Notes Celebrates One Year

This week marks the one year Anniversary for "Notes from a Cottage Garden." My first post was made on April 27, 2007. I've learned a lot since then and I must say I have enjoyed my venture into the blogging world.

A big THANK YOU to each one who has visited my blog, read my posts, left nice comments, or generally encouraged me along the way. A special thanks to my dear daughter who talked me into in it the first place. :-) I've had a great time meeting and interacting with many new friends who share my love of growing things, and have especially enjoyed the virtual visits to your gardens!

Sending you all some flowers from my Springtime garden.....

Tulips 'Isle De France'

Raindrops on Tulip

'Pink Charm' Daffodil

Muscari Grape Hyacinth

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"Friends are the flowers that bloom in Life's garden."

Return of the Bees

This has been the coldest Spring on record, in the twenty years we have called this place home. I can count on one hand the sunny, warm days we've had.... those T-shirt kind of days when it is such a pleasure to work in the garden. But because they have been so scarce, I have enjoyed them all the more. It always amazes me how the sunshine brings out the hoards of various flying insects. Where do they all go to hide on the cold and rainy days?

This large Bumble Bee was deeply enjoying my one nursery purchase so far this year, Viola 'Etain.' I have been starting my own Pansies and Violas from seed the past couple of years, but couldn't resist this lovely, large flowered Viola with its soft yellow blooms, stitched around the edges with lavender. It has a light sweet scent.

Just as the bees have been in waiting, I am waiting, too.... for that next warm, sunny day. I will enjoy the buzzing of Bees and I won't even mind the wasps, because it will mean that Spring is finally here....for real.


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"Just living is not enough....
One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson

More Wildflowers

As the Spring season progresses and new Wildflowers appear on the mountain side, we move away from the color Yellow into some other lovely hues.

This tiny blue and white flowered charmer goes by the name of Small Flowered Blue-eyed Mary. The latin name is Collinsia parvifora and it is a member of the figwort family. The flowers are only 1/4 " across, the foliage delicate and airy.

And now appearing......Pink! Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia, is a personal favorite of mine. They are a special find, as they are a bit more elusive, unlike the masses of yellow Dog Tooth Violets still blooming in the background.


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"If all flowers wanted to be Roses,
nature would lose her springtime beauty,
and the fields would no longer be
decked out with little wildflowers."

St. Therese of Lisieux

At last....Daffodils!

The daffodils seemed to be sulking in the bud stage for weeks this year.... in protest, I think, of the cold weather and lack of sunshine.

They finally decided to brave the world the first week in April, 2-3 weeks behind a normal year. Not only has this Spring has been unusually cold, but we've also had some pretty erratic weather.

We had a heavy snowfall a couple of weeks ago, with some of the largest flakes I've ever seen...some up to an inch across. It was really quite beautiful, in spite of coming out of season. Fortunately, it melted away very quickly.

The daffodils survived this HAIL a few days ago, with some stones over a half inch in diameter. The sun was shining one minute, then the hailstorm came.....and ten minutes later the sun was shining again.


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To an Early Daffodil

Thou yellow trumpeter of laggard Spring!
Thou herald of rich Summer's myriad flowers!
The climbing sun with new recovered powers
Does warm thee into being, through the ring
Of rich, brown earth he woos thee, makes thee fling
Thy green shoots up, inheriting the dowers
Of bending sky and sudden, sweeping showers,
Till ripe and blossoming thou art a thing
To make all nature glad, thou art so gay;
To fill the lonely with a joy untold;
Nodding at every gust of wind to-day,
To-morrow jewelled with raindrops. Always bold
To stand erect, full in the dazzling play
Of April's sun, for thou hast caught his gold.

Amy Lowell

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Welcome to April...and daffodils...and sunshine!!