Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

This was what we experienced yesterday here in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  The accumulation was only about an inch, not much compared to what some of you up north and in the midwest are experiencing this month.  Even though it’s pretty, I’m glad it won’t be sticking around too long.  It’s always pretty at first, but the mess and traffic problems make it a nuisance quickly.   Even the cat decided it wasn’t a good day to go outside.  Poor Mooch.  :)

To see more beautiful snowy photos or to join in on the fun please click on the logo below: (Thanks Nancy for hosting this fun Meme!)

Fall Color Collage

I finally got some pictures together for the  2010 Fall Color Project hosted by Dave @ The Home Garden.  This year I decided to make a collage of some of the fall color in my yard & neighborhood.

(From upper L-R across & down: Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Little Honey', Variegated Solomon's Seal, Maples in my neighbor's yard, leaf from Sweetgum Tree and Balloon Flower foliage)

Hope you enjoyed some fall color from Newport New, Virginia.  Thanks for hosting this fun meme Dave! 

Fall Colors in Virginia

Well Fall has arrived with a bang this past week in my neck of the woods.  The leaves are changing and falling, sometimes at the same time.    Here is what I spotted going on in my local park during one of our walks. Mostly these are Maples and Oaks along with some evergreen Pines.   I hope you enjoy this slideshow of autumn color. 

To join in or to see fall color from all over the world  please visit our gracious host Dave @ The Home Garden- Fall Color Project 2009.

Seven Things You Don’t know about Me

 

Here’s a fun Meme that I was invited to by Cameron of  Defining Your Home, Garden & Travel.   I’ll try to be original and not list anything I’ve  mentioned in the past. 

There were conditions with this Meme award. In order to participate I needed to: ( I copied this from Cameron who copied it from Helen of Gardening with Confidence

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Reveal seven things about yourself.
3. Choose seven other blogs to nominate, and post a link to them. There are so many good ones, this is difficult.
4. Let each of your choices know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.
5. And finally, let the tagger know, when your post is up.

Here it goes:

1. I was born in Ohio, then we moved to Texas when I was an adolescent.  I then ended up in Virginia courtesy of the United States Navy.  Here I met my hubby who grew up less than 100 miles from my home in TX and his family was originally from Ohio.  Is that destiny or what?

2. Not only am I passionate gardener, but I am a voracious reader as well.  I can get lost in a book and lose all track of time.  In fact I use to get in trouble as a student for reading novels during other subjects. 

3.  My father named me Racquel ( pronounced Ra-Kel) not after Raquel Welch (pronounced Roc-Kel ) as most people assume.  Growing up I’ve had my name slaughtered in all ways possible from Rachel to Reckel to everything in between.   Now I don’t even blink when people mispronounce my name, lol. 

4. Me and my brother were raised by my grandparents from the time I was 5 and he was 3.  These are the same grandparents who now reside with my family.  As in alot of families our roles have reversed. 

5.  My second toes are longer than my first toes.  It’s something that runs on my Dad’s side of the family.  Personally I would of prefered his hazel eyes, lol.  To cheer me up he use to tell me it was a ‘sign of intelligence’. 

6.  I joined the Navy at 18 to see the world and spent the entire 7 years in Norfolk, VA.  Now how’s that for irony?

7.  I’m very accident prone.  For example I’ve managed to slice my hand open not once but three times with my garden pruners.  And I always end up burning my arm on the inside of the oven when I’m cooking. 

This was very hard, I really had to put my thinking cap on!

Here’s the seven bloggers I choose to invite to the game:  ( no pressure to play, but I hope you do!)

Deb of Aunt Debbis Garden.  I’ve found a kindred spirit in this fellow drillteamer and mother of boys.  She always makes me laugh with the tales of those monkeys. 

Cynthia of Brambleberries in the Rain.  She’s one of the first few bloggers I met when I joined Blotanical and I’ve enjoyed learning about the many uses of herbs from her.

Kathleen of  Kaseys Korner.  She inspires me with her beautiful photography as well as her creative paper crafting projects that she makes. 

Joy of Garden Joy4 Me.  She is a passionate gardener, lover of cats, and the funniest garden blogger I’ve ever met.  She never fails to make me smile when she comments on my blog.

Dave of The Home Garden.  Now he’s one knowledgeable and busy gardener.  I’ve enjoyed reading his posts about the various projects he’s always undertaking in his own garden.

Darla of  Family and Flowers.  If there were an award for friendliest blogger, she’d get my vote.  I’ve enjoyed her generosity of plants and seeds for my garden. 

Rose of  Prairie Roses Garden.  Her lively banter on her posts is always entertaining.  This is one of the bloggers I would of loved to meet (along with her buddy Beckie) if I had been able to attend this last get together in Chicago. 

Wow this was hard too! There are so many great and interesting bloggers out there, choosing just seven was a feat!

My Choices (Desert Island Plant Challenge)

Shirls Garden Watch issued a challenge to all of us garden bloggers which you can join in or check out here.  The challenge is if “you were stranded on a desert island what three plants would you choose to take with you”.   Foodcrops and supplies to take care of these plants would be provided so that is one less decision to make for me.   This is definitely a hard choice to make for most of us since there are so many wonderful selections to choose from in the plant kingdom.  But after much thought on the matter I decided on the following three specimens:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

How many of you were surprised by my first choice?   Hydrangeas are one of my favorite ornamental shrubs for the garden.  ‘Limelight’ was an outstanding performer in my garden last year from late spring through winter.  There is always something to look forward to with this hardy hydrangea.  It blooms on new wood and can be grown as a large shrub or trimmed into a small tree form.  Which is what I did with mine this past fall.  The blossoms open a light green shade that gradually change to a creamy white and then lastly a mauvy pink with age.  Even in the winter the faded tan flowers add some interest to the otherwise dormant garden.  It really makes a striking combination with my burgundy cannas too.  Don’t you think?

Clematis 'Niobe'

One of my top favorite perennials is the Clematis so that is an easy choice for pick #2.  I have several varieties in my own garden and enjoy the vertical interest they can provide in sun or shade.  ‘Niobe’ is one of the hardiest large flowering varieties that I grow.  It  puts out its’ first flush in May with deep red blooms that gradually fade to a royal purple shade.  Then in September it starts the process again with a second flush.  Mine continued to bloom sporatically deep into December this past year.  

Polygonatum biflorum (Variegated Solomon's Seal)

Initially I thought my final choice was going to be a Peony or possibly Dutch Iris.  However,  I couldn’t imagine any shade garden without variegated Solomon’s Seal growing there.  The tiny little white bell shaped flowers in the spring aren’t that spectacular, but the foliage just keeps going all season long until frost.   Combined with burgundy foliage of Heucera or other shades of green Hosta it is a real trouper for the shady areas of my yard.   What three choices would you make if you were deserted on a desert island?  Thanks Shirl for a clever challenge and fun meme this week!