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28 Saturday Jan 2023
Posted Today's Update, Art, Gardening, Blooms, Sharing
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21 Saturday Jan 2023
Posted Art, Blooms, Cookery, Gardening, Houseplants, Planting, Sharing, Special Events, Today's Update
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20 Friday Jan 2023
www.instagram.com/reel/CnTF_ImIZ8R/
Check it out. Very genius…,,
19 Thursday Jan 2023
I have my very own collection of new seeds for spring planting. I’ve found in the past, that if I wait until early spring (April 1st) to make my selections, they are very picked over, and often I miss out on the ones I’m really looking for. So last week I made my “picks” and purchased them all at my visit to the nursery. I’m so excited.
First on my fav”’ list is:
Sweet Peas………Lathyrus odoratus
Sweet Peas are of several varieties. I’ve selected the “Bouquet” blend. They are referred to as a Spencer type, ideal for cutting, because of their extra large flowers, longer and sturdier stems, and they produce a larger number of blooms each year. The are ruffled, lightly scented and are a “romantic” flare. I bought them to be able to cut and bring in the house. I love a tiny vase of flowers near the kitchen window, one on the bathroom sink and one beside my pillow. Sweet Peas aroma is very light and delicate. Can’t wait!!
I have also selected four other seedlings this year, to include Cosmos, Nasturtium, Fireball Zinnia and Sunrise Morning Glory.
My sweetheart and I have a connection with Sweet Peas, so I’m certain I’ll be putting a few of these puffy/curly flowers under his chin, in hopes that the aroma will spark a little feeling of amorous adoration. What a lovely thought and anticipation…..Amen!
“Contessa” says……it is such a lovely and sweet thing to do!
02 Monday Jan 2023
Posted Birds, Blooms, Sharing, Today's Update
inOur favorite winter bird. They always come round in pairs. He travels fast. She follows. But often you will see him scouting for morsels. Two things are going on. She is very independent and she may still have a “yungin” close by. But her demeanor suggests she will always join him. Her coloring is subtle but his is blazing red. We love to watch them. Our cover certainly shows his majestic prowess.
And this photo below…..was captured during a huge snow storm. This northern cardinal is puffing up his feathers to keep the damp snow from settling on his plumage. Then when the snow packs down he can ruffle his feathers and shake the snow off. And the puffed up feathers helps to keep him warmer.
We think this December copy is fantastic.
••••••••••••
Birds and Blooms reminds us not to forget to provide water for the birds in the winter months.
…….and to decorate low hanging branches with bird treats that you’ve made yourself. Make sure to include some peanut butter on a pine cone. They love it.
Very helpful and sweet ideas children can do indoors, and then the family can visit a tree in the yard together, to string the garlands where they can be seen from an indoor window. Family fun and a learning opportunity too.
••••••••••••
Also published in this issue was the Grand Prize Winner of the Annual B & B Photo Contest. Literally thousands of entries were sent to the magazine. This one was the winner. Very cool. I mean how often could this “pose” be possible.
Butterfly photos are featured on page 48 and 49.
Finally, a Kale plant left over from a summer garden, turns pink in the cold.
I don’t often feature so many photos in my B & B posts, because the magazine photo copy doesn’t really do justice to these great photos in this publication. What I see is not what you see, unless you borrow our copy. But…. I hope your curiosity is keen enough to even order this magazine for your family. It’s $10 a year. You will improve your knowledge of birds, flowers, indoor plants, berry bushes, and insects, and the readership is from all over the US. It’s a fantastic and compact way to educate yourself and the members of your family. I grew up with books and publications of all these pictures in my home. It’s a fantastic way to take the natural world and bring it into our lives. We need to appreciate our natural world…. way more than we do. I hope you will take the time to do this with your family, or even just for yourself.
“Contessa” says….it’s all a very….very…good thing!
28 Wednesday Dec 2022
Posted Birds, Blooms, Houseplants, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought
inNovember, 2022 Issue
What’s your definition of “getting out into nature?” Maybe for you, it’s sitting on your deck in your very wooded neighborhood watching for the birds to come to the feeders you’ve placed around. Your favorite feathered friends love to come so they can grab a morsel. Or….is your favorite adventure a hike to a national park. Both of these experiences can bring you the sense of peace we all enjoy and deserve. Carve out some time to enjoy the bounty of nature. Your soul will heal and be lifted. Nature is so healing and it may come to you with a sense of “peace” that you deserve and were secretly seeking.
If you are looking for that same peace and a soothing atmosphere indoors, bring nature into the house by having a few houseplants. Very often your very own mental health can be lifted in your “inner soul” by placing some greenery indoors. Plants can nudge your brain into mindfulness and they create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere in your personal space. All of us need this in the winter months, so that we can keep a “healthy balance .”
I myself bring about ten…end-of-summer plants indoors for the winter. I have taken a few pictures of examples of a few plants from the magazine that you might consider. Plants help to purify the air indoors….so consider one in each room. Houseplants do make for a healthy and pretty home.
Tomorrow I will feature the December issue. I thought it worthy to post today on a few features of the November issue.
(We regret the glossy cover photo, but the hard copy of this magazine is “high gloss” and difficult to photograph).
We cannot stress enough, the modest cost of a subscription to this quite informative publication, and if you wish to view it in person, we always offer to drop it by your location for a one week viewing. And then we can pick it up and pass it to another viewer.
“Contessa” says….. it’s a very good thing!
17 Saturday Dec 2022
Posted Art, Blooms, Gardening, Planting, Professional Services, Sharing, Special Events, Today's Update
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11 Sunday Dec 2022
(REVISED) – Jan 4th – 9 am – Wednesday
ta….da!
How exciting and pretty. Today all three blooms are at peek. It was worth the wait. We have now learned the planting/growing/blooming cycle. Again, we planted Nov 30th, so if we want full bloom for around Dec 24th, we need to plant approximately November 15th. We also believe we will plant a larger planter next year because a collection of say 8-10 bulbs will be so lovely.
They are so easy to care for and the amount of water is so small. Plus securing them well in the planter is so important. Our success this year is so gratifying. We will enjoy these blooms most likely for one full week. It’s been so much fun! We are thrilled
• •••••••••••••••••••••• •
We planted our three “paperwhite bulbs” on November 30th. We have watered with just a dropper. We water every day. Our saucer doesn’t hold that much and frankly you don’t want your bulbs swimming in water. The tiny pebbles secure the bulbs in place, and only the tiny roots at the pointed end need the moisture to grow.
So here they are today. Poking themselves upward. Once they begin to breath indoor air their growth takes off pretty quickly. We haven’t had many sunny days, so it may take them a little longer to grow. That’s ok though, because pretty “pure white” blossoms for Christmas, might be our “joy.” Perhaps signifying the birth of the babe…. On our Christmas Day! We will continue care and watering until then….. in anticipation.
(REVISED) 12/28 – Wed – 8:36 am
Today we have a bloom on our Paperwhites that we planted Nov 30th. So that tells us that it took almost 30 days to produce a blossom…. Meaning that if we want pretty white blossoms for Christmas next year, we probably need to plant them about the 22nd of November. ✅
We have included some photos from just this morning. We did tell you they grow really tall and that it’s best to tie them with a ribbon once they start to grow, so because we see the other buds will most likely bloom in the next couple days we have moved our ribbon tie to secure all three sprouts. And our last photo shows the pretty blossom, which smells divine. With the heat running in the house…make sure to add a little water a couple times a day. Our blossoms shoukd last about one week. It’s a miracle….! Beautiful pure white fragrant blossoms in December. Such a treat, And with our sun shining so brightly this Morning, and news on the weather this morning, we are already just beginning to have longer days each day ahead. The promise of “spring.” Alleluia!
••••••••••••••••••••••
And…..every year we grow our Red Amaryllis outdoors and it produces several very tall green fronds. We prop it up with reeds, tied with pretty ribbon, knowing that it’s growth is all part of the process of “new flower growth” come the winter season.
So in late October we bring it indoors, add some fresh soil and cut back all the green… all the way down to the dirt. Yes you got it. Because, within about ten days to two weeks the bulb starts producing a new green shoot. And…..here it comes. It’s such an amazing process. The plant knows it is winter and that it’s time to produce its beautiful flower. It’s very exciting and we always look forward to its arrival. The timeframe can vary slightly…. But it never fails us. It’s reassurance to us that if we do all the right preparation, we will reap the rewards of new growth and gorgeous red blossoms.
Amaryllis
“Contessa” says…. It’s a very good thing!
10 Saturday Dec 2022
Posted Art, Blooms, Gardening, Professional Services, Reflections, Sharing, Special Events, Today's Update
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02 Friday Dec 2022
Posted Birds, Blooms, Helpful Tips, Sharing, Today's Update
inWe have copies available for “lend.” Just send us a txt or call us. We are happy to drop them by your location.
703/548-1882
• October features the Barred Owl
• November, the white Breasted “Nuthatch”
• December, the Northern Cardinal
These wonderful publications feature beauty in your backyard and beyond.
You can learn how to attract these birds, learn about their typical habitat and what you can do in the outdoors to find and photograph these wonderful native species.
We traditionally drop these copies off for one (1) weeks time….to your door, and then we can pick them up to pass on to our next reader.
“Contessa” says..it’s a very good thing to do!