Winter Season Is Here!

Of winter’s lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer’s secret

Deep down within its heart.

Charles G. Stater

With this year quickly coming to an end

I find myself filled with  " hope" of what I can accomplish

in the new coming year. I always use the previous year as

a reference to what I did right..........or not so right.....

in just about every area of my life...........

especially when it comes to gardening and raising flowers.......or............

trying to tame a wild and ever growing area.

Some things I have learned to grow in the most uncommon places........

this large bed of zinnia flourished underneath and alongside

the crooked and bent mesquite trees that take over this land

Other areas I have cleared and enjoyed.......but am 

always struggling in just a few weeks to clear it all again........

it is very persistent in staying wild and un-manicured......

yet, I wear myself out trying to keep it the way I want

this area is a little into the mesquite woods........if it is clear where I can see where I am walking, 

I love to come out to this spot to just sit for a while

When we first moved out here so many years ago..........I was over joyed

with all of the acreage that I was going to cast flower seed on and let grow..........

I have learned that many things here.......although the ground is good for growing.......

fall victim to predators that dig up roots and eat the plants.......

and get destroyed by every kind of bug and flying insect there is........or get blown away by the wind

I have learned to make raised beds

blocked off from the wind.............and  I invest a small fortune for a lot of wire and fencing to 

keep these pests out. 

Some bulbs like daffodils, I can plant into the ground

and they come up each spring.......but other bulbs,

such as tulips, anemones, and freesias .........

I plant in raised beds or containers.

This fall I have planted over a 100 bulbs of the above mentioned

some in my flowerbed in front of my greenhouse

some in deep pots in an arrangement on the patio.

I am hoping that they all sprout and bloom at the same time......

but am pretty sure that they will sprout in their own separate time. 

My biggest project I am working for this coming spring........

is my new flower garden.  If you see the arrow in the photo........

that is where the antique archway was setting...........I placed it out there a couple of years ago.

But the lesson I learned.......I could not enjoy seeing it unless I was way out there.

Now I have dragged it up to a corner in the back yard (in the middle of the photo) where I can see it and walk through it

as I work in the country flower garden I am planning for it.

My Christmas present from my husband this year is a roll of antique fencing and the posts to place it 

around this new garden site.  I am still thinking on what kind of flowers to grow and where they will be placed.

 One more thing I am starting to work on.......are handmade items for my home.........

for every room.........but that is another story on my embroidery blog

if you would like to read it.......click onto this link

Yesteryear Embroideries

So tell me..........what have you learned in the years past???

What are your plans for the new year??

The weather .........these past few days......seems that it cant make up it's mind

it blew hard winds

making homes disappear in the dirt from the cotton fields. 

On the same night..........the wind, itself disappeared ........

leaving a cold and crisp night to enjoy the Christmas lights in a 

neighboring city.

The next day was calm, sunny, but chilly........

with birds sunning on the iron horse fence poles

slightly puffed in the slight breeze..........

and the few lingering butterflies finding a sunny spot to rest

even Sophie was panting from the heat after one of our walks

and she and Homer found a warm spot to take a nap........

this morning we awoke to the season's first light snow..........

leaving the woods quiet .....as the birds huddled in shelter from the brisk cold

Taboo could not resist the comforting warmth of the fire as it crackled 

and the glow of a candle made the coffee table a perfect place for rest.

So........tell me.........are you under a blanket of snow...........

or are you still enjoying sunny days?

I would love to hear!