"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"

Isn't it amazing how objects can magically transform from something on the verge of being thrown away to something special?  The bottle below along with a twin had been sitting in our kitchen waiting for a purpose for the last year.  They are just too pretty to be thrown away, so I would periodically imagine possible uses I might have for them, such as vases for very tall-stemmed lilies.  I do have a few Stargazers that would fit the bill, since I would NEVER cut one of the daylilies except under extenuating circumstances.  Anyway, I just happened to be reading a delightful post titled "A Tribute to Big Momma's Garden" on the blog of my new gardening friend, Lee May, and before I knew it ...

"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"

I had this gorgeous new gazing bottle.

Cobalt Blue Gazing Bottle Ball

There will soon be a lot of color in the bed my lovely gazing bottle graces.  For now, the gazing bottle adds the pop of color that's needed.  I'll be sure to post another photo when the bed is in full bloom, and the herbs have filled out.  There is a lot packed into this tiny bed (I left everything room to grow though).  Apparently, I can fit plants into a garden with the same efficiency that I can load a dishwasher.  My husband says I hold the world record for being able to fit the most dishes, etc. in a dishwasher!  It's probably true since the dishwasher gives me more time to garden. :-)  Back to the subject I have wandered from, as I found out on Lee's blog, according to lore, bottles in the garden trap bad spirits at night, and dispel them when daylight arrives.  A bad spirit trap is always a useful tool to have around.  :-)

The Poppy Project

I had to do something with the iris bed, since the irises are on strike this year, so I decided to plant Iceland Poppies (they're not the illegal ones :-) as a companion plant.  I've been meaning to do this anyway, since an iris bed can be unsightly at times after blooms (should there be any) are gone.  I did go ahead and plant the poppies, but they were all lying down on the ground like little drunken sailors, so I'll post a photo later when they decide to stand up.

Beverly Sills Iris Bud

I went over to "Martha's Garden" yesterday to compare irises.  I snapped this photo of one of the few iris buds (Beverly Sills) over there.  I guess my suspicion about our crazy weather putting a stop the blooms here this year is correct, since there were only two or three with buds over in "Martha's Garden" (out of about 100 irises).

Double Red Knock-Out Rose

The Knock Out rose is such a workhorse in my garden.  It can go through horrible heat waves and drought once established without missing a beat!

French Marigolds

A little something for the tomatoes ... I manage to fit flowers in whenever possible.  These are supposed to be beneficial for the tomatoes too. 

French Marigold

Clematis

Stella d'Oro Daylily & Garden Gator Stepping Stones

Oh, you have to love the always faithful and first bloomer, Stella d'Oro!  Even though it's not an unusual designer daylily, it's a fine little daylily that can always be counted on to brighten early spring days.  

Between the garden gator and my new gazing bottle, this should be a well protected garden. :-)  I went out and got a third blue bottle earlier this week, so I have two more beautiful blue gazing bottles that will appear in the garden soon.  Who knows where they'll pop up?  

Well, I'm off to Miracle Grow the garden, and then on to shopping and preparing for Easter.  Hope you all have a great weekend! :-)