A Shade Loving Native Woodland Plant - Foamflower

This is another pretty little native flower blooming right now.

It's common name in Ontario is Foamflower, and it's botanical name is Tiarella,

T. cordifolia.

It's only about 6 - 8 inches tall, with soft green leaves that are reminiscent of a geranium.

It's lovely dainty white flowers certainly make it suit it's name! They almost look like a ton of tiny orchids!

The pollinators love it, possibly because there's not much blooming yet, hence not much choice, with the exception of other native plants blooming now, and of course, my perennials are very slow to show themselves this year, due to so much rain and lack of hot weather. I think many people out there can relate.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by! Here's hoping for lots of sunshine and warm temps this week for all of us.

Happy Gardening : )

Plant Tags for seedlings - When you're in a pinch : )

As I started potting up some seeds tonight, I realized I didn't have anything to tag them with. I'm starting some Teddy Bear Sunflowers, Genovese Basil, Cilantro, and a few other herbs, which I'd like to sell at the farmers market eventually, so I looked high and low for my popsicle sticks but couldn't find them anywhere.

What I did find were some clothes pins. I'm not using them right now, since presently, it's bloody awful weather to hang clothes out on the line, so I improvised and used them as labels instead!

Many people have likely already came up with this idea, but if not, and you're in a pinch, pardon the pun, they work just great! I've read that many people use old window blinds, which are cut up and used as labels, too. That's another good idea which I saw on Twitter during #gardenchat.

Have a good weekend, and Happy Gardening!

Starflower - A Native for Flowering Friday

This little flower is growing alongside my driveway, in a very shady spot. Some dappled sunlight later in the afternoon, but that's about it. It's called a Starflower, Trientalis borealis. A really pretty bloom!
It's growing in a little clump in a few areas around the garden, wherever it's shady. It's a member of the Primrose family. I really like the foliage, too! A very pretty bright green, as you can see. It's about 5 inches tall, and the span from one leaf tip to the other is about 8 or so inches across. One of my favourite native species!
Happy Flowering Friday!

Wordless Wednesday - Heirloom Tomato Plants

Blooming Friday @ Wall Flower Studio

Clematis alpina "Constance'. Taking over the tree. But I don't mind!

Pretty Red Trillums - Ontario's Provincial flower. Well, the white ones are, but I just love this colour! Something has been eating it, too.

This Columbine is just about to bloom. It's seeded itself in our driveway, just beside the rock garden. The variety is "Coral Star". Every year the clump gets larger.

Pretty Blue Muscari.
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That's it for today! The bugs (blackflies) are out for blood, so I'm staying inside for a while, packing seeds for tomorrow's opening of the Kinmount Farmers Market, where I have a booth to pedal my garden wares! If you're in the area, drop by and say hello! Lots of great local vendors. Have a great weekend! : )

Heirloom Peas Sprouting

Happy to see these heirloom peas coming up! The variety is "Golden Sweet" and they've been around since the 1600's. I think they're quite rare, too. And talk about your old varieties! One of my favourites, and they taste really good. Perfect fresh or dried for use in soups. They have a pretty light purple flower, too. The Hummingbirds and other pollinators love them. : )

It may seem a bit late in some parts of North America to just have peas sprouting now, but it's been a cool, wet Spring here in Ontario. They should do really well! Fingers crossed!
Thanks for visiting & Happy Gardening!

Spring Flowers - Blooming Now - In the Rain

Tiny White Violets - That's an oxymoron, isn't it?!
Daffodils are still blooming because it's been cool.

The Alpine Clematis is just beginning to bloom. My favourite!

Planted some more Genovese Basil. You can never have enough Basil in the kitchen!

Forget-Me-Nots. Another personal favourite. I let them grow wherever they choose!

Lots of wee purple violets in the lawn. I let them grow everywhere, too. So dainty!

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Well, this is just a pictoral post. I've been busy getting ready for 2 different Farmers Markets in our area. Snapped these pictures today in the rain. Did it as quickly as possible since the blackflies are out in full force. Even my cats didn't want to go outside!

Have a good day! Thanks for stopping by : )

Get Cracking - Sow Some #Seeds : )

It occurred to me tonight while making an Egg dish for dinner, that the egg shells might make good containers to start seeds in.
I didn't have a whole carton, but used what I had to plant up Parsley, English Thyme, and Chioggia Beets, which are a favorite heirloom of mine.

So, people will either think I'm nuts, or they'll think its a good idea! Maybe a bit of both?!

But really. I throw eggshells in my garden anyways, so why not plant them up first? Thought it was worth a try. We'll see how it grows!

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Thanks for stopping by! Happy Gardening : )

Guerrilla Gardening - Green Seed Balls @ Wall Flower Studio

Green coloured recycled paper pulp Seed Balls - Packaged in a reusable organza bag!

Pulp mixture and seeds - I roll up the seed balls one by one!

On the racks drying.

A closer look

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I love making seed balls. This is another kind I've started making. Recycled Paper Seed Balls. They work exactly the same way as the other clay and soil seed balls I create.

Am pleased to say they've been very popular in my Etsy Shop!

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Green Seed Balls, made from recycled paper, mixed with a bit of dry clay and of course, a whole lot of seeds.

Seed balls are a way for distributing and protecting seeds by encasing them in the mixture of clay and compost. Seed balls are used for seeding dry, thin, and compacted soils, and were invented by guerrilla gardeners to reclaim derelict land. They are an effective tool for re-vegetation and are great for areas where rainfall is unpredictable.
Seed balls are scattered directly on the ground. They are not planted. They can be chucked over a fence! One of the biggest advantages of using seed balls is that you can scatter them on the ground without digging a hole or cultivating the soil.
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Imagine strolling through town with a bag of these balls, tossing them on barren and unsightly areas, without even needing to break your stride. Very Johnny Appleseed!

They dry rather quickly, and all you have to do is throw them to grow them!

Lots of fun for Guerrilla Gardeners of all ages : )

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Thanks for visiting!

An Unknown Native Wildflower

It's very dainty, this little native flower. It's growing right in the moss on the hill, but also grows in the grass along the side of the house, too. Actually, there's literally thousands of them everywhere! Very pretty, but I have no clue as to what they are.

It stands about 4 " tall, and the flower is only about an inch in diameter.

Lovely white little blossom with light purple stripes.

If anyone can tell me what it is, I'd be grateful! Have tried looking it up, to no avail. They're growing amidst the Trout Lilies. Will have to post a picture of them, too. They're all starting to bloom on the hill behind our house.

Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday - A Verandah Vignette

Succulents in Containers and Hypertufa

Well, I couldn't resist plucking some Hen's & Chicks from the garden and potting them up.

I added some pretty rocks and seashells that I've collected along my travels, just to fill in, at least until the hens & chicks do that themselves.

I may also add some mosses around them, too, just to add a finished look.

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Doing this put me in mind of Hypertufa containers.

That's the next thing I really want to make. I now have all the materials, so I'm looking forward to creating some, now that the weather is more amiable!

Likely many of you may have heard of Hypertufa, but if not, here's a little synopsis about them.

Hypertufa containers are wonderful for displaying rock-garden plants, alpines, or succulents.

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Hypertufa is made from Portland cement, sphagnum moss, perlite, and water.

You mix it all together and create containers from that mix, usually by using a mold or something to make the form of a container. This combination of materials creates a porous container, similar to limestone, which makes them strong, but light weight.

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So, another post for another time. It's going to take a couple of weeks to make them, but I'll post some pictures when all is said and done!

Hoping the hypertufa will age gracefully, collecting a patina of mosses and lichens, and I may just rub some yogurt on the hypertufa, just to speed this process up!

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Thanks for visiting!

Red Colours In the Garden - And the Moon, too!

Lots of red in the garden, and nothing except the Daffs are blooming!

The Creeping Jenny is also red, but I forgot to take a picture.

My husband took that shot of the Red Maple with the moon behind it. The trees look magnificent, bursting forth like that.

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Thanks for visiting! Have a great week. : )

Mother's Day Wishes - From Wall Flower Studio

Sweet William and Carnations were my Mom's favorite flowers. She liked what we might call the old fashioned flowers. Daisies were another of her favourites, too!

She passed away seven years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long since I've heard the sound of her voice. I still miss her as much today as I did the day we lost her. She was the mortar between the bricks, as it were.

The night she passed away was the only time I saw a Luna Moth. It was outside on the hospital wall, sitting in the light of the lamp. I've yet to see one since, and have since read, (if you'll humour me with this), that when you see a Luna Moth, it's supposed to mean that a soul is being taken to another place or dimension. Whatever you want to call that dimension makes no difference to me.


So, whenever I see a butterfly or a moth, and especially when I see the Sweet William blooming, with a butterfly on it, I think of my Mom.

Hoping everyone out there is honouring and spoiling their's today. Our Moms deserve it!

Happy Mother's Day!

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Sunny Daffodils Blooming Now

Many people have asked me why I don't plant more Tulips. I adore Tulips. There are some around my garden. I actually have a real liking for the turkistanica "Tarda" variety, which are very small, but I plant Daffodils in the lawn because of the deer. They don't touch them.

I would love to include more Tulips and naturalize them in the lawn too, but they would be eaten up like a buffet, quicker than you can say "sneezebar". ; )

And really, you just can't beat Daffs for brightening up even the dullest of Spring days.

They almost seem to have sunny yellow smiles! The cups look like trumpets, heralding the arrival of Spring.

Happy Gardening!

Blooming Friday, Other Sprouts In the Garden & a Bear Visit, too!

Sunny Daffodils blooming now!

Clematis alpina "Constance" foliage sprouting.

Sweet William whorls of foliage.

Oh, and a visiting Bear ; )

Lady's Mantle. I love this plant. Such pretty foliage.

Pretty contrasting colours on the Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks)

Popped outside to see what was unfurling in the garden. Snapped the above photos to share. The Bear came around this morning. I was inside.. Always a good thing when they visit! I think it was a male as he was by himself. No cubs to report.

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Well, that's about it for today! I've been rather busy in my Etsy shop. Lot's of sales and shipping keeps me off the computer lately. I'm not complaining, but am missing my garden friends!

Hope all is well with everyone! Happy Gardening & Have a good weekend, too.

Gardening Under Glass - Terrariums are Back in Style

This Begonia ended up in the Terrarium. Thinking it will thrive better under glass.

Finished product - I used a large apothecary jar with lid. Worked great!

I purchased (above), this 70's (?) terrarium at our local second hand store here in Haliburton. Unfortunately, it leaks a bit, so I'll have to calk it before I can plant it. Not a problem, tho'. For 5 bucks, I don't mind!
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I added a layer of pebbles, then a layer of charcoal. (This can be found at most pet stores).
A bit of soil on top, the the moss all around the perimeter of the jar. Then I added the begonia, and a bit more soil. Next came the wee decorations!
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Lot's of fun! Any jar will do. Thinking this would be a fun project for kids, too! You don't even need plants, really. Just some moss and perhaps other finds from the forest floor. Pinecones and cherished rocks!
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Thanks for dropping by! Happy (indoor) Gardening.