New Cheesehead Gardening Episode!

Signs of spring are all around!

We thought it would never get here, but, finally, there are signs of spring all around.

Best of 2013 Part 2

So while I search through pictures to post tonight, it's -18 degrees outside (that is without windchill, with windchill it's around -50).   I did actually venture out today to go pick up some groceries.  I've lived in Wisconsin that at first it didn't seem that cold.  Then after being in the grocery store for at least 15 minutes I realized that that my jeans were still pretty much frozen from the quick walk from the car to store.  Yikes!

So here are some pictures to help us remember warmer days!

Hosta Convention in Milwaukee

Coastline in Maui

George warming in the sun

George enjoying the outdoors

Hosta 'Sagae'

Hosta 'Borsch #1' coming up

Hosta 'Borsch #1'

Hosta bed with tree peony

Best of 2013 Part 1

I've decided to take a look back and put together pictures and moments that I think were the best of 2013.  I have pictures on 2 different computers and a phone.  So this will probably end up being a 3 parter.  I really need to learn to just put my pictures into a shared drive.  So here is the best of 2013 part 1.

Morning Glories

Primula Blue Zebra

Awesome succulent picture in hotel lobby in San Antonio

We added a dog to our family - he's quite goofy!

Winter frost

'Borsch #1' hosta flower

Making flower fairies with my nieces

Daylily

More Morning Glories

Love this Begonia I found

More Morning Glories

Even More Morning Glories

Fall Canoe trip

Halloween

Fall reds

So this is who has been eating my hostas!

What's blooming 9-5-2013

Shrub Rose

Helianthus

Ligularia

Brown-eyed susan

Helenium

Hibiscus

Black-eyed susan

anemone

Morning Glory

Making a Moss Garden

Last week I decided to try to make a little moss garden.  I have seen them in various gardens and I really like the looks of them.  Fortunately I have mosses growing in various locations throughout my yard, so finding the moss was easy.  If you don't have moss there are online nurseries that sell mosses, and I have seen some at local nurseries too.

First I start with a container. I filled it with compost, and then went to gather my mosses.

Then I placed the mosses throughout the container and added a miniature hosta and a rock.

I also decided to add a miniature pail with a sedum in it to my pot.  Then I made sure to water it very well, and put it in a very shady location until the moss took hold.

Orienpet Lily 'Garden Pleasure'

If there is one lily in my garden that is garnering a lot of attention it is the orienpet lily 'Garden Pleasure'.  Before it even bloomed people were asking me about it.  So why is it getting so much attention?  It's because it has grown over 7 feet tall.  Orienpet lilies are a combination of a Oriental and a Trumpet lily.  So not only are they beautiful, but they also have a great scent.  Mine is growing in a location against the house that always seems to have spotty sunlight, so I can never get a really good picture of it.  So you'll have to use your imagination a little when viewing the pictures.