We didn't stop at the Concrete Jungle. We did pick up more than hellebores, but the hellebores and clematis accounted for much of the $ I spent. With prices 40-50% less than around here, it's very tempting to load up! I even got 2 cascading Cherry Tomatoes -- a 'Tumbling Tom Yellow' and a new-to-me red one. I'll stick those in hanging baskets and see if we can get some indoor fruits.

So I have some healthy exercise ahead of me, digging holes for new plants!

Was supposed to have an extra orchestra rehearsal tonight, but it's been cancelled. Concert is next Saturday and due to rehearsals having been cancelled because of the truckers' occupation of downtown Ottawa and our regular director having been sick so that we've had a sub, we are underprepared for this concert. We learned yesterday that the sub will direct at the concert. I'm betting tonight's rehearsal is cancelled because he's a regular member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra which played in Toronto yesterday and which will be going to New York City for a concert next week and he also directs the local junior youth orchestra. A bit much on his plate, but he used to direct this orchestra and we know him well and the concert will happen next week. I'm crossing my fingers because people are dropping like flies from Covid. I personally know two people (and probably more) who are infected. Anyway, since I won't be rehearsing this evening, I need to go practice. We've ordered sushi for dinner; so I won't have dinner prep.

Ann, that's too bad about rehearsal being cancelled, practice makes perfect as the old saying goes.

Last night's rehearsal was cancelled but we are still on for tonight. And we have a dress rehearsal next Friday. Still, it's been a long time since I've felt this unprepared for a coming concert.

We got in a good walk this afternoon. And I practiced a bit.

This morning, the church streamed the first video my bells did since we've been back using tables. This was the third week we were back and it's not perfect, but pretty good. A wonderful, contemplative Lenten selection. https://onedrive.live.com/?aut...

I've uploaded new pics to my hosta tracking galleries, but haven't finished editing the text for them. Am also going through the galleries and reducing the number of older pictures by close to half as mature hostas look much the same year after year. I think the link may be below??? Anyway, I'm up to the letter K for final editing.

Need to prepare dinner.

It seems like people who like hostas really like hostas. They don't live long here, so I have never tried them. I'm not sure I have even seen them in the nursery. I have a place where they would look nice if they lived, but it isn't on the sprinkler circuit and neither of us wants to water every day and they'd still die out from lack of winter dormancy or something.

I have some smaller ones around my dogwood in front. Shared at plant swaps- yay! And some huge ones and some in between. I consider them workhorses, reliable in this zone.
Sore from the garden but it seems to help me sleep well!

Hostas love it here, they are tough plants, at least most of them. When we had the dying cottonwood tree cut down last spring, I figured those that were under it would die from the heat and sun, but they were fine. Maybe they will do even better this year with the tree roots all rotting so no competition for the moisture and fertilizer.

Kelli, Hostas like cold winters and they like lots of moisture; so while you might be able to grow some there (SoCal is trying it), you would likely find it a struggle. For the most part, it's likely better to grow plants more suited to our climate. But yes, for those of us in such climates, they can get addictive very quickly.

I do like hostas and had quite a few where I used to live, which was mostly shade. I moved the best ones plus the hellbore to where I'm living now, and built a very small bed at the back of the house, which faces north. Where I'm living now it's hard to find shade. I still like hostas, but not enough shade here for them.
Finished cleaning all the garden beds, planted a rose, two dill, and three tomatoes yesterday, plus mowed and weed eated front and back. Just in time for rain the next three days.

I redirected a drain and got a good supply of water to a bed with some run of the mill hosta (Patriot?) And wow did they get so much bigger than I had ever seen them! Reminds me, I was planning to divide those clumps this spring and not let them over run an azalea.
Nothing new or exciting for healthy living here.. really need to keep up stretching working and avoid that weekend overwork effect.

Well, I'm suffering from that weekend overwork affect, and my left arm is much worse than my right arm. I'm guessing that's because I'm right handed. Too wet to work outside today, there's standing water everywhere, but the sun is shining and it will be a beautiful day none the less. I'm doing laundry this morning and running around doing tasks mid day, and, hopefully, mopping the floors this afternoon.

We have nice sunny days now, but the down side is the wind - horrible, blustery, north wind. Makes one go out, turn around and go back in. The only good side of that is that I'm not cleaning up the garden - they now say that many of our desirable bugs/caterpillars don't come out of hiding until May, and we're not supposed to mow until then also. I really want to turn my yard into pollinater friendly, butterfly friendly plants, so I'm reading instead of raking!!

I never did get to those floors! Oh, well, they will be waiting for me tomorrow.

Judith, good choice! Lynda, the floor will be waiting, like the dry plant stems were waiting for me all March. I delayed to give bugs a chance to wake up, as Judith said.
We are looking at a few rainy days, the yard will green up and weeds shoot up!

We are pretty green here, and the weatherman says Friday night will be our last bout of cold weather. I will have to cover the tomato and pepper plants one last time.
My grass has literally turned green in a matter of days.
I do believe our bugs have woken up. I was bitten by a mosquito earlier today, and I saw the first flys too. All the bees are buzzing around. No butterflies yet.

They are telling us the same. Better not to do garden clean-up until we have consistent daytime highs around +10. We're not quite there yet. Maybe next week. And I've still got snow in the back yard, though it will disappear by the end of this week. Still the back yard will be too wet to walk on for awhile after. But I DO see people out cleaning up. I'm tempted to start a bit in the dryer parts of the yard because I've got so many bulbs coming up, especially crocuses and I won't be able to walk on the garden at all until the hostas emerge. I hope that will be about 3 weeks still.

I've finished updating my hosta pictures. Removed many too, to make navigating the galleries more efficient.

Going to go practice shortly. Aiming for about 90 minutes.

95F yesterday and today

I make crosses of amaryllis and grow them from seed in an effort to come up with something original. I was disappointed in this one until we realized how big it is. The flowers are 8 inches across.

Wow, Kelli, that sure is a large bloom, beautiful color. Linda 'quietyard' will love it.

Yes, Linda did love that, Margaret.
That is gorgeous, Kelli!

Thank you, ladies.