I know Rita. If you told my family that was an artist, they would tell you that you do not know their Mona. I lack any and all ability to do art stuff. Never could help the kids, that's why they had to learn to do it. No poster work for Mom.

Yet, when I'm outside, I can see beauty in so many things. I also love beautiful art, not the stuff that some folks call art. I mean real art. Im a fan of Thomas Kinkaid. I also love beautiful music. If you want to move me to tears, let me hear good music. I'm a fan of Yanni. I haven't listened in years,, one of those things I keep meaning to do, but I used to love his piano style. Moving, was a word I used because it moved my inner self to feel sounds.

You are very talented Rita. Your garden shows this from every angle of your camera. I so enjoy it and this year, you have more blooming than any of us, so please keep feeding us so we don't starve until Spring finally arrives.

I love the garden. I love colors and flowers. And I love to have the butterflies and birds.

Rita, think of how borrrrriiiiiinnnngggg the world would be if we were all the same!

Straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Pod people!

Rita, I like you just the way your are, and you better not change! You are perfect! You always make me smile and laugh, and I love your beautiful photos!

Just watch out for those pod people. My yard looks so bland right now that they may be hiding out there somewhere!

Thank you!

I ordered MORE bulbs. I have been kicking around my ideas for my order from Dutchgrown.com and today I made my finial decision. In which case better to order right away before I get confused.

I ordered 700 tuiips, 150 daffodils and 450 crocus. Total 1.300 bulbs

150 crocus advance
300 crocus golden bunch
50 daffs Ruhlight
50 daffs Golden Harvest
50 daffs Marieke
100 tulip Clusiana (species)
100 tulip Wilsonia (species)
100 tulip Jenny (single early)
100 tulip Gluck (Kaufmanniana)
100 tulip Dreamboat (greigii)
100 tulip Large Copper (greigii)
100 tulip Sweet Lady(greigii)

Rita, Your spring garden pix look amazing! Just love all the variety & colors! Sounds like you are well on your way to beating last years bulb total. I just can't imagine your gardens more colorful than they already are!

I have already ordered 4,000 bulbs. And I have lots more to go. Last years total was 4,999 and I will beat that this year by a mile. Honestly last fall I said I wasn't going to go crazy with the bulbs again. But come spring I see them and just do go crazy again.

Wow! 4000 already...it's only April! You are well on your way to that 10,000 total! I wish my gardens would be so full of color in the Spring.

The thing is it requires a lot of planning. I have to know where everything I order will go before I get it otherwise none of this would work.

For instance those 150 daffs from the order I did are going in the southside rose garden and I know exactly were. In fact I ordered them presisely for the rose garden because it needs some more daffs.

You are so organized! Do you keep notes regarding where everything will go? Or, do you just keep them all in your mind? Either way, very impressive!

Lots and lots of notes. The notes start with what I see at what company that I want. Eventually an order is placed and I print it out and next to it write where each variety goes. Then when the bulbs arrive before I start planting I sort out the bulbs into garden areas and beds that they go in and that gets a sheet of notes. And I keep all these notes. That way in case I forget where I planted something I have a note that tells me where and what.

It is impressive, indeed.

Hi, Becky.

Rita, I'm speechless. Just speechless. O M G !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!

AND the world needs a WHOLE lot more of your kind. Weird? I think not. Nuts? I think not. Kind? You betcha! Considerate? Absolutely! I believe that a persons soul & heart is reflected in their gardens & if I had not seem your gardens I still would know your kindness & character as you have let slip little things that indicate the depth & manner of your character. Yes, the world needs more people like Rita.

Thank you. I am blushing again!

No need to blush at the truth. You know what I see when I look at your gardens Rita? LOVE. SOOOOOOO much love!!!! The outlet for all the love you have to give manifests in your gardening.

Okay Rita... I've changed my mind. You are perfect, but crazy! But like Ann said, very loving at the same time. I can't even imagine how amazing it's going to look next year!