Tag Archives: forget-me-nots

Potatoes

I once titled a Non-Sequitur Thursday post No Potatoes, after something Louis Armstrong said before a song on a CD I had.  Today I am cooking some potatoes for my supper, so I thought it would be an OK title for another Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  I did not do much today.  I drove to Schenectady for an appointment (long story, not very interesting) and back.  I went to the Elks to visit with my friends.  I am now home.

I have not a clue myself.

I was about to cross the street when I saw a car was coming in the opposite direction.  This gave me the opportunity to take a picture of an unusual pile of trash. I always wonder about these things.

I really must study which kind of bushes are which.

Next a hydrangea bush caught my eye.  Or is is a snowball bush?  It would behoove me to know these things, I suppose.

My own blooms.

Coming home, I was greeted with my wild daisies, blooming with no effort on my part.  I would like to dig them up and move them out back but do not know the proper time of year to do so.  As you may guess, I am nobody’s gardener.

Also blooming with no effort on my part.

Here are some forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley, which continue to take over the front yard.  I like them a lot, especially the lilies of the valley, because of the nice smell.

What you can do with a power mower.

As I was struggling with my non-power mower, my across the street neighbor came and helped me with at least part of my front lawn.  I was very grateful.  I continue to struggle with lawn order.  I hope to share better pictures later if I meet with some success.

 

I Have a Sinus Headache

I put that headline to warn anybody who does not like bellyaching posts.  I thought “bellyaching” was a more descriptive word than “whining,” but the pedant in me feels it is the wrong word since, for once, my belly is not aching.  I pause as I ponder the discrepancy to pour myself another cup of coffee, which may solve the whole problem.  Hey, I can hope.

It is mid-afternoon on a Tuesday, and once again I have not done much blog-worthy activity.  I could perhaps have made a Lawn Order Post, as I spent some time wrestling with my deck and back yard.  Not a lot of time.  In my defense, I am old and suffering a mysterious complaint which renders sustained movement painful (I did mention this was to be a bellyaching post) (once again, the pain is not in my belly).

NOT from my Media Library

I suddenly bestirred myself to get up and go out into the back yard and take a couple of pictures.  Here is my rhododendron, just beginning to bloom.  It is now blocked by a new tree I perhaps should have cut down when it was still small.  However, there are other trees in my yard I may want to have taken down, so perhaps I should let this one live.  I do like shade.

A little more color.

I guess I mentioned that my mower is at Collis Tru-Value Hardware being worked on (just to plug a local business).  I thought it behooved me to do the best I could with the non-power mower.  I figured I could at least get the weeds and grass mushed down a little.

By no means a large section of lawn.

This meets my cousin Mary’s criteria of “looks better than it did.”  A little at a time, I will get the whole thing looking better, and when the power mower is back I hope to get it looking  very nice indeed.  Then I will take more pictures and maybe even invite people over.

These are all over the yard.

On the way back to the house, I took a picture of some forget-me-nots.  It didn’t turn out so well, but I will have plenty of opportunity for more pictures.  Before I went inside, the dog next door on their back porch barked at me.  She often does.  If a ball has fallen into our shared driveway, sometimes I throw it for her to chase while I beat a hasty retreat.  I did so this time.  Alas that my throw was not very strong, and she returned before I had gotten far.  A young woman came out of the house while I prepared to throw the ball again.

“I always feel so bad, because she just wants to play,” I said.  “So I throw the ball, then try to escape.”

I heard her call the dog Luna as she brought her back into the house.  Now I know the dog’s name.  It’s always good to be on a first-name basis with the neighbor’s dog.

By the way, the coffee did help the headache.

 

Best Lame Plans for Blogs and Gardens

So I did Wednesday’s post on Thursday then neglected to make Thursday’s post on Thursday or Friday, and here I am Saturday morning thinking I might just make a Lame Post Friday post.  Full disclosure:  I am feeling a bit lightheaded (cue jokes about how I am always somewhat dizzy).  This could be from the last remnants of my cold or it could be from the decongestant I took earlier (it was the kind with the D on the box, that you have to ask the pharmacist for) or it could be a kind of a migraine.  My head does not lack variety, I’ll say that for it.

What my head feels like sometimes.

I throw in a picture to pep up the post.  I do not remember where I saw this skull, but I like it.  Studying the picture, it appears to be on my stairs.  Is this skull somewhere in my house?  Maybe if I continue my efforts at cleaning, I will find it.  Just a little motivation to brighten up my day.

THIS is what I need!

I go a different way with my next picture, showing the rhododendron in my back yard one of the years it was especially beautiful.  I am SO looking forward to spring and hoping to plant many more flowers in my yard.  And maybe a few vegetables.  There are some flowers that may show up again on their own:  the above pictured rhododendron and forget-me-nots, some black- and brown-eyed susans, a few daisies…

From a more ambitious year.

I also hope to have a container garden on my deck.  Flowers, herbs, definitely some basil!  Then I’ll have some people over and we’ll sit amongst the plants and have some iced tea or wine or something.  Won’t that be nice?

 

Late Tired Tuesday Post, But Here Are Some Flowers

I have no idea why I was so tired on Tuesday, but so it was.  I had a headache, but it was only a common or garden headache, not a migraine.  My primary care told me to keep a journal of my headaches, so I am doing that.  I tried to do it once before, sometime in the mid-teens, I think.  In fact, I have that little notebook right here (I have roughly 3,825 notebooks of various sizes scattered about my house).  Ooh, I kept it up for three months.  No insight was gained, I fear.

Random pic from my Media Library.

I throw in a picture of flowers to cheer things up.  This is the rhododendron in my backyard last May. I do not think it is blooming yet, but I haven’t been out back in a few days.  I fear I must start mowing soon.  Maybe rake up last year’s leaves, since I do not have one of them there mulching mowers.

These are cheerful, yes?

To continue the flower theme, here are last year’s daisies. I have not seen any daisies yet, but I have shared my one tulip bud and the beginnings of my peonies.  I also have some forget-me-nots now.

And the peonies are a little bigger.

I bestirred myself to get my phone and add the picture to my Media Library.  The tulip has not yet bloomed, but I took a picture of that, too.

 

I think it is a yellow one.

I am approaching 250 words (over that now), and I think my coffee is ready (you did realize I was posting early Wednesday morning, didn’t you?  I realize I did not specify in the first paragraph).  I adjourn for caffeine.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

After and Before?

Time for a quick Throwback Thursday Post. I am tired, as usual these days. In my defense, I mowed my lawn with the non-power mower in the warm weather. OK, I did a pretty lousy job. And I am a big baby. You knew that about me.

Damn it looked good!

This is our Rose of Sharon in April 2017. April! At least, it was in the blog in April. Perhaps the picture was taken in a later month of 2016, because our Rose of Sharon does not look nearly this good now. Oh dear. And yes, I am obviously too lazy to go take a picture of it now.

A little back lit.

I overcame my laziness to walk out back and take the above shot. There is actually more green than I had realized. Now this post is less of a Throwback, but I do not despair. It can always be a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.

Preview of coming attractions.

Here are our daisies in 2017. None have bloomed yet. In fact, that space is currently dominated by forget-me-nots, as I showed in a more recent blog post.

Just a couple days ago.

It seems this blog is a bit flower obsessed these days. I find that appropriate for spring. I hope to do some real gardening this weekend. I will have even more pictures of flowers to share! As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Don’t Forget My Flowers

For my Tired Tuesday post, I shall share the pictures I took after leaving the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast yesterday. I turned down Main Street and walked toward the post office.

I saw a classic truck I tried to take a picture of, but I was unable to zoom in. When I tried, I could only put it in Selfie Mode. Who wants to see a selfie of me! Nobody needs to see that! I took a shot of some forget-me-nots instead.

I particularly like the rocks.

I took care not to include any identifying characteristics of the house. I did not see any more photo-ops (is that a hyphenated word?) till I got home and decided to take a picture of my own forget-me-nots. They seem to be taking over my front yard, although I expect the daisies will soon give them some spirited competition.

The dandelions are not giving up either.

I went out back to get a shot of the forget-me-nots there, but they have not grown together as thickly so the picture did not turn out well. It is kind of surprising, because they have been out back since we moved in but only appeared out front in the last year or so. I took a picture of some wild violets instead.

Another favorite of mine.

These particular violets will soon be overshadowed by Black-eyed Susans. That flower has grown and spread but so far has remained in the same patch of lawn. At least, I hope I have as many as I did last year. I think the chives as well as a couple of really young trees are also fighting for a bit of that soil.

I’m wondering if I should just let these plants duke it out amongst themselves or perhaps try to instill some order in the chaos. Considering the disorder which reigns in the rest of my life, I question how effective my efforts would be. In any case, I’ll be sure to take more pictures and keep you posted. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

I Like Flowers

I mentioned yesterday that I might get out into the great outdoors for blog post purposes, rather than lapsing into my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday. At least I made it out to my front yard.

So far they have not jumped.

I noticed earlier when I was mowing that I had a few more blooms in my Johnny Jump-ups. I purchased them last year from AW Greenhouse Gardens in Little Falls (just to give a quick shout-out to a local business). I surely must plant more flowers.

I did not forget them.

Here are some flowers I did not plant: forget-me-nots. I love them. I wanted to get a picture while I could still see them, because they are soon to be overrun with daisies, which I also love.

I guess the dandelion is a little more prominent.

I moved in for a closer shot, because I saw a white forget-me-not. I have not seen one of those before.

You can see where I stepped to get the shot of the white forget-me-not.

We have more tulip buds than previous years, but they are slow to bloom, or at least so it seems to me. I was delighted, therefore, to see this yellow one about to blossom. I look forward to seeing the others bloom. These have grown with no effort on my part. I would like to put down more bulbs. I like flowers.

Lawn Order

I fought the lawn and the lawn won.

I would say we fought to a standstill, but of course the lawn is always growing.  Kind of like my stomach, but let us not dwell on THAT depressing subject.  I was actually pleased with my yard efforts today, and I have a few pictures to share.

Regular readers may remember that I use a non-power mower for my grass cutting needs.  The advantages are that it is quieter, easier to start, and does not run low on gas and oil.  Additionally, I get that frisson of virtue for being more environmentally friendly.  Oh, and it is excellent exercise.

The main downside is that I need to mow more often than I am usually inclined to do.  In this case, I had not mown since last Sunday.  Note to self: don’t wait that long again.

I got the front done first.  It is easier and and arguably more important, because people see it.  NO, I do not care what people think!  Well, maybe a little.  Why would I not want to give the world a pleasant view? I had been working on the back for a while before it occurred to me to take a “before” picture.

It looked more intimidating in real life.

When I looked at this, I could clearly see what I had done and how overgrown the rest of it looked.  This view seems less clear, but I hope it gives an idea.  Photo taken, I had at it again and ended up feeling fairly pleased with myself.  Later on, I took a few “after” shots to round out the blog post.

Did the lawn win? Or did I?

The shadows show that time had passed.  I took a shower, worked on my novel, and watched a little Snapped (what’s a Sunday without an episode or two of Snapped?

Our Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon took a while to start getting green.  At least it is definitely too big to be accidentally mown over (although it was Steven who did that, not I).

The Red Thing from Diana’s house.

This is a better shot of the above plant than I got before, and it has even more green.

Can’t have too many forget-me-nots!

I did not mow over my forget-me-nots!  After taking these pictures, I went out front.

Peonies!

Our peonies were eaten or plucked away by something or someone last year.  I hope they survive this year!

Alligator from Knoeble’s in Pennsylvania.

I put our alligator out front this year.  I would like to get some more lawn ornaments.

I hope to get more lawn and garden work done in the coming weeks.  I have never gotten as much done as I would like.  With so many things cancelled or on hold, this just might be the year!

 

I’m Back with Backyard Flowers!

My back was feeling much better today.  I suppose I will look like quite the kvetch if I mention that I had a perfectly dreadful headache, but I will just mention it.  I do appreciate the way my body parts tag team.  Back yesterday, head today;  I guess I really internalized the lesson about taking turns in kindergarten.

But never mind that.  I promised some back yard flowers!

A close up view.

I mentioned yesterday how much I am loving forget-me-nots this year.  When I went to photo my backyard patch, I was delighted to see white ones in with the blue.  I didn’t know they came in white.  I am not very botanically knowledgeable.

This is where I thought they were not going to grow this year.

Here is the view under the rhododendron.  Earlier this spring a different flower was blooming there.  I am happy to welcome the forget-me-nots back.  As you probably noticed, I am letting the dandelions live.  I understand bees like them.  Also, it is a losing battle to try to get rid of them, so I figure I may as well embrace the yellow.

I did not choose the best angle.

The last time I looked at this, I thought it was all dead shoots from last year.  Yesterday, however,  I saw little leaves sprouting out.  Yay!  I’m afraid the picture did not turn out as clear as I had hoped, but I will have more photo ops as we go on.  You may also be disappointed that I cannot tell you exactly what it is.  We got the shoots from my sister Diane a few years ago.  We just refer to it as “that red thing from Diane.”

I hope to plant more things as the spring progresses.  Maybe I can blog more about plants and less about pain.

 

Aches and Pains, but Flowers!

I need all the help I can get!

I found a four leaf clover on the cool down walk after a recent run.  I open with it, because as I sat down to make my blog post, a voice in my head said, “Good luck with that!”

As I worked today, I thought that after work, I could go for a run, mow the lawn, or take a walk, and write a blog post about whichever I picked.  As I pondered my choices, I had to weigh which would wreak the least havoc on my back.  Hey, I’m middle-aged and overweight: I get back pain.  Returning to work after an extended break has caused some pain (YES, I am grateful I have a job!  We have been through this!  Sheesh!).

I apologize for complaining.  The fact is, most of us at work have been having more than the usual aches and pains.  I may philosophize about possible causes on Lame Post Friday (half bakedly of course) (ooh, here’s an autocorrect I’m glad I noticed: the computer put “nakedly” instead of “bakedly”).  For today, I decided a gentle walk would be my best choice.

I got about two houses down the street when my knees started in.  What the hell, me?  I turned around, thinking I could at least take some pictures at my own house.  First I crossed the street to take a picture of the lilac bush in front of a neighbor’s house.

How have I never noticed this before?

Returning to my house, I took some shots of the front yard.

And a few dandelions.

I am so into forget-me-nots this year, and it seems Mother Nature is as well.  I see them everywhere.

I did not get to the tulips at their peak.

We had two tulips, but I did not get any pictures when they were at their prettiest.

A wider view.

This is a kind of a preview of coming attractions,  because the peonies and daisies are not blooming yet.

I see I am over 300 words, so I think I will save my back yard shots for a future post. I will try not to spend so much time blathering about my aches and pains!