The Earth Laughs in Flowers

I may have mentioned this before…

and most likely will do so again,

….and again.

I love this time of year!

I wait all winter for my garden to awaken. 

It is a treat well worth waiting for.

A few moments in the garden bring me a sense of peace in a crazy daisy world.

I start my day with a hot, fresh brewed cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other.

So I can share…

The robins are here, bright and early, snitching strawberries. 

Strawberries I have let roam as ground cover wherever they please. 

They are tucked beneath roses, along walkways and hidden beneath over grown perennials.

They are a treat and I set my camera down to pick a few.

I actually do get some, even if the robins are making a feast of them.

I could be irritated that I lose most of the berries to the birds, but they are so comical as they wrestle with a berry that is nearly as big as their own heads….

…it makes me smile instead of annoyed.

Bumblebees are perched on blooms. 

Still and silent.

 

The morning mountain air is still too chilly for them. 

They wait patiently for the suns warming rays to come over the trees.

I can’t say that I blame them…

40 degrees in June is just too cold. 

Even at night.

Warmer days and nights shall come…

 

At least that is what I tell myself as a shiver runs over me.  Brrr. 

How is your weather?

Are you sweltering as we still sweater up?

I will look at the bright side…

at least it isn’t SNOWING!

Time to head to the studio and paint my day away…

I wish you sunshine and warm temps on this fine day. 

My Wish List.

Ooohh la la…winter solstice is here.  Which means the longer days return and it is time to start planning next years garden, do my winter sowing of some annuals and perennial seeds and pick out the roses I wish to order.

 This week has been sunny and bright.  The skiers are not happy, no real snow to speak of and that hurts the economy in our resort town so in that light it is sad but I am still enjoying it. 

I have painted on more signs this week but in the evening I have been crocheting on a few different projects and picking out roses.

I lost several roses 2 years back in an early hard freeze and I am going to start replacing them.

Albertine (antique climbing rose)

It used to grow up on my porch.  It blooms early but only once, it is covered for several weeks. 



I will plant another pink climber with it to fill in when this one is done.  Planted and vining together it will look like one and bloom all summer long.  I have a couple choices I am considering, one is called Collette and another is the Peggy rose. 
Most of the roses I lost in that freeze were David Austin English roses, I had collected several over the years and they did fabulous here. 

One of my favorites was Jubilee Celebration..it gave me bouquets all summer.  This spray was on a single stem.



A newer variety I am eyeing is the Princess Alexandria, it is very hardy and an excellent bloomer. 



I have never had a white one and I just fell in love this one.  Susan Williams-Ellis.



A great red that I must get again..it looks more purple here but it really is a great red.  William Shakespeare 2000



This one is called Hyde Hall, I had them growing along my back garden wall and it grew to nearly 6 feet the second year, it made a great hedge and bloomed non-stop all summer long. 



This is just a start to my list and it may take a few years to replace what I lost but it will be fun.  I hope you enjoy my garden dreams. 

Here are a couple of the signs I have been working on.





I hope to get to start building my painting table next week, we shall see.
Enjoy your weekend, we sure will.  We have special plans!

August in full bloom!

July flew by in a whirlwind.  This time of year always flits past me at the speed of light, or so it seems.  Mostly because it is my favorite time of year, there is always something new in my garden to enjoy.  I almost never get a full day to just spend in the garden, I only get to work in it a bit each morning and sometimes in the evening so it is never the neat and tidy affair but I love it none the less. It reflects my life, a little chaotic but it sure is colorful!

Here is a shot of my front garden…full of black eyed susies, daisies, English delphiniums, lilies, cranesbill geraniums, roses and hollyhocks. 



One thing I do love is when flowers cross pollenate then create their own unique variety.  This is a cross of lavender and a purple/blue larkspur.  I love surprises.



The proud parents.



My Princess Margareta roses are starting to really put on their show.   Such a peachy color!



My leopard lilies. 



And my fragrant trumpet lilies, these will perfume half the neighborhood once they open fully. 



This is an Asiatic lily that is a self cross of two varieties.  Before I got the Asiatic Lilies I did not know that they will readily self propagate by seeds.  I have dug up and moved tons of these.



Some consider this a weed as it grows along roadsides and will self sow but I love the pop of bright fuchsia in my garden.  This is Rose Campion, some folks mistake it for Lambs Ear because of the fuzzy leaves…



This is the flower of the lambs ear, it is quite different.



  Below is one of my English Delphiniums. They are starting to flop over so I need to stake them. 



I have a ton of Milky Way morning glories that have come up between my tomato plants, the birds must’ve spread the seeds last Fall for me. 



Close up of the flower..



I finished a few signs this past week, here is a set ordered for a Christmas gift.  A very smart Grandma, getting a jump on her holiday shopping.





Here is the progress shot of one of my painted chairs, it is at a point where I am doubting whether or not I am going to like it, that happens a lot to me in the middle of a project.  But I force my way thru the ugly and when it is done I usually like it, though I am definitely changing the painting on the back rest, I don’t like the lay out.  The seat is okay.  This is just the base painting, the white blobs will be lovely roses soon. 



I don’t know if I will get to finish them this coming week.  I have quite a few special orders signs to complete and ship out and we are going on a weekend trip. With leaving Thursday my week is shortened considerably.   

Another lovely day is winding down.  We have had a fabulous couple of days with the high temp being barely in the 80’s with the sweetest cool breeze.  Made for a great time this afternoon potting up Japanese Maple trees I had started from seed, as well as some English Delphiniums and a couple roses, one I had started from a cutting and the other was a gift from my mom, I have wanted an Eden rose for the longest time and she found one for me.  I dug up some Black Eyed susies for a gardening friend as well. 

I had to get out and work off a fabulous lunch of a big ol’ bacon burger and fries at Just Delicious café.  It was so tasty, I have not had a good burger in a very long time.  Good evening to one and all…until we meet again. Ta