Once again, my good friend Jan, who gave me those lovely green birds, also gifted me with this vintage galvanized tub. Since I already had one that I had bought at a flea market, I decided to drill holes in the bottom of this one and turn it into a planter. I wanted to pot it up with something that would survive the winter and … Continue reading container planting
This week’s bouquet is, of course, peonies. What else is more magnificent at this time of year than peonies? I have a love/dislike relationship with peonies. What I mean is, what’s not to love? They are the essence of beauty. But, on the other hand, I have little patience with flowers that cannot hold themselves upright, even with support. And, I think the other biggest … Continue reading this week’s bouquet
I was looking to find a few larger pots for my yard and deck, and I didn’t want to pay top dollar for them. I was hoping to find something made from a composite material so it would be lighter, and so that I could leave it outside year round without worry of damage from freezing and thawing weather. It also didn’t matter so much … Continue reading painting pots
Lakeside is a Methodist run Chautauqua on the shores of Lake Erie. There is no place quite like Lakeside, Ohio. It is like stepping back in time to a more simple and quiet lifestyle. Many of the homes and cottages are Victorian style and are over 100 years old. In the summer months, porch living is a way of life here. Many interiors also harken … Continue reading a lakeside weekend
Simple is this week’s bouquet. Simple, sweet, and so easy. These are simply cuttings from a hanging basket with a single begonia plant in it. This is an area I created behind the fence in my back garden with a wrought iron table and chair, where I like to sit when I need a garden break. It’s quiet, peaceful, and most importantly shady. This basket … Continue reading this week’s bouquet
It’s Saturday, the weekend, and time for six garden related items. 1 | A happy and very tall yellow flower most likely from the sunflower family. I originally dug up 8 stalks of this flower from the corn field across the street of my parent’s home many years ago. They had taken over a huge part of the edges of the field and were corn … Continue reading six on saturday
This week’s bouquet comes from the large patches of perennial ageratum that have happily spread themselves around both the front and back gardens. I don’t really ever remember planting them, and they have never done very well, but this year, they are everywhere. A bit of a thug, but because they provide such abundant blooms and color in late August, they are most welcome here. … Continue reading this week’s bouquet
I thought I’d give you an overall of my backyard. This is a view from my deck. I’m one of a few houses on our street where we all have deep front yards and deep back yards. Because it is a neighborhood built during World War II, the trees are very established and stately. I put in these picket fences at least 25 years ago … Continue reading my backyard
Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ is truly the king of my hosta collection. There is nothing too special about its plain green leaves, but “wow”, does it put on a show in August, when not much else is blooming in the shade garden. I probably have at least ten different varieties of hostas, if not more, but this one is my favorite. This is one of those … Continue reading hosta ‘ royal standard’
While deleting photos, I came across these pics of what I call “Lilac Row”. It’s a small sliver of garden between the raised vegetable beds and the row of lilac bushes I planted three summers ago along the fence line to create a privacy barrier. These pics are from when the garden was at its peak back in early July. The pink Yarrow Achillea ‘Little … Continue reading lilac row garden
in my spare time 