My first orchid cactus bloom

I bought an orchid cactus last fall and waited anxiously all winter for spring to arrive and the first blooms, since I was told by the lady who I bought it from that it blooms in the spring. But there were no buds this spring although the plant was thriving. Then about a week ago, the first bud appeared. And finally today the first bloom opened! And it's a beauty and well worth the wait. I don't know if there will be more buds this late in the season but I'm happy there was at least this one!

Amaryllis beauty

If there's one thing that says spring to me the most, it's blooming amaryllis bulbs! I have two bulbs - one had two blooms and one had four blooms, but they weren't all opened yet in these photos. The bulbs started blooming a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the blooms are gone now but their beauty can still be enjoyed through their photos.

This year's garden

Gardening is one of the most rewarding pleasures I've found in this life. The beauty of flowers never ceases to enthrall me. Here are some of my favorite photos from this year's garden.

It's been raining so much here in New Jersey both during the month of May and now again during the month of June. April showers may bring May flowers but this much rain is a bit worrisome for gardeners. Bulbs can rot and the flowers are not lasting as long from all the wetness. And the forecast for the next ten days is more of the same. We drastically need some sunny days to dry things out a bit. I have a few of my potted plants sitting under the picnic table to keep them out of the worst of the rain. And it's much too cold for this time of year. Here's looking forward to some warmer, sunnier weather soon!












P.S. I just learned that Matt, the CEO of 1000 Markets, has posted this gardening post on the Community page of 1000 Markets. Quite an honor, that is! Thank you, Matt! Check it out - will probably only be there for a day or two.

1000 Markets Community Page

Still lots of flowers in NJ

Since we had a very cold week with even frost a couple of nights, I was really surprised when I walked back to my garden last weekend. There were still lots of flowers out there. I know their days are numbered but it was nice to see that they had made it through the cold week.

I know one plant that loves the cold is the gerbera daisy. They always start blooming more this time of year. Here are a couple of mine. These are actually last year's gerbera daisies. They're considered an annual here in New Jersey but I brought them into the house last winter and they made it through. I'll probably dig a few of them up this weekend and bring them in.





























And a few weeks ago, I found a black eyed susan plant lying in someone's gutter. It was pretty dried up but I saw a little green on it so I brought it home and planted it. I cut it back really good and in a matter of days, it started sending off new shoots. And it's rewarded me by blooming again - and it's absolutely not the time for black eyed susans to blooms in NJ! I like to think it's saying thank you for rescuing me. :-)



And there, of course, are fall mums,












canna lilies,













cosmos,













and zinnias.















And here's the last rose of summer!



Goodbye sweet flowers - see you in the spring. :-)