Happy New year

The morning after I hope you are not feeling as bad as he looks.

So, go celebrate, be careful, have a designated driver, or take a taxi.

Thank you to all my readers, family, friends, blogger friends, and all you folk who just stop by to take a look. You are all appreciated.

I wish for you all, an outstanding New Year

This ' N' that

Last Christmas I bought a beautiful red Amaryllis which sat on our kitchen table, showing off it's flowers for weeks on end. After it finished flowering I still gave it a little water until the leaves died back, then I let it rest for a while. When I returned from my vacation, I started watering and feeding the plant again, and now it is rewarding me by growing new leaves, and I am hoping for flowers too.

The orchid on the right, was going to be thrown in the trash by a friend. I offered to take it off her hands to see if I can get it to flower.I went out and bought some orchid food and have done some research on the care of orchids. With lots of TLC I think I can get this one to flower.

The poinsettia Was a Christmas present to myself. I lean towards buying plants which are a little different, so that is why I chose the poinsettia with the lovely variegated foliage.

From our home to yours

My new kiwi gardener/blogger friends

During my visit to New Zealand in November, I got to meet some blogger friends. Dinzie, from The Weekly Grind, and his lovely Mc D. They came and picked me up in Lower Hutt where I was staying, and we drove to the Wellington Botanical gardens. We started up at the top of the gardens where the cable car stops, and took in the fabulous view, then Dinzie left McD and I to walk down through the fabulous gardens, while he drove the car back down to park the car next to the beautiful rose gardens. McD and I enjoyed walking back down the trail, stopping now and again to look at the various plants, trees and shrubs before arriving at the rose gardens.
I was delighted to see up close, a Tui which was feeding on the nectar of the flowers of a flax plant. It was not bothered at all as I crept closer and closer, to get that perfect picture. Dinzie told me that since new Zealand has been eradicating the possums, the native bird population is increasing. I am very happy to know that the native birds are making a comeback.



Dinzie and MCD, Thank you very much for taking me to see the lovely Botanical gardens,and for the tasty Chinese dinner and conversation we shared. It truly is wonderful to make new friends, especially since you are Kiwis, bloggers and gardeners.

Bring on the Spring

While in New Zealand I did a little shopping in the garden section of a large department store. I was delighted to find some resin, native birds to decorate my garden here in the States.
A few days after my shopping spree, I went to stay with my brothers on their boat, and they took me shopping at a mall, where I just had to take them to the department store to show them what I had bought. I was asked why I hadn't bought the Kiwi, I replied that I did not have room in my suitcase. Both brothers looked at each other and said, "Christmas present" I told them that the Kiwi would be way too large and expensive to mail, but I got the "no worries mate"
Sunday I received an email from Graeme, saying a package had been sent, and would be here in about a week. Yesterday, I sure was surprised, when the mail delivery person, drove up to our front door, and honked the horn of her car, letting us know she had something too large for the mailbox. I thought it was something MrC. had ordered for his business, but it was the large box from New Zealand.

Not only did I get the Kiwi, there was some chocolate and Turkish Delight in the box.

The chocolate with the yellow band is Manuka Honey and almonds, Richfields Manuka Honey & Almond 70% Dark Chocolate is high in natural antioxidant's for great health benefits and is an excellent health chocolate candy bar alternative. This luxurious intense taste of rich dark chocolate is sure to help get your energy levels up when your feeling a bit flat and looking for a quick “pick me up” to get you through the day. The other Classic dark.
The Turkish Delight from Loukoumi Artisan confectioners. are Manuka Honey & Rainforest Lemon, and Feijoa Delight,

The three birds I had already purchased are, a Pukeko, a Tui, and a Kea.
The garden I have planned, will be more on the shady side so my new treasures will not be faded by the sun. I think I may have to buy a cold hardy tree fern for the garden, so the birds will feel at home.

Not enough snow

to build a snowman,

but too much to be in the garden. I officially hang up my gardening gloves, light the fire, find a book to read, and enjoy my day off.

When ground is crunchy

underfoot, there will be no gardening today.

This morning we have our second frost of the season, and it is more severe than the first. I have hung up my garden tools and now wait for spring.

Sam has nothing to do with gardening

The sole purpose of my visit to New Zealand was not to view all the gorgeous gardens,but to visit my daughter, other family members, and friends.

Sam is a three year old Bichon Frise who's job is to visit his Friends at Amaryllis House, a home for sufferers of Huntington's Disease, in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Sam and his Mum belong to a group called Canine Friends Pet therapy.

You are asking how do I know this sweet little dog. I met him as he visited Amaryllis house when I was staying there with my daughter Tina. Yes, my darling daughter is a Huntington's sufferer. The main purpose of my visit to New Zealand was to celebrate Tina's 40th birthday and I was delighted to see the looks on the faces of the residents when Sam gave them a smooch.
Quote from Sam's story in the Canine Friends Pet therapy news letter: These people are mostly pretty sick but love touching my very soft fur and they also like a good kiss. I know officially I shouldn't kiss them, but they sometimes get tears in their eyes when I smooch them, so I think that means it's OK. Some patients cannot speak much but they manage "goodbye Sam' when I go and that is nice for Mum and me.

To read more on Sam's story, click on the link above, then on news letters in the left side bar. Sam's story is Winter 09, page four. You will also see Tina and Sam, and her friend Ally who were featured in the story

I had heard of canine therapy but never seen it in action before. I was so taken by the looks on the faces of the residents as the touched Sam (the people who were able touch him) and the ones who could not, expressed their emotions with their eyes. I can tell you I had tears in my eyes as I observed their reaction to Sam's gentle way.

Thank you Sam and your Mum for bringing so my joy to the residents of Amaryllis house, I know my Tina loves to hold you when you visit, as she is an animal lover, having worked at at an animal shelter years ago when she was well.