How Time Flies!

What's been going on in the past three months to keep me from blogging? Whole bunches of travel and fun and of course, since it's summer, I'm gardening. Springtime usually means being up to my eyeballs in new garden beds, container gardens, moving the houseplants outside, etc. This spring was different. First of all, I went to the American Begonia Society convention in West Palm Beach, FL. What a wonderful time! I came home with a suitcase full of begonias as well as a charter for the Rhode Island Chapter of the ABS... now we are official!
Next was a trip to Ecuador. I fell in love with the little town of Cotacachi and bought a condo there. It's high in the Andes and the temperature ranges from 50 degrees up to 75 degrees... year round! Can you say 12 month growing season? Today in RI the humidity was extreme and the temperature in the 80s. I was weeding with sweat running in my eyes and dripping off my nose.
This is when I envy people working in air-conditioned offices (only a little!).
Working with my carnivorous plant buddies a bog was installed in a greenhouse at the University of RI. We had some wonderful plant donations and Michael Szesze of The Carnivorous Plant Nursery helped us with the installation. He and his wife were great fun and I will definitely post pictures of the big event. It was July and very warm but a good time was had by all.
So now everyone is all caught up and pictures will follow soon.
Remember to keep slugging down that water when you're outside in the heat and don't let the weeds get you down!

Spring Flowers

Spring flowers are the most welcome of the year! I always push the envelope, using cold hardy plants, tucking them into a sheltered microclimate and if the temperature threatens to dip into the 20's I put a sheet of bubblewrap over them. Who can resist the ranunculus that look like old fashioned roses? Primroses are the essence of spring along with the bright faces of pansies. The ivies weren't hardened off long enough so they have lost a few leaves but they will survive. One of the pots has been outside for over a month now. Wormwood, chard, diascia and ivy have tolerated some bitter nights as well as strong wind. Such a treat to step outside and see these beauties!

Tea with Marie Part 2/2

And heres the second half - hope you have time to see this one as well!

Tea with Marie Program! Part 1/2

Just wanted to share this video from a couple of years ago- back when I was a complete newbie to TV (and a redhead!). Hope you enjoy!

Misty Morning

This is my variegated spider lily, Hymenocallis caribaea ' variegata'. I had it in a clear tank outside with a couple of koi. It has been a great winter houseplant because all I have to do is make sure the saucer is always full of water. Water plants are so easy, and especially good for people who kill their plants with kindness!

Just a thought with the spring approaching - that my house will no longer look like this! Clearing out the plants so they can enjoy the summer sun as well always lets my family have a little more breathing room and lets me increase my stash with none the wiser! 

Seedlings in Two Days

Two days after I seeded the mesclun blend the tiny roots were emerging. Two days after that the seed leaves were up! It's a miracle every time and by starting seeds under lights we can experience that miracle up close. In about three weeks I will be making salads from those energetic plants. The spicy mesclun was faster then the sweet, and it was fun to see that the roots of the Bulls Blood beets were as red as the leaves will be.