So every year I see lots of zinnias in other people’s gardens… admiring from afar… and wishing that I had planted some sooner! Well this year, I’m going to go for it. First I bought some seed packets. But then a wonderful care package showed up in my mail!!! My best gardening buddy Rosene has set me up with these wonderful little packets of zinnia seeds. So many varieties, so many possibilities! Now I just need to figure out when to plant them inside… so they’re growing well when it’s time to finally transplant them outside! And then to keep my fingers crossed!

Excited to see that several of my orchids at home have been sending up new flower spikes… and this is the first one to start blooming! I’m looking forward to a colorful Spring as they all begin to splash their colors high on graceful stems!

This morning I was excited about my iris shoots popping up! But then at Navy Pier this afternoon… I spied these colorful crocus flowers bursting through everywhere!!! A fun surprise… considering we still have chances for snow! And the first day of Spring is not until Monday!!! Even the bees were out enjoying the sunshine today!

Beautiful flowers in her new soda-fired vases! Looks like Rhonda is enjoying the vases she got out of the kiln from our LILLSTREET SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP. Such a beautiful combination of colorful flowers, wonderful textures & earthy soda-fired finishes. So glad you came to my workshop Rhonda… I hope you had a good time!!!

A very sweet pottery request from my friend Julie:
“I am looking for a new pot for my Mom’s African violet that Keith has kept alive & blooming since her passing. It has outgrown multiple pots and we have taken many cuttings from it and started new plants that we shared with family in YOUR pots! Mom’s plant is not currently in one of your pots and it just doesn’t look good!”

Looks like it’s time to make more flower pots… more FUN!!!

Sure, it might be FREEZING outside today here in Chicago… but with the sun streaming in it feels much better inside with my new paperwhites starting to bloom today!

We’ve been saying for awhile that their orchid would be happier in a handmade ceramic flower pot. Kristy & Matt have killed every orchid prior… so we figure it “must” be the pot, right?!!! Unfortunately, I think they’re going to need a larger flower pot! That little cutie-patootie just isn’t going to do it!!! HA!!!

Festive seasonal flower arrangement… and even cooler shadows… in Sarah Chapman’s booth at the ONE OF A KIND SHOW. C’mon by… I’m hanging out with her again today until the show closes at 5:00pm! Booth #2118.

Looks like Rosene has her first bloom of the season on her Thanksgiving Cactus… about a week early! Mine is already blooming beautifully right now too! Come to the HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this weekend and you can see my blooms… and perhaps buy a new flower pot for your indoor garden too?! I’m convinced that houseplants prefer handmade pottery flower pots… with drainage holes!!!

Hanging on… a couple bright spots this morning! There’s still a few flowers blooming out there, but you’ve gotta look for them!!! The sunflower’s loving a bit of sunshine… but the dandelion seems a bit confused? What season is this again???