Full Bloom

My clematis is in bloom. I'm always amazed at how it improves every year. It grows on the skinniest little vine. I never think it will live from year to year and yet it does.

Lily of the Valley

When I was out working in my garden yesterday I noticed that my Lily of the Valley plants finally had enough blooms on them to be able to pick some to put in a vase. Everyone says they spread like wildfire, but for some reason where I planted them it has been very slow growing. But this year they finally seemed to take off. I just love those sweet little white bells dangling on the stems.

xo

jeanne

Freshly Picked Lilacs

One of my favorite flowers are lilacs. These are from one of the lilac bushes in my backyard. I love the gorgeous color, the heavenly scent and the delicate flower-clusters on every branch. Spring is my favorite time in the garden. It's when all the surprises that my DH planted over the years burst forth and show themselves. It's funny how every year the same plants bloom and yet I get so excited by them as if I were seeing them for the first time. I consider these as little gifts from my husband that keep on giving year after year. 

xoxo

jeanne

Happy Monday!

I didn't plant many flowers this year. Landscaping and gardening was my DH's domain. I did plant a few annuals in hopes of having a pop of color in the front yard, but they didn't grow with the same vigor and beauty as they did when he planted them. Of course a summer that began with dry, hot temperatures which has now transformed into a cool, wet one certainly hasn't helped the flora in my backyard thrive. The cherry tomato plant, which I carefully transported back and forth from the cottage, still doesn't have a single tomato on it! However, I was delighted to see this small stand of Rudbeckia which my DH planted years ago poke their sunny yellow flower heads out from behind some mystery perennial. :)

Day 15 of Natalea's August Photo Challenge is "One of Your Collections." It was difficult to decide which of my many collections I should photograph. Eventually after much deliberation, I decided upon this collection of hand-carved folk art bunnies. I used to go to a very nice craft show held each year in my town and always bought one of these adorable pieces made by artist Sue Parsons. (Sorry, I couldn't find a link for her)

Love them!

Photo Challenge - Day 25

"Growing"

My cherry tomato plant has really taken off in the past couple of weeks. Still no tomatoes, but I feel it won't be long now. Below is how this plant started out earlier this summer when I first planted the seeds. You've come a long way baby!

Wildflower Update

Remember the picture (2nd one down) from this post? Well, things have progressed in the wildflower garden up at the cottage and it's looking a lot nicer these days than it did back then.

Bunches of Daisies. . .

Lupines (I think). . .

and several colors of Phlox.

Even more varieties have popped up since I took these photos. Enough so, that I picked some to

put into a vase and enjoy inside!

Weekend Work

I thought planting wildflowers up at the cottage was going to be a low maintenance type of gardening. Seventeen wheelbarrows full of dead stalks and debris later, it's hard to believe that this picture from last year. . . . .

. . . .can turn into this the following year.

Never fear though. I finished cleaning it all up and hauling the debris away. And I'm planting additional wildflower seeds tomorrow and hoping for a pretty view again in a month or so. My DH used to refer to this kind of work at the cottage as a "different kind of work." I suppose that was because it was work done in a pretty get-away type of location. For me though, work is work no matter where it is done!

Farewell Summer

On this last day of summer (sigh) I thought I would share some photos of the rose garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden which I took during a visit there this past weekend. I was surprised to see how many blossoms were left.

This and That

I love how my new crop of flat leaf parsley is growing. The first batch, shown here with other herbs, didn't make it earlier this year so I'm giving it a second try. I hope I can keep this batch alive!
Yesterday I had a nice long telephone chat with a long time friend from my college days. So much has happened in both of our families this summer that it was nice to finally have time to catch up. We're planning to continue our conversation when we meet for breakfast later in the month.

This is what I've been working on this week. Sorry, but this is all I can show you for now. I'll be sure to share the final project when the time is right.