Mid-May Flowers

It's "tulip season" - the third spring "season" described by a local plant expert I heard speak a few weeks ago. (The first two are "crocus season" and "daffodil season.")

At this time in spring, the bleeding heart is still blooming.

The Euphorbia (or cushion spurge) I bought a few years ago has a mass of flowers.

And the lovely anemones (or windflowers) have surprised me with their cheery blooms.

(And, of course, it's dandelion season, too!)

I still have a few tulips in the back yard, where it's shadier - but the ones in my front yard are gone. (Perhaps the squirrels helped them along.)

But a few miles - or kilometers - away from our house, Ottawa's famous tulips are still in full bloom.

Unwanted... Unloved.. Dandelions!

This is dandelion season. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to dig them up with my usual fervor, so Terry will have to mow them down!

But I have been wondering about the dandelion's medicinal properties after discovering a dandelion salve recipe.

(Maybe I should pick them instead?!)

So I did some online research and came up with nothing definitive - though one thoughtful herbalist commented that they are best known for the ornamental value of their bright yellow flowers.

Ornamental value?! Not in our neighborhood! None of our neighbors would consider them anything but a hated garden pest!

First Barbeque of the Season

Summer must be here...

Last night we had our first barbecue of the season!
















 

On the grill... burgers and zucchini - two of our favorites!

It tasted great... (Why does food cooked outdoors always taste better?!)

My compliments to the chef!

Looking forward to a long barbecuing season ahead!

Filling Up the Planters

I filled two outdoor pots with small geraniums a few days ago...

But they looked skimpy. (I know they will grow and fill out in time, but...)










 

Time to harvest some indoor plants to remedy the situation!

This one is lovely but it is getting too long... Maybe some cuttings can be added to each pot.














 How about a tiny new spider plant offshoot in each pot?! They usually do well outdoors.

There! The pots look fuller now...

Hope the new plants take root before squirrels start digging in the pots - which they inevitably will!

(Do I need to add some rocks to deter them?!)

Homemade Dandelion Salve?

Dandelion season is here...

Digging them out occupies hours of my gardening time every year. And with a field of dandelions next door, there is no end in sight!

Is it time to look on my gardening scourge in a new light? I read a while back that dandelions aren't native to North America. They were brought here by pioneers who planted them for medicinal purposes.

Maybe I should try harvesting them... for salve. (I don't stomach the thought of using the greens in a salad, another common use.)

The magazine Montana Homesteader, ran an article last year on how to made dandelions salve. It looks easy enough. The main ingredients are dandelion flowers, olive oil, coconut oil and bees wax. (I wonder if I could substitute melted Vaseline for the bees wax?!)

It's supposed to cure aching muscles... (Hmmm... Don't have those very often...) But maybe I'll give it a try!

Cat Soap

It's hard to use a gift like this cute cat soap... (Even when the vendor claims it retains its original shape even when worn down with use.)

When my son started to use this Christmas gift, I decided it needed a special "bed" (or dish) in the bathroom!

I'm always happy to find good use for my small pottery pieces!

Happy Birthday, Terry!

Today is Terry's birthday. We don't do a lot to celebrate family birthdays - unless everyone happens to be home. We will probably have a low-key celebration this year...

But a few years ago, we were able to bring family and friends together to celebrate a milestone birthday. Too bad that can't happen every year. Every year is a milestone!

That year we had a wonderful evening together, in Montreal. Some of us hadn't seen each other in years.

The party was a surprise for Terry. Afterwards he couldn't stop smiling for days!

Some people like to forget their age, but my new motto is: "Life is short! Celebrate more!"