Liebster Blog Award

• I  received the Liebster Blog Award from from M J Joachim.  Thanks, MJ!  I've done this one on both this blog and my other blog, but I'll answer the questions.  If any of you would like this award, please feel free to take it.  The rules are, answer these 11 questions, and then tag 11 other bloggers with under 200 followers.  You can also come up with 11 other questions for them to answer, if you'd like.

• Fried or scrambled? I am not talking about your brain after a very long day here! Scrambled.  And yes, that's just like my brain!
• Silently passionate or passionately silent? You know there’s a difference. Use your creative writing skills to expand on it.  Silently passionate.  I don't always talk about my passions, but my actions reflect my attitudes toward things that are important to me. 
• Given these 3 ingredients (flour, water, salt), what would you make? Bread is not an option here.  Playdough.  My kids still love playing with the stuff.
• If X + Y = Z, why doesn’t Z – X =Y? This can't be mathematical.  It has to be philosophical, because if X +Y=Z, then Z-X =Y.  Unless I'm just stupid.  Which may be the case, because something definitely weird happened to my brain after I had kids!  Any thoughts on this one?  
• Hot or cold? Think chocolate! Think chocolate! Okay, I can get my head around this one.  I like cold, dark chocolate! 
• Darts or ping pong? Ping pong.  I'm afraid I'd hurt myself with darts! 
• Mugs or cups & saucers? Mugs. Cups are too small!
• Home-cooked, take out or restaurant dining? Home cooked.  At least I know what I'm eating, and the portions aren't too big.
• Seashore or mountains? This is a tough one.  Maybe the seashore, because I love the sound of water.
• Rocks or thorns? Rocks. I can decorate with them. Thorns are just a problem no matter which way you look at them.

 

Here's the badge.  If you want it, please feel free to take it.  Also, please be sure to visit M J. Joachim!




And now for a special plant feature:  Snowdrops. 

Snowdrops are lovely plants that bloom in early spring. They can be found growing naturally in Washington, Utah, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, the New England states, and North Carolina.

The snowdrop, or Galanthus (Greek gala means "milk" and anthos means "flower"), is a small plant that grows to only about six inches in height. The shape of the white snowdrop flower looks like a bell.

In gardening, snowdrops can be used to form impressive white carpets where they have been naturalized.


Just be sure not to let kids or animals eat the bulbs of the snowdrop plant. This little beauty can pack a serious punch that involves a lot of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea!

Stowe Landscape Gardens

Stowe Landscape Gardens, located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, is a spectacular place to visit.  It covers 750 acres, and includes 40  historic monuments and temples, as well as beautiful lakes and an endless variety of walks and trails.

It was created in the year 1710 by Charles Bridgeman, and has been a source of inspiration for poets and writers through the ages. 



The gardens are open year round.  In March to early November, the hours are Wednesday - Sunday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM.  From mid November to the end of February, the hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  Admission is 5.90 British pounds for adults and 3.00 British pounds for children.

Dahlia Hill

If you like dahlias, Dahlia Hill in Midland, Michigan is a place you should visit.  It contains 3,000 dahlia plants (250 varieties) grown on a series of eight stone terraces.  The garden was begun by artist, Charles Breed after his daughter gave her mother a couple of dahlia plants for Mother's Day.

In addition to the beautiful dahlias, visitors will also see sculptures by Mr. Breed and have an opportunity to visit his studio and museum.

The peak season to visit is August through October, but during the last two weekends in May, you can buy dahlia tubers for $2.00 each.

The garden is open from dawn to dusk.  Admission is free.  

Stagshaw Garden

Stagshaw Garden, located in Ambleside, Cumbria, England, is a lovely eight acre woodland garden on a steep hillside that overlooks Lake Windemere.  It is known for its collection of flowering shrubs, including rhodedendrons and azaleas.  There are also a few small waterfalls.  It's really a nice place to visit.



The garden is open daily, April to June from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.  From July to October, it is open by appointment only.  Admission is 2.50 British pounds.

Liberty Hall Historic Site and Gardens

Liberty Hall Historic Site and Gardens is located in Frankfort, Kentucky.  The gardens cover nearly three acres and are on the grounds of a Federalist-style mansion.  (There are a lot of these types of mansions in Kentucky!)

It features the largest formal boxwood garden in Kentucky.  It also has many beautiful perennial and annual borders, and a large variety of roses.

The house is currently closed to the public, but it will reopen on March 15, 2013.  The gardens are free and open to the public from dawn to dusk.  Tour prices to view the house will be $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. 

RHS Wisley Garden

 

The Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Garden is a 240 acre garden located in Woking, Surrey, England.  It's the place where gardeners go to get inspired.  It includes model gardens for different kinds of homes, rose gardens, a glass house with tropical plants, and a demonstration garden full of design ideas and cultivation techniques.

    

The garden is open year-round, Monday -Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Admission for adults is 11.85 British pounds, and 5.10 British pounds for children.




Before I go, I'd like to thank M.J. Joachim for bestowing the Premio Cutie Pie blog award on this blog!  I'm supposed to nominate five other cute and fabulous bloggers for the award.  So here they are:

1. Zantippy Skiphop
2.  Joanne
3.  Sangita Kalarickal
4. Nikki
5. Belle

Be sure to stop by and visit them!

Hunt-Morgan House

 

The Hunt-Morgan House and gardens, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is a Federalist-style house that was built in 1814 by John Wesley Hunt.  It is reminiscent of the days when Lexington was known for its affluent lifestyle.  Today, it serves as a Civil War museum.

After you tour the museum, you can visit the small, but lovely garden which features hydrangeas and a gazebo. It is often used as the setting for wedding pictures.  In fact, the entire facility can be rented for weddings.

The museum is open from March 1 through mid December.  Tours are offered Wednesday - Friday and Sunday from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM each hour.  On Saturday,tours are from 10:00 - 3:00 PM.  There is a small admission fee.