Choice Morsels

I noticed this morning two Azalea bushes out front have died and I thought, "Yay, I can plant something else now! Something that doesn't need hedging all the time!" (I'm thinking Hydrangeas.) The yellow Daffs out front are the only ones out. The Hyacinths are still on their way up and the Cheers Daffodils in back are still just buds. But I do have Shamrocks! These are in the Hosta bed on the north edge of the house. They've been actually blooming since autumn, quite happily. I transplanted several there last spring,  so they could eventually fill the Hosta bed and give it color during winter. A wonderful ground cover, but they do spread!

It's been warmish here in Florida most of December and I hadn't checked my Broccoli for a couple and days and when I went out to pick some I discovered...cabbage worms! Quick treatment with Sevin dust. I  had to wash the assortment of broccoli side shoots carefully. Here's a trick: add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl, fill it with water and drop your potentially pest-infested veggies in! Salt water kills them. Many will fall off and sink. Still--both Hubby and I inspected those little heads very thoroughly. before I cooked them.  Some of the buggers didn't fall off into the water. Really, the thing I like about winter gardening is it's usually too chilly for pests. Thank goodness a cold front is coming soon! Today's Garden Pic is a really lovely late afternoon winter shot of a few"lucky" pink Shamrock blossoms peeking up around a blue-green Hen! Stop back tomorrow to see what's up for Mama Kat!