Kaseys Korner

Into the Light Thomas

A very personal and sad post today, one I prayed desperately I wouldn't have to write.

A while back I posted (after a blogging break) that I had been absent because I was trying to help a family member with an alcohol addiction. That person was my beloved youngest brother.  It was just about two years to this day, that I even learned he was an alcoholic.   Talk about being caught utterly off guard.   That revelation upended and unbalanced my life.  It marked a point of "no return" so to speak because, I have since learned, there is NO GOING BACK to the life that once was, after it is impacted this way.  

Tragically he lost his battle and his life last night to the disease.

He was brilliant, a highly accomplished Optometrist and a sensitive, good & kind Human Being (among many other attributes.)  I loved him so very much and will miss him every day for the rest of my life.  I can honestly say I've never disliked anything more than I now do drug & alcohol addiction.  The senseless way it takes so many lives every year and how helpless it makes those who love the person addicted is absolutely frustrating and downright cruel.   I don't know what other methods can be developed to deal with this issue but the options currently available are horribly inadequate.  One stint in rehab is rarely enough.  My brother entered three different rehabs in the last year and a half of his life but none of them ever came close to changing his habits.  As many of you are all too aware, he is not alone in that outcome.

Now my brother, my friend, is gone.  My loss = his peace.  The one person I thought I would go thru life with has left a monumental void, one I am certain I do not even fully realize yet.  I have no choice but to take comfort in and believe that he is now bathed in Eternal Light & Love, unencumbered by the demons of this earthly world.  Otherwise the grief would be too much to bear.  Farewell dear Thomas, until we meet again, I always loved you and always will.  

'Apricot' Parrot Tulip

Some blooms deserve their own post.

'Apricot' Parrot Tulip ~ case in point.

The colors are absolutely SPECTACULAR.  

A phenomenal blending...

I have to say, as happy as I am with the photos, it's even more beautiful in person.

love, love, love

Stop by and see it, if you can.  It's worth it, I promise. 

Never want to be without this T.U.L.I.P....  :)

 

Viewing the garden at ground level

I often wonder how to keep the blog "fresh" and photos "exciting" when so many of us (gardeners) have the same plants in bloom at the SAME time.  

Above:  'Big Chief' Tulips in front of vintage iron urn

I was thinking about that again this week when I decided to try a new tactic ~ taking all the images for this post from ground level.

It certainly added a fun twist for me, positioning myself around the garden in an effort to achieve those results!

Above:  Tulip 'Leen van der Mark' and below:  'Apricot' Parrot Tulip

Tulips were a favorite subject since so many are in bloom right now ~ 'Apricot' Parrot

and double 'Orange Princess' are two I'm particularly fond of:

Some views I couldn't help taking multiples of...

and yes, I know ~nothing is quite centered in the photo above.   I can't always explain why I like certain angles!

I was about to get up when I happened to look up and noticed the bright green leaves of the Aspen were kind of pretty:

The only shot not from ground level ~

Virginia Bluebells, just beginning to bloom among the toadstools.

I like them in bud form every bit as much as in bloom.  Some plants are like that for me.

This clump expands a bit every year and is compliments of Shady Gardener.  Every year when it comes up, I think of her & appreciate her generosity.  

Above:  Double Narcissi 'Flower Parade'  ~ one of only two doubles currently in the garden.

Viola 'Tiger Eyes' ~ striking against an overcast sky.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) started blooming last week.

Above:  Tulip 'Mascotte' in the front urn

Narcissi 'Dreamlight' ~ dirt spattered by the rain.

and that, my friends, is all I managed to capture for you.  It was a feat to get these, it started raining on Wednesday & continued thru Saturday.  Today was the first day, in four days, without a drop.  The ground is so saturated (with much needed moisture) ~ I wonder what I was thinking picking now (of all times) to try this little experiment??!!!  lol

What do you do (or does it matter) to keep your photos/posts fresh???

 

Chaenomeles x superba 'Cameo'

the loveliest double-flowering Salmon colored Quince:

It makes my heart flutter...

H

How about yours??  

I've never grown Quince before but I found this one on the White Flower Farm website, and as it was that "most-perfect-of-colors" ~ before I knew it, one was in my basket, ordered and on it's way!  Click the link and it will take you straight there.  Hardy to Zone 5, I plan to keep it pruned on the smaller side.  Fruit is a deliciously lovely side benefit.

Above:  Arrived in a good size container, laden with blooms.  :)

I am a happy gardener.

Look what else is about to bloom!  Peony 'Silver Dawn Mix'

A Peony that blooms so early, it often gets killed back by frost.  I'm hoping that's not the case this year!

Flowers in shades of apricot, pink & yellow ~ this bud looks pink!!  

Even tho I added "Silver Dawn Mix' to the garden three years ago, the above bloom (from last year) is the only one I've ever seen.  The rest have been frozen before they had a chance to get this far.  Maybe 2015 is the year it's (and my) luck changes??

Elsewhere in the garden, new growth can be found every day.  

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' growing thru the antique steam grate.

Exactly how I envisioned.

The idea was for the grate to keep it from flopping ~ perhaps impossible considering it's sprawling habit but a girl can try, right?

A few seeds & tubers have been started.

Zinnia 'Queen Red Lime' because I can never find plants anymore and it's one of my favorite annuals.

Plus the Dahlia tubers (overwintered from last year)

All are showing vigorous growth, unfortunately the paper tags (used to label them last fall) disintegrated over the winter & now who knows which tuber is which.  I will not make that mistake again because I like to know what I'm planting where.

April is the month I call "In and Out" because I am always hauling tender plants & seedlings (like the Dahlias & Zinnias) outdoors (when it's nice) then back inside when it freezes.  It's a lot of effort but the plants grow so much sturdier outside then I can ever achieve indoors.  

It's also Tulip Season.  After all the drama I created, ranting about how there weren't going to be any tulips because of the rabbits, I have been proved wrong!  It looks as if quite a few were spared (although chewed foliage is visible everywhere in the garden & photo above)

There are times it's good to be wrong and this is definitely one of them!  

However; now they've moved on to the lilies!  I'll spare you another of my "fits" tho because maybe it will be for naught too....  Fingers crossed.

Above & Below:  Tulip 'Sensual Touch"

Other than taking photos, not a lot was accomplished in the garden this week.  Butterball (our Lhasa) developed an abscess under one of his eyes & a trip to the Animal Eye Clinic ensued.  He's kept me busy ever since with twice/day pills and drops.  It looks like it's improving now but I cannot even tell you how gross an abscess is when popped.  Oh my.  We'll return for a follow-up this week & hopefully all will  be good.

Above:  Fringed Tulip 'Mascotte'

The last activity of the week involved chasing Grackles.  They arrived two weeks ago & once again, want to take over my little garden.  I keep fighting the battle to keep them out but I'm not sure who's winning?  It feels like them.  They are SO very persistent.  *sigh*

During one of my chases I spied a Robin starting a nest in the overgrown 'Sea Green' Juniper (Juniperus x media 'Sea Green')  I had planned to have it pruned but I think I'll cancel until she's done.  Signs of spring abound....  

Now all the silly chases have to stop because I NEED to finish my taxes!!!  Until next week....

 

 

 

 

'Frizzle Sizzle' Pansy Basket

If you've been looking for my usual Sunday post, my apologies ~ 

because of Easter, I'm running a day late.

Yesterday slipped away from me & by the time I caught my breath, I was too tired to blog ~ imagine that!

Above:  Easter tree

We were blessed with a beautiful Easter day & I hosted a small brunch (which could have been served outdoors) that lasted from 12 - 5:30!  I think that means it was successful??!

With all the entertaining I've been doing lately, I knew I had to keep this holiday simple.  So I served a cheesy Potato casserole that I have to say was pretty tasty, plus mimosa's, a homemade apple pastry & fresh fruit.  I found the casserole recipe on Pinterest (of course!) along with my table favors:

I love, love, love the colored Ball canning jars ~ green is my favorite although the blue is pretty awesome too!!  I thought it was such a darling idea & easy too ~ just my style!  A little pink Easter grass in the bottom with a 3.5 oz Lindt bunny nestled into that.  On Pinterest, the bunny was unwrapped but I thought my guests might appreciate it if I didn't handle their chocolate!!

Above:  A second version with a hazelnut chocolate carrot & 1.5 oz bunny.

Before the holiday, I managed to fit in a quick trip to the greenhouse, hoping to find some 'Frizzle Sizzle' pansies and guess what?  Luck was on my side!

These are my absolute favorite pansies and exactly the pop of Spring color I was looking for...

I know I've raved on and on about them in previous posts so I promise not to go into all their virtues now.

Not that it would be necessary anyway, they pretty much speak for themselves.  :)

'Frizzle Sizzle' pansies come in a variety of colors but the yellow/blue mix is hands-down the one I always gravitate toward.

In the garden, I've done a bit more clean up but mostly I've been moving things around, trying to give it & my containers a fresh "look" this season.  Keeping in mind the new motto "easy but different," of course!

I found a little Arabella table to put where I usually use an antique ladder.  I think it's perfect for this spot and I know I will enjoy arranging many seasonal vignettes on its top.

I also figured out the heavy antique iron planter, that usually holds my orchids, is exactly the right fit for three black urns (found on clearance a few years ago from Home Depot.)

I normally use the urns randomly around the garden but I am liking this arrangement ~ what do you think??  The only decision now, what to use as fillers....

In the garden, Primula 'veris' (cowslip) is blooming:

Hyacinth 'Firelights' (in bud the last post) has opened:

Along with more and more daffodil varieties ~ below is 'Dreamlight:'

A truly stunning variety.

As is 'Lemon Glow' ~ in a more subtle way.

Above:  unknown variety.  

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and just think (happy thought of the day) even if we get a little cold or snow now (shudder), the garden will continue coming to life.  There's no turning back now ~ the season is "ON!"