Today's Joy: Quality Time at the Flea Market.
Reader, my favorite thing to do with Mom is hit the monthly flea market. There's nothing quite like bonding over a bargain. We went early this morning and made a beeline for the plant vendors. They had the most beautiful begonias, ranunculus and clematis! I had to snap a few shots to share (see below)! Today's finds included fab hanging baskets of geraniums for $12, wee pots of gerbera daisies (my favorite summer flower) for $2.50 and a Duchess English bone china cup & saucer set featuring Cattleya Orchids for $5.

If you haven't been to a flea market, you gotta do it--they're a hoot! For those in the IL area, check out the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles. It's a long-standing area tradition. If you happen to get there this June, check out the hippy-ish guy under the livestock pavilion. He has the best deal on 800-1200 thread count sheets--2 for $25. He's also got groovy scarves: 3 for $10 (and they're labeled exactly that). Sweet-talk him & he might strum you a tune on his acoustic guitar...

Photos: Pink Flower; Yellow Ranunculus Bud; Clematis; Begonias; Purple Something-or-other; Yellow Ranunculus; Clematis, Kane County Flea Market, May, 2010.

Today's Joy: Spring at Platt Hill Nursery.
Good evening, Reader. Did you have a lovely Sunday? If you happened to be perusing green things at the Platt Hill Nursery in Carpentersville, IL this afternoon, you might have seen me milling about with my camera. Platt Hill is my favorite garden center to visit. They have an extensive selection of plants as well as the most creative assortment of garden accessories and gifts I've ever seen. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. There were so many wonderful flowers already in bloom in the greenhouse! Ranunculus, pansies, begonias, hydrangea and many more. I snapped a few to share with you.

Ah, doesn't that make you itch to get out and plant something? Let the gardening commence!

Today's Joy: Spring is coming!
Few things are as slow & dull as a Monday morning, Reader. So, let's think up a few reasons why today is better than the average Monday.

It's March 1st--winter is on the wane! The suffocating layers of snow are finally starting to melt. I never thought I'd be so glad to see soggy dirt in my life!

The Midwest garden centers are beginning to show signs of life, with calla lilies & the first vibrant begonias arriving in-store.

Everywhere I go these days, hopeful ears are listening for the sound of cardinals, returning Canada geese and that most-welcome herald of spring: the robin.

Kleins, our local farm stand, has the telltale phrase on their roadside sign: Seeding Has Begun. I can't wait to buy several flats of their ruffly Pirouette Petunias this year. They are gorgeous!

Yep, I think that might just be enough to make this Monday better than the average. Hope you find a little time today for spring-thinking, Reader. If you hear a robin, let me know.

Photo: Robin Chick, Wisconsin 2008.