Mischler's Greenhouses, WIlliamsville, NY

Annual perrenial sale was a tremendous success. A visit to Mischler's is worth a trip...an interesting greenhouse and florist right in the first "greenbelt" of Buffalo.

Some pictures from local greenhouses

In travelling around the Buffalo area, found some proof that soon gardening efforts will be rewarded. Lavocat's Greenhousees, Clarence, NY.

It's a Festivus Miracle

Why, you may ask, am I posting these obviously inferior images of some plants that are barely peeking out from the ground? Because when I saw them yesterday, I was so excited that it felt like Christmas. These are the first blue-flowered corydalis that have ever returned for me.

Blue Heron, below, is from Terra Nova. Its flowers are electric blue (not to be confused with the actual plant Electric Blue, which did not survive when I tried it in my garden). Blackberry Wine, above, is a Proven Selections variety I got from Gardner's Greenhouses in West Henrietta, and its flowers are closer to purple. of the two, it's the more vigorous right at this moment, but I got it as an established 4 inch, whereas the former arrived as a mere plug—and did pretty well all summer.

Green Prayer Flag

I love prayer flags. I'm not a Buddhist; I wish I were so disciplined. But I do love their flags. In the garden, in the house, you name it.

The other day I was driving past a used car lot and I saw one of those strings of flags, the triangles, all different colors, that you always see at used car lots. All of a sudden the connection seemed so obvious: they have to be based on prayer flags. Right? I mean, they're quite similar, and I'm sure the used car lot flags didn't come first.