Exclusively delicious

Italian Gelato

Imported and hand made in Italy.

My friend Barbara wrote about this heavenly Gelato last week.

Immediately, I had to see if I could find it in our area.  Wonders of all wonders, it was only 120 miles away.  And friends were coming to dinner who would bring it.  

This is Vaniglia del Madagascar.  It is simply divine.  

For desert we had Affogato all' Amarena, Vanilla Gelato with cherry sauce and sweet cherries on top.  Not only was it out of this world but when you open it,  swirls of cherry sauce and sweet cherries are artistically placed on top.  

Barbara likes Bacio, chocolate hazelnut which tastes exactly like the Perugia Baci chocolates. 
Other flavors are Pistachio, Capuccino, Panna Cotta, Fragola, Tiramisu, about $5 for a pint. 

 I have tasted 3 different varieties 

For breakfast, lunch and dinner, one better than the other.  

Hope you can find some in your area. 

Gina 

Joining http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Wishing you a happy day

on this very special day. Mother's Day!

My first day outside.  Where is my Mother?

I'm only 3 days old.  All this green is well and good, but.....

There she is.  She's keeping an eye on me. 

It's never too early to show them who's boss.

That's right.  You're not my Mother. 

All this excitement deserves a nap.

I can take a nap.  My Mother is watching over me. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms.

Gina 

It's a Jungle in there.

In my Greenhouse.

It's too early to take the Geraniums outside.  

Nasturtiums are even more tender.  They have provided me with lots of flowers during the winter months.  Don't want to lose them now. 

New Lemons are growing on my Tree.  I hand pollinated the blossoms.  My greenhouse is filled with their intoxicating perfume.  

This petunia doesn't know what color it wants to be.

Pear blossoms are beginning to show.

My show is only 2 weeks away.  I will be painting every day. 



Have a wonderful weekend my dear 
Blogging Friends. 

Gina 

Last Minute present

For Mother's Day

Vintage Lace Handkerchiefs.

in my Etsy shop.

In their own little cotton gift bags.

Reduced from  $35 to $28.

Forgotten patterns of hand made Lace.

Only 6 left in my Etsy shop.

Reminders of gentler times. 

Happy Mother's Day my dear 

Blogging Friends.

Gina 

Large and small

Painting ceramics in miniature.

One of my regular sized dinner plates and two tiny plates measuring only 1.5 inches.   

Dinner plate, from a set of 12,  I painted for a client. 

See the marble rim, very tedious to paint but not nearly as tedious as the two small plates. 

  

And outside?

 The Daffodils are still going strong. 

Cool weather has made them last longer.

Trees are still bare.

Temporary fence keeps the ducks and geese from nibbling on them.  
When will they learn that Daffodils are poisonous?  

What are you up to this week my dear  

Blogging Friends?

Gina

Joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Also joining  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/05/

What's in a Name

A Daffodil by any other name is still a Daffodil

All Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus.

In some areas Daffodils are  known as Jonquils.

Narcissus Jonquilla, from the Greek. 

Narcissus, was smitten by his own reflection in a pool of water,

and after dying of unrequited love, the gods turned him into a flower as beautiful as he had been. 

If there were no Daffodils, winter would be much too long.  

Once planted,  Daffodils should not be divided and their foliage not cut until the leaves turn yellow (mid June to early July).  They need full sunlight to supply them with enough energy for next year's display.  

In a vase do not mix Daffodils with other flowers. 

Chemicals in their sap prevent other flowers from taking up water. 

 A Fall application of slow release potassium-rich fertilizer
(10:10:20) will do wonders.  

Most animals will not bother them,  Daffodils are poisonous.  

Have a great weekend my dear 

Blogging Friends.

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits.  

Gina 

Joining  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/
Also joining  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
And joining  http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.se/

I bet you didn't know

That you can talk to Begonias.

The Tuberous kind of Begonia.

All of the leaves are pointing in one direction.  The flowers will only come from that direction.  Handy to know if you place your pots along walls or into window boxes.

If you turn your begonia it will develop leaves toward the light.  As in this pot where leaves point in all directions. Flowers will grow from the center out and into all directions. 

My Begonias have been growing in the same pot and the same soil for many years.  They go dormant in the winter .  Before a heavy frost I take them inside and let them rest in a dark place.  About the middle of April I will notice new growth.  It is then that I start watering and feeding them. 

Have you tried growing Tuberous Begonias?

There are so many varieties and 
they all make a big show. 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear 
Blogging Friends.

Gina