Flowers!

 At this time last year I was recovering from a displaced spiral fracture of the left humerus. I was sitting in a chair with a sling and ice packs with my arm carefully balanced on pillows. Our PT department was closed and by the time I was able to go (I think that was June) I also had a frozen shoulder and tennis elbow for good measure. My main goal was to dress myself and my dream goal was to be able to put on and take off a bra by myself. As I would walk to and from the car for doctor's appointments, I would go by my weed infested empty flower beds. 

I never thought I would be able to plant flowers again - but a year later - I did!

Our shopping trip started on a Friday about a week and a half before my mother always said you should plant (Mother's Day) and almost a month before my gramma said it was safe (Memorial Day). They were right as the following week we had several days of frost and we were shuffling flats and pots in and out of the garage for safety. 

You know it's the right greenhouse when you see the underpants hanging over the driveway. Could it be any cuter? 

We have a large number of Amish farms near the southern edge of our county and there are several greenhouses to choose from. Everyone has a favorite.  We were able to squeeze 5 sunflowers, 8 flats, 17 pots, 5 hanging baskets, 1 five year old and 2 grown women in the car for the ride home. I had to make a second trip for two tomato plants and two more planters. 

My porch has four hooks and it works out well for Mother's Day. My youngest daughter got me one of the pink flowered baskets and my son and daughter in law got me the two pink geranium baskets. My husband built me a porch just for perfect for hanging baskets. 

After a few attempts in previous years at planting it myself, I found it was easier just to buy ONE MORE hanging basket and transfer it to the burlap lined bicycle basket. 

I just love it. Especially with the yellow day lilies behind it. I am not sure where I got these lilies, but they flower multiple times over spring, summer and fall. 

I planted petunias, zinnias, and dianthus in different pinks all over the foundation and beds.  I planted double the amounts of those in two sizes of marigolds. Last year you could not find any mums in the fall and I am hoping for lots of fall color in September. 

I know they don't look like much, but Mr Merry has made a few trips to Menards for Miracle Grow and has been watering like crazy. Luckily tonight Mother Nature has finally taken over and we got a nice rain tonight.   

Last year I bought Mr Merry a potted tomato plant with a cage, almost as a joke. We ended up having a tomato or two a day from mid June until the end of August. This year I bought him two plants hoping for even more. Instead of leaving them in pots, he decided to plant them in our horrible clay soil so I am a little nervous about the crop. 

This path leads to my secret fairy garden! I have to dig out the supplies for this project. 

And here are some random pictures of my baskets and stuff. I am super happy with everything this year! 

We are patiently waiting for my day lily day! All those clumps of leaves are giant orange "ditch" lilies that get about 4 to 5 feet tall. I collected them from ditches about four decades ago when my mother and I would pack our shovels and my kids and hit the country roads. It is my understanding that there are hefty fines for that behavior these days. 

And, in the interest of total honesty, I do have one of those nifty kneelers with the tall handles that I use to plant. It works like a dream.