Friday, April 26, 2013

Garden shopping...........A Favorite Thing



With the sun shining and warmer temperatures we 
did venture to Lowe's garden center last 
weekend, along with what appeared to be 5,000 other 
would-be gardeners hell bent on gathering new plants, 
and the many accoutrements required for digging and 
delving in the soil.


Bob needed a new garden fork having worn out one 
whilst digging holes for me to plant in - 
we do have heavy clay soil here. 
Of course his great sense of humor is always evident 
no matter where we are!
I was more interested in the pretty things - plants - and
bags of organic fertilizers to bring them along successfully.



Above, the plants I picked for my kitchen window box - always a favorite rite of Spring for me.


  • Small conifer
  • Variegated ivy
  • African daisy
  • Mixed petunias
  • Penta 
  • Spearmint
  • Sweet potato vine

I like a mix of short, tall and trailing which, when grown and filled in over the next couple of months, will give me an attractive box of color and interest when I'm on the inside of that window doing the mundane chores, such as washing dishes. 


It looks a bit wishy-washy right now but, wait another 
month or so, hopefully then it will be really pretty when 
full, and the trailers dangling and disguising the bare box.


I love these yellow petunias - have planted them in a 
large decorative pot in the front garden.



Linking to Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for 
A Favorite Thing Saturday.

We arrived in Philadelphia late this afternoon, welcomed 
by beautiful sunshine and comfortable temps. We appreciate 
your kind words and prayers wishing Bob's mother well 
again. She was discharged from hospital so we'll be 
visiting her in the nursing home section of her assisted 
living facility Saturday morning.

19 comments:

  1. I am loving that window box, and I got so tickled at that shot of your husband with that pitchfork. LOL You must have had a blast at the garden store!

    XO,

    Sheila

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  2. It's that wonderful time of year, when colour seems to be exploding everywhere. I intend to spend tomorrow on hands and knees digging and weeding - *bliss*

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  3. I cant believe Bob wore out his garden fork Mary. How many holes are you making the poor man dig? :)

    Have a glorious weekend of gardening fun.

    Paul

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  4. The first Spring visit to a garden centre is always exciting! Your window box will look lovely in a few weeks, full of colour.
    Hope all is going well with your visit.

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  5. It's such an exciting time, creating little gardens in pots and waiting for the explosion of colour and form.
    Your window box looks lovely Mary - I hope you remember to show us a photo in 6 weeks time!
    I've just planted my primula and pansy pots at the front door - still waiting for the white primula flowers.
    Shane ♥

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  6. Good Morning Mary, What do we Brits do, the moment there is a hint of spring and the sun shines.....why a trip to the garden centre of course....glad to see you have not lost your enthusiasm for buying plants when Spring arrives.
    Interestingly enough, it is Sadie, my mother-in-law's 83rd birthday today and we are off to the garden centre!
    I love petunias as they grow so prolifically throughout the summer. The African daisies are gorgeous and I love the fact that they open and close with the sun.
    I have enjoyed my visit Mary and I have become a new follower. I know you have visited me before at Ivy, Phyllis and Me! because I remember how you said you enjoyed marmalade....when you have time, pop back to visit, it would be lovely to see you again.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  7. A hubby who gardens and has a sense of humor ~ you lucky lady. Ha! I'm sure that helps to make the garden chores much more fun.
    I, too, would count that first trip to the garden center as a favorite thing. We haven't done so yet, but if the rain holds off we will be there this weekend.
    Your window box is looking very pretty already. Love your color combination. Sounds like it is in an ideal location to be enjoyed often as you go about your kitchen chores.
    Glad to hear that your mother-in-law is out of the hospital. Enjoy your visit.

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  8. It is going to be gorgeous Mary. I love shopping for my container plants. I like to go alone, without Kent, because he is always in such a hurry. So I will go out Monday morning, early. Monday mornings are less crowded and I can take my time wandering the isles and smelling the wonderful scents. This monday it is suppose to rain, but hopefully it will hold out until I am finished.
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  9. I love your window box and the colours you have chosen. I have two window boxes that I hang on the railing of our back deck and I can enjoy the beautiful flowers from the kitchen and dining room windows. I watch the butterflies and hummingbirds there as well. We won't be visiting the greenhouse for another month here. Hard to believe isn't it? Such a difference in the planting zones from there to here. It's going to be a beautiful week ahead for us with sunshine and temperatures in the 60's F. I'm glad your mother-in-law is doing better. Thinking of you as you visit. Hugs, Pamela

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  10. Our favorite things are very similar this week, Mary! Best wishes for your mother-in-law's recovery, and safe travels to you and your husband.

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  11. I love a man that wears out his tools! :)

    Your window box is going to look stunning. I like your choice of flowers and plants. Soon I will be out with the throngs to stock up myself!

    XO,
    Jane

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  12. Mary, spring is such a magical season for me too. I love visiting the garden centers, taking in all the tables filled with lovely offerings. I've been working in the garden for weeks and enjoying every minute. Wish we could share an afternoon in each other's gardens, dear friend. ~ Sarah

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  13. Dear, I've been thinking of you... Hope things are well with Bob's mom. I've been praying for her. Love to you all ~ Vanessa

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  14. Mary, I love that window box. 2 weekends ago I made up my front porch window boxes and they are looking wonderful now. Next weekend I am going out to find a lemon tree and a few more plants for the front perennial garden I am making. I also am going to line the front walk with lavendar!

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  15. And i've been garden shopping at a fabulous place called Barton Grange in my home county of Lancashire, England - with my other dear old friend of 68 years. All the same "stuff" is going on in England Mar, except we are lucky to get to 50 degrees F!!!! It's more like cold blustery winter here, but everyone getting ready to do their gardens if/when spring arrives.

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  16. Garden shopping is one of my favorite things to do, too! Haven't done any this year and I think it's too early for my impatiens to have arrived. I'm going home for a few days this week and I'll weed the beds, but that will be about it. Your window box is very, very pretty!

    Get well wishes to Bob's mother, I will keep her in my thoughts.

    Thanks so much for joining in this week!

    xo
    Claudia

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  17. Certainly have been to the garden centre, Mary and sowing seeds in tiny trays to propagate for the potager. Like you I really love this time of year when we can finally get out and get some dirt on our hands. Your window box looks lovely already and I'm sure will be even lovelier in a few weeks time.

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  18. Such a lovely windowbox. Yes, it will soon fill out and I hope you'll show us another photo later on. Going to the garden center is kind of a dangerous thing for me - I go with a list but come home with far more. All the plants are so inspiring.

    I had not heard about Bob's mother - am catching up on posts this evening. I hope she continues to improve.

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  19. Your windowbox is just lovely.
    We are beginning to gather plants for the garden now too.
    There are geraniums, petunias, delphiniums, and more. Off this coming Saturday for the big plant sale at the fair grounds. We always come home with things we hadn't planned. I just love this time of year. Happy Gardening!

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