Daylily Gardening Adventures

Aloha 2011, originally uploaded by t i g.

The gardens were so much work this year... that once again ~ blogging fell by the wayside :)

Some people are meant to blog... I, unfortunately, am not proving to be one of them. I put out 100% energy into everything ... not leaving much energy to write online. I will not apologize for this as I have done in the past.... there is too much to read, to view, to create~ I want to do all of it, but being a mere mortal limits my capabilities so I will settle for loving life and all of the beauty it possesses.

Welcome 2012!

Current Mood: thoughtful

Unlabeled Succulents, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

I have been coping with a long spring with ebay. I have fallen in love with aloe due to the last few purchases from Logee's Greenhouse in Connecticut. The ease of growing them has inspired me to shop through ebay.. and acquire many new babies to play with. Only one more package is due to come in, but as of this weekend I am playing in the vegetable garden.

We have asparagus for the first time ever. I have started up an herb garden again... many of which I haven't grown since we lived in West Warwick (over 18 years ago).

I only wish the weather was warmer allowing me to catch more sun.

Current Mood: indescribable

Venice, Italy , originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

The past 16 months have brought me full circle. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my paintings... my life... my daughters... my books... my teaching... I have been so blessed that there are NO words to describe how lucky I feel.

Last year, I was given the opportunity to travel again thanks to a dear dear friend... all that experience did was to resurface my feelings of mortality and an extreme need to completely, I mean completely, feel every aspect of my life. My students are getting 110% of my energy which is wiping me out completely on a daily basis. It has given rise to all of my feelings for Arty...so we are starting from square one~ getting married, traveling, etc.. I am thrilled to be working toward our July trip to Italy and Greece!!

So, from now until July, I will be congratulating myself on a fabulous year in a fabulous life... and in July~ I not only will be able to cherish every beauty in our daylily hybridizing beds, but then~ after our peak ~ we will be heading to our most romantic adventure since we have met ;)

Current Mood: excited

Tomatoes ~ March 31, 2010, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

Finally the tomatoes have reached the one gallon size...so we have started seed in the house for the next batch~ along with eggplant, acorn squash and daylilies! Spring is wonderful... if the floods hadn't stepped on it, all would be well. Both Arty and I are out of work this week due to the weather...

Current Mood: cheerful

Pro-Mix, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

We finally started planting out seedlings this weekend... I am thankful that Arty helped, for I was a bit overwhelmed. All of the seed that had sprouted in the fridge was planted out, along with some of my highly anticipated IDA MAE NORRIS seed. I have one more tray full on the kitchen table. Now that we are stocked up on ProMix, I should be able to cover some serious ground quickly.

Planting has give me some serious Spring Fever though. I am soooo looking forward to Saturday~ the sun is supposed to be out and we are forecasted to have 52 degrees!

Current Mood: excited

Greenhouse ~ February 2010, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

Winter duldrums cannot survive in the face of beauty...

I have had moments this winter where I regretted the extra heating bill of this greenhouse, but then there comes a day when we can just go out there and enjoy the 92 degree temps and blooms while it is a mere 20+ degrees outside... Kind of makes it worthwhile... kind of :)

Tomorrow we head back to Logees... it will be my Valentine's gift to myself :) Truly getting psyched!

Current Mood: exhausted

Magic Snow!, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

I wished I loved the snow as much as I did on the day that Arty took this picture. The thrill of adventure does not necessarily arrive with each snowfall~ and since it seems to keep snowing (much earlier than usual this year); it is becoming more difficult to want to even go out~ never mind appreciate snow as an art form.

My goal this year? I want to develop an appreciation for all seaons... NOT just the daylily growing season...

Current Mood: cold

SILOAM GOLDEN GATE ~ Henry, originally uploaded by HIDDEN IN THE CITY.

Dealing with the reoccuring snow makes me slightly miserable. I somehow forgot that December 21st was the first day of winter~ thus procurring the observance that we have three months of this weather to contend with as of yet. I have trouble recalling this much snow in December... It is a potent realization when seeing the financial costs of running the greenhouse skyrocket.

Our daylily seed being sold on Ebay will hopefully make our bills more manageable~ I am saddened to let go of the seed, but without the greenhouse... my hybridizing efforts will be greatly diminished :(