Parrots for Bloom Day

The parrot tulips are out in bloom with their glorious colours, frilly edges, and colourful patterns.
The photos say all that I have to say. Enjoy.

It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, hosted by May Dreams Gardens.
Be sure to stop by May Dreams Garden and visit the other participants.

White Crowned Sparrow

The white crowned sparrows visit the garden frequently, especially at the beginning and end of the season. Upon their arrival we know that the nicer weather is approaching and when they return in large numbers towards the end of summer we know the season will soon be ending.







This is a wonderful songbird to have visit the gardens. It is distinctive by the wide white and black stripes on the head.

The adult can be about 18 cm. long. They feed on the ground and frequently visit our flat feeder.
Preferred food is grass and weed seed so I think they are attracted to our garden because of our wild patch.

Parrot Tulips

Parrot tulips are wonderful spring flowers, lasting far longer than the regular tulips. The

The petals are usually frilly and the colour patterns are fascinating.

The collage of photos was taken a couple of years ago. Today the parrot tulips are just beginning to bud and open.

Blooming Beautiful

It's Green Thumb Sunday and there are so many plants beginning to bloom now.

First of all the lilacs are just about fully opened and that wonderful smell will be soon greeting me when I walk out into the garden. This photo doesn't do the blooms justice.








The tulips continue to bloom in shades of yellows and reds. The parrot tulips are just beginning to bud and open. Many other plants like poppies, coreopsis and cone flower are showing lots of green foliage.

The bleeding heart is looking wonderful with many blooms just about fully opened. These grow in the front shade garden by the walkway that approaches the front door.

The trillium is still blooming but it looks like it will soon by finished as the edges are beginning to fade and curl a bit.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.



This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

Ruffled up!

This robin is busy hopping around the back yard looking for tasty treats in the grass. Look at all the extra tufts of feathers he/she has. Is that the extra feathers coming out? or is it something else?
I'd love to know what you think.

Marsh Marigolds

Marsh marigolds, cowslips or caltha palustris are lovely yellow blooming plants that grow in shallow water near marshy or swampy areas. A few years ago we ventured into the swampy, mucky area close to our house to dig a clump of these lovely flowers. The plants grow 45 to 60 cm. high and the flowers are about 4 cm. across.

Who is peeking?

I just love looking out the kitchen window and seeing the little peeker. This is my latest addition to the garden whimsy.

The garden imp is peeking around the pole to the peanut feeder.
The bluejays love to swoop into this old mailbox and pick up their peanut mail.

I just love adding some whimsy to the garden with decorations. Take a look at some of my tree faces in the garden.






This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

Tulips for GTS

The tulips are beginning to open for Green Thumb Sunday.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

The Hoes are Down

Have you read about Carol and her hoe down?

Bloggers are dusting off and polishing up their hoes to show them off.


Well right now my hoes are down. It is rainy and dreary and they are getting a few unexpected days off work till the sun comes out and it warms up a bit.

The hoes are just laying on their sides hoping the rain will wash them off.

A couple of the bigger hoes had to do some work awhile back when we had an almost flood in the back yard. They were called to action early to help clear out the accumulation of leaves and debris and mud that was accumulating in the run off stream. And what a good job they did.
If you look closely you can still see some of the mud on the hoe on the left.







In most normal gardens the hoes get a well deserved rest over the winter. Well, not mine.

I had mine on display at Christmas time wishing everyone a
Hoe, Hoe Hoe, Merry Christmas!

Now I don't know all the technical names for these hoes and others that I have. I just know that they all look a little different, either by the length of the handle or the size of the blade.



So enjoy your rest hoes, because soon I will be singing
Heigh Hoe, Heigh Hoe, it's off to work we go!




All except my tiniest hoe. Can you see my little hoe on my hosepipe wreath?
It just sits there on the wreath on the gate and looks cute all season long.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication only on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

In the Red!

The red trillium is blooming. I am so pleased it survived the winter and bloomed again this year.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication only on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

Muse Day for May

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But they don't get around
Like the dandelions do!
Slim Acres

Stepping Stones

It is fun to have whimsical stepping stones throughout the garden.

Here are a couple of ones that I made a year or so ago at a workshop. The round stones were purchased at a garden supply store. Using crafters goop glue I added the mosaics and the keys. Then grout was added to fill in all the spaces. After the grout dries you have to rub it off of the keys and tiles. Finally a coat of sealer was added so that they could go outside. I would never walk on this stepping stone but have it on one side of the front path.



This stepping stone was inspired by the piece of pottery with the swirl on it. From there I picked some pretty polished stones and unusual rocks that my children had collected over the years and continued the circular pattern around the stone.

My collection of old keys is always increasing so I also used some of the old keys to make a windchime.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication only on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

Early Bloomers

It's Green Thumb Sunday

The garden is growing quickly. What was a few centimeters tall last week is now about 20 centimeters tall. The buds continue to form on the tulips. The lilac buds continue to open.

The persistent periwinkle is in bloom.








The almost annoying violets are forever popping up everywhere ... in the lawn, under the deck, in the garden. I actually dig them from the garden as they spread their seed so rapidly they will overtake a spot in no time. I don't mind them in the lawn as they add a bit of colour and when it is time for the first cut of the grass they are gone.

A favourite bloom in spring is the mini iris.


Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.