Pretty 'n Purple

Wow. I haven't posted in a long time! We are still here--still having fun, just too busy to post! Not too long ago we discovered a newly redesigned favorite park near the Boston Ballet. My kids love the playground, but what I love is the gorgeous garden design. See the weeping willow in the background? And the purple flowers (anyone know what they are?) and the wrought iron fence? Perfect. I just sit and daydream that I am in some wonderful European city surrounded by a romantic garden park. I've even fooled myself a few times. Oh, and doesn't this cutie look pretty framed in purple and green? One of the few times lately she hasn't shied away from the camera.

Hooray for Zinnias

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--I am a very faithless gardener.  I really have this gut feeling that nothing I plant will really grow at all, let alone thrive.  Planning a garden in February (as Martha and my uber-organized husband recommend) almost sends me into a panic because I just know that nothing will grow in this rocky New England soil.  Thankfully this year I have been proven wrong.  You know what grows lush and colorful and in abundance in my yard--my yard of all places?!!  ZINNIAS.  Who knew?  A neighbor gave us the seeds last year and in February, with spread sheet and map of the garden in hand, The Mr. offered to plant them in the little starter planters.  Just to see what would happen.  Well talk about exceeding expectations.  These babies out grew every other type of seedling we started and was just begging to be planted.  Finally in May I planted them closer together than the seed packet recommended and look what happened!  Apparently zinnias are self sowers, so even though I only planted a few plants, they have spread and filled out like crazy.  I think next year's garden will be all zinnias.  Doesn't that sound wonderful and colorful?  Maybe there is room for faith afterall.  Oh, and how 'bout these cute little gardeners who just happened to be wearing the same colors as our zinnias!