Monday, June 8, 2009

Two Special Flowers, A Contest, and a Prize

Hello all! I am back from our big trip to North Carolina. I had a great time and will be posting a few posts about it, starting this morning. If I have not yet caught up with you, I will soon and know I am trying to get back into a routine.

You all know I visited two garden bloggers. Their gardens were most wonderful, and of course so were they and their plants! That is what this post is about today-two special plants. I will post more pics later this week about the visits themselves. But today is a different type of post, it is the first day of an opportunity to win a prize, not a contest perse, but an opportunity to win one of my prized handmade marker stones and the opportunity involves one plant from each of our blogging friend's gardens. Who are the two friends? Glad you asked! Cameron of Defining Your Home Garden was the first blogger, and Helen of Gardening With Confidence was the second blogger. Do stop by and say hello if you haven't already.

Long time readers know that I make marker stones. If I am ever lucky enough to meet another garden blogger, I always gift them with a marker stone. So far it has worked out since I usually only meet bloggers onesies and twosies-what would I have done if I went to Spring Fling? Ha! I'd be making stones all day. Hmmm. Getting off track here-get to it Tina! The marker stones are a memento from my garden to yours. They are nothing big or huge, just a token gift that will last forever...in the garden. My two blogging friends whose gardens I visited will soon be recipients of their own marker stones, but you see, when I make the marker stones I always make them in batches. One batch will make 4 or 5 stones. I need only two, so, being the somewhat 'outside of the box' thinker that I am, I thought I'd share with you all! Two readers will win their very own marker stones. All you have to do is identify the two pictured plants by Latin and common name. Please, I can only send the marker stone to within the United States and if you are already a recipient of a marker stone, you can certainly guess at these two special plant identifications, however no marker stones and no consolation prize:( I know you all understand.

I saw this first plant in Cameron's garden. It is a favored plant and I had never seen it before in any garden. I know very little about it and thought it might be fairly new to you all too. I think it will be a hard plant for most of you, but some may recognize it right away. Here it is. Look at it closely and keep reading. I will need to know both the common name and Latin name of this plant.

The next plant can be found in Helen's garden. This plant is an outstanding plant and here, at least in my neck of the woods, a somewhat difficult plant. I've never ever seen it in bloom. You can just barely make out the foliage. Please look at it closely as this may be needed for an identification. I will need both the common name and the Latin name. Now on to the fun part.
I will ask that you DO NOT post your answers in the comment section. This would give all other readers an unfair advantage. You are certainly welcomed (and I encourage you to do so) to comment that you will email me the answers. Please do some research first, and when you think you have both the common name and the Latin name of both of these plants, THEN comment and let me know you are emailing me your answers. You do NOT have to comment in order to email me your answers. My email is ramseytina5@gmail.com. No, this is not a ploy to get emails. I get too many already. I just can't think of any other way to give everyone a fair playing field other than to do it in the blind. Remember to not get discouraged if there are a lot of guessers (based on comments), hey, there might not be any so who knows? I will be the one who knows since I am the only one with access to my email. There are many late readers and I encourage you not to let this dissuade you from guessing. Everyone has an equal chance. These plants are not impossible to identify.

I will announce the two winners tomorrow when I (hopefully) get up my post about Cameron and Helen. So you have until 5:00 am in the morning to make a guess and email me. I will check there first prior to posting so tomorrow's posting will be late. No way I am getting up early in the morning!

If there are no right answers I might post some tips to help you all out. We'll see how it goes.

Remember, only email the answers, do not leave the guesses on here, and remember to include the common name of both plants, as well as the Latin name.

in the garden....

Today is my twin daughters' 28th birthday. I want to wish them both a very wonderful day!

39 comments:

  1. Tina! I didn't realize you had two daughters. I only remember you mentioning your son. Happy Birthday to your young ladies!!

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  2. I didn't know you had twins either! Happy Birthday to them. Wish I knew what the plants were..but no idea.
    Glad you're back!

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  3. I have no idea about the plants but the second one is something else! Happy B-day to Liz and Christy!

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  4. I have a wonderful plant marker, thank you again for it! I do know both plants but I can keep mum! Have a wonderful day! gail

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  5. ps and happiest of birthdays to your daughters!

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  6. Happy Birthday to your girls!!! So far a really pretty morning. We saw another snake last night:0( This one was too close for comfort --up on the back deck. They cut another field of hay -so that is probably why -still not what I like to see with my Sidekick loving them. Must go --lil bundle needs me

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  7. Tina --

    We're really looking forward to our marker stone, but the real win was getting to meet you in person! :-)

    Good luck to the other readers on the contest.

    Happy birthday to your daughters.

    Cameron

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  8. Good morning Tina. I have no idea about either plant;)

    Happy Birthday to your daughters. Are they gardeners?
    Marnie

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  9. Good morning all! Wonderful day here. A bit of work in the garden then I should be done! Yahoo!

    Janet, Yup, four children. The twins are the oldest, a 24 year old son, then the teenaged Jimmy. They grow so fast! Got your entry-thanks!

    Linda, Yes indeed. Children sure grow up fast. Hard to believe how fast.

    Dawn, Yes-a neat plant indeed. Both are special in my opinion. Thanks on the girls.

    Gail, Great! Glad you like yours. We'll see if I can share with others too. Thanks on the girls.

    Anonymous, You hang tough with the snakes. They are happy this year with all the food around I think. I wanted so bad to come to the rodeo on Saturday but had an appointment in Nashville. I am so glad Sidekick caught a fish. A big one I hope:) One of these days I need to stop by. Finally got my cards and we want to see the baby so don't be surprised if I knock on your door.

    Cameron, it will be a few weeks and I hope you love yours. Thanks on the girls. They grow fast.

    Marnie, Thanks on the girls. Your irises are really stunning this morning and glad you got that starling!

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  10. Happy Birthday to your girls! You know if you had to carry up stones for Spring Fling you would have one expensive luggage charge for that plane ride!

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  11. I didn't know you had twins! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your daughters...and I hope you have a wonderful day!

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  12. Good Morning everyone! Happy Birthday to Christine and Liz! Tina, you have me baffled as I dont know either plant! But that’s okay, I have my wonderful marker in place and really do enjoy it daily!

    Sunny and nice here today so I must get out in it. The house cleaning never was tackled as it should have been but since I am not inside to see it, who cares. tee hee...

    Have a good day all and Happy Guessing of the plant names.

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  13. Happy birthday to your girls! You must have been very busy.

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  14. First of all, a very happy birthday to your daughters! (I didn't know you had twins.) Secondly, I will have to do some research because I have no idea what these plants are. I think I may have a better chance at receiving one of your markers by visiting you sometime, which I would love to do anyway. I was so hoping you would have come to Spring Fling, but I realize now you would have had to drive a pick-up truck to Chicago:)

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  15. Wow love the marker! I look forward to it. You sure took a great shot for the amount of time it took to take and the time and type of day it was.

    Double happy birthday to your girls!

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  16. Dave, it would be something for sure. I think I might put the cahoots on making everyone one though and keep it more personal. Thanks on the girls.

    Kanak, Thanks and you too. Yup, twins. What an experience as anyone with multiple children close in age knows. I am glad I survived:)

    Skeeter, You have a great time out and about. I too am taking it easy. Need to finish gardening but too many other things going on. Sigh. Need a break for sure. Great weather here-still NO A/C.

    Layanee, You can only imagine. I didn't think I would survive the sleeping thru the night stage, then diapers, then feeding themselves table food. Ah, but we all did. I don't know how.

    Rose, You are welcomed to visit anytime. Give me advance notice and I'll have your very special marker stone ready for you as I'd love to see one in your yard. So far the only blogger who has visited here has been Skeeter and her visits are great. She tells me the garden is not what you see on the blog. I find the gardens I've seen are the same as on the blog. I recognize them right away so I'd be curious what someone else will say. Plus, I always need some advice on things in the garden. Skeeter is great with that. Actually her husband is, as in "No bowling balls!" Ha! You have always been such fun to talk to you and it has been a long time too! Good luck on the plants and if you don't get them, don't worry, I know we'll meet up at some point. I seem to be a traveling person but usually need a good reason to go far astray. So if I head up that way-you bet I'll email you. Spring Fling would've been great. I could've come but don't travel without hubby. As good a sport he is, we had better things to do than see gardens (not really his thing). It's probably a good thing he doesn't get into gardening. We'd be battling over real estate. As it is now, he has enough for his cars! Anyhow, come anytime!

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  17. Happy birthday to your daughters. I know the second one and am working on the first plant... I do love your plant markers, so I'm giving it the ole "college try!"

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  18. TWINS? Bet that was double the pleasure when they were younger!!

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  19. Helen, it was a wonderful day-not too hot at all (can you tell I'm still sweating-tee hee). Thanks on the girls and expect your marker stone in a few weeks. I think you'll like it.

    Monica, It is a southern type tree. Give it a try. Too easy! I hope you get it. So far not too many guessers (okay-only one so far) so you are in the running no problemo.

    Darla, Ha! That is a good way to put it. Double Trouble is more like it. But yes, what blessings they were and still are.

    P.S. On their birthday last year I posted some pics. You can click on the link and see the cute little girls there in case you were curious. They have grown into beautiful young women. Liz has been on here before in pictures, but I don't think Christine has been. That will change now that she lives close by.

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  20. I'm going to have to work on this, I think I know the second one.
    Happy Birthday to your daughters!

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  21. Good Morning Tina
    I don't have a clue as to the ID of the plants. I have my marker placed in sight of honor & enjoy it every day. Thanks again.
    Happy Birthday to the girls. I know they were & are a blessing to you.
    Have a great day all.

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  22. Catherine, Give it a try! It is not too too hard (I hope). Good luck!

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  23. Lola, So glad you like your marker stone. Having you as a member of my blog has been an honor and I am so glad we were able to meet! Watch tomorrow and you'll see these two plants-they probably grow in Florida and you may know them. Have a good day.

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  24. Twin girls -- wow, that must have been an adventure. Happy Birthday to them both.

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  25. No idea about the plants but they are stunning ones and since I have a marker, I'll leave it at that.

    HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 2 WONDERFUL YOUNG LADIES!!!! Where oh where have 28 years gone? It seems like a few years ago my mother and I stood in front of the nursery window waiting for the twins to appear. One came out and I cried my eyes out when I saw my first grandchild, only it really was the second one but the other one went to the special care nursery so did'nt see her till later that day. What a day it was!
    As long as I live I shall NEVER forget the feeling I felt at that time. I always said "Double trouble, double delight". Truer words were never spoken.

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  26. Twins??? How fantastic. I hope they have a great birthday. Nice contest too. I am totally stumped on the first plant but the second one I'm very familiar with. I'll have to see if I can figure out the mystery and enter before the contest is over. Glad you had a good visit and met some other gardeners. That's always a highlight and very enjoyable.

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  27. Happy birthday to your twins, dear Tina! You are such a busy lady, traveling, writing, making markers, gardening, etc. :-) I know the second plant but not the first, but since I already have one of your markers will just wait and see what the answers are. So glad you are back. I don't know how you would have brought 50 markers to Chicago either! Still trying to get caught up visiting here, and not doing a very good job of it. You take it easy now. :-)
    Frances

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  28. Sweetbay, Thanks!

    Mom, Hard to believe so much time has gone by. I am at a loss as to where it all went. Truly.

    Kathleen, We had a super time visiting. It was a bonus for sure. I am surprised so many know the second plant but not the first, however I'd never seen one in person either so I should not be. I'll post the answer tomorrow.

    Frances, I had a heck of a time catching up on blogs. I did not read all old posts but picked up with the current one. It is time consuming indeed-couldn't believe it! That is one reason I try to do it periodically throughout the day. It works well but you know, sometimes you just gotta take a break. Welcome back yourself! I thought of you all, but I must say I felt like I had a mini spring fling myself with meeting two other bloggers and seeing their gardens. It was fun as you know. All those you saw in Chicago looked great. Nope, not gonna do it on the marker stones. I'll keep it more personal. Folks understand I know. I am so surprised so many know the second but not the first. Hmmmm.

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  29. Dang Tina I don't have a clue but the 2nd flower is gorgeous. You said you've never seen one bloom - is this one blooming in the picture or is that the color of the foliage - it's hard to tell.
    Happy birthday to your daughters.

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  30. Hi Linda, Yes, this is the bloom. It is a long spike. I've never seen one bloom until visiting Helen's garden. The first plant I had never ever seen in person at all. It was a fun day learning and seeing new plants and meeting these two bloggers. Good luck on guessing them. Seems they were a bit hard; which I expected. But really the opportunity to guess is to learn new plants in other folks gardens (not my own) but to get a piece of my garden.

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  31. I'm glad you had a nice visit Tina. Those are two gorgeous beauties, I added one to my own garden this spring. No blooms yet though. Happy Birtday to your twin daughters! I didn't realize you had twins! :)

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  32. Well, happy birthday to the twins. And I have no idea what the plant is, but it's beautiful!
    Brenda

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  33. Uh oh! I'm at work now and don't have my Dictionary of Horticulture with me. Unfortunately to use it, I have to know either the common or the botanical name and I know neither. Can't wait to learn the answers though....!

    Must be great having twin daughters - many happy returns to them!

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  34. Racquel, Thanks on the girls. Yes, two beauts indeed. Nice plants both. I think I know which one you added and I hope it blooms for you next year.

    Brenda, Thanks on the girls.

    JGH, It was an experience for sure with the twins. I'll announce the names tomorrow. You may know them then.

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  35. I don't have a clue on the plants but they are both pretty and the second one looks very unusual.

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  36. Happy birthday to your daughters! I always learn so much from your posts. I have no idea what these plants are but I'm looking forward to the answer. The second one is very unusual. -Jackie

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  37. Twins? And you blog? You're amazing! I'm not so sure about the first plant, but I grew up with a clump of the second ones in my parents' front yard. The flowers were a little spiny and unpleasantly scented. But it's a neat plant that doesn't need too much in the way of water.

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  38. Thanks Mom and others for the birthday wishes! I got your card yesterday when I got back from my long weekend of Kayaking. Some friends and I went Salsa dancing to celebrate! Thanks again!

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  39. Dot, That second one really is a bit different. Perennial too.

    Jackie, Thanks!

    James, Thanks! The girls are grown now though so I have more time. Not sure how much time though lately. Pretty neat to have grown up with that second plant. Most unusual indeed.

    Liz, I hope you had the greatest day and a wonderful weekend kayaking!

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