madblooms

So, Its Been Awhile...

2011-01-15T12:10:00.002-06:00

This poor little blog has been put on my back burner for a long time. I'm hoping to start writing on a more regular basis. As one of my dear friends has said to me before, "If you don't feed your blog, it will die." I don't want that to happen!

In the time from my last post, I have been a very busy lady. I started a photography company: Monarch Digital Photography. I have put a lot of my time in getting the website set up, and it still needs even more attention since I have more photos to add to its collections. Time, time, and more time is all I need!

I'm really excited about this new endeavor. I am a person who thrives on creativity. For a long time, I've felt like I haven't had an outlet for that to shine. And when my creativity doesn't shine, I don't shine! I felt like I had exhausted my floral design ideas, and nothing I created was fun for me anymore. I felt like I had seen it all, done it all, and was SO over it! Don't get me wrong, I'll still design for my friends and families weddings and events, but it's not a creative high for me anymore.

Then, with my job, I get to design landscapes. A ton of fun, even now. But, with the economy and time of year, we are slow right now. So, that creative release I need has to just stay couped up inside me...pouting.

All that creative need led me to my love of photography. It just seemed like a natural next step for me to master. By no means do I think I know it all, but I know enough to get me started. I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but I will learn from them and never make them again. And when I do, I have an amazing mentor/friend that I can go to with questions when I need answers. I've shot back-up for her at several weddings and even tagged along for a couple of portrait sessions. I felt confident that I could charge for my services and also get that creativeness flowing again! So, I saved up my money for 5 months and bought a new Canon 7D! (I am REALLY excited about that!) My hope is to start out in the lower price range for wedding photography, and then gradually work my way up from there.

So, now that I got my creative muse satisfied, I feel like I need to carry on with a few of the things I originally started this blog for. The first being my love of gardening. Since it's January, there isn't too much excitement going on there. Plenty I could write about, but not too much excitement.

The second thing is my 101 in 1001 list. I also put this on my back burner. I had a friend of mine (who also has her own 101 in 1001 list) ask me this week how that was going, and I was kinda bummed that I hadn't crossed anything off on it in awhile. I thanked her for "kicking me in the butt" to get me going again. I decided I'd try and cross something off this weekend to jump start me again. Not too sure what that'll be yet, but I'm going to do something and post about it!

Anywho, I'm excited to get back in the saddle again! I've missed it! :o)

The Flora of The Dominican

2010-06-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

As I posted my 7 days of events in the Dominican, it just killed me to not include the beautiful plants, flowers, and foliage I came across. The plants were one of the first things that excited me on the island. We got into a bus that carried us to the hotel from the airport, and the whole way I was shouting with excitement as I saw all the beautiful diversity of plants along the roadside. The hotel held even more of that excitement! So without further ado, here are my favorite photos from my Dominican trip!

Plants Around the Hotel

Plants From the Rain Forest

As we left the hotel for our camp sites, I was very thrilled that my site was held on the very edge of the rain forest. From the time I was in elementary, I have loved the rain forest and all the beauty it holds. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to take more photos of the plants here.

These girls showed me around their school grounds that held a wide array of plants and flowers. I never would have found half of the plants that they showed me!

Plants from the Village

The village day was an incredibly humbling experience for me. I walked the dirt roads of the village and was humbled by the people and their living conditions. One thing I quickly found out though is they are very proud of their flower gardens that grow beside their houses and along the fence lines of the roads. I had so much joy walking up to people to ask if I could take a picture of their plant, and then see the pride in their face as they said yes. They would give me a cutting of the flowers, or a seed pod to take with me. I kept thinking to myself, that at least in all the poverty they were surrounded in, they got to experience a little bit of joy and beauty with their gardens!

This is a tree called The Forest Flame. It is covered in these beautiful red-orange flowers that are simply stunning!

He climbed up to get me a couple of seed pods from the tree!

And he kept on helping me find other seed pods!

And he helped me take photos. He held the grass back so I could get a photo of the Maidenhair Fern! So sweet!

These plants made my trip an exciting adventure. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 7

2010-06-27T22:33:00.001-05:00

So it's been almost two weeks since we got back from the Dominican, and I still haven't posted the last days' events. As much as I don't want them to, the minor details of the day are slipping further and further away, so I am forcing myself to sit down and finish these posts before it's too late!

Day 7 was the one and only day of true vacation included in our trip. We could chose from several different activities to go on in a group, but the choice was all ours to make. My mom and I really wanted to go to Puerta Plata and go shopping. That group was also going to visit a rum factory and the Amber museum there. I was all set to go, but Christian kept "complaining" that he wanted to go with the surfing group to the beach in Cabarete. I finally had "heard" enough and gave in to the "requests" of Christian. We both loaded up on the bus to Cabarete while mom went to Puerta Plata.

On the way to Cabarete, we ran out of gas but were lucky enough to get going again within 10-15 minutes. We made it to the beautiful beach of Cabarete shortly after that. We broke up into groups of people who wanted to take a surfing lesson from Orlando (the 7 time Dominican surfing champion!), people who just wanted to get a board and go on out, and the rest of us who just wanted to be beach bums for the day. I just wanted to relax on the beach and enjoy the scenery, so Christian and I found a spot on the beach and laid our towel down. The water was a gorgeous clear blue, and the sky was clear and beautiful! Christian jumped out into the water, and soon after started in on his "requests" to get me to let him try surfing. I wasn't so sure about letting him, so I stuck to my guns and said no.

He had fun swimming with the rest of our group, but it wasn't long before the surfers were up and at 'em, having a blast! It was very fun to sit back and laugh at our friends wipe-out on the waves. I have loads of photos from them falling over! It wasn't long before one of the kids Christian's age came back in because he was tired of trying to get up. I think he had bumped his head one too many times and was going to sit the rest of the day out on the shore. I finally gave in and let Christian go on out and give surfing a try on that board.

He paddled out to the waves, and on the very first try, he was up and surfing! A natural born surfer...who'd-a-thunk!?

He had a blast out there and it was a lot of fun watching him. We stayed at the beach for a couple of hours and then finally loaded back up onto the bus to head back to the hotel.

The surfing group.

We got back before Mom did, so I went up and took a nap in the room while Christian watched cartoons. I was so exhausted from the week, I probably could have slept an entire week at that point.

Mom got back a couple of hours later, and we went shopping at the market down by the beach. I purchased a beautiful painting of sugar cane which I knew would remind me of the Dominican. Mom also bought its mate. We both loved the colors in the painting, and they were both so different from all the other paintings on display in all the shops. After that, we walked down to Patrick's Silversmith shop and we bought jewelry with Larimar and Amber in them. Larimar is a stone that can only be found on the Dominican island, and is a very pretty blue color!

We went back to the hotel and started getting ready for dinner. We we going to enjoy the evening with all the coaches and helpers that helped us while we were there. I enjoyed this evening so much. Alfre was there with his brother, along with all the other coaches from our site. Many people took the opportunity to extend their thanks and gratitude to the people there. We had interpreters helping everyone go back and forth in conversation. It was such a fine evening to end our stay with!

Alfre thanking Fred.

The next day, we spent the day packing and getting ready for the flight home. Mom, Christian and I all walked down to the beach one last time. I really wanted to go snorkeling one last time, but the water was to cloudy to really see the beautiful colors of the fish. I spent the rest of the time picking up pieces of broken coral, shells, and sea glass on the shore. We walked the beach for awhile and then came back to the hotel to finish up the last bits of packing. Mom and I decided to take one last shopping trip and made our way back to Patrick's silversmith shop. We made our way back to the hotel, and then waited for the buses to arrive and take us to the airport.

Alfre and his little brother came to see all of us off to the airport. I gave his little brother a whole bag of Jolly Ranchers that I had left over in my bag. He was all smiles! I gave Alfre a few more photos of our group that I had printed for him and he was very thankful. Our group was slowly making their way onto the buses, and Alfre joined us on the ride to the airport. As a surprise, he jumped off the bus at a busy intersection to buy me and a couple of the others that were at the Bella Vista site a cup of ice cold sugar cane juice. I tried the sweet drink and was instantly reminded of the days at the camp when we chewed on the canes for an afternoon treat. It was good, and many of the others on the bus got to try the juice too.

We made it to the airport where we sent our checked luggage through the x-ray machine. An hour or so later, and a couple of computer failures later, we were hugging Alfre goodbye with tears in our eyes. I was ready to go home and see my family, but I was very sad that I had to leave my new friend behind. I reminded him that we could talk by email or on Facebook, and he seemed to be a little comforted by that.

We boarded our plane with a few set backs in security, but it was all good. I was very surprised when I was offered a first class seat on the way home for all the hard work I did that week. I sat in the very first row and quickly nodded off for a nap! We made it home to Houston, safe and sound with all our luggage in tow.

This mission trip not only changed my life, but my families life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have joined the AIM mission team on this adventure! I met so many wonderful new friends, and am very happy to say that Google translate is working just fine to translate messages to and from Alfre in the Dominican. We've corresponded back and forth a few times since I've been home, and he is still doing God's work in his community. Many of my AIM friends have said they have messaged him too. I'm so glad we all have a bond and can pray for one another's strifes and triumphs. I can't wait for this coming year to fly by so we can repeat the whole week again in 2011!

Next blog post: All the plants I encountered that week! I can't wait to share them all!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 6

2010-06-22T17:33:00.016-05:00

Day 6 of the AIM mission trip was our first non-camp day. We finally had a chance to go out and explore the local area for ourselves without a schedule in the way. We broke up into two groups and loaded up into buses to go out to the local villages and hand out candy to the children. I had no idea how humbled I would walk away from this experience. No amount of preparation could have prepared me for the next few hours I would experience. It is something that is deeply ingrained in my mind, and it changed my heart forever. I am only saddened that I didn't stop and take a few moments for myself to take it all in...and I mean really take in the scene around me. I think I learned a lesson in photography: Sometimes we can get so caught up in all the subjects around us, we can forget to appreciate the subjects. I regret not taking a few minutes right there in the poorest of the poor places to thank God for all the blessings he's given me in my life. With that said, I hope you will take the time to thank God for all the blessings in your life. The following photos are just a very small fraction of the ones I took, but they are the ones that moved me the most.

This is the beginning of the village road, looking out into the mountains.

The kids were jumping onto our truck as we drove up the village roads.

Word quickly spread that the candy had arrived!

I'm giving away dum-dum's. The look on their faces was unforgettable.

This is a mom giving her baby a bath.

The woman bending over is bathing in a 5-gallon bucket as well.

Most children under the age of three or four did not have any clothing on.

Many over that age, including more than a few adults, were without shoes.

She was excited to see herself on my screen!

He is hiding his candy so he can get his "1" piece...again!

Yes, that is an infant sucking on a dum-dum. No, we didn't give it to him/her!

Cock fighting is legal there, and is watched by many for entertainment on Sunday's.

This is a concrete wall with broken glass on the top for security.

Our medical team stopped into a few houses to tend to a few babies. We each helped them carry a can of formula and a bottle to give away to moms with infants. I have a couple of other stories to tell from this time in the village, but I'm saving it for my plant post. We left the villages after a couple of hours and returned to the hotel to eat lunch and get ready for church that evening.

We all attended Pastor Rivas' church that night and had an awesome time doing so. I find it incredible that you can feel God's mighty presence in the air even though you may not understand the language being spoken. We all sang songs and listened to a sermon that was incredible (thank goodness we had a great translator!) It was an awesome way to end such an incredibly moving day!

When I'm feeling depressed or worried, or lose hope, or feel anxious, I hope I can remember this day and feel thankful instead!

Stay tuned for day 7 tomorrow...

Gardening Gone Wild Photo contest

2010-06-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

I decided to take a quick break from my AIM mission trip posts and enter the Gardening Gone Wild Photo Contest. I've wanted to enter this contest for a few months now, but I somehow always miss the entry date.

This months theme is to enter the best photo you've ever taken (gardening related.) So, after filtering through a ton of photos and second guessing myself more than once, I've decided to enter this photo of a Passion Flower that I took at Wildseed Farms in Fredricksburg, TX. I have always loved these flowers, and I've had this flower as my computer screen saver for awhile now. So, I'm entering this photo in hopes that others will appreciate it as much as I do!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 5

2010-06-20T19:40:00.001-05:00

This was the last day of camp, and as we arrived to the baseball field, our kids were very anxious to get the day started. After our morning VBS, we had the largest group of kids come forward to accept Christ! How awesome is that?!!!

Our basketball coaches had been working very hard all week on talking to some of the older kids about accepting Christ. After some one on one translating, these four kids accepted Christ! A few tears were shed, but smiles were on all of our faces when we heard the news!

We got started on some fun baseball games right after that...Christian played catch with a boy.

Then while we were setting up some of the games, a few of our AIM volunteers found a few of the kids that had touched their hearts that week. They gave away shoes to the kids. This is one of my favorites! This is the little boy that caught my eye from day one as one of the sweetest little boys ever! They took his worn out sandals off, washed his feet, put on some socks for him, and helped him tie his shoes. All he said was , "Gracias," in one of the sweetest soft spoken voices! Talk about pull at the tears in your eyes!

Even as we got to playing the games that day, he kept looking down at his new shoes!

More new shoes!

Giving away some of our own shoes!

And the fun begins! We played the game where you spin around on the bat 10 times and try to run back to your line...it's very funny to watch as they run back!

Playing some more volleyball!

And then it was picture time! I finally got to see the joyous faces of the kids as we handed them their very own baseball cards! I can't even describe the joy that gave my heart! It was a blast to see their faces as they looked at each others pictures!

And then we all posed for a group shot of the Bella Vista site...This is everyone!

Then, as a celebration for the last day of camp, everyone from all seven sites loaded up into vans, trucks, and buses to go to Multioso, a sports arena where all 2500 kids could see us give away the sports equipment to their local teams! This is one of the buses that arrives. There must have been 50 kids on this one!

This is one side of the arena...the other sides were just as full too!

This is some of the equipment we gave away. Every team got two bags and they were so full of equipment that it took two of our guys to close the bags! We met and over exceeded their wish lists for their teams needs. We left a lot of it at the hotel for Jose Checo to sort out among the teams. Shoes, pants, shirts and a whole pile of other things are hard to give away since we weren't sure of the kids sizes. He'll be working on that this coming month.

There was lots of singing...

And playing games...

And more hot dogs! All the ladies from each site came together to prepare 2500 hot dogs for all the kids there!

These are all the Dominican coaches before we gave away the equipment.

Alfre gave Christian some of his baseball cards to take home.

And then they gave away the equipment and the press from the crowd as it ensued is an unforgettable moment! The coaches were so excited and to our culture may have seemed pushy to get their equipment for their teams. I was more than a little squeezed as I tried to get the photos of each coach accepting their two bags of equipment. I found myself frustrated and I kept saying in my head, "It's just baseball equipment!" "Back up!" My boss, Fred, leaned over to me to ask if I was okay, and I gave him a look of frustration and said, "Yes!" Somehow, we got through the chaos and I got the photos I needed. I squeezed out of the crowds and into the stands just so I could get some space to myself. I was a very stressful situation that I found hard to put up my "Mommy Tune Out" blockers on. I would later over hear a conversation between Fred and one of the other coaches there. He told Fred, "I'm sorry for the way it turned out at Multioso, but you have to understand that blessings like this do not come along very often. And when they do, we fight to keep them!" It certainly opened my eyes a little to the situation, and I felt a little better about being pressed on so tightly earlier!

That afternoon, I went snorkeling again, but the sun was going down, so the colors were not as pretty. Also, the camera I took with me for photos, erased the photos I took. So, no photos of that adventure to share...sorry!

That evening, Alfre came to the hotel and a bunch of us girls decided he needed his own email and Facebook account! It was very interesting trying to explain Facebook, but he finally figured it out. we all added him as friends and helped him sort through all the messaging and info aspects of the site. It was a fun evening!

Well, that is the end of the blog posts for the camp days. I still have two more days of vacation to post about, along with a whole post on all the plant life I encountered. My hubby is nicely asking me to get off the computer now, so I'll post the other day tomorrow! I hope you enjoyed hearing about the first part of the mission! It was a blast and I can't wait to tell you all about the other half! ...Stay tuned!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 4

2010-06-20T19:30:00.001-05:00

This was the beginning of day 4 for us, and the third day of the camp. It started out like every other day...

...Until we popped a tire on the way to the baseball field in Bella Vista! (luckily we were only 100 yards from the site when it popped!)

We started our VBS that morning with Alfre leading the worship. The picture below shows him, his Dad, Orlando (who is a 7 time Dominican Surfing Champion!), and Alfre's aunt. We had a large group of kids accept Christ that morning, but my pictures did not turn out for some reason.

Along with all the drills the kids were doing, they started a baseball relay race which was very funny to watch.

The ladies were able to start a scrimmage game!

The guys playing Basketball...

The girls were practicing volleyball...

And then, before you knew it, it was hot dog time!

A bit of relaxing after a hot day!

We all decided to walk down to the river and take a swim.

Christian was the first one in!

Alfre was next!

Brittney joined him, but I was slow to jump into the freezing cold water...

Christian started splashing me...

And I finally just took the plunge! It was very refreshing after the hot day!

Alfre and the two boys with us caught (what I think is) a freshwater shrimp.

Soon the others in our group joined us in the river and the splash war began! It was a big party! All the kids from camp joined us along with the coaches and everyone had a fun time in the refreshing water!

Then I caught these boys climbing up a tree on the other side of the river bank.

And I think I let out a scream as he jumped out into the water!

Alfre cut all of us more sugar can to chew on! It was a very fun party to end our day!

We made it back to the hotel, and a big group of us made the walk up to the local grocery store to get some junk food.

After we made it back to the hotel, I got to work with the rest of the photography team on finishing up the last of the baseball, basketball, and volleyball cards. We worked late that night finishing them up, and we also got to print some extra photos to give away to the kids and Dominican coaches that helped all week.

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 3

2010-06-20T19:20:00.001-05:00

On day 2 of camp, we had to switch vehicles that we were using to get us to camp. Another site needed a larger vehicle to transport them to a site further away than ours. This is the bus we got to use! I love the words on the front and back. It was a tight fit, but we somehow managed to cram all of us into the bus!

We arrived at Bella Vista to find all our kiddos lined up on the baseball field backstop. We got started right away with the VBS and worship that morning.

We had another large group of kids come forward to accept Christ!

After VBS, I had to head over to the basketball court and get the guys individual photos taken. I hadn't even gotten a chance to go over to the court the day before, so it was a nice change of pace for me. I was able to get the individual photos fairly quickly since the groups were small. I got to take a few other shots of them "hanging" around!

This was also the day that our AIM medical team came to our site. They unloaded their medicines and set up shop in the community pavilion. Word got out very quickly that they were there, and mothers started lining up to have our doctors see their children.

This is the med supplies and medicine chests they brought. They were able to bring medicines, formula and bottles for babies, vitamins, and tooth brushes and tooth paste to give out to the people in the villages.

Some kids lined up in front of the toys and other goodies they were giving away.

This is one of our doctors looking at a little girls arm that is infected.

A mother with her son.

After I took photos of the basketball guys and the med team, I went over to take the individuals of the girls softball team. My mom took this photo of me taking their photos.

The day went by what seemed like very quickly, and we were soon serving hot dogs again for lunch!

Alfre brought his machete to cut the sugar cane for us this day. We all sat around and chewed on the canes while the kids were eating their lunch. It was a very nice treat!

I had a few moments of time before our bus was going to head back to the hotel, so I walked over to the school that was right next to the pavilion. There were more than a few plants that had been catching my eye. I wanted to go get some photos of them before I lost my chance to the busy schedule of camp. I walked into the school grounds and started taking pictures when these two sweet girls came up and started showing me around their school grounds. They showed me more plants than I would have ever found myself, so I was very excited that they came along! I'm going to post the pictures of the plants in a later post with the rest of the plants from the Dominican. The girl on the left folded the leaf in her hand to look like butterflies for me!

This is us sitting on/in a Cottonwood tree! I LOVE these trees!

They picked a Heliconia flower for me before I left.

Our camp day wrapped up, and we loaded back onto the bus for the hotel. I made the decision that I was going to take a break from uploading photos and making photo cards that evening. We had made such a good lead the night before, I felt confident that we could get the rest of them finished the next day.

So, when we got back to the hotel, I changed into my swim suit and headed to the beach with a big group of us. We went snorkeling along the beautiful coral reefs there. This was my first time snorkeling, so I was very excited to see all the sights. My boss, Fred, gave me lots of pointers to follow, and soon I was diving down so I could get closer to the action in the water. It's such a beautiful world under there! I felt like I was in a live Discovery Channel show!

That's me at the bottom of the photo! There was a beautiful under water bridge that Fred swam on the other side of to get this photo!

Some beautiful Coral.

A school of fish.

A Lion fish!

while we were snorkeling, Fred found this purple starfish. He picked it up and we brought it up to shore so the kids could hold it. This photo doesn't do the color of the starfish any justice. It was a very beautiful eggplant purple!

Christian holding the Starfish.

Me!

Fred and I decided to swim around the cliff to our hotel instead of walking back. My mom took Christian and our things back with her, while Fred and I headed back out to sea.

Words cannot describe the beauty I encountered! We came across more Lion fish, several beautiful Stingrays gliding through the water, and a school of Squid swimming along the cliff ledge that changed colors as we swam by them. We saw crabs along the cliff that were the most oddly "painted" color of crab I've ever seen! We saw Pencil fish, along with a whole array of brightly colored fish that were very stunning! I made it back to the hotel steps and was just speechless as I tried to convey the beauty I had witnessed in the past hour and a half! I kept thinking to myself: "God had fun when he made this place!" I will never forget that day!

I came up and showered before dinner, then had decided to relax for the evening. The Dominican coaches were all coming to the hotel after dinner that evening for a Q&A session with our coaches. Apparently the way US coaches coach is very different from the Dominican way of coaching. They were going to have a meeting to give each other pointers on things that work and things that could help them along in their coaching skills.

I was sitting in the lobby along with some of the others in our group, when Alfre walked in with the other coaches. I was surprised to see him there, and I instantly decided to get the photo printer out so I could print him some photos I had taken of his family that day. I printed out his photos and showed him what we were doing for the kids and their baseball cards. He was very surprised and thankful for the photos of his family.

The coaches had started their meeting, but Alfre stayed behind with the group of us in the lobby. We had a lady with us that could translate the conversation for us, so Alfre decided to give his testimony for us. I came into the conversation late because I was still printing photos for him, but when I did get to come into the circle that had formed around him, I was very moved by his words. I got to listen to him talk about his rough childhood, a failed marriage, and a three month fast that led him even closer to God. I was so thankful that I got to hear his testimony. I felt closer to him as a friend, and I was in awe of the obvious transformation God had performed in the man sitting before me. We all talked late into the night until Liz, our interpreter, had a "fried brain" from going back and forth in Spanish so much!

We decide it was time to call it a night and go to bed. I was ready for the next day, but was also very glad to see my pillow that night!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 2

2010-06-20T19:10:00.001-05:00

As Day 2 arrived, we all met downstairs to a eat a wonderful breakfast and listen to our morning devotional given by Russell. Outside the hotel, our Dominican friends were waiting for us to load up and take us to the Bella Vista site.

We all loaded up into the truck and were ready to go! Our site would be one of a few that would hold all four sports on the site. We had baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball equipment loaded and ready for camp!

This is one of a lot of photos I took as we were going through the city on the way to Bella Vista.

Soon, we were in the country.

And then we arrived at Bella Vista! I quickly understood why the town was named Bella Vista! This is the outfield of their baseball field (I love the horse tied up in the very back!) The mountains are covered in sugar cane, palm trees, and tropical plants. Gorgeous is an understatement!

We greeted all the kids and formed a huge circle where our Dominican friends held the VBS portion of the camp. They sang songs, prayed, and at the end asked if any of the kids would like to recieve Christ in their hearts. We had 25 kids come forward! We all gathered around them, and had a translator translate a prayer for them to pray to accept Him. It was an awesome way to start our day!

We broke the kids up into smaller groups by ages, and began stretching. We also gave each group a colored wristband so we could tell who belonged to each group.

After stretching, our group began teaching the various baseball drills.

As one of the photographers on site, my job was to take a photo of each kid at the camp so we could give them a picture of themselves that we placed into a baseball card template. This activity took up my whole day on day one. Here is a photo of one of my favorite little boys at the camp. (I love his smile!)

This is Alfre! He is the man that helped me line up every kid, pose them, and help me get the shots I needed quickly. I couldn't have pulled off the day without his help! He is awesome man of God, and you'll be hearing a lot more about him in this post as well the rest because he quickly became friends with me, my mom and my son Christian.

The day was long, hot and sweaty, but a ton of fun! At lunch time, we served hot dogs and juice to all the kids and coaches.

All day long I could hear the sound of moving water behind the trees of the baseball field. I asked Alfre, in my broken Spanish if there was a river back there. He said, yes there was and after the camp was over for the day he would take us back there and see it. I was very surprised at the beautiful sight of this river and lagoon! Kids were swimming and diving down into the water. We took our shoes off and dipped our feet into the moving water. It was cold and refreshing after a long, hot day!

We came back out to the field and while we were waiting for the bus to take us back to the hotel, Alfre crushed some sugar cane for us to drink. It was a very sweet tasting treat! We all took turns drinking.

About this time, we all loaded back onto the truck to take us back to the hotel. I was so hot from being out in the heat all day that I was looking forward to swimming in the ocean when we got back in. I decided to be brave and jump off the cliff ledge!

Yes, it was a long way down. Yes, I screamed. No, I didn't do it again!

Christian jumped in after I did and we swam around and snorkeled for a little while. Everything was fine and dandy until Christian brushed into a sea urchin while trying to get out onto the steps. He had a few spines in his leg, so we got out and nursed the wounds.

From there, I had to get to work on collecting the photos from all the other site photographers. Six other women and I all worked very diligently to upload all the photos from the day, drop them into a template I made in Photoshop, print them as a 4x6 photo, and then cut them into baseball card size photos. We actually got a good rhythm down and were able to get all of the photos done that had been taken that day. We were only missing a few groups from each site, so I was very pleased with our progress!

This is the template I made for the baseball groups:

(Remember my little cutie-pie from up above?!)

From there, I called it a night and went to bed! It had been a very long, productive day!

AIM Dominican Mission Trip: Day 1

2010-06-20T19:00:00.001-05:00

I had planned on writing a blog post everyday of the mission trip while I was in the Dominican, but I quickly found out that being the person in charge of collecting all the photos from seven different photographers everyday was not a quick and easy task. So instead, I'll write these posts from my memory of each day.

These are some photos of the equipment donations before we left. We spent three days packing and sorting all the equipment to meet the 50 lb. weight limit on all the bags for the airport regulations.

Day 1 of the mission started at the Houston airport where my mom, my son Christian, and I, along with 99 other volunteers boarded our chartered Continental jet to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. With us, we carried over $150,000 worth of donated baseball, basketball, and volleyball equipment to host a four day mission camp for over 2,500 kids.

This was Christian's first trip on a plane, as well as the first time to leave the country. He was very excited!

We were up in the air for awhile, when the pilot came on and said that we were passing over the Gulf oil spill. I was almost brought to tears at the sight of the red-orange tint across the water. I could clearly make out the color even at such a high altitude. The picture below shows the ships at the main site. My camera didn't pick up the oil itself good enough to post the pictures I took.

Soon enough, we were passing over the clear waters of the Caribbean Islands.

We arrived at the airport and went through customs with ease. We had Dominican friends there to help us load up the luggage and equipment to take to our hotel. We all loaded up into various vans and buses, which took us to the hotel.

I was instantly in awe of the plants we passed along the way from the airport to the hotel. (I'll start another blog post on all the plant life I encountered later.) Within 10-15 minutes, we arrived at the hotel.

The grand staircase below is the first of many awes at the Pier Giorgio Palace Hotel.

This is the view from our balcony. A beautiful pool with gorgeous gardens surrounding it. The white tent like structure is the dining area which over looks the sea. It is a very beautiful hotel!

Me and Christian

After everyone had their luggage and rooms arranged, we met downstairs in the dining area. We were greeted by Pastor Rivas, who is one of two men that helps coordinate things for us down there.

Next, Jose Checo greeted us. He is the man that coordinates the baseball leagues and all the AIM mission stuff in the Dominican. Before he left, he sang us a song that he wrote. Even though it was in Spanish, we all quickly had the tune stuck in our heads. You could hear people humming the tune all week long!

The words to the song are as follows:

El Diamante Real En El Basball

Hay un Diamante Real en Baseball

En Jesuscristo el Salvador (Repeat)

El te da vida

El te da paz

y Disciplina

En Libertad (repeat)

Querido Atleta

Busca de Dios

En esta tiempo

de baseball (repeat)

The song actually carries on a lot from there, but that was the part that we all learned in Spanish!

It translates into English like this:

The Real Diamond In Basball

There is A Real Diamond in Baseball

In Jesus Christ the Savior (Repeat)

He gives you life

He gives you peace

and Discipline

In Freedom (repeat)

Dear Athlete

Search for God

At this time

in baseball (repeat)

I think I just got the song stuck in my head again just from writing it here! It really is a great song, and the kids loved to listen and sing it during the camp VBS.

After our greeting we had some time to look around the hotel, and the kids decided to jump right into the sea for a nice swim before dinner. This is Christian before he jumped off the cliff ledge at the hotel!

And this is him jumping!

These are the stairs leading back up to the ledge. The kids would jump off here and go snorkeling too.

Soon, the sun was setting and we were getting ready for dinner where we would meet our Dominican coaches and VBS helpers for the camp.

These were our lovely chef's and servers!

We had a wonderful dinner, and met everyone in our group, including the Dominican helpers. We were given a few last minute instructions and then we were off to bed since our day would start early and be full and long tomorrow!

A Little Luck Is All You Need!

2010-05-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

Without even meaning to, and certainly by surprise, I found a four leaf clover today! I've wanted to find one my whole life, and there it was just staring me in the face as I just happened to look down! How lucky is that?!

What makes it even crazier is I had just congratulated a friend of mine yesterday on finding one herself. I told her I was so jealous! And what-a-ya-know, not even a day later, I find one of my own! I've been so excited all day!

A Bit O' History From Wikipedia:

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. According to legend, each leaf represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

It has been estimated that there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover.

...Maybe I should go play the lottery tonight! I'm feelin' lucky!

This plant made my day! How 'bout yours?

AIM: Baseball Equipment Drive

2010-05-17T20:55:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned a few times lately that I'm leaving June 8th for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to hold a baseball camp for 2000-3000 kids. Obviously that camp would not be successful without donations of used equipment from our community. A couple of Junior High girls made this awesome video for our equipment drive. They did an amazing job, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Baseball Equipment Drive Video

If you live in the Houston area and want to help out with donations, let me know and I can make arrangements to meet you, or you can drop off equipment at either of these two business locations:

Buds and Blossoms
14120 Cypress N. Houston
Cypress, TX 77429

or

Emco Press
4935 Milwee St
Houston, TX 77092

Current needs are: old gloves, bats, baseballs, bat/dufflebags, helmets, basketballs,volleyballs, nets, catcher gear, training tools, cleats, and uniforms.

Also, I'm still raising money for my husband and son to join me on this trip. If you'd like to make a monetary donation, you can send checks made payable to Athletic International Missions in c/o The King Dominican Fund to the Buds and Blossoms address above.

Lastly, if you'd like to join us on this mission trip, please let me know so I can get you more info. We still need 20-25 more volunteers to join us!

Thanks you in advance for your generosity!

'Frostproof' Gardenia

2010-05-16T21:56:00.000-05:00

I've always said that when I die, I want heaven to smell like Gardenia's. I love their sweet scent, and I am so excited that mine are in full bloom. My mom had Gardenia's in our backyard while I was growing up, so I'm always reminded of her when I smell them. It's plant nostalgia at it's best!

These Spring bloomers do very well in a partly sunny area and prefer an acidic soil with moderate amounts of water. The 'Frostproof' variety is a glossy, dark green leaved, evergreen shrub that reaches 3-4 ft. Its name comes from the flower buds ability to resist damage from a late Spring frost. It's quickly become my favorite variety of Gardenia for it's round compact growth habit. It's perfect for a low growing shrub in front of taller bushes or in front of windows.

My favorite thing to do is bring my favorite scent inside. I pick off some blooms (with the help of my youngest son) and float them in a bowl of water for a day or two. They will fill a room with heaven in no time!

This plant made my day! How 'bout yours?

The Fruits of My Labor

2010-05-16T19:35:00.000-05:00

As I write this, there is a video game blaring on my T.V. that my boys and husband have been playing since we got home from church. They are in the final stages of a game with a determination to beat it today. My two-year-old has interrupted this very sentence a few times just to come sit on my lap and see what I'm up to. Just now, my oldest son walked up to me to stare over my shoulder and see what I'm doing on the internet. The washing machine is on spin cycle while the dryer is in the final stages of drying the last load of towels (for today.) All this to say, it's a bit loud in here! I already retreated outside to walk my gardens, but I'm rethinking why I decided to leave the serenity of my plants to come back inside! Oh yeah, it was those darn mosquitoes!

It finally rained this past Friday after a month without a drop. I came home from work and sat on my back porch listening to the drops tapping on the tin roof. I could practically hear my plants rejoicing in the rain as they absorbed every drop. (Okay, so maybe I was the one rejoicing.) But, I just love how much greener the leaves are after a good rain! The rain continued into Saturday and now that Sunday is here with lots of sunshine, all the little garden creatures are out and about again...including the mosquitoes! But sometimes it's worth becoming a meal to go out and enjoy some of the fruits of your labor!

These Black Swallowtail cat's are really enjoying my Dill

A baby cucumber...

...and one ready to eat!

These somehow never make it out of the garden...I eat them right off the vine!

My Basil

The last of the Peaches on my Peach Tree

These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

Currently in May

2010-05-11T20:23:00.004-05:00

I normally do this post on the 1st of every month. I missed last month's Currently post completely because I was so busy with work, so I figure while I'm still in May I should post my Currently post while I have the chance!

Current Book(s): I'm in the middle of the third book of Fablehaven and the newest book from the Sookie Stackhouse series. I've kinda had to put books on the back burner due to my crazy work schedule. But I'm trucking along through these two at a slow but steady pace.

I started reading the Fablehaven series after my husband recommended them for our kids to read. I wasn't all that impressed with the first one as an adult read, but the second and third have been surprisingly better and more in depth that the first. I would recommend them to anyone who has kids that like reading adventures.

Of course I'm hooked on Sookie, so I interrupted the Fablehaven book to start this one that just came out. I haven't read far enough into this one to have an opinion yet....but it's Sookie, so I'm sure it'll be a good one!

Current Playlist: I've been on a Texas Country music kick here lately. It just seems to match my mood with Spring in full swing where the nights are still cool enough to sit outside, watch the hubby grill something for dinner, and hang out with friends and family. There's just nothing better than that! Fav artist at the moment would probably be: Hayes Carll

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Eating the chocolate covered strawberries my kids got me for Mother's day! mm,mm,mm!

Current Color: I've really liked this Coral Pink color lately...not usually fond of pink, but this one is bright and fun.

Current Drink: Sweet tea and Coke...the usual!

Current Food: We did a crawfish boil at our house...my favorite Spring time meal!

Current Favorite Show: I've tried to keep up with DWTS, but that seems to be a lost cause here lately! Not much time to keep up with TV!

Current Wishlist: I wish for funds to keep coming in for my family to join me in the Dominican Republic this June for a mission trip I'm going on. I'm so excited to be a part of this group. It's been amazing to see the various pieces of the puzzle come together for this trip to be a success!

Current Needs: I need a new pair of summer work shoes (which is actually my mother's day gift.) I just haven't had time to go pick some out.

Current Triumphs: I crossed off a 101 in 1001 list item this past week! I took my boys dewberry picking at my farm and then came home to make miniature pies for them to eat. My Grandma would do this for me when I would stay at her house, so I'm excited to share the experience with my boys. I'm still waiting for the rest of the big pie I made to disappear so I can make Dewberry Delight, my ReeRee's specialty!

The harvest!

The mini pies!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Mosquitoes! Why can't we just sit outside and enjoy a nice evening without becoming a meal?

Current Celebrity Crush: ehhh...not much on celebrities this month.

Current Indulgence: Well, the Dewberry Pie is calling my name right now...

Current #1 Blessing: Life is grand! My family is all good, Spring is here, I get to garden everyday after work (and sometimes while I'm at work!), the butterflies are out, and I'm perfectly content! What more could a girl ask for?

Current Slang or Saying: Hmmm, I don't think I have one at the moment.

Current Outfit: A solid color T-shirt about the color of the coral above, khaki capri's , and flip-flops.

Current Excitement: The AIM mission trip to the Dominican Republic! I got my passport in over the weekend (yay!), and I went to get my son's made today just in case the funds do come available for him to join us.

Current Mood: Exhausted from work but elated that Spring is here in full force.

Current Link: The AIM website! Check it out and see what the mission is all about! It's truly awesome!

Happy May!

A Weekend Wedding in the Country

2010-04-26T23:44:00.001-05:00

I did flowers for a wedding this weekend. The colors were blue and yellow, and the main flowers were Tulips, Hydrangea, Iris, and Delphinium. I think they turned out nicely! (If I do say so myself!)

The Bride

Table Centerpieces

Pool Arrangement

It's been a year since I had to do fresh flowers for a wedding, so it was nice to have a bride that was so easy going! Best of luck to both of them!

A few moments of joy this weekend!

2010-04-26T22:51:00.005-05:00

I should be invoicing, quoting, or drawing right now, but I need to blog or I just might go crazy! I've already mentioned in my previous post a couple weeks ago that I've been inundated at work, but this weekend I finally got a few moments to hold my camera instead of a pencil. Don't get me wrong, I'm still busy. I just forced myself to go out and actually enjoy the plants around me instead of seeing work that's not done. It was nice to get back to the joy of my heart.

'Fragrant Cloud' Rose

Canna Lily

Calliandra 'Dwarf Powder Puff'

Crimson Passion Flower

Double Petunia

Pink Indigo

Itea 'Henry's Garnet'

Crazy Daisy

Society Garlic

I really wish I had the time to write a paragraph or two about each one of these plants for my Plant of the Day section. ...Maybe later as Spring slows down I'll have a chance to properly add them. (Just take my word for it that they are all fabulous plants and I highly recommend them all!)

These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

Holy Cow, I'm Busy!

2010-04-14T21:34:00.001-05:00

I knew going into this Spring that my work life was going to become very crazy. Most of Houston lost most of their landscape this past winter. That means the landscaping industry is hustling and bustling! I've gone from a comfortable three to four consults a week to eight or nine with installs going on in between. It's been a crazy month with no time in the office to get my quotes out. I've had people begging for my attention with no time on my plate to give them. I've officially gotten to the point that if I don't write down what I say I'm going to do, then it just doesn't happen. I never thought I'd get to that point in my life. In all that chaos, I've had a few good things happen that I wanted to blog about as they occurred, but time has just slipped away so I'm lumping them all into one.

These are a few plants I've admired throughout the last month. Typically I'd put these into my plant of the day, but time wouldn't slow down for me!

Red Bud in bloom

Sinojackia

My Grandmother's Iris finally bloomed! I dug these up from her yard last Spring.

Spiraea

Calceolaria: LOVE this one!!!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

White Bougainvillea

Chocolate Chip Ajuga

Next, a few of the landscapes I've done:

This was a blank slate back yard before I added a dry river bed with Texas Hill Country plants around it.

I would have preferred to use brown mulch, but the homeowner likes black, so black it is.

Front Before: A truck ran into this house and took out the entire front yard landscape and far left side of the house including the porch!

After

Side yard: Before

Side Yard: After

Before

After

In between work, landscapes, and plants, my family was squeezed in (somehow!)

My middle son, Kurtis, started Hockey 101! He did great! I think it's going to be the perfect sport for him.

My Dad, Sis-n-Law, and I all went to the Astro's home Spring training game!

My Dad-n-Me

Go 'Stros!

Next up came Easter: The Bluebonnets were beautiful!

Bluebonnet

Me and my Kiddo's

Sweet pea!

The Girls: My Mom, Sis-n-Law, the cutest niece in the world, and me

My Beautiful Mom

Karrie and Me

(Yes, Karrie, I will post the rest of the pics from this day soon! Love you, mean it!)

Finally, to catch up completely, I completed yet another to-do on my 101 in 1001 today! I got my passport made so I can go on the Dominican trip this June. I'm so excited about this mission trip! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us to accomplish.

That's it folks, you're up to date! I promise not to stay gone for so long the rest of the month!

Athletic International Missions: Dominican Republic 2010

2010-04-12T19:59:00.000-05:00

I am very excited to share with all of you that I am visiting the Dominican Republic this June on a mission trip with Athletic International Missions. This Christian based mission group will bring 100 volunteers to the Dominican Republic to host a baseball, basketball, and volleyball camp for over 2000 kids from June 8-15. The group has found great success with breaking down the international barriers of language and culture through the passion of sports. Through those common interests, God's love can reach all those that have never heard His word.

I have been blessed with a paid trip for myself to attend the mission. (Yay!!!) I am now hoping to raise funds for my two oldest boys and my husband to also attend the mission trip. The trip costs $1300 per person to attend, so it's no small feat to tackle before the June 8 deadline. Any donation would be greatly appreciated, but I am also offering a fundraiser incentive to those in the Houston area. In coordination with my employer, Buds and Blossoms, I am selling flats of annual and perennial color for $16 and $19 respectively. $9.00 of every flat I sell will be donated to the King Dominican Fund for this mission trip. If you are planning on buying color for your landscape this Spring, this is a great way to help out and add beauty to your yard too! If you want to make a straight donation, please make checks payable to: Athletic International Missions. Funds can be mailed to:

Buds and Blossoms

c/o King Dominican Fund

14120 Cypress N. Houston

Cypress, TX 77429

I ask that you pray for us as we collect funds for the mission, as I have faith that God will provide for these boys to do God's work first hand. If a monetary donation is burdensome to your finances, you can still help this mission be successful. AIM is in need of used sporting equipment to host the camp. The current needs are:

BASEBALL– gloves, bats, balls, cleats, helmets, catchers gear, bat bags, hitting nets, waffle balls, uniforms and caps.
BASKETBALL– balls, shoes, nets, socks, uniforms, and cones.
DUFFEL BAGS– Not to exceed 62 in./157 cm .

Look in your garage, kids closets or even ask friends and neighbors for the used items that are just taking up space now. They can make a difference and are the lifeline to this mission's success! Equipment can be dropped off at the address above, or given to me, between now and June 7.

Finally, if you or someone you know are interested in attending this mission trip, please let me know so I can get you more information. We are currently about 20-25 people short of the 100 needed volunteers. We would love to have you aboard!

I ask that you keep us in your prayers so that funding, equipment, and volunteers are all collected to make the AIM 2010 mission a success! We all make errors, but with His sacrifice, we all make it home!

Layla Grace's Angel Trumpet

2010-03-11T20:59:00.000-06:00

For the past month or so, I've been following the story of a sweet little 2-year-old girl from my hometown. Layla Grace was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a common childhood cancer. I don't know the family, but I followed Layla's story on Facebook and had her in my prayers and thoughts everyday. In fact, Layla managed to gather a rather large following and had a huge prayer circle formed for her. Countless local restaurants and businesses donated portions of their sales to help her family out with the medical fund, and many people have donated on her website laylagrace.org.

On Tuesday, it was announced that she had joined the angels in heaven, and my heart sank. All I could think of was that I wanted to go home, hug my kids and say "I Love You!" I know more than a few tears were shed across the city as the passing of Layla was announced. I can't imagine the grief her parents and family are going through. No parent should ever have to bury their child! Her parents and family are now in my prayers as they go through the grieving process.

As I was walking the greenhouses at work, I came across this white Angel Trumpet and couldn't help but think of Layla, who must be singing and playing to her hearts content with the angels in heaven! I've always loved this plant for its trumpet shaped blooms that hang down from a 7-8 ft canopy. They have a sweet scent that fills the air around them that can only properly be described as heavenly. While I can't just rename a plant, I'll always think of Layla Grace when I see this plant. A gentle reminder to cherish every moment, love openly and freely, and to never give up hope!

Rest in Peace sweet baby girl! Your work here on earth is done.

It's a Plant, Not a Marriage!

2010-03-10T13:50:00.000-06:00

I've been asked (what seems like) a hundred times about certain plants here in Houston and if they are going to make it after the big freeze of 2010. While some people in Houston got lucky and their plants made it through the cold, others were not so lucky. Ripping out plants that you've had since seedlings or "babies" can be heartbreaking, but I say, "It's a plant, not a marriage!" Sometimes we just have to start over! While I can't cover every plant I've been asked about, I can cover the biggies: Palms, Hibiscus and Oleander.

Palms
I will be the first to tell you that I am not an expert on palms...at all. But I have quickly familiarized myself with the most popular ones around town: Queen Palms, Pygmy Dates, and Sago Palms (which is really a Cycad, but let's not get too technical.) For Palms, the do-or-die moment comes down to the center crown of the plant where new growth shoots out.

Sago Palm center "cone"

If that center "cone" is mushy, more than likely the palm is a goner. You can spray that center part with a copper based fungicide to keep any rotten material from infecting live material, but there really is no guarantee that the plant will re-leaf out this Spring. I DO NOT recommend tearing out any palm until mid April to be sure the new growth isn't going to surprise you later in the season. These are expensive plants to replace, so wait and be sure before you remove them.

Pygmy Date Palm: I did not see any sign of green on this palm, but the new growth area was still firm.

If the center "cone" is hard and intact, more than likely the palm will make it. I've gotten the chance to visit a few of my clients homes that are in North Houston which got much colder than the Cypress area. Their Queen Palms didn't look happy, but they weren't dead. There was a little bit of green left on some of the fronds, which is a good sign that they should survive.

A little green left on some of the inner fronds is a good sign!

In either case, DO NOT remove any dead palm leaves until the palm has had a chance to put on a new set of leaves. The only material that is okay to remove is anything that has already fallen away from the center growth area.

Trim fallen leaves, but leave on any upright growth until new growth appears.

So, if the leaves are still attached and upright, leave them on until you see new growth appear. Leaving the old fronds on helps distribute the plants energy evenly, which will prevent your new growth from appearing gnarled and twisted when it finally pushes out. Once the new growth has appeared and grown out a bit, you can then trim away any dead material from the freeze damage.

Hibiscus and Oleander
Unfortunately, I have yet to find a Hibiscus that I believe made it through the freeze. Every one I've touched and done the scratch test on has been a mushy mess of dead material. You can do this also, not only with Hibiscus, but with all your plants. Scratch the stem: If you find green, you're in business. If you find brown, dead material, it's a goner.

A scratch test will tell you if the plant is still alive.

This one is black inside, and the bark easily pulls away.

Every Hibiscus I've scratched has been dead down to the ground. We may get a surprise later in the Spring with new growth from the roots, but I'm not holding my breath on that one! Personally, I would rip them out and start over. I've had so many people say, "But I've had that one for X amount of years." or "But, my "so and so" gave that to me!" I simply say in return, "It's a plant, not a marriage!"

Oleanders are hit or miss. Some are still green, but a bit frost damaged. Others are crispy critters all the way down to the roots. I've taken the same philosophy on these as I have on the Hibiscus.

Oleander with minor frost damage

Oleander with severe frost damage.

Scratch the stems and if you get green you can wait for them to re-leaf out. If you get brown, either trim them all the way back and wait for new growth from the roots, or start over with new ones. Either way, it will take awhile for the Oleanders to bounce back. They aren't as fast growing as Hibiscus are, so it will probably be a couple of years before they look good again. Patience is a virtue, my friend!

Microlife and Superthrive
I've mentioned these two products before on several other blog posts, but have to mention them again because I believe in their miracles whole heartedly. I've had plants that were sticks come back for me with this combination. Microlife is an organic, slow release fertilizer. Superthrive is vitamins and hormones that are beneficial to stressed, diseased, or newly transplanted plants. I recommend fertilizing everything in your yard with Microlife and then go around and water in the Superthrive on top of that. This combination will help jump-start the life in your soil to get the plants back in shape for spring and summer. While these two can't bring dead back to life, they can help a really stressed plant recover more quickly. The quicker a plant recovers this spring, the better it will be able to survive the heat that will be here before we know it.

I hope I answered some of the concerns many Houstonians have had, but if you'd like to leave a comment below, I'd be more than happy to answer any more you might have!

The Fresh Scent of Geraniums

2010-03-10T06:37:00.000-06:00

At the nursery I work at, we have a wide variety of Geraniums for sale this Spring. The flower colors are spectacular, the leaves are intriguing, but the scent is like freshly mowed grass, a crisp breeze, rain on the horizon, and fresh earth all rolled into one. Since I can't post a scent in a blog, here are a few of my favorite Geranium blooms this season.

Pink Mega Splash

White Mega Splash

Tricolor (I LOVE the foliage on this one!)

Americana Red

Graffiti Fire

Americana Cherry Rose

Americana Salmon

Graffiti Double Red

In Houston, Geraniums do best in a morning sun/ afternoon shade setting. They will last through the summer as long as they get the relief from the hot sun in July and August. Actually, I've had customers tell me they've had theirs for years until the freeze of 2010 killed them off. They make great potted plants, hanging baskets, and add a splash of color throughout a shady bed area. Give them a well drained soil to thrive in and they will be sure to give you joy!

These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

'Kristen's Pink' Abutilon

2010-03-09T19:35:00.002-06:00

I've had my eye on this sweet Abutilon all winter as it grew in our greenhouses at work. As February ended, this plant started blooming with soft pink, upside down, 3 inch flowers that are very appealing. This Abutilon is evergreen in Houston and stays around 18-24 inches high, making it perfect for a low growing specimen plant, or low border in a dappled light setting. 'Kristen's Pink' also makes a great "Thriller" plant when used in a container. Ever blooming throughout the year, this plant provides a great source for butterflies, birds, and bees to visit in the landscape.

I am just smitten with this plant. I can't wait to include it in my new flower bed at my house! This plant made my day! How 'bout yours?

Spring has Sprung!

2010-03-08T06:58:00.001-06:00

Pink MegaSplash Geranium

I've been rejoicing in the Spring sunshine we've had in Houston the past week or so. I've managed to go outside and clean-up most of the mess that winter left. I've trimmed everything back and fertilized my lawn, pots and bedding plants. This past Saturday I actually got a little sunburn on my face while working at the nursery. (I don't think I've ever been so happy about a sunburn in my life!) I am elated that Spring is here! This past winter has been one miserable time. Normally, Houstonians get to garden year round, but the bitter chill kept me inside for three months. After talking with many homeowners this past weekend, I think the consensus is that Spring is here to stay. Trees are leafing out, the birds are here, and I even saw a Sulpher butterfly flying around on Saturday!

Shrimp Plant

I'm excited that my hobby and passion in life can get going again. So many of my favorite things in life happen in my garden. I love plants, but more importantly, I find that pulling weeds and trimming plants is VERY therapeutic. My husband would agree that I've been more on edge since I haven't had my favorite way of releasing stress. I love photographing flowers and butterflies. I could only take so many pictures of Pansies before I got bored with them, and taking pictures of flowers in our greenhouses at work just isn't the same as taking them in a garden where they are growing in the sunshine. I've missed blogging about my garden on a somewhat daily basis. I am very anxious to start posting again, and I already have a few topics that I am gathering pictures for. So, I am thrilled that Spring has finally arrived!

'Ponderosa' Lemon Blossom

My Dad is coming over today or tomorrow to help me till up a vegetable garden in my back yard. Normally we start one together at our farm, but the winter and early spring have been extremely wet. We can't get the tractor through our plot without getting stuck. We've decided to each start a patch at our homes instead. I'm looking forward to tomatoes right off the vine, squash, okra, and cucumbers! I have a 101 in 1001 goal to make my own pickles, so I'll also be growing Dill. I also have plans of extending a flower bed in my front yard. My husband and I moved in February to a house with lots of trees in the front yard. This will be the first time I get to garden at my home with a shade and dappled light setting. I am very excited about that!

Bossiaea heterophylla

So, happy Spring everyone! I can't wait to hear what everyone else is up to in their gardens as the temps warm up across the country!

Currently in March

2010-03-01T06:10:00.001-06:00

Current Book(s): I have started the Fablehaven series. I'll admit it's a beautiful world the author has made up, but it's a bit too childish for my liking. My husband roped me into reading it after he pre-read it for our boys to read. (We don't let them read anything until we approve it ourselves.) I'll finish the series, if for nothing else but to have something to talk about with my kiddos....and the hubby.

After that series is done, I believe I've been roped into reading the Percy Jackson series. I wish I could read the first book before we go see the movie tomorrow, but I don't see that working out for me. My husband, good friend , and oldest son have all read (or are in the middle of reading) this series, and they all say it's really good!

Current Playlist: Country music is on the radio right now.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Ummm, I can't think of one. Maybe Farmville on Facebook would be a good fit. I can't farm in real life, so I fulfill my needs on a video game? Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;o)

Current Color: Lavender. It's my all time favorite color!

Current Drink: Sweet tea.

Current Food: Home cooked meals.

Current Favorite Show: I haven't had time to sit down and watch TV this month.

Current Wishlist: For the window on the suburban to get fixed. The motor went out while the window was down, and now it won't stay up.

Current Needs: For night time temps to stay above freezing so I can plant my spring garden!

Current Triumphs: I'm 95% unpacked in my new house!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: See above about the window on the suburban.

Current Celebrity Crush: This one is a toughy because I haven't done much of anything but unpack this month. Haven't had the time to crush on many celebrities. ;o)

Current Indulgence: Chocolate Chip Cookies that I made on Friday night. ( I cheated and made the store bought dough, but they are still really good!)

Current #1 Blessing: My family is under one roof, and life is good.

Current Slang or Saying: Hmmm, I got nothing this month on this one.

Current Outfit: Floral print top, jeans, Ariat boots and my green North Face fleece jacket.

Current Excitement: Have I mentioned the house yet??? And, my son Kurtis has a birthday tomorrow! AND, it's March 1st!!!! That means it's Houston's average last frost date! woohoo!!! Spring gardening can start really soon, and I can start cutting everything back that froze this winter.

Current Mood: Exhausted yet happy.

Current Link: The weather channel for my local area. I've been watching it like a hawk for signs of true Spring. I want to plant SO bad!

Happy March!

I've Got Spring Fever

2010-02-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

Petrea Vine in Greenhouse

Oh how I long for real Spring to arrive here in Houston! The weather keeps teasing us with warm sunny days, and yet snow is in the forecast for tonight. I keep walking the greenhouses here at work, my mind just spinning with combinations I want to plant in my flower beds. Even though March 1st is considered Houston's average last frost date, I think we'll see colder temps into the middle of March. I'm finding it hard to follow my own advice, and not mess with anything in the yard until then. I'm anxious to see what has really survived this winter, and what has bit the dust forever. I can't wait to sink my hands into some soil, plant my seedlings I started this January, and await the arrival of the first butterflies dancing in the sunshine. I officially have Spring fever!

Amazon Dianthus

2010-02-02T05:35:00.002-06:00

I am head over heels in LOVE with this plant! This is one of those plants that needs to be planted in the fall to get a spring bloom here in Houston. The plant stays green all winter, and slowly works on its root system and puts off flower buds in early January. In February and March they all start to open up into large heads of flowers that are show stopping gorgeous! There are three colors offered this spring: Neon Purple, Neon Cherry, and Rose Magic. Neon Purple and Cherry are often planted together as a mix called Amazon Neon Duo Dianthus (it may be a mouthful, but the combo is GORGEOUS together!)

Neon Purple

Neon Cherry

Rose Magic

The individual plants work great in a container planting, but my favorite displays are planted in mass where the color blankets a bed. Amazon Dianthus are considered annuals for us in Houston, but with reseeding, they can act like perennials. They reach 12-18 inches tall and work very well planted in the back of a bed with pansies in front of them for a border. Plant these gems in a well drained, full sun area and they will not let you down! As the season progresses, dead heading the spent flowers will encourage even more blooms to open.

These blooms are just starting to open up here at the nursery in our semi-controlled greenhouse environment. I haven't seen them opening yet around town, but when they do you can be sure you'll see this plant again in my pictures. These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

Currently In February

2010-02-01T06:41:00.000-06:00

Current Book(s): Let's see, I finished all 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series in January...I'm hooked! Great series and I highly recommend them! Then I finished the Immortals series. Great 1st book...second and third, not so much (at least not when targeted for a young adult audience.) Now I've started reading the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I picked this book up over a year ago and only got 2 or 3 chapters in before picking something else up (not because it was bad, but because something else came out that I really wanted to read first.) Then I tried it on audio book this fall and got about 7 or 8 chapters in, and I've just never finished the thing which is so not like me...I always finish a book once I start it, even if it's bad. I'm about half way through Kiss of Shadows now, and I'll continue the series from there for February's reading list. Oh! and the next Anita Blake series book, Flirt, comes out tomorrow! (That will definitely interrupt the Merry series again!)

Current Playlist: My hubby bought the Avatar soundtrack. I love it as long as I'm in the mood for instrumental music.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Reading...just can't seem to get my nose out of the pages!

Current Color: Royal Purple

Current Drink: Coke...completely failing at my goal of giving it up for breakfast!

Current Food: Napoli's Pizza: Stromboli is De-lish!

Current Favorite Show: I'm gonna go with a movie for this one and say Avatar.

Current Wishlist: I'd really like a nook eReader!

Current Needs: Same as last month...For the weather to warm up so I can start Spring planting already!

Current Triumphs: I fixed the keyless entry to my suburban! Yay!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Time...or lack thereof!

Current Celebrity Crush: Hmmm... My hubby and I have been watching True Blood, so I'll say Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Current Indulgence: Little Debbies Valentine Cakes! mm,mm,mm!

Current #1 Blessing: Lots to be thankful for this month, but #1 is family!

Current Slang or Saying: No slang this month, but saying goes something like this: "Don't cut your plants back until March 1st, which is Houston's average last frost date." "Yes, I know their ugly, but you'll do more harm than good by cutting them back now." I must say this 50 times a day (or, at least it feels like it!)

Current Outfit: Winter gardener clothing: Brown fleece jacket, teal blue T-Shirt and jeans.

Current Excitement: Two of my friends had their babies this weekend!

Grace Elaine arrived on Friday and she is just precious! Congrats to Sarah, Andrew and Katie!

And Lexi Lee arrived last night! Congrats to Bryan, Misti, Isaiah, and Samuel!

I can't wait to meet both of them in person!

Current Mood: Excited and Hopeful!

Current Link: sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com This couple was on TV earlier this week after a man's fiance started posting things that he said in his sleep. Even though some of the quotes are foul mouthed, most of them are hilarious!

Happy February!

'Lemon Lime' Abelia

2010-01-24T13:53:00.000-06:00

I've wobbled back and forth in my head about this plant. Do I like it? Do I not like it? Well, yes and no. I LOVE the variegated foliage which is a lemon-lime color. I'm not so hot on the pale pink flowers it produces in the Spring though. I just don't like the color combination of pink with lemon and lime. While the pink blossoms on the dark green glossy Abelia are lovely, they just seem out of place on this variety. I've made my decision though, and I LOVE this plant! It has performed very well with our unusually cold winter, and the foliage is very striking right now when everything else is dull and boring. This plant reaches 24-36 inches tall and loves full sun. I've already mentioned how well its done in our cold, but it thrives in our heat as well. So, it's official! I'm a fan!

This plant made my day! How 'bout yours?

Put the Pruners Away!

2010-01-20T06:54:00.000-06:00

This is for all my Houston readers who are struggling with plants that froze a couple weeks ago. I get asked everyday by my clients if it's okay to cut things back yet. The answer is no. It is better to leave the frost damaged leaves/ stems on the plant until March 1, which is Houston's average last frost date. Leaving the dead material on the plant insulates the living part of the plant if we get another freeze. Also, if the dead parts are trimmed too soon, and we get a spell of warm weather (like we are now) the plants think Spring has arrived and will start putting on new growth. If we get a late freeze, this new growth will die and set the plant back even further. So, leave the dead growth on any damaged plants, and don't rip anything out until March/April when you can be sure the plant isn't going to surprise you with new growth from its roots/lower stems. Not everything is completely gone even though it may look like it now.

My last piece of advice is to give your plants a good dose of Superthrive. Superthrive is simply vitamins and hormones that help stressed/ diseased/ newly transplanted plants perform their best. It can be combined with a fertilizer in the Spring to really give your plants the extra ummph to get going again. I've had plants that were literally sticks come back for me with this stuff, and I am a true believer in its miracles. Simply mix one capfull to a gallon of water and pour around the base of the plant.

Spring will be here before you know it, and we'll have beautiful gardens to play in again. In the mean time, start some seeds inside that can be transplanted in March. It just might satisfy that gardening itch to pick up the clippers and cut everything back.

Unusually Cold in Houston

2010-01-06T14:07:00.000-06:00

This week has been absolutely crazy at the nursery. We have almost literally had to move the whole 5 acre nursery inside in prep for the cold temps that start tomorrow. We haven't seen weather this cold since 1970 (according to weather.com) Plants that normally don't mind our minimal freezing temps are really not going to be very happy with our weather possibly dipping into the teens tomorrow and Friday. I must say, I'm over the cold weather. I've had my fill and want the warm sunshine on my face again. I'm tired of looking at brown sticks. I want green leaves, colorful flowers, and butterflies dancing in the sky. (*stomps foot, *folds arms, *pouts)

***On the other hand, I just found out the nursery is going to be closed tomorrow through Sunday since nobody will be buying any plants. I think I could get used to 4 day weekends in exchange for the cold! ;o) Watch out Sookie Stackhouse, here I come to finish your book series!

Currently in January

2010-01-01T23:30:00.000-06:00

Current Book(s): My hubby listened to my groans and grumbles of not having anything "good" to read. By "good" I mean something that captures my attention and leaves me captivated til the very end...something that I read on my lunch hour, at stop lights, and until 4:30 in the morning just to get to the end.... Something in the Harry Potter and Twilight realm of "good." So, he bought me three new books for Christmas. Yes, they were back in the fantasy genre which I was trying to get out of, but I've come to expect that from my husband and books. So far I have finished the first Sookie Stackhouse book Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris...Awesome book (made the hubby go buy me the second already!) And, since I finished that book around 8:30 at night, I decided to start Evermore by Alyson Noel...I stayed up til 4:30 am (sick, and on nighttime medicine) just to finish the thing cause it was just that good!

Current Playlist: Silence is golden at the moment!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: There's still a lot of Christmas candy leftover...it just calls my name every time I walk by it!

Current Color: Winter White

Current Drink: Water. I'm determined to drink more water in the new year!

Current Food: Black Eyed Peas for good luck and Cabbage for money in the new year.

Current Favorite Show: Hmmm, I haven't really been watching anything lately.

Current Wishlist: I think Santa already took care of that for now.

Current Needs: For the weather to warm up so I can start Spring planting already!

Current Triumphs: My family and I had a great Christmas!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: I'm sick. I hate being sick!

Current Celebrity Crush: Maybe they aren't exactly celebrities, but Bill and Damen are fresh on my mind from the above mentioned books. ;o)

Current Indulgence: Chocolate Chip cookies that my Mom made.

Current #1 Blessing: My friends and family

Current Slang or Saying: ...??? I don't think I have anything new this month.

Current Outfit: I'm sporting my SHSU hoodie and jeans.

Current Excitement: I'm hoping for a great date night with the hubby to go see Avatar tonight.

Current Mood: Tired and Thankful...if those two things even go together?

Current Link: Freerice.com : I need to catch up on my 101 in 1001 goal!

Happy January!

2009: A Year in Blooms

2009-12-31T18:28:00.001-06:00

If you read my blog on any sort of regular basis, you know I have a flower of the day section where I post a flower that has brought me joy that day. I may not post everyday, but not a day goes by that I don't pick a flower in my head. It brings me joy on a bad day, brightens an already sunny day and gives my soul a moment with God as I say thanks for creating such a wonderful piece of art for me to enjoy. The following are my favorite moments with Him as He walked me in the garden.

January: Snapdragon

February: Saucer Magnolia Tree

March: Columbine

April: Butterfly Bush

May: Peonies

June: Crazy Daisy

July: Celosia

August: Porterweed

September: 'Grandpa Otts' Morning Glory

October: Confederate Rose

November: Fall Color

December: 'Belinda's Dream' Rose

Happy New Year, everyone!

May 2010 bring you great joy and many blessings!

~Sarah

I'm Back!

2009-12-29T06:29:00.001-06:00

The Christmas tornado has come and gone in my household just like it does every year, and I'm still exhausted from the chaos of the past two weeks! Back tracking to Dec 22, my youngest son turned 2. We had a small family get together for him that night. He had a great time opening his presents and eating his cake.

I made him a Tonka cake.

Proud new owner of a police car!

I spent the next couple of days wrapping up loose ends that needed to get tied up before Christmas. One of those loose ends was emailing out my Christmas card to family and friends since it didn't get in the snail mail on time!

Christmas Eve marked the beginning of the whirl wind of hustle and bustle that always engulfs the holiday. We enjoyed six Christmas celebrations between my family and my husband's family. We left Houston around 4:00 p.m. on Christmas day for my father-in-law's house in Arlington, TX where we got to visit with my husbands brother's and sister who were down from South Dakota. I also finally got to meet my new nephew Trevin! We enjoyed the last of their white Christmas with a snowball fight when we got there!

My new nephew Trevin...lil' Cutie-Pie!

I am very thankful that my boys had a great Christmas. After my husband went 9 1/2 months without a job this year, I am relieved that the year has ended on a good note. We were able to buy everyone a little something, and not break the bank. I think I learned a little about budgeting properly!

On Saturday, I decided to go to Grapevine, TX and visit the Gaylord Hotel which has a beautiful atrium of Texas plants. I want to work there SO bad! It's like walking into a small piece of heaven! My brother and sister-in-law went with me just to get out of the house, but were very impressed with the decor and plants in their atrium.

Gaylord Hotel: Looking at the front from the parking garage.

Inside the Atrium:

This tree is HUGE! ...and it spins around in beautiful glory!

The train sets went rolling along through the plants.

Amber and Ryan

Ryan and Me

Serine ponds

Bird of Paradise

Agave Garden

Beautiful Xeriscape garden

GORGEOUS Poinsettia tree

Variegated Rubber tree (I regret not taking a cutting!) ;o)

Bromeliads

Beautiful tree with Snake plant and Dracena under it

Snow around the Cyclamen outside

Outside the Hotel

We left the hotel and came back home to fajitas and a fun game of Apples to Apples with the rest of the family. We left Arlington the next morning and came home to the fun of un-wiring all the Christmas toys from their packaging...Do they really need that many wires and screws to hold a tiny toy in place? It's a bit ridiculous!

So the Christmas season is over, and I am most looking forward to the new year. I have never been more happy to see a year end than 2009. It's been rough, but I have learned a lot. I am most looking forward to 2010 and what it has to offer that 2009 lacked. I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-16T06:20:00.001-06:00

I am taking a break from the blog-o-sphere until after Christmas (unless something miraculously moves me to write!) There's so much to do with so little time! 'Til then, I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas with family and friends and all your hearts desires!

I Could Use Some Advice!

2009-12-11T06:24:00.000-06:00

I could use some gardening advice from all my blotanical friends. I have two Orchids that I have kept alive for almost a year now...a miracle, considering I have killed every one I've touched before that! I wrote a blog post a couple months ago on how I acquired these Orchids and how I take care of them. I've grown very attached to these plants, and would be pretty upset if something went wrong with them. About a month ago I noticed that one of them started putting off leaves from the flower shoots. Soon after that, roots started forming from those leaves. So, my question is, do I leave them on the plant and have a really cool looking Orchid, or do I cut them off and start three new orchids (which would be kinda neat to say I did!)? Again, I don't want to harm them, and I'm a little out of my plant element with these plants since I've never gotten this far with any other Orchid!

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Coupon Madness!

2009-12-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

This post has nothing to do with gardening, and everything to do with coupons! I was so intrigued, that I'm compelled to share a story that happened to me yesterday. I had the day off from work, so I took advantage of the free time and went Christmas shopping for my boys at Target. I had a whole cart full of toys and was standing in the check out lane when my almost two-year-old started eying the candy. The lady in front of me said she had a small candy cane and asked if she could give it to him. I said sure, and we quickly started up a conversation about our kids and what they wanted for Christmas.

She happened to notice that I had a Star Wars Lego set in my buggy and asked me if I had noticed the manufacturer's $5.00 off coupon for that item online. I said no, and she started digging through her purse to find one since she had an extra from her kids. I said, "Wow! Thanks!" She then goes into a spill about coupons and how she hardly ever pays full price for anything. By this time, it was her turn to check out, and she says, "Watch this!" She had a cart full of little goodies for teacher gifts, and after the cashier rings everything up the total came to $55.something.

She hands him a "thick" stack of coupons, and by the time he got done scanning them all, he handed her $1.10 back in change. I was shocked! I was more than shocked, I was in awe! I mean I had always heard of people doing this, but to actually see it happen is very eye opening! I always had visions of spending hours cutting out coupons from the paper, but instead she goes online to coupons.com and prints them out. I can handle that! I mean, they paid her to take things from the store! How cool is that?! I'm on the coupon bandwagon now. I think she created a mad woman! (or was I already mad?)

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Rose!

2009-12-05T07:06:00.002-06:00

It snowed in Houston yesterday, and while my yard didn't look anything like Janie's, who is a bit further south than me, we did get flakes coming down almost all day. It was beautiful to see, but I was far from excited about the weather like most others were. First of all, my day started out in the freezing cold weather covering plants at the nursery I work at. I am a heat lover, so I really wasn't very happy about working in the snow, sleet, rain or whatever it was falling from the sky! Second, all I could think about was how long I have to wait until Spring arrives when everything looks pretty again. I really don't know how people in the north survive!

The snow coming down.

Snow accumulating on the Cabbage

And a little bit on the planter box fence at work.

I don't think the Ginger is going to be very happy!

The snow melted right away which left us with icy conditions as the temps continued to drop into the low 20's. This is what I woke up to this morning...Jack Frost blanketing everything.

Red Crane Cabbage

Begonias

Butterfly Weed

Belinda's Dream Rose: She looks so sad!

Double Knockout Rose

Blue Porterweed

Sweet Potato Vine

'Anne Marie' Lantana

I've heard it's going to be a hard winter here. Seeing how we normally don't get a hard freeze like this until January, I think they might be right! I can't wait until Spring when everything returns to its full glory, and the butterflies come back to play!

Spring Propagating Has Begun!

2009-12-01T12:00:00.001-06:00

Its been a very slow day at the nursery today. The weather brought a cold front with rain in two nights ago which scared away the landscapers. I do enjoy days like this every once in awhile though because it gives me a chance to re-group, catch up on paperwork, and since it's nearing the end of the season, look forward to Spring growing. We've been researching new plants for the Spring season and the propagators in the back have been cutting stock plants all day for our Spring crop.

We've increased inventory items like this awesome Cuphea:

The bees have LOVED this plant all Summer!

And this AWESOME 'Mona Lavender' Plectranthus. We couldn't keep these in stock this season!

Beautiful Neon Purple blooms with purple foliage!

Golden Thryalis is a no-brainer for bright summer color!

LOVE this shrub!

Creeping Jenny is a top seller ground cover for us: Lysimachia aurea

I Love this one in between stepping stones!

This is another great groundcover we'll have in the Spring- Pink Buttons - Polygonum capitatum

The little buttons are too cute!

Euryops is a great showstopper constantly blooming since Spring!

Bush Daisy: Euryops

This one just started blooming a couple weeks ago, and will bloom all winter for us: Panama Rose

The scent at night is heavenly!

Salvia greggii loves our heat in the summer.

This is one of my favorite Salvias

Of course we are propagating many more plants, but these are just a few of my favorites. I've been flipping through seed catalogs and books looking for more Spring ideas. I'm focusing on warmer days ahead since our first freeze is coming this Friday night. Have I mentioned I hate cold weather? Because I really do!

Currently In December

2009-12-01T07:00:00.035-06:00

Current Book(s): I am forcing my way through the 6th House of Night novel, Tempted. My husband loves these books. I forced my way through the first four and the fifth was amazing, so I was hoping the 6th would be just as good. I was wrong. I'm 3/4 of the way through it and there is just now some action going on... ridiculous! I will NOT be reading anymore in this series when they come out.

Current Playlist: Classic Christmas carols and Trans Siberian Orchestra rock!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I'm going to start making my Christmas candy soon! Eating the candy would be the guilty pleasure, not making it. ;o)

Current Color: Red and Green!

Current Drink: This is still the same as last month. Chai Tea! It's de-lish! I'll add hot Cocoa to the list too...mm,mm,mm!

Current Food: Soups and Sandwiches! I love that when the weather is cold! My favorite is chicken tortilla soup with quesadillas, or tomato basil soup with a turkey and swiss sandwich.

Current Favorite Show: A Charlie Brown Christmas. It wouldn't be Christmas without it!

Current Wishlist: For my family and friends to all have a very Merry Christmas this year.

Current Needs: It's funny how my view of needs and wants has changed this year. I can't think of much I really need right now.

Current Triumphs: I'm done with Christmas installs tomorrow!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Oh, the usual suspect...the suburban and all its complaints...the fuel pump and the random flat tire every week or so. (Okay, it's not that bad, but it feels like it!)

Current Celebrity Crush: The cast of New Moon. I saw this movie and it was awesome how it compared to the book! It's almost exactly to the storyline, which never happens with movies!

Current Indulgence: Christmas Candy! Fudge, Divinity, Pecan Pralines, Peanut Brittle, homemade hard candy, cookies, pies...you name it, and I'll indulge in it! ;o)

Current #1 Blessing: Jesus. He's the reason for the season!

Current Slang or Saying: Merry Christmas and HoHoHo!

Current Outfit: Ski Pants and a jacket. I know everyone from the north thinks I'm crazy, but I work outside and Houston's winter is cold, wet and humid. Throw in some wind, and Sarah becomes a very unhappy camper. I shut down in cold, so the ski pants keep me warm and dry while I work. I get made fun of everyday by my customers and employees, but I don't care. At least I'm warm and dry!

Current Excitement: I'm done with Christmas installs tomorrow!

Current Mood: Artistic, Thankful, and Nostalgic.

Current Link: Blotanical.com : Still loving this site!

Happy December and
Merry Christmas!

Gruene, Texas

2009-11-29T22:03:00.000-06:00

This is my favorite town in Texas! Gruene (pronounced Green) is home to Texas country music at Gruene Hall, lazy summer days floating the river, great food, bed and breakfasts, shopping, and good 'ole Texas pride. It's like coming home when I get the chance to visit. Here are a few photos of my visit on Saturday.

We visited Cowboy Kringle, and in case you were wondering what bad kids get these days, it's not coal and rocks anymore. Now you only get a picture of that present you were really wanting...I'm wondering why I didn't think of that!

Salvia

Thornless Prickly Pear Cactus

This Oak is HUGE!

Never mind me, pay attention to my favorite vine in the background, Mascagnia!

My son took this photo of a vine growing up a shop wall. I kinda like it!

I wish I would have taken more photos of all the container plantings they had, but I was busy window shopping. I just love this town, its like taking a step back in time to when the days were easy, worry free and all that mattered is you had some music to tap your toes to and an inner tube to float the river!

Christmas Tree Decor: 101

2009-11-25T19:01:00.001-06:00

Last week I posted pictures of one of my Christmas installs. I decided to post another on how to achieve the same professional look in your home. It really is easier than you think, you just have to pay attention to the details. You just need a few supplies like floral wire and wire cutters to help you along the way. I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving and have fun putting up your tree!

This is my moms tree, and the colors are burgundy, gold, and cream. Her tree is themed with rustic berries, and classy vintage style ornaments.

Step 1: The Tree

I prefer to decorate artificial trees because they are easier to decorate. Their limbs move where I want them to, which makes placing ornaments much easier. Another plus to artificial trees is most come pre-lit now which makes my life much easier!

For the die hard Christmas tree fans out there who love the fresh scent a real tree gives you, I have a few pieces of advice. When looking for a tree, find the freshest cut trees available. "Box stores" cut their trees months in advance which will leave you with a Charlie Brown tree faster than you can blink an eye. If you have a local nursery that sells trees, they should be able to tell you when theirs were cut. A couple of features you want to look for are sturdy limbs and branches and a few open holes for larger ornaments to nestle into. Once you pick the perfect one, have the retailer put a fresh cut on the trunk so the tree can drink. After you get home, you may have to do a bit of trimming to get the perfect look you want. Save these branches for later decorating.

Step Two: The Lights

If you have been blessed with a pre-lit artificial tree, say Hallelujah and move to step three!

If you haven't been blessed with a pre-lit tree, say a few grumbles because this might take a while! I have a rule of thumb that for each foot your tree is tall, you should have one strand of mini lights. So, if you have an 8 ft tree, you need 8 strands of mini lights. Yes, it's a lot. Yes it will take awhile to put them on. Do not skimp on this, you will be rewarded with a beautiful tree when you are done!

Start at the top of the tree and wrap EVERY branch from the center trunk out to the tip and back to the trunk again to move to the next branch. Here's the kicker: Light cords are your visual enemy. So, take floral wire and fasten the cords to the underside of the branches.

EVERY branch x how ever many branches you have on your tree = a few hours worth of work.

I'm not kidding when I say not to skip this part! Once this is done, if you have an artificial tree, guess what? You now have a pre-lit tree for next year! If you have a real tree, guess what? After Christmas, throw away the tree with the mini lights on it. You will spend hours trying to get them off, and at $1.99 a strand, it's just not worth the headache or hassle! Let them go and buy again next year.

I also like to add specialty lights to my tree. In addition to the 8 strands of minis I put on mine, I also have 2-3 strands of lights that bubble and strands that have larger bulbs. Extra lights are optional, but it does give the tree some character once the ornaments are on. Don't forget to hide the wires!

Step 3: Ribbon and Garland

I was not a fan of ribbon on trees a few years ago because I had visions of big bows covering the tree, and that went out of style a long time ago. Then I had a client insist on ribbon and I came up with a loop idea instead of bows. I think it's a great compromise and I've really grown to love the look. I like to use two or three different matching/coordinating ribbon prints for trees.

I start at the top and attach the ribbon with floral wire. Then I work the ribbon down and make a few loops with the ribbon and attach that to the tree with wire. Repeat this process until you have covered the tree in about 4-6 strands of ribbon. The ribbons do not all have to go down the whole length of the tree. You can curl the ends of some starnds and let it hang nicely.

Large loops are in! Bows are out!

Curled ends are a nice touch!

Garlands are also a nice addition into the tree. I like to work them in around the ribbon, but if you want to add them first so they are behind the ribbon, you can do that as well. Make sure you buy enough to cover the whole tree. This tree is 9 ft and I used two strands of garland.

Garlands are great decor!

Step 4: The Topper

I don't like going up and down the ladder a hundred times, so I usually try and decorate the top of the tree first so I can move the ladder out of the way. Over the past couple of years, tree tops have become wild and crazy with sticks, branches, picks and sparkles coming out the top. No more plain jane angels and stars! My mom is a traditionalist though, so we have compromised with an angel and picks.

The first thing I do is insert the sticks and picks into the tree top from all angles. Next, I position the Angel so she is sitting steady on top.

After I position the angel, I add a pre-made pick of greenery, berries and feathers that I found at Hobby Lobby into the top. This can be anything you want as long as it matches your decor. If you had a fresh tree that you had cuttings from, this is a great place to stick those!

Voila! The top is done!

Step 5: Picks and Flowers

Next I like to add floral picks and flowers into the tree. Working from the top down, I add in berry sprays and silk flowers or poinsettias. I like to make the picks come out of the tree since the top has picks coming out. I add the flowers in among the loops of ribbon and empty spaces.

Repeat this throughout the tree.

This tree is ready for ornaments!

Step 6: Ornaments

Many people do not like themed trees because they have so many sentimental ornaments that they have collected over many years. These random shapes and colors tend to throw themed trees off if they are added by themselves. An easy way to get the look of a themed tree and keep your sentimental ornaments is to buy solid colored Christmas balls in a coordinating color to the ribbon, garlands, flowers and picks. I like to choose one color and an accent color of silver or gold for formal trees. If you use multi colored lights and your ornaments are multi colors, then you can get away with multi colored Christmas balls. Either way, you want to buy enough solid colored Christmas balls to give your tree the themed color appearance. Usually 8-10 large 6 inch balls and 24-36 4 inch balls will do the trick. Using larger 6-8 inch balls will give you a pro look. These can be nestled into the tree to give you depth and color in the tree. The smaller 4 inch balls can then be hung on the outer branches.

I have a couple of guidelines that I refuse to deviate from when hanging ornaments. First, throw away your cheap ornament hangers, paper clips and fishing line for hangers. They are unsightly and will do nothing to protect your ornaments from breaking if your child or animal brushes the tree by accident. Instead, use floral wire or ribbon to attach your ornaments. The floral wire is green and blends in with the tree. It is also easy to wrap around the branch and hang an ornament. I like to use ribbon for fancy ornaments which can be tied onto the branches. Both of these methods are better and more polished than ornament hangers or paper clips! My second guideline is never let the wire show. Always wrap the excess wire around the branch.

Do not do this!

No wires showing! Much better!

After you have your ornaments wired and ribboned, you can begin placing them on the tree. Start with your largest Christmas balls first, and gradually work your way to the smallest. Don't forget to nestle the larger balls into the tree for depth, and hang the smaller ones in front for better visibility.

Large ball nestled into the tree

After you have all the solid colored Christmas balls on, you can then start adding your regular ornaments on. Again, start with your largest and work your way to the smallest.

Step 7: Stand Back and Admire Your Work!

See? That wasn't so bad, was it?

Aggie Hibiscus

2009-11-23T21:42:00.001-06:00

Before you go searching the internet for the Aggie Hibiscus, read me out. I work at a nursery where the owners are Aggies from Texas A&M University. Texans know how faithful the A&M alumni are to their school, but for all my out of state/country readers, let me elaborate. It's almost cult-ish how Aggies are to their school and its traditions. These people bleed maroon and white. So it didn't surprise me when the owners happily renamed the Haight Ashbury plant to the Aggie Hibiscus. The plant wears maroon foliage and has a stunning maroon flower that would make any Aggie proud. I find it funny that I even call it the Aggie Hibiscus and have to catch myself when somebody asks me the name of the plant.

Haight Ashbury is in the Hibiscus family and is a perennial in zones 9-11. It reaches 4-5 ft when full grown and prefers full sun. The flowers attract birds, bees and hummingbirds. Also, this Hibiscus is drought tolerant and deer resistant. It makes a beautiful addition to any garden or even as a thriller in a container planting. This plant is a must for anyone who loves Japanese Maples but have failed in the heat. Before these plants were flowering, I must have been asked two or three times a day if thats what it was. I'd say, "Nope, that's our Aggie Hibiscus!"

This plant made my day! How 'bout yours?

The Diversity of Pansies

2009-11-20T16:20:00.000-06:00

Infinite diversity in infinite combinations... symbolizing the elements that create truth and beauty.

I found the above quote on diversity while perusing the internet and couldn't help but think of the Pansies we have at the nursery right now. They come in (what seems like) infinite colors, and I love the combinations they give us in the garden. I always think of my Grandmother when the Pansies come out. She always wanted the biggest flowers she could find. She said they reminded her of her mother's flowers in Oregon when she was growing up. I, on the other hand, like the different colorful faces of the flowers. That's what I love about Pansies. There's one or more varieties for everyone's tastes.

I took a few (okay, more than a few) pictures today of all the Pansy varieties we have at the nursery I work at, and I still didn't get everything we have for sale. I can't think of any other plant that has this many flower color varieties. Orchids vary on flower shape, roses vary on petal count and size, hmmm? Maybe Snapdaragons could compete with Pansies for color. Never the less, I think Pansies deserve the award for most diverse color annual!

These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

Cyclamen

2009-11-19T06:46:00.002-06:00

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a huge fan of Cyclamen. These little rascals are on my list of things that always die on me. I return the favor by just not liking them all that much. Hmmmph, I'll show them! (Just kidding, just kidding!) Normally on my plant of the day, I like to go into how to properly care for the plant I mention, but I hate to even do that since my advice would lead you into certain death of the plant. So I'll skip it all, and just say that these flowers made my day with their bright and cheerful color! We brought these Cyclamen into the nursery from Colorado this year and they are FABULOUS! I'm surprised I'm this excited about Cyclamen, but their colors are just so beautiful I couldn't go without mentioning them for my plant of the day.

These plants made my day! How 'bout yours?

Madblooms Christmas 2009

2009-11-17T20:38:00.002-06:00

Well I'm covered in glitter and my fingers have been poked to death with wire, but this house is done! I think it turned out beautifully. The color scheme for this house is Gold, Brown, and Copper with a splash of Leopard. Very elegant with a touch of sass!

First Tree before decorations

(This one is a 12 footer)

And After

Second Tree Before

(This one is a 10 footer)

And After

A slideshow of some of the tree decor up close.

Chandelier Arrangement

Fireplace Decor

(I did another mantle outside but forgot to get the picture.)

Kitchen Decor

Formal Dining Room Buffet

Stairway Banister Decor

Same Decor Up-Close

4 ft Wreath on Gate Outside

Well that's one house down with at least 2 more to go this season! I'll post pics of those as I install them. Tis the season!

My Farewell to Fall

2009-11-16T22:29:00.000-06:00

This is my farewell post to Fall. Tomorrow I begin Christmas installs, and once I break out the ornaments and glitter I just never get back into that Fall feeling again. I've really enjoyed this fall. The trees here in Houston are really just now changing and the weather is just now cooling, but it's been a beautiful fall. I've had fun with my kids building scarecrows, carving pumpkins and bobbing for apples. All the nostalgic fun of fall has been done this year. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving with my family, and looking forward to "Kids Thanksgiving" even more. This is a tradition my husband came up for our kids to enjoy a feast of their own choosing. The day before Thanksgiving, we buy every kind of junk food available in the freezer section of the grocery store, and let the kids chow down on all their favorites. The only rule is they have to eat everything on their plate the next day. I mean, let's face it, turkey and dressing just isn't kid friendly! So they feast on pizza rolls, french fries, chicken nuggets, bagel bites, egg rolls, cheese sticks, and God only knows what else the day before. Then on Thanksgiving day, my husband and I aren't plagued with kids whining about how they don't like this or that. It's a beautiful compromise! I guess that will truly be the end of fall, but tomorrow is Christmas.

I've mentioned before that I am a part-time florist. I make my "mad money" making arrangements for an interior designer. Together we install Christmas decor in her clients homes. I feel grateful this year that the economy is down and a lot of our previous clients are going to do their own install this year. I've been doing this for 6+ years and let me tell you, it gets crazy and very stressful. No matter how much we stress to people to start thinking about their decor early, it never fails that we have at least 5-6 people who need our help last minute. And of course there is always the neighbor who saw what we did, and now wants something in their home too. Oh the joys of being good! (yes, I'm bragging a little with a touch of sarcasm!) Just today I went from having 3 homes on my calendar to having those plus a new neighborhood entrance to decorate, and 8 arrangements to revamp I made 3 years ago for a lady. I'm sure there will be many more between now and Christmas. And so it begins. The lazy fall is gone, and the Christmas hustle and bustle is upon me. Just like that. So, bring on the glitter! I'm usually covered in it this time of year!

What's In a Name?

2009-11-15T22:36:00.001-06:00

When I was in High School, I took Latin as my foreign language. I opted out of the more popular Spanish here in Texas because I couldn't roll my R's, which always made me feel stupid when trying to speak in front of the class. I promptly chose Latin because it's a dead language, which meant no speaking in front of the class! (I know, I know. Lame excuse for taking a foreign language.) My other reason for taking the class was I knew I wanted to go into the horticulture industry, which meant I would need some Latin for botanical nomenclature. Out of all the classes I took in High School, Latin has turned out to be the most beneficial later in life. Not only did I learn words for plant names, I also learned many other derivatives that have helped me with the English language too.

I say all of that so I could go into why I wanted to write this post. On a daily basis, I look at plant names and can usually break them down with the little bits of Latin I remember or have picked up. I've found it useful if I have never heard of a certain plant. Sometimes the name will tell you what color the flower is, the kind of foliage it has, or even let you know where the plant came from. Latin can indeed be very useful to someone who works in the industry, but to a homeowner or the casual gardener, Latin can be very helpful when buying plants at the local nursery.

Looking for a white flowered plant? A name with 'Alba' in it somewhere will probably give you what you want. Want a plant that creeps along the ground? A name with 'Reptans' will work. Want to know if a plant is native to your area? If you're in Texas, look for names like 'texensis' in it. Here are a few other beneficial words that have helped me along the way.

Colors:

Red - rubens
Orange - aurorius
Yellow - luteus or aureus
Green - virens
Blue - coeruleus
Purple - purpureus
Brown - fuscus
Gray - ravus
Black - niger
White - alba

Notable Features:

Variegated - variegatus
Edged - marginata
Netted/ Veined - reticulatus
Clustered Together - aggregatus
Double Flowers - pleniflorous
Fingered - digitalis
Round - globosus
Palmate - palmatus
Pointed - pungens
Upright - erectus
Tall - elatus
Short - minor
Edible - edulis
Fragrant - fragrans

By no means is this list complete, and many of the words have other Latin words that can go with the ones I have listed here. A person could spend years studying Latin to understand the botanical nomenclature system, but my list helps one to understand that the plant names can be broken down to help identify parts of the plant itself. They really aren't some made up mumbo-jumbo that some random scientist decided to name the plant upon its discovery!

I came across a book, Gardener's Latin by Richard Bird, that I use from time to time as a reference for my gardening Latin. I recommend anyone who is remotely interested in plants to buy the book for a plant name reference. Since most gardening books are indexed by the botanical name of the plant instead of the common name, I've found it helpful to at least know the Latin names of the plants I have in my gardens. If the names are too long or complicated to remember, write them down in a journal for reference later. If you ever have a problem with that plant, you'll easily be able to look it up in a book by its true name.

I'll wrap this post up with a bit of fun. I know more than a few people in the industry that pride themselves on playing the 'name game' with Latin botanical names of plants. Walk through a garden with a friend, and whoever knows the most names wins (what they win, I'm not quite sure.) It's a fun game none the less! How many botanical names do you know? I bet a little friendly competition will help you learn more! You'll feel clever after winning a few rounds...which reminds me of a quote my High School Latin teacher had posted in her classroom.

I would make them all learn English:

and then I would let the clever ones

learn Latin as an honor.

Sir Winston Churchill