Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Jan. 11/13

Goodness it’s Friday already????  Wow this week sure flew by!

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!!

Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”

Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends: 

If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted. So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...

The weather has stayed relatively mild in my area this week…until today…today it is COLD…and the temperature is steadily falling…that is not what a girl who is aching for spring wants to see!!!    I want spring!!!….and I want it NOW.  I am growing weary of the drab winter weather, the lack of sunshine and the bitter cold!   The snow is prety…but can get to a gardener after a while…Mother Nature sure is dragging winter out this year!

My seed catalogs finally arrived and I have been pouring over them eagerly dreaming of all the wonderful blooms I want to see in my gardens this year…I want spring/summer to come…and that can’t happen soon enough!

There is not a whole lot for me to show off in the greenhouse this week…NOTHING has really changed at all in there…I am trying to make room in my house for some of the tropicals that I keep in the greenhouse when there aren’t any seedlings in there, but am reluctant to move them, as my house doesn’t seem to offer much in the way of lighting for them…and they suffer a little.   I love living in a jungle type setting, but don’t want it to look like FALL in the house!  Leaves drop, things are not quite as green as they should be, and plants suffer a little…it’s not a good thing for a Tootsie to see!
I spent the better part of today out in my little slice of heaven, getting ready for the spring planting.   I need to make room…so…I downsized quite a bit in there today..



As wonderfully long and gorgeous as this plant is..it is taking up a lot of valuable space, and it won’t fit into my house or stay healthy at this length…



…so it got a haircut!



I repotted 3 pots of Geranium into one large pot…this should make a pretty planter this summer…boy did I ever make a huge mess in there today!



I got several plants ready for Grammie and Grampie to take to the farm to keep the air fresh and clean.  The house at the farm offers great light for houseplants…and I think the kitty that lives out there will love playing in and among them.



Once I got the great big mess cleaned up…I have much more room to move around !



Everything is happy and healthy!



I have a few empty shelves now for when I start planting!!!



I even filled some seed cells for when the time comes!



Have I mentioned that I am anxious for spring???   I can’t wait to start planting and fill this whole greenhouse with fresh new seedlings!



Of course some of the tropical plants will stay in the greenhouse…my Jade plant will never leave here…it loves it in the greenhouse…and it is precious to me.

The time in the greenhouse went very fast for me today…before I knew it, the day was gone and the sun had set…it was getting too dark for me to continue…so I had to stop. 

I had such a good day.

Oh!  I almost forgot!…



Here is an update on the Orchid buds!   One of them is opening!!!  wooo…hooo!



I can’t wait for more!
Well kids…that is all for me for this week…now it is your turn…What are you waiting for???

Get flaunting!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans!
Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to FINALLY visit you…it seems there are not enough hours in a day anymore...THANK YOU!

******  please note...I have been having HUGE internet issues this week...it is very sporadic and often I can't load your pages!!!   I have been trying to post this post for over an hour now, and it just finally loaded!  I am doing my best to get around to you all...ugh.*****

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)  The mouth is a powerful weapon. Be careful what you launch from it.  just sayin’!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Oct. 26/12

GET READY!!!! IT IS FRIDAY!!! FRIDAY IS FLAUNTING DAY!!! I am so glad you stopped by!
Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!! Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!
If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.
So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...
So I have a few things to share this week…and to anyone who would like…I have about 12 inches of snow all over my yard!   I am less than enthused by this little event…I could have waited another month or more for that to happen…ya…winter is NOT my favorite time of year.
Our house is as busy as usual…but I did manage to get a few pics of the almost cleaned up greenhouse to share with you guys today!  I am having a hard time getting around to visit still…time is always an issue for me…and with my computer slowly but surely crapping out on me lately…it seems to take forever to get anything done at all anymore.  I am hoping to get a new one very soon…that way I will be able to zip all over blogland and visit with you all!  When it takes forever to load anything, it makes it hard to pop over!  Be patient…I will eventually get my schedule sorted out!  In the meantime…I want to say how much I appreciate all of you for joining in this week and every week…in spite of my tardiness!
Enough with the chatter…LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED! 
This week I will flaunt:

There is a lot “growing on” in my greenhouse right now…This little room is LOADED with some of my favorite things!

I also am wintering some of my mom’s favorite things…and those of a good friend!  Those two HUGE Bacopa baskets…and let me tell you they are HUGE…are happily blooming up a storm for me right now. 

They are Grammie’s pots…and she is hoping to keep them for next spring…I am going to have to cut them back…or I won’t be able to plant!  ha ha!!!  they are enormous!

I sure love them…perhaps they “won’t make it”  ha ha…and she will have to get new ones…

My tropicals are doing great!

The variegated spider plant is getting all “grabby” with lots of arms fill of new little plantlets!  I don’t often go into the house without some little piece of that plant in my hair somewhere!

This Geranium doesn’t seem to care that it is snowing…it’s in full bloom!

Another Geranium and some Coleus…I pinched the bloom buds off the Coleus…the blooms from that plant never did anything for me…ha ha!

All of my Christmas Cacti are getting ready to bloom again…for the 5th time this year…so much for Christmas hey???  ha ha!

The cactus seed…you know…the package that came with a rogue carrot seed mixed in…well…the cacti are doing great…so is the carrot…now…I am asking you guys…if I transplant that carrot…will it stay alive?  I’d like to see how long I can grow this carrot…It could be OUR little experiment…advise me!!!

On the outside…I am growing a giant icicle…does that count???
Okay kids…that is all for me for this week…now it is your turn.,,,
What are you waiting for??? Get flaunting!
I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans! Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to finally visit you…THANK YOU!
Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!
 *)*)*) Integrity is more than honesty. Someone who has integrity chooses to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

What A Croc!!!

Recently, I was a lucky girl, a group of my friends from the city I just moved away from, came to my house for a little visit! It was a nice visit over lunch and afterwards a tour of my garden and greenhouse…especially the greenhouse. Lucky for me it was clean in there! ha ha!

I was happy that they came because I really miss all of my friends that I had to leave behind, and I always welcome visits, but even better for me was that they took home several plants! You see, I have this little habit of pruning and trimming my houseplants, and not being able to resist rooting the cuttings. Because of this habit, I have WAY too many of each plant growing in the greenhouse right now. Turns out that one of the guests this day, is a girl after my own heart…Yep…she is a plant fiend too…and she was happy to take home quite a few…BUT even more importantly… I was happy to have some room for more plants in the greenhouse…so it worked out well and was a win –win situation for both of us! By the time they drove away their holiday trailer looking like a traveling jungle! er…ummm…I mean Heaven…ya .. heaven…that’s it!

I was laughing when she started to scope out the dynamics of the greenhouse…I think I saw some fear in her hubby’s eyes at that point too…She really would love to have one of her own to play in. (hint hint to you know who ...Santa...are you listening???)

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what my friend would do to say thank you to me for giving her all of those plants! She gave me a garden ornament!

What a croc-!…

…odile! Yep…she had a cement crocodile made for me! Isn’t he awesome? He has affectionately been nic- named “Scruff.” *)

There he is from the sidewalk on the street. He has caused a LOT of conversation on my street since he arrived. Everyone is very curious, and they all love him once they see him.

He came in three fabulous pieces:

The tail…which is all reinforced with re-bar and wire except for the very tip of the tail…so I need to make sure no one steps on that part…

The belly…which is also reinforced.

The head. It is detailed and reinforced as well. There was a suggestion made that I could paint the eyes so that they glow in the dark…but I think I will just let that be…I don’t need any glow in the dark eyes scaring the hell out of me in the night…(I would probably forget that I did it, and scare the crap out of myself one night…ha ha…yep…those who know me well…know that I absolutely would…) I like my Croc just the way he is!

He looks like he is “swimming” in the grass!

In total this croc ( A.K.A. Scruff) is around three feet long…and I can position him any way I like. For now…I like him just fine up by the front steps. He will be less likely to go missing this close to the house too! ha ha!

I might try to work him in around the fountain next year…or maybe I will build myself a pond and he can guard it! Who knows…I do know one thing for sure…Scruff will have a special place in my garden one way or another!

I don’t think I need to paint him… however, I might spray him with a sealant so that the concrete that he is made of doesn’t erode or degrade…but other than that…It will stay just as he was given to me.

Funny how I never would have purchased anything like this for myself…ever…but I absolutely LOVE it…especially because it was a gift. I have even found a spot to keep it in the greenhouse over the winter! (but that will have to be a surprise!)

I am so touched that she was so thoughtful as to think of me…Thank You so much Cindy, I really do love my croc…and will think of you guys and that visit every time I look at it!

I betcha anything I am the only one in this tiny town with a croc like this one in the front yard! Hopefully it will scare away the huge (and very scary) salamander that was seen walking up the sidewalk one night a week or two ago. It crawled right into this flower bed! It was about 8 inches long! Just a little too big for my liking! I prefer my reptiles made of concrete!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) Change doesn't come easily, but any butterfly will tell you - it's worth it.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Sept. 7/12

IS EVERYBOY READY!!!! IT IS FRIDAY!!! FRIDAY IS FLAUNTING DAY!!! I am so glad you stopped by!

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!! Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!
If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.
So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...

Today I am going to tell you a little story…and share my newest addition to the Tootsie family!

As some of you already know, I took a little holiday this summer. My Cowboy and I decided to take a drive…across British Columbia. I live in Alberta Canada so…it was a nice long drive…with lots to see and take in. Every day we would get in the car and drive along from antique shop to antique shop all through our neighboring province. Each day we would drive and tour and sight see…and at the end of each day…in early evening, we would stop for the night.

One of the towns we stayed overnight in was Valemont British Columbia. We checked into our hotel, and decided to go downstairs to the restaurant in the hotel. This was a rather nice restaurant, and we were not the only ones in there having supper. It wasn’t busy, in there by a long shot, but we were not in there alone.

The best part of this restaurant was that it was decorated primarily with PLANTS!!! There were dozens of them all over the place. Now, because there were about four other tables of people sitting in there, I could not take a bunch of photos of the room, but I did take photos of one plant in particular that caught my eye.

As luck would have it, we were seated on a sofa in the back of the room, and along the windows…and behind the sofa there was this very unusual plant. I have never seen a plant like this one before…and I was intrigued. I could identify each and every plant in that room EXCEPT this one…and I NEEDED to have one of them….

…now I need to mention that this restaurant was rather large…and there was only one waitress working at this time…AND…she was …well…ok… lets be honest…she was not all that energetic. The service was very slow…we were actually starting to think she didn’t even know we were there when she finally came over to our table.

….so in fine Tootsie form…I started to snap a few photos…and try to zoom in so that I could get a little bit better look at this plant…It didn’t take long for me to need to see this up CLOSE. So….I went behind the sofa.

YES …yes I did…I crawled over the arm of the sofa…and casually crouched down behind it. YES….yes my Cowboy was indeed a little bit amused at this…but he was not surprised…not at all. He actually thought it rather funny.

This is the plant I was staring at with delight! It is called….are you ready???? It is called….Kalanchoe Daigremontiana . The common name for it is Mother- of Millions.

There were about 4 0r 5 pots of this species all lined up behind that sofa!!!

They were all right along the window to the patio outside…and there was no one really looking…so I wasn’t really drawing any attention to myself… hmmmmm….(evil grins)

Is this not the neatest plant??? Are those baby plants on the leaf???? Oh MY!!! Can you blame me for being thrilled at the sight of this unusual plant??????? REALLY…CAN ANYONE???

On the top of the soil in the pots there was a bunch of baby plants all popping up practically everywhere!!!

I could not get over how glorious this plant looks with all the little rosettes of baby plants all lined up between the thorns!!! They look like ruffles!!! (this one was sharing space in the pot with a spider plant )

Now I mentioned that there were 4 or 5 pots of this special little plant all lined up along the window…and YES I did consider slipping one under my t-shirt and dashing out the door…until I saw that some of those “ruffles” on the leaves appeared to in fact be SEED!!!!

Squealing in delight, I asked my Cowboy, (who was doing a wonderful job as look out guy…) to pass me a napkin. He just grinned, shook his head and passed it over…I think he might have been thinking I was going to try to wrap up one of the already growing plants and sneak it out…but instead I filled my napkin with as many seeds as I could in a hurry…and quietly slipped back into my seat on the sofa. I think he was relieved when I finally came back to my perch on the sofa…he is a very shy sort of cowboy…does not like to draw a lot of attention to himself most of the time…

I was so excited…I could barely contain myself…I was also anxious to get some of these seeds into some soil! That would have to wait because we still had almost a full week until we were to be returning home.

Once we were home, I posted a photo of this plant online and found out what it was called…(thanks guys) I then got a little bit busy, put the seeds down, and forgot all about them! A few days ago I was in the greenhouse, and came across them…and of course I felt that same surge of excitement as I gingerly placed them into some potting soil and set them on the counter.

The very next day I checked the pot, and to my delight…

GUESS WHAT ?!?!?!?!

I am officially the proud new owner of several MOTHER OF MILLIONS plants!

Kalanchoe Daigremontiana/ Mother-of-millions /Alligator plant is a succulent plant native to Madagascar and Africa,where it is considered a horrible weed. (I can relate to this…people are actually paying good money for chickweed and dandelion seeds online!!! I hate it…it is invasive and horrible!) However, in other places…such as Alberta… it is a much sought after, hard to find, yet very easy to care for house plant!!! (and I have some!!!! yay!!!)

In my area (Alberta Canada) The Mother-of-millions plant will only survive as a houseplant, as it would be killed by frost, and cold temperatures. In warmer climates Mother-of-millions is a very invasive species, as they multiply rapidly.

After only one day in the soil I had one! Two days later I have FIVE! There are only three in these photos…so you will have to take my word for it…ha ha! I imagine by the end of the weekend I will have several more!

If that Cowboy plays his cards right …I MIGHT even share and give him one for his house…MAYBE…if he’s nice. ha ha! Oh who am I kidding…he’s almost as excited as me about the seeds sprouting…after all…he was the lookout guy while I was hiding behind the sofa…picking seeds while we waited for our meal…I suppose I can give him ONE. I wonder…if someone would have been coming over to us, would he have warned me??? Or would he have pretended he didn’t know who I even was! Lucky for us we didn’t need to find out. I guess there is something to say about a waitress that wasn’t really all that energetic…ha ha! It definitely worked out well for me!

Now…before I continue to celebrate…I need to tell you a couple of important things about this unique plant…

ALL PARTS of these plants are highly toxic to humans and animals so it is important to make sure that you keep this plant out of reach of kids and curious pets. Be cautious with this plant and watch the area around it’s pot…as some of the rosettes/ babies may drop off of the plant and land on the floor.

Okay kids…that is all for me for this week…now it is your turn.,,,

What are you waiting for??? Get flaunting!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans! Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to finally visit you…THANK YOU!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) A fool knows everything, except their own ignorance…just sayin’

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers July 20/12

HAPPY FRIDAY AGAIN!!!! I am SO glad to see you!
Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!! Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!
If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.
So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...

My little trip was nice…just not long enough…ha ha! I may have another little trip coming up in the next week or two…so that will fun…

I returned home to a yard overgrown and loaded with weeds…what a mess!!! I have been busy trying to get things under control, and making a few little changes to some areas…I will share them as I accomplish something. My yard is in a sad state so I am not sharing it this week . Instead…today I am flaunting…my greenhouse.

It was a mess…a total disgrace.

I had neglected it for too long. There is junk all over the place…and a tree is actually growing up between the floor boards…yes…I said a tree.

…we had to cut this tree down to put the greenhouse up…and now…it wants it’s spot back! Not only is it unwanted…but it is loaded with bugs…so it has got to go! I cut it out as best I could…

I then turned my attention to the plants that are in dire need of re-potting…and finished that up.

I needed to take all the dead leaves off of the whole lot, and trim them all nice and neat.

After several hours of working in my favorite place in the world…I gave everyone a nice big drink of water…

…and stood back to admire my beautiful plants!

See!!! No more tree!!! For now anyways…ha ha.

I just love days when it is not too hot outside and I can spend some time in my greenhouse. Today was a rainy day…Perfect for this Toots to play inside!

Everything seems to be doing nicely in the greenhouse this year.

I made a few to give away…

…but for the most part…this plant population is MINE!!! ha ha!

This is the end of my flaunt for the week. Now it is your turn…bring it on! I will do my best to get around and visit all of the great flaunting gardens this week…and try to catch up on what I have missed out on the last bit!

What are you waiting for??? Get flaunting!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans! Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to finally visit you…THANK YOU!

Until Next Time….Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) to my three ever so special winks: as you travel through your lives…remember a little kindness goes a long way. “Kind hearts are the garden, kind thoughts are the root, kind words are the blossoms, kind deeds are the fruit.”

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com