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Pilgrims brought the first honeybees to America. There were honeybees in California by 1820.
I’ve been busy as a bee in my garden…planning and planting. (It was one of my New Year goals)
After ignoring my front yard during the month of December and most of January, I decided it was time to clean up a few things. My gardener had pruned the roses and I usually do a little detailing to make sure they are trimmed properly.
{Bethany House ~ Winter, 2011}
Working in the garden relaxes me and makes me happy. This past weekend the work inspired me to start making plans for the plants I want to install (as part of my New Year’s “goals”) and I came up with a list that I’ll order/pick up at the nursery and plant sometime between now and the end of March.
{Bethany House ~ backyard fence}
For now I’ve planted some infrastructure for the planting beds, behind the boxwood in the front yard are…
‘Alaska’ azalea, a lovely white blooming plant that should grow fairly fast in this part-sun location to cover the valves for the sprinklers.
~and~
phygelius ‘Passionate Pink’, a smallish, upright fuchsia. Bees and hummingbirds alike love this plant and the one below…
~and~
Spanish lavender, this will give me a little soft color around the white Iceberg shrub roses.
That plan instigated more thought about the back yard. I started thinking about plants and bees. I know, it does seem a little strange, but I would love to have the time and space to raise bees. I don’t have the time at this juncture but like my desire for a chicken coop, maybe some day.
I hope to move some planters around in the back yard and replace a rose or two. I purchased some seed in hopes that I can try my hand at growing ‘forget-me-nots’ and some Asian poppy seed to scatter.
{Forget-Me-Nots}
Meanwhile, I’ll have to search for a straw bee skep to tide me over…
There will be more garden coverage this year…stay tuned. Like last year, hopefully, Olivia will help me with the watering when she visits this summer.
{August 2012}
Note: We have a constant stream of bee and hummingbird visitors in our yard. I think some of my new plants will be gourmet nectar to both.
Do you have plans for your garden this year? I know some of you are still shivering from winter’s cold but you and I both know it will be spring before we know it!
I’m over at Savvy Southern Style, drop by for a visit and Art @ Home sharing things that make me happy.
Garden, Home & Party 
debbylee said:
I wish I liked gardening. I’m completely inadequate when it comes to being green. I am the girl who kills cactus. At least I can admire the skills of others! xo
Karen B. said:
Debby, I sometimes think I should have been born on a farm! 🙂 Thanks for your visits and comments, as a fellow blogger I know you understand how fun it is to hear from blog friends. Karen
julie ~ eab designs said:
Oh how I would love to live in that house with the gate and stone path! Planning a potager now but with spring such a short time away, I wish I started sooner.
Karen B. said:
Hi Julie, I know what you mean…I spent this past weekend trying to find a few bare root roses that I’d like to plant…they were sold out at our local west coast nurseries. I’m hitting the online sources this week, I guess mid-February is late in the game of spring planting! I hope you’ll share your potager with us when it’s finished. Karen
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
I love lavender. Both the smell, and how it’s lovely all season… I started a lot from seed last year. I planted them on the edge of a bed… but I didn’t realize how large the Benary Giant Zinnia would get, and they really over grew the tiny lavender plants. I’m kind of thinking most of them won’t come back, but we’ll see.
You should absolutely do some bee-keeping! (Then give me pointers!) Ever since I saw the small hive/bee house on a home and garden tour in Philadelphia’s Society Hill… I wanted one. It was so small, it would definitely fit anywhere in your backyard!
Karen B. said:
Victoria, Inspired by you and others in blog land, I’m trying to grow seeds of some of the plants I want to use this year. I’ll let you know how that turns out! The whole bee keeping thing is something I’ll have to look into…ifit’s time consuming, and what hobby isn’t, it may have to wait until I no longer work a 40 hour week. There is such appeal for me to think of having bees in the back yard…harvesting (would that be the term?) the honey. Karen
Jacki said:
I’m jealous. I love to garden. But here in the Dallas area you’re pretty limited in what will stand up to the extreme heat. I’ll just have to live vicariously through your garden posts!
Karen B. said:
Hi Jacki,
We lived in Arlington, TX for 2 years and as a native Californian it was an adjustment. I remember when we moved in our neighbors told us we shouldn’t leave our ficus tree on the patio because the frost would kill it. I was doubtful…well, you can guess how that went. 🙂
So happy to meet you!
Karen
Loi Tone on Tone said:
Hi, Karen –
Lovely plant list! Especially the white azalea. Let me know how you like the Alaska azalea. And if it can tolerate a bit of sun. Would be great in my white garden which gets hot afternoon sun for about three hours from July to Aug.
Cheers,
Loi
Karen B. said:
Loi, I have had great success with them in my west facing garden for years. I’ve never had any trouble with them scorching or struggling with the warmer days of summer. I also love Madonna white azalea but it’s harder to come buy here and I was impatient and knew Alaska would be available for immediate pick up. Madonna is a more ruffled bloom…so pretty. Karen
Loi - Tone on Tone said:
Thanks, Karen! Will check our nurseries here for Madonna and Alaska!!
Christina @ Floridays Mom said:
I LOVE the tour of your garden and all your new additions. I absolutely love gardening, but my fear of snakes have made it almost impossible to do anymore. We have black racers in Florida and we have one (about 5 feet) that lives in our backyard as its very tropical and we have lots of decking. I see him sunning on my deck regularly that I can’t even bare to have him sneak up on me while in yard. I love everything about plants and flowers and like you really get a joy out of pruning and the maintenance that comes with it. Until I overcome my fears, I can just enjoy your gorgeous garden! 🙂
Karen B. said:
Christina, I understand. As a native Californian I’m used to the critters we encounter in the yard, when we lived in Texas for two years there were spiders the size of small animals and they freaked me out. Worse case here is the occasional lizard and sometimes a wayward bunny. Karen
Carla said:
Do you have a dog that could bark the snake away. I hate snakes desparately too and I completely understand your fear. I would have to give up gardening if I had to share the experience with retiles too. I feel there must be a way to allow you to have the freedon of your backyard again Have you considered getting someone out to “relocate” your five foot nightmare? CARLA
Karen B. said:
Carla, Christina lives in Florida, I think a relocation could just make room for a new reptile resident! I would hate to not be able to work in the garden due to a slimy threat! Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
Loved the choices you made on plants for the yard – especially the lavender and fuchsias. It’s a bit too early for me to start doing much of anything in the Pacific Northwest yet but I’m anxious to start and your post has (once again) inspired me.
Linda
Karen B. said:
Hi Linda, We’re experiencing one of the coldest winters I can recall so I’ve been thwarted once again, weatherwise. I’ve got a few plants waiting in the wings to be planted in the garden! Spring will be here soon, right? Karen
Ricki Jill Treleaven said:
Hey, Karen! I really need some California sunshine right now. We have had cold rain and gray days for three months now in Central Alabama with just a few sunny days. I can’t wait to plant some big pots for spring, but I know I’d better wait because if I plant the too early, we’ll have one more frost!
It looks like your plans are coming along for your garden The Alaska azalea is my favorite. I love white flowers!
Thanks so much for linking-up!
xo,
RJ
Karen B. said:
Hi Ricki Jill,
It was fun linking to your happy party. Trust me, it’s a mixed blessing having endless sunshine and garden-worthy days.
Karen
Sent from my iPad
Kathy said:
I won’t let myself think about the garden….tiny as it is…for at least one more month. Your gardens are beautiful!! It’s probably a good thing I don’t live in a climate that would demand more skill than I have. It would be one more thing on my stress out list. Once the bugs come I get a tad frustrated. I’m in total awe of you gardens.
Karen B. said:
Kathy, You made me laugh! I do love to work in my garden, but as a native Californian, I wish sometimes that it would snow so that I don’t have to keep things tidy and semi- attended to almost 12 months a year. The bugs do bug (no pun intended) me too. Karen
Sent from my iPad