Studiology

Happy Easter

A day on the farm; fed the chicken (yes, only 1), fed the 4 guineas. Getting ready for family, walking the dog with company, and holding grandbabies. 

I hope your Easter is wonderful!

It's Official

A little snow, a chill in the air, a typical spring day in Virginia. It's going to get way better. 

Occoquan Peep Show

Yours truly built a Peep Show diorama for the annual Occoquan Peep Show. Many of the shops in this quaint little town will display their peeps and people are asked to vote for their favorite. Voting is on March 26th, and shops with a show of Peeps will have yellow balloons outside. Refreshments will also be served.

Going on "no experience at all", I haven't a clue as to how mine will compare to other Peep displays.  I might have to stroll through town to see. But not in a crazy, competitive sense, I present to you "The Circus Peep Show".

And yes, that was the bearded lady Peep, there's also a flying trapeze peep.

March

For March the fourth, we had a snow storm. A fleeting, in the night, soon to melt, snow. The only flowers for early March paid it no mind. They like that sort of stuff. 

In the two weeks that have passed, lots has happened, especially if the gardener is growing helleborus, crocus, daffodils, or witch hazels. For myself, it's a time of nervous energy. Shouldn't I be doing something? That sort of stop, start, mind angst. I love the garden and all that is happening, but I also love the laid back days of winter. 

This helleborus has been with me for at least 15 years, a hybrid named 'Quilty', it was one of the earlier hybrids with the ability to hold its head upright. From Graham Birken of England, hand delivered and sold at Windy Hill Plant Farm, my nursery from so long ago.

With it my beloved (is that too strong a word for a plant?) Corydalis solida 'George Baker'. I swear that I was sure it was lost. Everyday I checked the area it grew in, only to dismiss it as gone, dead. Then a single pink flower waves up and says no, not so fast.

Part of the gardener's angst is the knowing that soon there will be little time for other things. Families of gardeners understand that. My children grew up in a nursery and they had to give things up, like baseball, no way. My daughter was married in August, not April or October! And this weekend was spent with both of my children and grandchildren with one granddog. Perfect timing. Sure work is calling, but its a bit chilly and drizzly,thank goodness is what my mind keeps thinking. No need to feel too guilty, right? 

I mean look at this face.

And these faces.

There's a chill in the air and "Mack Dog" hates to get chilled. He stayed in with me and the youngest grandchild while most of the adults went off to fish. 

April will be here soon. 

Once Upon a Time

I just finished a sizable piece of assemblage art and delivered it today. Titled "Once Upon a Time", the story is left open to interpretation by the viewer. At the painting stage I found myself loosing a day. Morning became night, I was so involved. Now that it's done, I am happy with the results.  You can find this and many others at Art A La Carte in Occoquan, Virginia. 

That Summer Night Thang!

This Saturday is the lecture on my night garden at Merrifield Gardens and I'm crazy excited! All this week I've been working on my presentation and it's going to be awesome (said in a lyrical way). As many of you know, my night garden is the highlight of my summer and fall nights. My plan to do this presentation has been in the works for years. It was my request and plea to do this seminar and I was given the stamp of approval from Merrifield. 

I will talk about the foundation  plants, the most important participants (or so I feel), based on my many, many years of experience. Which by the way, this March marks my 40th year in a career called horticulture. Another reason I am so pumped. 

There will also be coverage of some small players in the night garden game. But ones that I feel are essential. Pollination and pollinators will be covered with some beautiful photographs. Which by the way is no easy feat when you're mostly  taking pictures at night. 

The lecture will be at the Fair Oaks location at 10:00. It's free, no registration required. Just show up and enjoy great food and a great show. Whooo Hooooo!