Sunday's Psalm

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

Saturday's Statement.

Today I will be happier than a Seagull stealing fishbait!

I hope you make the same choice.
Have a great weekend

What's your Dream?

There are  a lot of changes going on here at Sandypetals. This is one of the reasons ( among many) for my blog silence for the past 2 months. My silence really was not intentional, more like  a meditative break. This year, for the first time since my son was born, I have seriously considered the need of a "real" job. I even went so far as to write a resume'. The problem was that I couldn't quite force myself to send any of the resume's off.

After many long talks with others who know me and what I like to do, I have decided to officially open

                                      Arnot's Garden & Arts

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to have a nursery. I have planned it many many times only to delay the dream for different reasons. Having a nursery is the one thing I could do for free for the rest of my life and never think twice about. I have known the truth of that statement for years, but for whatever reasons or excuses I have made, it is time to make my dream become a reality.

This quote by William Johnson has become my mantra lately....

                                          If it is to be... it is up to me! , 

it has become incredibly motivating.  

I won't give up Jewelry designing because that is just too much fun and a gardener needs something to do when it rains. I will also continue my artistic endeavors and some crafting.

In the days ahead, you can expect to see many changes. I hope you like them.

"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."-- 

Thomas Jefferson

Weekly Zentangle Challenge # 26

This week's challenge from Laura Harms at I am the Diva is Spiral Out... and Keep Going. I had lots of fun with this challenge. I couldn't stop making different tangles .  The more I spiraled the more I wanted to spiral all the while adding different patterns and twists and turns. I have done a lot of the past challenges, but never posted them. This week I decided that has to stop. I want to tangle every week.

 Be sure to stop by the Diva's website on Sunday or Monday to see all of the wonderful entries in this week's challenge.
Doodles toYou.

My 15 minutes of Fame

I cannot believe I have missed the past 4 challenges. I have drawn the tiles but somehow never managed to list them. This is my submission for weekly challenge 17 sponsored by Laura Harm AKA Diva.

 I hope to get on a  more organized schedule and get things done on time, but it is spring and flowers are blooming and seedlings are waiting patiently for their new pots and I just want to be "gettin dirty" playing in the garden.

Blooming this week are my irises and a few clematis. Lots of azaleas a few camellias are still strutting their stuff and the coreopsis, ajuga and pink oxalis are really putting on a show.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

See my Bloomers? AkA What's flowering this week

These are all so gorgeous! It could only be better if they were fragrant too............

If you cut it.... Will it grow?

This early part of spring has been just gorgeous in my little garden by the sea. My camellias have really bloomed a lot thanks in no small part to being snowed on twice this year. They are blooming their little hearts out as we "speak".

I love to cut and root things. It is like an obsession for me. I have no more room in my yard, but I still can't quit. Sometimes I trade plants with other botanically obsessed people, sometimes I list a few for sale, but mostly I just grow them because I cannot not do it. I know that is very strange, but it is like when you know you were born to teach, or be a nurse etc. I was just born to root and grow........... ( that is what I tell myself anyway.)

This week since my camellias are blooming I thought I would post about propagating them. The absolute best time of year is July and August, after the new growth has firmed up a little. I have rooted some through the winter, but it does seem to take much longer that way. I guess the winter makes everything seem to take longer.....( really it does though, most plants go dormant or semi-dormant when the temperatures fall into the 40's).

I cut 2 of my camellias the other day because I wanted to take a few pictures of my method. As usual there are zilliions of different methods, but this one works for me.

Camellia Japonica

1) Take a cutting of firm new growth with a growth bud and about 4 or 6 leaf nodes.  Make sure the cutting has a growth bud on the end. 

2). Remove all but 2 leaves and then cut those 2 in half. This will leave the cutting a reason to put out roots ( it has to feed the leaves) and removing much of the excess will reduce the stress on the cutting and lower the moisture loss due to transpiration. 

3) Dip the end in a rooting hormone ( like root tone or fast root or clone-x) and stick in a prepared pot with at least 2 or three of the leaf nodes under the potting media. 

Cover the cutting with a plastic bag, or recycled cut soda bottle ( ie. ghetto greenhouse) this will help to reduce the moisture loss and keep the humidity high enough for the cutting not to be stressed to it's shriveling point.

Set it in a shaded place where you will keep it watered. I have watched my grandmother do this with a mason jar, but I am using plastic soda bottles and fitting them to the top of the flower pot.

Camellia Sasanqua:

This is basically the same method. The biggest difference is that the leaves on the sasanqua are smaller and the sasanqua can tolerate more sun and tend to be fall blooming instead of spring blooming varieties. Sasanquas also have growth buds all along the stem instead of just at the ends like the Japonicas.

Here is the hardest part. Camellias are not in a hurry to grow or root or flower. Rooting can take as much as 6 months to a year and after they root, they still don't hurry to grow. Thankfully they are very long lived shrubs and once established with provide you with gorgeous flowers in early spring when most other things are just beginning to wake up from a long winter's nap.

Happy Growing!

Rooting Sasanqua

Happy St. Patricks Day! I'm doing it AGAIN..................

Happy St. Patricks Day!
                           Wear the Green!

The weather this week has been better than fabulous so yes "I'm doing it again!" I am starting seeds. A while back Samantha G asked me to write a post about my baggie method for seed starting.... Here it is:

I soak the seeds first in hot water. Water about the heat that you would hand wash dishes in is fine. Too hot and it can kill the seeds. I sometimes soak them overnight, but I have also soaked them for just about an hour at the time.  These are cat food cups that I have an abundance of and they only have about 1-1.5 ounces of water in them.

I then fill a cheap  ( from the dollar store)quart sized ziplock baggie. 1/3 full with my seed starting mix. ( usually miracle grow potting soil because it is easiest to come by and it is light weight.)

Then I dump the seeds and the water they are soaking in all into the baggie. I seal it up and label it and then put it in a warm spot and wait...........and wait...........and wait...... ( I am not very patient sometimes.)

Most seeds like temperatures in the low 70's-80's for germination and some like light and others dark. Most of the seeds I am planting will take anywhere from 7 days to 2 months to germinate.
I then check on them at least every couple of days. As long as there is condensation in the baggie, there is enough moisture and humidity for them to do just fine. You don't even have to open the bag. When I use quart sized bags and the seedlings reach the top or have at least 2 pairs of true leaves, I know it is time to take them out and transplant them into pots, or their growing spot. Depending on where you grow them, you may need to harden them off for a few days before planting out in full sun.
This week I have started : coneflowers, rudbeckias, stokesia, jasmines, vines, and tons of other things. When they all come up I may need help getting them planted.
There are many many methods of seed starting, but this one works best for me. Since I have started growing in bags, my germination percentages have increased exponentially.
Good Luck.

If you have a way to start seeds that really works well for you, leave me a comment and let me know. I love to experiment.

"Aww, they're just a couple of boys"

Have you ever noticed how your pets seem to act like  children? I was hit with this little bit of personality today when I picked up my camera. I was headed outside to take photos of some camellia blossoms, but when my dog Spud saw me with the camera, he immediately got excited and put on quite a show. His older brother Titus didn't get so excited, but they must have telepathically communicated to each other," hey stick your tongue out when she clicks.".. I'll show you what I mean.........

Spud ( the instigator)

Titus ( The I will if you will... follower)

These two shots actually remind me of some boys I know. They're good boys, they just ham it up for the camera.

Playing Catch Up

Wow! I truly do not know what happened to the past two weeks. It is almost as if they didn't happen. I have missed both of the last two challenges from Laura, I haven't posted, in fact I haven't done any of the things I had planned. Oh Well, tomorrow is a new week and my todo list starts again. I am working in the studio a bit and making a sterling bangle bracelet with a gorgeous copper rose ( that my very creative husband sculpted) and some very pretty cobalt blue chalcedony earrings. I promise to post pictures as soon as they are complete.
Samantha G sent me a special request for a post about my seed starting method. Samantha, I hope I am not too late, I will write that post for you ASAP.
In the meantime, I will continue to Zentangle/doodle and get back to the challenges and regular postings.
Hello and thank you to all of my followers.

Thought for the week.....
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, 
 for they shall never cease to be amused.


I hope you all have a wonderful Week.

It's Time to start the SEEDS!

Have you thought about how quickly this year is already moving? I know most of the country is blanketed in snow and there seems to be more coming, but here in the fanatical gardeners world, it is time to start the seeds. Even if you have to start them indoors.
Most seeds that you start indoors need to be sown 8-10 weeks before the last frost date for your area. In my little world that was 2 weeks ago, but there is a reason I am behind.  Anyway it is now time to gather your seeds and containers and plant markers and start sowing!
Here are some great ideas I have found for starting them.
Mr.Brownthumb shows you how to make "ghetto greenhouses" with 2 litre bottles ( I have a seemingly endless supply of those) and there is also a great article on Robs page for seed starting.
My favorite method is to start them in a baggie with soil. It works the best for me and takes up a lot less space than the other methods I have found.This week, I am starting Madasgcar Jasmine, fortnight lily, passion flowers and lots of others. My kitchen will be filled with little cat food cups that I soak my seeds in and baggies everywhere! I can hardly wait. But then I am always happier when I am playing in the dirt!  Here are a preview of some things I have planned. Hope you are planning your spring garden too.
Coneflowers Echinacea

Fortnight lily ( dietes iridioides) 

Madagascar Jasmine ( Stephanoitis Floribunda)

Passionflower ( passiflora incarnata)

And Rudbeckia! I just love flowers.

Wednesday's Word

Tuesday's Tangle

Last week I began following Laura's zentangle challenges. I just love drawing these little pieces. They start with no design in mind and each little line just adds into your pattern. I guess I love the spontaneity of drawing something and not knowing what it is going to be.
I read a blog last week that talked about silencing the inner critic. It was a wonderful post and it made me really think about my drawings and when will I be satisfied with them. I wish I could find the post again so that I could link to it for you.
There are so many people doing such gorgeous zendoodles and zentangles that I could spend hours looking at them all. Each one is so different. My biggest problem is I can't stop drawing them. I have become addicted. ( ok, there are worse things I could do. Right?)
This week's challenge was orbs. I had a lot of fun drawing the orbs and no fun at all trying to decide which to post.
Here are  my entries for the Weekly challenge # 5. Orbs

If you haven't tried zentangling yet, Check out this website. I think you will love it.

Been doodling when I should be working!

I can't stand the cold weather and this past week's cold storm and actual snow at the beach has made me lazier than ever. I don't want to work, or cook or do anything I normally do, but boredom and I are not a good combination.
I have recently found zentangling and zendoodling and have become crazy about it. I never thought I could draw anything, but these little pieces don't have to look realistic and you just incorporate any "mistake" you make into the design, so it is right up my alley.


Laura, over at "I am the Diva" posted a weekly challenge, so last night even though I was a couple of days late, I got my pens and paper ready and attempted the challenge. I haven't ever responded to a doodle challenge, so you can't, laugh. PROMISE ? Ok, here they are, I made 2.....

If you haven't tried zentangline check this site out. you will love it. This is also a great place to find patterns.

Enjoy, Hope you don't get hooked on doodling like I did.

Monday's Motivation.... nowhere to be found

Happy New Year Everyone!, I know I am late, it is just that I took off all the days the schools were closed and now I don't want to go back to normal.
Am I the only one fighting it? My Routine really needs to be re-instated, but I just don't seem to have the motivation................

Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday. ~Author Unknown

Hopefully my motivation will return in a little while. There is work to be done, jewelry to be designed, seeds to be sown, and garden plans to be drawn.

Hope you aren't facing the loss of monday's motivation too.

Wednesday's Word

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a wonderfully Merry Christmas many many creative dreams for the New Year. May you be filled with Health and Joy and Happiness.

See You Soon

Are you a Planner, or a Doer?

I couldn't resist this title. It stems from a question I asked myself after a long fun conversation with my sister. She suggested that I get a sketch book and some colored pens and design my jewelry ( and doodles and etc) and keep the designs in a book. My problem is that I don't really plan out ahead of time what I am going to create. For years I designed (home) landscapes and flower beds (on golf courses Like this one at LCC)

and even then I never drew out designs or plans. I always kind of joked that I liked to design on the "fly". (I once even designed her flower boxes ( disclosure-this flower box isn't hers, but I couldn't find my pictures of her boxes)

while she worked all the while never putting pen to paper) . I like to see what I have available and use that to create whatever I am working on. I never know when I sit down to make something, what I am going to actually do. It seems like even when I have a picture or pattern in mind, what I make never looks like what I thought I was going to make.  So I guess my question is:

Do you plan out what you are going to do, or do you let the wire and beads, or paint and brushes, or even flowers and shrubs decide what the end product will be?

If like me, you don't plan anything, do you find it frustrating trying to follow a pattern?
I appreciate all of your answers to last week's question about preferences, and I hope you don't mind more questions... ( I promise this is not a quiz). I just really want to know are there others like me who don't plan, or should I start trying to be a little more methodical.

Wednesday's Word

Which do you like best?

Lately as I have been trying new ideas for jewelry and other creative endeavors I have wondered, What do ya like best?

Silver or Gold

Gemstone or pearl?

Greens, blues, reds, pinks and or yellows and oranges?

And colors? monochrome? or a pallete?
Also 1 more question...
do you prefer things "folky and rustic" or  refined and precise?

Just wondering you know how these inquiring minds can be.............