The Leaves

The weekend after Thanksgiving is the time I normally rake the yard of falls bounty of leaves. Surprised to find soil frozen in containers. Probably no bulb planting today. After I removed leaves from the flower beds the soil was still soft but bulb planting will wait for today. Maybe next weekend if the weather allows. We've still been having rain and of course our first snow storm that came and went.

Tomatoes removed above the ground but couldn't pull the roots since the soil is frozen.

Can't kill that vinca.

Fall mushrooms, a first. They must be poisonous because with all the wild life in the yard, they're not eaten. They were hard to remove although they look delicate.

Loss a variegated boxwood and 2 rhododendrons due to all the rain we had this season.

This type of rhododendron were supposed to be hard to my area but I thought they were evergreen. I'll wait to see what they do in spring.

Indoor Bulbs

Paper whites making progress. All 4 blooms have opened on the amaryllis. The first bloom to open last week is starting to fade. Such beauty for so short a time. It's been frigid in Philadelphia the last 2 days but I need to start raking up the leaves in my yard and start planting bulbs before the ground freezes.

Watching Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Memories of childhood at home with my siblings waiting for Christmas.

Have to remember to check on hyacinths being forced in the cellar in the dark. It's time to take down my corn stalks. Time seems to move faster with age. It'll be spring again soon. But not to soon. I'd like to enjoy the winter.

Blessings on Thanksgiving

Preparing to set the table for dinner.

Seven up pound cake and sweet potato pie for dessert.

In Time For Thanksgiving

Amaryllis Black Pearl. I was expecting it to be darker in color. Started October 20th, 2018.

One more flower stalk coming up.

Coming along slowly. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

She's a beautiful girl.

Veterans Day

Thank you for your service all who have and currently serve.  Veterans Day was yesterday but we celebrate it today in the USA. I 've always believed that serving in the military takes special kinds of people. The type I was not. To be prepared to lay down ones life to defend your country takes special people. Like my brother, sister, grandfather, uncles, and aunts who have served. This morning I dropped off thank you cards to family, so little for so much done. Roses for my sister and finally the saffron crocus for my brother. All planted and developing roots already. If he gets saffron I'll buy more in the fall so he can harvest a good supply. Saffron is expensive but the bulbs are not. Now to protect them from squirrels this winter.

My first fire on Saturday. It was a cold but beautiful day.

The mammoth amaryllis was asking to be planted. The flower stalk started to emerge weeks ago. I'll put it in a cache pot later which is heavier for more support. With that sized bulb how blooms will I get? Waiting patiently with excitement. Maybe by Christmas.

Started paper whites also with many more to start once I wash out containers.

Beautiful lily blooms for the house.