Flower World Friday!

Okay, it was a couple of Saturdays ago.  It's always a joy to visit the 15 acre Flower World where they grow 95 percent of what they sell and the produce stand where one can buy fresh squeezed and non pasteurized apple cider, organic eggs, and locally grown produce.  This place combines beautiful ornamental plantings with space for livestock. (See previous posts here.)  Here's a fraction of what I saw during this visit:

This fellow almost made it into the cart but where would I put another face in my garden? 

Calathea rufibarba is a commonly-seen houseplant but I'd never seen one in bloom before. 

There were a couple of tables of these.  When Flower World has a plant, they have it in large quantities!

The head on this mid century bovine could be positioned in a variety of poses.

The love child of a garden gnome and Yoda?

Another unlikely pairing produced Goddess Ceres Cat.

 This looks very comfortable!  I've spent most of the winter in a similar position.

Gorgeous Aspidistra elatior 'variegata' works as either a houseplant or in the ground here.  I may need a pot of this in the parlor, you know, for historical authenticity and all.  ("Cast Iron Plant" was a very popular houseplant in Victorian times when I was a boy.)

Very nice to see Schlumbergera x buckleyi on the market.  Because of their more upright nature (ease of packing) one usually only sees Zygocactus, another Schlumbergera, offered commercially and buckleyi is more of a pass along plant.  Can't believe that these are still blooming.

Thankfully my bulb order a couple of autumns ago contained a lot of crocus which have reproduced nicely.  They are such cheerful harbingers of spring.

Oh, the fragrance of hyacinths is a joy, isn't it?

The variety of foliage on the unmarked artichokes made me want to bring them all home.  

So dramatic,  beautifully silver gray, and incredibly easy to grow.  

Because of it's massive size, Flower World is able to put together vignettes like this each season.

Vibrant foliage of Tri-Color Cordyline was very tempting but I'd already killed a less colorful cousin so none came home with me.

Variegated hibiscus need no flowers to make a splash!

Although the flowers are pretty swell, too!

So much to see!

Leafy goodness goes on and on in house after house!

 Spring in the garden.  Momentary blue skies lure us outside. 

This is a great area to have lunch!

New since our last visit is this seating area.  Is that a table in the middle?  Are the seats movable? Frankly, I'm stumped.

Chickens, ducks and geese parade around on the lawn and paths.  They're quite used to people and are quite friendly.  Yes, even the geese. (No, there aren't any in the picture, they were  more interested in the fresh apples being offered in the other direction.

Speaking of spring...  

How are ewe today?   Oh, not baaaad, not baaad at all.

So much cuteness!  In another life, I must have been a farmer like most of my ancestors.  

Happy weekend and happy gardening all!

The Lamb

By William Blake

Little Lamb who made thee
          Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
          Little Lamb who made thee
          Dost thou know who made thee

           Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
           Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
         Little Lamb God bless thee.
         Little Lamb God bless thee.