too big to continue to be a houseplant… I'd blogged quite a bit about it over the Spring/Summer/Fall, how she'd been planted outside for her last hoorah… but of course I couldn't just leave things alone, I took a few cuttings & now have 2 very nice young girls for my efforts…

The Mother Plant

Yes, that's Mama planted outside, and she was the daughter of a plant at my Mom's house, so I guess that makes my Mom's plant (still living outside in Southern California) a Grandma-plant now.

The Daughters… one of which is blooming quite nicely (note the snow outside)...

To give you an idea of scale, those pots are about 7" across on the outer edges of the rims, the blooming one is over 10" tall… the girls are growing up fast!!

Outside its mostly just white… at least for a few more months… yes, we had a White Christmas!

Keep warm!  If you live where it's warm enjoy your gardens… as for me, I'm enjoying the break :)

Happy Houseplant in the Garden...

There's a story behind this plant… This is one of two houseplants that I'd actually been able to keep alive (I'm terrible with houseplants), and I've had both for a long time… They had finally gotten too big for the house and were planted outside to have their final hurrah this Summer (not to worry, I'm starting clippings of both for new houseplants)…

I love the pink color on these blooms!!

I guess I should tell you the story of this houseplant… you see, I'm originally from Southern California, the San Diego area, and my Mom still lives in my childhood home in Vista… my Mom grows these plants (call it a Geranium or Pelargonium, either works) and hers easily get to about 5' in diameter and 4' high before she hacks them way back… So I guess I'm not surprised that this gal became a huge houseplant, even though my house indoors in Minnesota isn't an ideal growing spot (like my Mom's sunny yard in Vista)...

She's about 2' in diameter & about 3' high… and blooming like crazy!!

I started this plant from a small clipping I brought home with me on the plane after visiting my Mom, not exactly sure when that was, but at least a few years ago…  When I transplanted her this year she'd overgrown her (Very Large) pot & wasn't doing so well, and the transplant shocked her a bit too, so I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see her putting on lots of blooms… I'm going to start a couple clippings soon, she's got too many good memories of home to not keep her going… and perhaps next year one of her children will end up in this sunny spot in my garden, we shall see…

Lots happening the last couple days...

I'm amazed sometimes at just how much can transpire in just a couple days… In the last couple days I've made more headway in my Spring Cleanup, now the front gardens are complete - next will be on to the side gardens… Estimating I'm about 70% done, 58 bags of Cedar Mulch so far…

Yesterday I transplanted these two huge, previously indoor, plants into the garden… they seem to like their new homes (so far)…

Yesterday...

My Rhododendron started opening up a bloom yesterday, today it was open even more!!

Today...

We had heavy storm come through today… my low spot by my oak trees got a bit flooded… but it soaked in quickly...

Cruddy Weather!!

Seems as if Mother Nature isn't going to cooperate with me… when I have time free its cold, windy, and even rainy… argh!!!

Paperwhites… started indoors… 

Another potential overnight freeze is coming Monday night, so I still can't transfer some plants outdoors that I'd really like to get planted… my Paperwhites I started indoors aren't looking so good, I'd really like to get them in some good nutrient-rich soil.  Then there's my overgrown potted plants that are longing to get outside, and will be planted in-ground this year...

Pelargonium

Kalanchoe

I also need the indoor space to start some seedlings if I'm going to get my vegetables going this year…