Today was such a beautiful day that I decided to visit my local nursery to get some plants for a project I had been thinking about for a while. Back in our patio building days, our old wheelbarrow broke. Like the tire completely exploded. It sounded like a gunshot. Mike mentioned at the time that it might make a cool planter. Fast forward to today. I finally got around to moving it to where I wanted (this perfect bare spot of concrete in our front yard) and decided on the plants I wanted to grow in it. I headed down to the Ridge Road Garden Center – if you’re in the general area and need plants, this is the place to go. Salye (the manager) is absolutely amazing – she knows the customers by name, is incredibly knowledgeable about plants, and is always willing to give advice. Plus, she has a great golden retriever named Gunner who runs around the nursery.

I decided that I wanted a succulent garden – something that tolerated the sun/heat well and that the deer would leave alone (fingers crossed – I’ve learned the hard way that absolutely nothing is “deer proof”).

Of course, I can never make it out of the garden center without buying more than I went in for. I was inspired by Mike’s aunt and uncle in Oregon – they have a beautiful sun room that is full of amazing live plants. I have a couple of houseplants that I’ve been growing for a while, but nothing substantial. The first one I got was the corn plant (Dracaena Fragrans), so named because it’s leaves resemble the leaves on corn stalks.

The second is the money tree (Pachira aquatica), complete with braided trunk. I just love having something green and alive in our house! This one is in our bedroom – I’m not sure I love where I put it, so I might move it around.

I absolutely love gardening. I was talking with Salye today and we were both wishing it was spring and could plant more! I had to restrain myself and remember that if I planted too much outside it would all die! There’s something so rewarding about turning the soil, planting something, and watching it grow! I suppose I’ll have to stick with houseplants until spring comes!