May Blooms

The garden has finally started to come alive the past few weeks and even though the harsh winter took it's toll on my garden, most of it survived.

 It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day again and I'm happy to share some of my blooms with you.

I'll start with my tulips and daffodils. I love this combination of  Tulip 'Christmas Marvel' and Daffodil 'Thalia'.

Tulip 'Angelique'

If there is one spring flower that I wish I had many more of, it's tulips. I just lose too many of them to the critters but I can't resist planting a few every fall.

These are the last of the daffodils. Not sure of the name.

I am loving the miniature flowers you can buy these days. These mini irises stand about 6 inches tall and bloom earlier than the tall ones. So cute!

Another favorite is bleeding hearts. Usually the pink ones bloom at the same time but they are behind this year. I'll try to post some next month.

I lost a lot of my forget-me-nots this winter. Enough remain to hopefully reseed themselves again.

Primroses

Variegated Solomon's Seal

Epimedium Rubrum also known as Red Barrenwort. 

The heart-shaped leaves of this plant have a red tinge which turns to bronze in the fall. The blooms may be small, however the whole plant makes an impact in a woodland garden. This plant can be used as a ground cover. I love the foliage on this plant just as much as the flowers. I will definitely be adding more Epimediums to my shade garden.   

 Heuchera 'Little Cutie Sweet Tart'

Virginia Bluebells are almost done blooming.

Pulmonaria 'Majeste' 

 Dogwoods are in bloom......

and the Crabapples are just done.

They were so beautiful this year.

To see more gardens in bloom head over to May Dreams.

Springtime Favorites

SPRING.....truly the best time of the year! I'm loving it even more than ever after the winter we've endured although I'm starting to wonder if we are going to have a summer this year. The cold just persists!

Every chance I get I love walking through the garden to see what new things have come up. It changes almost daily. Now if it would just warm up a little and a good dose of sunshine would really help, this girl would be really happy!

Here are some of the things I look forward to the most every spring.

H. First Frost

I always anticipate those first hosta pips emerging from the ground. I love the bright spring colors of the hostas, before the yellows fade to cream or turn green.

H. Winsome

 

Ferns

I love watching ferns awaken in the spring. They remind me of little seahorses! I've never tried it but they say fiddleheads are delicious sautéed in a little olive oil. I think I would rather enjoy my ferns in the garden.

 

Virginia Bluebells

The Virginia Bluebells are just starting to bloom. Probably my favorite springtime bloom.

These bloom for a few weeks then they go dormant so you might want to mark the spot so you don't mistakenly dig them up when planting annuals.

Trillium

 

The first tulips opening.

 

Bluebirds nesting are high on my list.

 

Baltimore Orioles

 

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

 

I always make a note on my calendar when the Orioles return each year. This year the Orioles, Hummingbirds, and Grosbeaks all came back on the same day. So far the Grosbeaks have not nested here but move on after a few days, but I always hope someday they will decide to stick around for the summer.

 

I have several pairs of Orioles that nest here but this male has done nothing the last few days but sit on my window sills pecking on the glass. The females arrive a few days after the males so hopefully they get here soon. He probably thinks his reflection is competition.

 

Love Hummingbirds!

 

 

Fairy Gardens.

 It been too wet to work in the garden so I've been working on my fairy gardens. I try to do a few every year slowly adding to my collection. I especially love fairy gardens in my hypertufa planters. I will do a post on these when I get them done.

 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day April 2014

Its finally that time of the year! I've been waiting and dreaming all winter of spring, and what a brutal cold, long, winter it has been here in the northeast.
On the 15th of each month, gardeners from all over the world share a few bloom photos on their blogs. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to participate in April's bloom day but a few things are finally appearing.

Hellebores are usually the first flower to bloom in my garden. I've had these bloom as early as late January or February during a mild winter.

 

They are really pretty this year. Hoping the colder weather and possibly snow this week doesn't affect them. Yes....I said snow. I'm not too happy about that!

 

 

 

 

Even the crocuses were reluctant to make an early appearance. I always thought crocuses were supposed to naturalize? It seems like I have fewer every year but maybe the voles are getting them. I guess it's time to replenish them.

 

Striped Squill

 

Hyacinth

 

My daffodils started blooming just in time for bloom day. They literally opened up overnight. 

 

 There was a time when daffodils didn't do anything for me, but I have so much trouble with the critters eating my tulips I've started planting more daffodils. Now I look forward to their cheerful appearance every spring.

 

 

 

 

The Star Magnolia is just starting to bloom. I'd better enjoy the blooms while I can because it won't take the cold weather.

 

Happy Spring!

 

Linking to: May Dreams Garden

Orange Supreme Pie

Do you love oranges? Do you love pie? Have you ever considered making an Orange Pie?

Seriously?

I didn't either but when I saw a picture of an Orange Pie on-line, and loving all things citrus, I knew was going to make that pie.

 When my sister gave me some oranges fresh from Florida this week, I remembered that Orange Pie. I found two recipes but this one had a cream cheese filling in it and cream cheese has never let me down.

This pie is a citrusy slice of spring! The cream cheese and oranges make such a lovely combination.

Wouldn't this pie look beautiful on your Easter dinner table? And I bet most of your guests have never had Orange Pie before. It's absolutely delicious and so refreshing!

Orange Supreme Pie

Orange Filling: 1 1/4 cups water 1 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. clear-jel 1 tsp. orange Kool-Aid 3 oranges, peeled and membrane removed. Cut in small pieces and drain off the juice. additional 1/2 cup cold water Bring 1 /1/4 cups water to a boil. Mix together sugar, clear jel, and Kool-Aid. Add 1/2 cup cold water to the sugar mixture and stir. Pour into boiling water, stirring as it cooks. Remove from heat after it thickens. Cool completely. Stir in orange pieces. Cream Cheese mixture: 4 oz. cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 8 oz. Cool Whip Mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add cool whip.  Pour into baked pie crust. Top with orange filling. printablerecipe This makes a large 9 inch deep dish pie or possibly 2 small pies. I had extra orange filling that didn't fit in the pie so I just spooned it over my slice of pie. Enjoy! Linking to: Buns in my Oven: Fluster Buster: Whip it up Wednesday: Made by me Wednesday: Kitchen Fun: Country Cook: Foodie Friday: Cooking with Ruthie: Six Sisters Stuff

Snack Bars

 

Every year a group of cousins in my family take a fun-filled bus trip to a neighboring state. These bars have been brought along frequently by a cousin-in-law and they are so good I asked if I could have the recipe. It's kind of a cross between a rice crispy treat and a cereal bar. Whatever they are, I just know I love them!

You can substitute other cereals for the ones listed. I threw in some Cheerios which weren't included in the recipe.

 

Snack Bars

2 1/2 cups pretzel sticks, broken in half 2 cups corn chex 2 cups honeynut chex 5 cups mini marshmallows 1/2 cup butter 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 1 1/2 cups mini m+ms (add at the very end so they don't melt)   Melt butter, marshmallows, and peanut butter over low heat. Pour over the rest of the ingredients except m+ms. Stir until everything is covered. Let it cool a little before you add your m+ms or they will melt. Press into a 9x13 pan. printablerecipe Pile them high on a plate if you are going eat them right away...... or wrap them individually for longer storage.   Linking to: The Country Cook: Foodie Friday: Diana Rambles