Spring already?

Dear friends,

Still working furiously trying to get the Two Sisters Cottage ready for our move. Spring seems to have come early in a lot of the U.S. Bulbs are already blooming, fruit trees are budding out. Here are just a few current photos from the garden here.

Spring Onions

Happy Kale & Brussell Sprouts

Heirloom Narcissus Bulbs Blooming

Happy Red Wheelbarrow Filled with Rainwater

Nasturtiums Growing in Pot

Oxalis Bloooming under Pecan Tree

Purple Heart coming back after Winter

Dianthus (Pinks) Blooming in a Galvanized Tub with Sweet Marjoram

A Gorgeous Volunteer Sunflower from the Bird Feeder

Dianthus (Pinks) Blooming in the Flower Bed--one of my favorite old fashioned flowers

Another Old Rose Emerges!

And another!

Another Antique Rose

New Growth on Resurrected Rosebush in Gorgeous Red Color

New Growth on Unidentified Holly

Baby Thistles! Hiss Hiss Boooo!

Another Red Antique Rose with Bronze Leaves (I actually have one of these in my other garden. I just need to look the name up.)

A New Pink Rose Emerges!

Another Surprise Clump of Narcissus in the Flower Bed--they are coming up all over the property!

Autumn Joy Sedum coming Back from Winter--one of my new favorites

More coming soon!

Dig it!

bobbi c.

A Candle for Richard Cabe

Richard Cabe, the husband of author Susan Tweit, a dear friend of mine, recently died of brain cancer. To read his story, check out Susan's amazing inspirational blog, Walking Nature Home.

Although I only briefly met Richard once, I still remember his huge, bright smile and have eagerly looked for photos and news of his work on Susan's blog. Richard was a sculptor, woodworker and craftsman who put himself into many objects that he and Susan used everyday in their own home. He was into rocks in a big way. I also love rocks, and gathered this handmade wooden bowl full of them tonight in honor of him.

Peaceful journey, Richard! And our love to Susan on this rainy Winter Solstice night.

bobbi c.

Where have I been?

Well, mostly I've been posting over at my Two Sisters Cottage blog. We're remodeling a 1930's home in Taylor. It's coming along, and with this recent rain we've had, the garden is more gorgeous than ever. Little green spikes are popping up all over, and I anticipate lots of spring flowers. The roses are blooming like mad, although it's been too wet and muddy to take photos.

I've also been posting over at my Texas Playwriting blog. Yes, I also write plays.

Here are a few other photos from my garden, though, to tide you over. Enjoy!

More later!

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Texas drought...ten things you should know

Ten things you should know about the Texas drought....

A new rose

Dear friends,

I've mostly been over on my Two Sisters Cottage blog lately since remodeling is taking a lot of our time. But in between marathon painting episodes, I'm tending the garden here at the new/old house (built in 1930). One thing I discovered after owning the home for about a month was that there are at least 82 rose bushes here. Over the horrible droughty summer, one or two of them died and I yanked them out, but I decided to leave the rest to see what happens. I gave them a really good whacking back and drenched the soil with liquid seaweed. Turns out, they weren't dead; they were just dormant. Now that the weather is cooler here, and they've been watered a bit, they are coming back and it's a continual surprise to me to see their colors. The newest one is pink. I'm 99% sure it's an heirloom/antique rose.

Several other bushes are loaded with buds, and those will also be a nice surprise to me when they bloom, too.

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Grow your Own Food...once again, here's why

Yet another reason to grow your own food or buy from local organic farmers...Canteloupes from a farm in Colorado are contaminated with listeria. As reported by Lindsey Blomberg on www.emagazine.com:

Canteloupe Scare Leads to New Protections

"An ongoing outbreak of listeria-contaminated cantaloupe is now reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be the deadliest food outbreak in the United States in more than a decade."

Convinced?

bobbi c.

An inspiring video on the regeneration of trees...

A talk by Tony Rinaudo at the Tenth International Permaculture Conference: "Against the odds: Reversing desertification in arid and semi arid lands"

This information isn't just for Africa. How could this information be used on your own trees, or in your own garden? Please watch!



Happy trails,

bobbi c.