Quote

Soft moss a downy pillow makes, and green leaves spread a tent,
Where faerie fold may rest and sleep until their night is spent.
The bluebird sings a lullaby, the firefly gives a light,
The twinkling stars are candles bright, Sleep, Faeries all, Goodnight.
---Elizabeth T. Dillingham "A Faery Song"

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Gardening Tazmanian Devil Style

We have our 70s-80s back as of Saturday! I have been all over my garden kicking up dirt and weeds as I went.  I make a goal every spring to do at least one garden chore per day so I can keep on top of things.  So...when God let off the pause button I was ready to rip!  Storms are forecasted for tomorrow and as long as they are not severe I will welcome some showers-- I'm not ready to drag out the hose yet!

Glad these tulips returned, I needed a jolt of orange.

This "obelisk" brought to you by my wonderful brother-in-law Richard. He is an awesome woodworker and brother. (I apologize for being so bratty when you and Barb were dating!) I have been drooling for one of these for years but they are so expensive. I painted it red and planted an orange climbing rose beneath it.


Mom's funky birdbath I inherited.  I didn't want the bother of changing out annuals every year so I opted for green/white hosta in this shady area.  Good call?

I never get tired of photographing my bleeding heart (obviously)  I did manage to create a little vignette with my thrift store angel (thanks Barb), climbing euonymous and native sedum in my iron kettle.

My body told me to cool it for a while so I just sat on my stone walkway and enjoyed the view.  Thank you Lord for all of your beautiful creation and entrusting a slice to me!
  

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Rebirth, Renewal and Rejuvenation

These early spring days have been so welcome after the winter we've had.  Last Sunday the "family" went out for a drive in my (new to me) Geo Tracker.  I always wanted one!  We explored the back roads of the county while enjoying 85 degree weather...no I didn't stutter.  Very warm for March.  I have been smacked back into reality today though it is rainy/stormy/50s outside my window.
I know this rain we're having will continue to make things leap up even more.  I continue to be amazed at how fast things are coming on up and out! I changed the tablescape on our main entry porch a few weeks ago but just now have had time to post the pic. 

Bleeding hearts.  I love these flowers and if you didn't know it, they are easy to propagate from cuttings.  I broke a few accidentally last year so I stuck them in a plastic shoebox with moist potting soil and they rooted in a couple of weeks.  That "plant" was planted in the fall and is now thriving in my woodland garden and has a few blooms on it's tiny branches now.

The spring house facade.  The climbing euonymous had reached the roof peak so I decided to train it over the doorway for the "cottage-y" look I love.  It is so pretty with the chartreuse new growth in spring.   

Long shot of the garden featuring pink charm daffodils and goldmound spirea for contrast.  Gee, I need to turn my birdbath top right-side-up don't I?

The pond is finally cleared of leaves and debris.  Soon the cannas will fill the blank spots.  We also found 2 "residents" besides my 2 goldfish.  Glen was cleaning out some leaves by hand and dragged out 2 very large frogs!  I always joked that I had a frog named Charlie down there because I would hear a splash everytime I walked down the hill.  I guess Charlie has a bride.  What should I name her?

View from the opposite end of the garden.  I was shocked to find that some of my old fashioned white iris had tall bud stalks and fat buds.  Wow, I'm ready to see them again.  So has spring "sprung" where you live yet?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Spring Roll Call!

White Lenten Rose?....."here"


Pink Lenten Rose?... "here"

Sedum?... "here"


Archangel Lamium?..."here"

Crocus?... "here"


Bleeding Heart?... "here"

Daffodil?... "here"

Well, it looks like the early arrivals are here at last.  Let's hear it for the Class of 2011! 

Monday, February 14, 2011

May the Force Be With You... (and Me!)



I thought I'd share my "forced" forsythia branches with you.  Nothing like fooling mother nature a little bit!  She sure has had fun with me this winter..ha.  We are enjoying temps in the 60s this week so the real thing will appear in a couple of weeks.  Till then...may the force be with YOU.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

SNOW LAUGHING MATTER

Well this is round #7 according to the weather-people.  This was only a couple of inches but it has made the roads treacherous to the point I called in work today (which I never do).  Regardless I am continuing to see signs of spring even in the snow which I'll show you in a bit.  I am waiting with "baited breath" for Sunday through next week...50s then 60s!  Now that's what we are used to here in my area in February.  That will be the green light for so many things to grow and bloom.  Here are today's discoveries:
                                                 SUMMER SNOWFLAKE (HOW IRONIC)

NOW ISN'T THIS A CONTRADICTION?

LOOK!  A BUD ON MY DAFFODIL!

WINTER HONEYSUCKLE BLOOMING BRAVELY

I SEE COLOR ON MY LENTEN ROSE!




HEY!  WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
I'm looking forward to March 1.  It's like my oasis in the desert, my checkered flag so to speak, an ending and a beginning.





Saturday, January 29, 2011

Before & After

I am bored today so I turned to my "old" garden photos for comfort.  I started photographing my garden in 2006 and I am so glad I did!  I was really in awe of the transformations that have taken place.  You know as gardeners you are constantly working and adding and editing and the effect just seems to creep up slowly over years.  In other words, you don't realize how far the garden has come until you reflect on those first images.  I thought it would be fun to share a few with you.
 This is 2007....

This is 2010....

This is 2007...

This is 2010...

This is 2007...

In 2010...

And another from 2010... 

In 2007... 

In 2010...

In 2007...

In 2010...
and more 2010...


In 2008...

In 2010...
I sure am inspired to continue this journey now.  This garden is entering it's 5th growing season for 2011.  I am often so envious of those 10+ year old gardens featured in all the magazines.  I have to stop to realize though, that a gardener's quest for perfection is never truly realized.  All we can hope for is that "snapshot" in time, when the garden echoes the vision we have imagined.