Spring Tickles

Hoe while it is spring, and enjoy the best anticipations.  It is not much matter if things do not turn out well.  ~Charles Dudley Warner

Dear sisters,

Don’t you just love the anticipation of spring? Not the first day of spring so much, but the actual a rriiiiiiiiiiv ing of spring? Say it with me. A rriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ving! It’s a time of many firsts and tried and true rituals too. Those first few sunny days over 40 degrees have a way of tickling spring right out the earth. Buds on every growing thing begin to burst, bulbs in bloom delight us with their longed for vibrant colors and fragrance and us human-folk begin to happy dance our way through spring to-do lists created during the last snow storm. Spring is working its magic on me and I’m feeling tickled about lots of fun spring things! So, come on in! I want you to be tickled too! First of all, it’s just about planting time so I made a trip to my favorite garden center. They stock all of my favorite dahlia varieties and I hit this months sale to boot! Buying dahlias for large areas can put a dent in your garden budget but they are worth every dime you spend on them. So what if you have to put off getting those pretty new sandals and pocketbook to match? You won’t be needing them in the garden anyway. You’ll be outside in your garden clogs or muck boots having the time of your life, covered from head to toe in dirt like every other farmgirl in spring time!

I’m still no master gardener when it comes to knowing all there is to know about growing dahlias but I keep trying. This handy bulb planting guide on the package is a great help for learning the proper planting depth and which end of the tuber to point up! Most tubers have an eye ( a bit of growth showing ) which you want to be facing upwards when you plant them. Dahlias must be lifted and stored over the winter in a cool place. Here’s a great link with all the particulars!

This will be my third year having dahlias in the garden and the anticipation of seeing them in bloom again come mid-summer has my little ole farmgirl heart a pound’n! I snapped up several Dinner Plate Dahlias and this new window box variety pictured below.

I love the bright yellow button centers on them!

Max is always a big help with my photo shoots! It’s hard to say no to that face, those eyes, his smile! Hold on a sec while I toss the flying squirrel for him!

My garden center always has a large selection of Botanical Interest Seeds which I have found to have a very high germination rate inside the greenhouse and when directly sewn. Plus, they are GMO FREE and have many Heirloom varieties available. And, I just love the pretty seed packets. Gathered together they make a lovely bouquet all by themselves!

I loaded up on my usual fair of sunflowers,

zinnias,

cosmos and morning glories too!

I’ve had great success with both of these Heirloom varieties.

I’m going to give these pole beans and snap peas a go too! I am in love with Edemame Hummus. I bet it tastes yummy made with fresh-picked butter beans. It’s also delicious steamed for five minutes and sprinkled with ground sea salt.

Here comes Max!

Good fetch Max! Bring it!

Good boy! Now, sit and stay!

We’re still a couple of weeks out before I can begin sowing flower seeds outdoors but I’m ready to grow when the time comes. In the meantime, spring has tickled me with the idea to do some ” inside ” sewing while I wait for the soil to warm up to planting temperature. Over the years, I’ve made my fair share of pillows, table runners, napkins, place-mattes, curtains, fleece hats, scarves, and head warmers and flannel blankets. I’m ready to try something different and springy!!!

Can you guess what I’m going to make by the look of the fabric?

My mom and I are going to make some FUN, farmgirly, floral aprons!

If you still need a little tickling to worm spring out of you I recommend a visit to your local fabric store for a date with the quilting fabric section. That surely did it for me. I especially fell in love with the fabric pictured above. Its covered in the cutest bird cages ,watering cans, flower pots and birds but it’s the encouraging printed phrases that really got me.

I’ll say them to you okay?

let your light shine

BE INSIGHTFUL

seek harmony

SHARE YOUR GIFTS

you are beloved

LOVE

be bold, be your sweet self

CELEBRATE LIFE

and

open your heart

Aren’t they wonderful?

You would be hard-pressed not show ALL of your true GIRL GENIUS colors swathed in that much positivity!

This last one’s from me dear sisters.

GROW IN YOUR OWN GARDEN

Tell me, what is spring tickling out of you right now?

Until our next shoreline visit~

Beach Blessings and MUCH LOVE,

Deb

sister # 1199

and Max ( who is obviously quite tickled with spring )