Blue Macro Ruby Monday, January 27, 2014

Welcome to my Monday post.   I didn't manage to post last week, still waiting for a new camera and also bogged down trying to decide on a smartphone plan and phones.   If anyone wants to mention their favorite phone that would be fun.   Today I am linking with-

Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Ruby Tuesday Too hosted by Gemma Wiseman

It turned out that Mandarin Orange Monday is taking a break but I forgot to change my title before I posted so I couldn't change it.

Still dreaming of Spring, some irascible but dainty and colorful blue flowers that never fail to return,  aptly named Forget-Me-Nots,

But indoors I have a little orchid blooming, Maxillaria sanguinea, the flowers are only 1" across-

 My plants that I started Nov. 15 are now getting quite large, challenging my ability to keep them in good shape until they can  be planted out to hopefully bloom much earlier, Coreopsis 'Sunburst', Monarda citriodora, and Browallia speciosa-

Grass Side Oats Grama, Monarda punctata, and Echinacea 'Bravado', with one tiny Phygelius, second from the right on the bottom row-

And I will wrap up with a couple of shots of my energetic cat Celeste, who wouldn't be still for a good shot but kept walking back and forth, we were both enjoying some nice sunny weather outdoors-

So, my Spring countdown is now at 52 days, and I need to be deciding on my tomato line-up this year and get the seeds sprouting in some zip-lock bags.  I got some 60-day stratified seeds out of the refrigerator today and found Eupatorium maculatum had a couple of tiny sprouts coming up, so I'm glad I got them out!    Hannah

or cameras are macro

Phyllostachys nuda, Favorite Plant Pick of the Week, January 26, 2014

My favorite plant pick of the week is Phyllostachys nuda.   It is a running bamboo, and as such is suitable for large areas or grown in a barrier in a neighborhood.   I find that without getting any supplemental water in the summer, it does not run far for me, but has increased over the years, probably around 10, to quite a clump.   It yields all the stakes I could want and more.   It is very cheery in the winter to look out on all the desolation of the brownness of the deciduous fruit trees and see the sprightly green of the bamboo.

Closer

Culms

Leaves

To view other people's favorite plant picks of the week also, go to hostess Loree's Danger Garden blog and also see the entries in the comments section.

Hannah

Blue Macro Mandarin Orange Monday, January 13, 2014

Welcome to my Monday post, I still have not received my camera on order so I have to use existing photos.   I am linking with-

Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman

Mandarin Orange Monday hosted by Lorik

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Continuing with my Dreams of Spring, Anchusa azureum-

Cooky Geum-

Tulip Praestans unicum variegata, which is my longest lasting species tulip, coming back every year and looking smashing, but not seeming to multiply.

My favorite venue for shopping plant bargains from a lot of nurseries, the Home and Garden Fair, here an exhibit with typical Pacific Northwest landscaping and a nice cozy fire ring that would feel good right now.   I saw people building these on YouTube but also read that concrete could break down or explode from the moisture in the bricks getting hot, so don't know if this design really works long-term, though it is very neat looking-

And pursuing another winter pastime, another hat I knitted, with random stitches-

I hope you are keeping warm and toasty this winter, my spring countdown is at 66 days, can't wait.

-Hannah

or cameras are macro

Blue Macro Monday January 6, 2014

Welcome to my first Monday post of the new year, today I am linking with-

Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Mandarin Orange Monday hosted by Lorik

Monday Mellow Yellows hosted by Gemma Wiseman

Tonight it will be below freezing again, but then we are supposed to be due some of that Pacific Northwest mild winter weather consisting of rain with clouds that insulate the ground and raise the temperatures above freezing.   Winter has not taken long to be tiresome so I am going to indulge in some Dreams of Spring, visions of some flowers that I am awaiting.

Primroses-

Hellebores, whose down-facing flowers hide interesting interiors-

Tahiti-

I am temporarily without a camera but expect a new one soon, it will be fun to see what develops!

Happy New Year, Hannah

or cameras are macro