Retire in Style with Lolita

My gardening affair with succulents started five years ago. I planted them around trees, along borders, all sorts of containers including teacups, teapots, toy trucks and all shapes of containers. My all time "all purpose" ever present succulents are hens and chicks or Sempervivium which means forever/ always alive. They are prolific and so easy to use in planter arrangements. I have them indoors and outdoors I have successess and disasters with succulents. I learned to pay attention to advise from my favourite gardener. Some succulents are not winter hardy. They have to be taken indoors before the first frost starts. My current favourite are the Aeoniums. They are pretty but pricey and not winter hardy. Now I have learned how easy to propagate and care for them.

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Along with hummingbirds and white butterflies, Mary and the angels keep me company in the garden.

I started collecting succulents three years ago. I have planted them outdoors on the ground, in containers and even indoors in teacups and teapots! I am not an expert in succulents. I cannot even remember their names and I don't care. I buy what appeals to me. They are easy to care for. Low maintenance indeed! Currently I have them in containers and it is a joy watching them grow and have chicks and rosettes. In this hot and dry summer my succulents continue to thrive because they need very little water. This year I added several Echeverrias in my collection. My friendly gardener at the greenhouse that I get them from cautioned me to protect them through the winter. Our winters are rainy and we do have some snow and cold spells occasionally. He who plants a garden plants happiness. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, plant a garden. – Chinese Proverb

We enjoyed the beautiful spring flowers, Ikebana displays, Japanese food and Yukata dressing.

On Easter Sunday we went to the Tulip of the Valley festival in Agassiz, BC. The spectacular rows of tulips took my breath away.

Had a brief walk-about the garden this morning. So pleased to find five buds on my Japanese Peony Tree. This plant was about a year old when I first got it. After a year in its current container it gave me a beautiful large pink bloom. And now I look forward with excitement to five peony blooms. I planted two small Bleeding Hearts late last Spring. What a joy to find them back and blooming this early ! My old reliables: Hens and Chicks. I will plant some more varieties of succulents this year. Two year old Honeyberries with a few yellow flowers. Lets see how many berries we get this year.

Even in retirement, I never stopped caring for my hair. Another picture slideshow by Smilebox

During our week in Honolulu we visited the Royal Hawaiian Center to shop, to eat and participate in the free Hula lessons offered at the Royal Grove. There were many cultural programming offered free of charge for both visitors and residents. Hula dancing, Lei making, learning to play the Ukelele, etc. At The Royal Grove, a lush garden at the heart of Royal Hawaiian Center, is a bronze statue of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha. She has a very interesting life history mostly centered on her generosity. ...." born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a philanthropist and aliʻi. At her death, her estate was the largest private landownership in the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, comprising approximately 9% of Hawaii's total area. The revenues from these lands are used to operate the Kamehameha Schools, which were established in 1887 according to Pauahi's will. Pauahi was married to businessman and philanthropist Charles Reed Bishop...." ...