With the cooler weather lately, the lilac blossoms seem to be hanging around a lot longer this year… which I’m totally good with. But quite honestly, I’m ready for the warm weather to come back. I want Summer!!!

Looks like Pam’s mom is having a great Mother’s Day… complete with her new ikebana flower vase that Pam picked up this weekend at the PLANT & POTTERY SALE! It was great to see my pal Pammy down in Peoria… but c’mon, how cute is her Mom???

Besides a “ton” of coleus plants with all of their colors & textures… my friends Gerry & Rosene have the most incredible garden with beautiful flowers around every corner! Here’s a little bit of a “visual tour” for those who couldn’t stop by our PLANT & POTTERY SALE this weekend!

On a gray & rainy day like today, it’s great to get a bright splash of color around the corner. Beautiful pink dogwood blossoms on graceful branches.

Spring is here & things are popping up all over! If any of my Central Illinois fans are around this weekend, I’ll be “popping-up” in Peoria this Friday & Saturday. Beautiful homegrown plants, colorful coleus & more for your yard, containers & windowboxes! Plus an assortment of my pottery… mugs, vases, flower pots & more! You’ll also get to see one of my totem poles in the garden… and meet me very first art fair friends from “several” years ago!

Friday, May 7th & Saturday, May 8th – 9:00am-4:00pm
2314 Skyway Road, Bartonville, IL 61607

Looks like my African Violet isn’t the only one that’s enjoying its “new digs” in a handmade ceramic flower pot!!! My friend Keith recently transplanted this violet and now it’s THRIVING!!! Thanks for sharing this stunner Keith!

When they said “April showers bring May flowers”…
I wasn’t looking forward to this!!!

A few more beauties… a couple parting shots before we continued the ride north past the gardens. Beautiful ranunculus flowers in a range of colors!

While at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I was also impressed by the flowering espalier growing on the brick entrance walls. Years of pruning & “training” to make this beauty happen!

Today was picture perfect! Beautiful blue skies & surprisingly warm weather again. We hit the bike trail early this morning and rode up to the Chicago Botanic Garden… where the tulips & lupine were in full bloom!!! A wonderful blaze of color… and I’ve always loved the structural shapes of a good lupine!!!