Grandma had a pink flamingo in her garden!

I tried to date this photo when I first saw it.  I had guessed the 50's because of the style of dress.  When I looked up the history of the pink garden flamingo I learned that the flamingo hit stores in 1957, which I think is close to the date of this photo.  My grandparents liked to garden and they had plants in their garden that we didn't have at home.  I have to admit; we didn't have a pink flamingo in our garden when I was a child, nor do I have one now.  But there's something legendary about this long legged creature.

A gentleman named Don Featherstone launched the creation of this garden entity in 1957 and the pink flamingo lives on!  Cado Company in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, acquired Union Products, the initial manufacturer of this wonderful American icon, whom Mr. Featherstone worked for. We see many knock offs these days, but occasionally I'll see an original for sale.  The pink has lost it's luster and the bird is usually missing a leg or two, but it's a true piece of American garden history

 

The flamingo stands at least knee high to Grandma!

Apparently, the original flamingo came in different poses. 

Consignment Finds; Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers

I love anything miniature.  These cake toppers certainly fit the bill! 

My cast iron pans and some delicious bread recipes.

Several years ago, my husband decided to "collect" cast iron pans.  I love them for baking!

Starting our pumpkin seeds.

When we decided to enter a giant pumpkin contest last year, we had no idea that we would be hooked on growing pumpkins.  We saved hundreds of pumpkin seeds....giant pumpkins, sugar pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.  We dried and saved as many seeds as we could although we did use some Jack-o-lantern seeds for our Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.  They sat on the windowsill during the harsh and cold winter.  Now that there's a glimpse of spring in the air, it's time to get this year's crop started!  On average, it takes 150 days for a giant pumpkin to grow.  We'll keep you posted throughout the process.

We purchased pots that will be put right into the ground as well as starter pellets that the seed will go into.

I use cookie sheets when starting my seeds in order to catch any water that may leak out of the pots.

Water is added to the pellets and they expand for seed preparation.

My seeds are just waiting!

These are sugar pumpkin seeds.

These are giant pumpkin seeds.

The plugs are meant for smaller seeds but I like the way it keeps the pumpkin seed in the center of the pot when adding soil.

 A layer of potting soil is added.

 I'll make sure to water every couple of days without saturating the cup.

With any luck, I'll have an assortment like this in my garden next October!

The Milk Truck; New Haven Dairy

My dad grew up in the New Haven, Connecticut area.  I was going through some of his old photos recently when I came upon this one.  It's a photo of a very early milk truck from the New Haven Dairy.  There's nothing written on it so I don't know who the men are in the photo.  While home milk delivery still exists in certain parts of the country, their trucks have changed a bit!

My milk boxes sit in the barn unused.  When we moved, milk delivery was no longer an option for us.  There is something so simple and wonderful about this process.  I am happy to say that I have found a local dairy that sells milk in half gallon glass bottles.  To me, the milk tastes so much better in glass and I love supporting the local farmer!  Perhaps someday, a milkman will grace my doorstep once again.

Check your area farm listings to see if you have home milk delivery in your area.

Cleaning out the garden.

I can't explain the excitement we felt when we noticed that the mulch had been delivered to our local garden center!  It had been a very long winter after all and we were more than ready to start cleaning out the gardens.  While the field is still blanketed with several inches of snow, there are sections of the yard that are beginning to show signs of green!  I find that it's much easier to clean out the garden before things really start to grow and get too tall.  At that point you risk breaking stalks and stems when removing leaves and other debris.  Start early if you can; you may have to work around the snow piles!

Get your tools ready.  My husband likes to shovel mulch with a snow shovel.  Perhaps he feels like he's getting back at winter!

Once I began to remove the leaves, the green inspired me to keep going!  I prefer to remove the leaves with my hands but you may prefer a small rake.  Just remember to work slowly while watching for new growth.  Treat yourself to a new pair of garden gloves this year!

 

 The field is still covered with snow. 

These poor daffodils were under some snow, thus the crooked shape.  They'll straighten out as they continue to reach for the sun.

The bird feeder in the garden was replenished many times this winter.  At one point, when the snow was so deep, we put the seed on a board on top of the snow.  It's important to give the birds fresh seed and to remove the winter seed residue from the garden.

Due to so many storms this past winter, the yard is covered with little sticks and branches. 

 We worked around the piles of snow.  Hopefully they'll be gone by this weekend!

 The azaleas suffered some damage from the heavy snow. 

 It's important to carefully remove any broken branches.

 More new growth...you need to be extra careful when stepping in the spring garden.

The iris will bloom in June.  Trim the old stalks and leaves away so the new growth will flourish.

 

A garden "reflection".

Flower pots can be a handy tool when working in the early garden.  I set them down over the new growth while I add new mulch in order to avoid damaging the new growth accidentally.  Once the mulch is spread I remove the pot.

The Shasta Daisy is a wonderful addition to your garden.  It's perfect in arrangements.  The plant will get quite large and may need to be divided.  You can share with a friend!

We "paint" the young apple tree with Bonide Pruning Sealer and Tree Wound Dressing.  It helps mend where the groundhog has begun to gnaw and will deter him from doing it again.

This is what a daffodil looks like that hasn't seen the sun!  Gently uncover it and in a couple of weeks it will be just fine.

 This particular part of the garden is beginning to look like spring is really here!

 The afternoon shadows begin to fall.

 Once these flowers bloom I'll plant them in the garden.  They'll return next year.

 I'll put pansies here as soon as the danger of frost has passed.

Pansies are a beautiful early flower for your garden.  Depending on where you live, it may be a little too soon to put pansies outside.  You can enjoy them on the windowsill in the meantime!  Your local garden center will have pansies in an assortment of colors.  So pretty as the sun sets behind them.

Easter 1967

Remember when we dressed up for Easter?  

Happy Easter from my home to yours.