Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Some Pretties and Happy New Year

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We have had such a mild winter this year in Tennessee that you'd hardly know it was wintertime! Blooms in the garden in the winter is a very delightful thing for me because 2011 has not been a very good year yet the garden always makes me happy. I thought I'd share a few pretties with you all today and also wish you a very safe and wonderful welcome to the new year. First up is the first hellebore of the season. I love love love hellebores mainly because they do well in the shade here at Tiger Gardens and because they bloom in the wintertime. I was a bit stunned to find a bloom so early-27 December 2011!
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I added several flats of violas to my gardens this year. They are sweet little flowers that bloom and bloom and bloom. Our local market here in the Clarksville area did not carry violas in great quantities but when I traveled to Alabama to welcome my newest grandchild into the world I stopped in Chattanooga and found several flats of marked down violas. Viola!
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Walking in the garden I noticed a heavenly gentle scent that I knew had to be the vernal witch hazel. This witch hazel does the best of the three that grow in my garden and begins blooming in January each year (it's a bit early this year). It has been in my garden for five years and is finally growing into a lovely form. I may even cut some branches to bring into the house. These are perfect shrubs for that kind of thing.
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The greenhouse is a delightful place to be on a sunny day-any day really. The blooms are amazing.
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I've been busy working in the garden too-when I am able to-which is not often. I have started digging a 1600 gallon watergarden pond. The hole is almost there now too! I have to dig the deep part about another foot but the rain came and stopped progress for a bit. All of the dirt removed found a home elsewhere in the garden via wheelbarrows. Lots of good work! Now if I can teach myself the mechanics of the pump and so on I might actually get this thing done in another month or so. If you have a pond and can share your successes and what you may have done differently-let me know.
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Of course no self respecting pond would be complete without a nearby patio. A store about two miles from our home is under renovation. A big pile of HUGE concrete chunks materialized out back of it. Opportunity! I asked if I could gather the chunks and was told yes, of course since the contractor has to pay to dispose of them. Mr. Fix-it, Jimmy and I made two very rough trips to get these chunks of concrete. I have finally buried them level with the ground and they make a perfect informal patio for my salvaged table and chairs.


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And finally, a shot of my beautiful oldest twin daughter, her husband and brand new baby girl named Adella. Adella is one of the few bright spots of this past year and is sure to warm our hearts for many years to come. Here's to 2012 and good things to come....



in the garden.....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

31 comments:

  1. Congrats on your new baby granddaughter! You've got a great start on that pond. I've never put in a pond before but wouldn't mind doing that someday. It has been very mild!

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  2. Thanks Dave! Happy New Year to you all!

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  3. Congratulations on your newest family member. So cute!
    I am enviable of your mild weather.
    Happy New Year, Tina!

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  4. hi Tina, I can see a pond is on its way in your garden. Good, good, I shall be keeping a close eye on the process as our pond here at Botanic Bay is leaking (faulty liner... only 5 years old... grrr). So we are in the mind-process to put down the existing one and create something more integrated into the landscape. Have you thought of the planting around it, yet ? Have a lovely end of year celebration !

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  5. Oh mercy...heaven must have a climate of Tennessee. :) Violas won't make a showing here for at least 3 months. enjoy your sweet grandbaby, too!

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  6. Rosey, You too!

    Celine, The planting is the best part I think and I have given it thought but am taking my time. The back side of the pond backs up to a garden where there are three variegated hydrangeas and a 'Forest Pansy' redbud is. Not sure about the rest of pond and patio but you can bet I must put something there. So sorry your pond is leaking. A worst nightmare indeed. Happy holidays to you and thanks for dropping by all the way from France!

    Hanni, Hello there and yes it is mighty splendid in TN right now. I can hardly believe we'll even get a winter. Happy holidays to you and thanks so much for dropping by!

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  7. Great job on the pond. Love the patio near it. Sure will be a relaxing place when finished.
    Beautiful grand baby. She will be a delight.
    Saw my first camellia yesterday. Sure is a pretty pink. It's full of buds that will give me pleasure most of Jan. Geraniums still blooming. I have a plant that looks like a clump of grass that has a stalk with a white bloom {opens from bottom & smells like Gardenia}. Do you have any idea what it is?
    Happy New Year to you & yours. Hope this coming new yr will be much more pleasant.

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  8. Congratulations on the new grand baby!
    Not surprised you scored some blocks for the patio. Looking forward to seeing the pond!
    Happy New Year.

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  9. Tina she is gorgeous...I have a pond but did not build it..thx for the orange cosmos.. can't wait to plant these and have just the right spot...so amazing that you have blooms...we finally have snow and very cold temps...here's to a fabulous 2012!!

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  10. I am so happy you have been blessed with a grandchild. I hope she will be the good omen you need for 2012.

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  11. Lola, Maybe it is Star of Bethlehem. Check it out. Happiest of holidays to you!

    GSS, Thanks! Yes, I am a salvager for sure. Concrete rocks in the garden as you know. Happy holidays to you!

    Donna, I'm pretty proud to dig the pond and do all the work myself if only so I can have bragging rights to my husband. He agrees it is a lot of work but has not offered to help-yet. I'm blessed with good and easy soil here though so not too hard of a job. Happy Holidays and you'll love the cosmos I hope! The bees enjoy them so much.

    Les, Me too! Happy Holidays to you!

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  12. i hope 2012 is much better for you. Sorry you didn't have a very good year this past year. You have really been working in your garden! You are going to love the pond - it already looks great. Getting a good filtering system has been the worst nightmare of my pond. Finally, (after working on it several years) I think we have one that's adequate. I started out with just a black lining, then changed to the concrete one we have now. Good luck with it! Congrats on the grandbaby!

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  13. Congratulations Tina on such a beautiful grandbaby!!!! The family picture is fabulous -such a nice family. Hope things brighten for you this coming year. Ciao!

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  14. Congratulations on your new granddaughter, Tina! What a lovely family photo of your daughter and her family.

    Tina, you are my inspiration--you are always coming up with a new project, and you're not afraid to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself. I'm so impressed with the new pond you're creating, and you did such a great job on the patio as well. A great way to recycle discarded concrete!

    I hope you had a very Merry Christmas; best wishes for a Happy New Year!

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  15. Adella is beautiful! I admire your hard work and look forward to the final results!

    The only thing I've done outdoors this past week is moving the concrete statuettes to a sheltered spot...

    Happy New Year.

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  16. I like your vision of a pond and patio. I will enjoy your updates on the project as it becomes a peaceful haven for your family. I am thinking of hot summer days and cool, refreshing lemonade beside the pond!
    Wonderful to have a sweet little grand-daughter! Lovely family portrait!
    Best wishes for the New Year!
    Lea

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  17. Tina girl, you are always getting yourself into those big projects in the Garden! My back hurts just thinking about digging that hole! I am so anxious to see how the pond turns out. I had no idea you were going to create a pond since you have the tub pond. You sure know how to keep a secret as to what you are into next. Hee hee

    And the concrete patio is awesome! I am forever looking at those piles with so much construction going on around us but without a trailer, I doubt the Saint will ever take the hint of us getting some into our gardens. I still have the brick to play with and am in the process of using it. Our weather has been so mild thus far as well and I hope to get back to that project again as soon as possible. Calling for close to 70 and sunny for both Sat and Sun! Whoop whoop…

    I had to stop typing just now to run out and peek at the Hellebores. They are not blooming but look most happy and healthy along with the Coral Bells and Columbine!

    Christine, Hubby and new baby Adelle is just picture perfect! Everyone captured to make a wonderful Portrait!

    Sorry I was not able to squeeze in a trot to Tiger Gardens over Christmas. I had so much to do and such little time. We had to miss 3 "Drop By's" this go round. But we shall make up for it in May!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE IN BLOG WORLD!!!

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  18. You know I love that hellebore. My hybrids started even earlier, in November. January is usually early for them. I am sorry 2012 hasn't been great (mine was terrible too) but the new little family is so cute---what a great picture. Happy New Year.

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  19. Hi Tina,
    Your talents for the landscape part of gardening are beyond mine. I love seeing what you are up to.

    Happy New Year!

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  20. Hello Tina,
    Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog. To answer your question - No, I will not be able to go to Asheville. I know it will be great, and I'm sorry to miss it.
    After seeing your hellebore bud, I checked on mine - yes! small buds are forming! We will have blooms in January!
    Happy New Year!
    Lea

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  21. Congratulations on your new granddaughter!! She is so adorable! And your daughter looks very happy with her baby! The happy photo of her family makes me happy too. I was a little surprised that the violas have already been in bloom. Has spring come?

    I wish you a great new year!

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  22. Dear Tina, congratulations!!! What a great photo of a happy family!
    Thank you and you too have a happy 2012!

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  23. Congratulation on you new granddaughter. She so adorable. Happy New Year!

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  24. Hope 2012 brings us all much needed luck and happiness. I've enjoyed the tour of your garden. Great idea for the patio; so effective. Thank goodness for gardens for bringing joy and such a lovely new family baby.

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  25. Oh you wore me lout just listening to all of your plans and you top off this revelation you have young twins.

    From my years i n Australia -
    Good on ya,

    Adella is such a pretty name. What's your other twins name?

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  26. Hi Patrick and Happy New Year to you! I hope you are feeling much better. The twins are 30 years young now! Hard to believe. The one pictured above with her darling baby Adella is my oldest daughter Christine. She is older than her twin sister by one minute (both technically the same age:)Her twin's name is Elizabeth. They are great girls!

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  27. Adella is adorable and what a picture perfect family - congratulations! It's nice to see you back to blogging too. If you want winter drive back to Maine - didn't hit 20 today. Brrr. Happy New Year!

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  28. Congratulation for sure. Aren't Grands wonderful? As to the weather we set an all time high here today at 54 degrees, More like spring I'd say....

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  29. Great photo of mom and dad and baby! All the work you and Jim do in the garden just amazes me. Hauling concrete? Man!! Can't wait to see the pond as it gets put in.
    My witch hazel hasn't bloomed yet.....hope it does soon.

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  30. I love the name Adella! She is beautiful, actually all 3 of them are..lol..I love the seating by the future pond. That will be just delightful! I can't wait to see it done!

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