pretty bird...

A little bit of sunshine, on a cloudy day! This little cutie greeted me outside my window this morning. You can click on the picture to enlarge it!

temptation...

We made a belated birthday gift for Grandpa this weekend. A stepping stone for the garden. Each of the kids added a painted handprint to it. Sofia was in her artistic heaven when we okayed her to put her hand into the plate of pink paint. As she looks at the leftover paint on her hand, you can almost see the wheels turning in her head -- hmmm... But, we hurried her over to the sink to wash off the temptation. Oh, well... she'll have to wait until we make the next requested stepping stone -- for grandma!

peonies...

I hope you like my new header!

(this was the header for May: )

You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

I am was very excited about my peonies. We added this plant to the garden last year, but it did not do well then at all. It is making up for lost time this year. I have had 5 or 6 blooms on it, and they are gorgeous!

My lovely neighbor was kind enough to share some of her peonies with me also -- here they are:

So at this that moment, I am was surrounded by "the lovely"! :-)

the sunnyside of the porch...

Now who says hostas don't like the sun? This is an (old) hosta plant transplanted to our garden from my father's garden. It is over 3 feet wide and about 3 feet in height. It has full sun from about 11 a.m. until sunset. I would feel safe to say that it likes where it lives!

morning dew...

What a lovely dewy morning...

Happy Friday!

what'cher doin' ?..

happy ending...


Remember the weekend project we did awhile back? I'm very happy with the result. I have been sadly looking at the stained cement foundation beneath the bay windows for 2 years -- and now I can look at the pretty new lattice that matches what is under the porch area. Now it looks finished to me. We also rearranged the plants in the shade garden to give it more balance, and planted some annuals for color. I will post a new picture when the plants fill in.

and, just beginning...



So, here's a new and easy project -- no, not Miss Camouflage outfit :-) I'm going to strip the paint off of the antique frame surrounding the mirror. The mirror is antique also, but I don't think it is original to the frame. I am also painting the antique metal garden chairs.

Happy, happy!

love is in the garden...

Here is a picture of the thyme planted in our shade garden. If you follow the outline of the plant, it resembles a heart shape. I didn't shape it -- this is the way it grew all by itself!

Happy Mother's Day! :-)

SUN...!

Finally! I believe it has rained every day since my last post. This morning, we were greeted with this beautiful sight! Hurray!

Even the perplexing "almost dead" tree is sparkling this morning. I am truly sad about this tree. It is our third springtime in this house and this tree is part of our brief history here.

Since we moved here, I have been diligent in caring for our curb trees and the trees in the conservation area directly across the street from our house. I cannot figure out why the "others" -- which are and have not been within my personal repertoire of trees :-) -- trees which received no care for the past 3 years -- are green and lush right now. Yet, this one did not make it. Any advice from the tree experts out there?

Happy May Day!

Spring has sprung all around us! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and it is raining, raining, raining. As per a special request (and you know who you are) I have changed the title picture accordingly. And, because I have just figured out how to use some of the settings on my camera (which I have owned for 3 years...I know I am not alone here!) I am happy to share some of the lovely things going on in the garden right now.



pretty...


bizarre...


interesting...


makes me smile!