Patriotic Hosta

Big Hosta divided.

Did this actually on Memorial Day Weekend last year! 
But just getting to post about it now.

When working on the front garden beds remember the big hot mess it was?
Trying to tidy it up and make room for the catmint, 
had me needing to work something out.

Well, I worked it and removed a huge hosta, I think it's called Patriotic Hosta.

I divided it into 7 pieces.

Yup that's right!

I got 7 new hostas to grow from one!

Yippee, nothing like free plants, eh?

The Return and Bloom Day Combined

One nice thing of returning after a trip, 

is that sometimes something you have been waiting for, happens.

Our sweet hummingbirds have returned. There are three of them, two girls again and one boy who are frequenting the feeders. This year they are doing something new...

It is so sweet they are resting not up in the oak tree, but in the blooming azalea.

Here are a couple of pics.

They are so sweet and the colors of the azaleas this year are so vivid, after this long...long winter.

They do make me smile.

Share the Day

20 Orthodox Crafts for Lent and Other Times

With Holy Week approaching here are ways to help our littles.  Looking for a fun craft to add to your church school lesson or perhaps a Lenten retreat or just someway to reinforce the lessons of the season at home? You are not going to believe this post! I gathered my favorite Orthodox crafts, all one place, to make it easier to pick.

  Whoo hoo, let the fun begin!!

If you like what you see and wish to pin it, please be courteous and take from the source post, give credit to these incredible people who inspire us. Photo heavy post after the jump.

Dreaming of a Green Spring

Think of the title set to I'm dreaming of a White Christmas and you will get mood for the day.

Just because the snow is thick outside, a girl can't help dreaming about the garden underneath it.

It's not too early to start planning and actually in about 8 weeks we need to get the seeds started.
I'm starting to think about other than beauty in my garden, some more herbal pursuits.
Any favorites I should consider this year?

What about your pursuits?

Have you started planning your garden?

What are you dreaming about?

Share the Day

Thinking about Window boxes...Christmas

You know how I feel about my window boxes. I have been intensely wanting them to look beautiful and plentiful for the holidays. The last couple years I tried big ornaments and Christmas birdhouses etc. Nothing seemed right. Until this year...

This year I got clever, it takes me awhile. Garlands and fresh greenery were so expensive at the nursery. I looked at the prices and was appalled. Then my thoughts drifted to the our own trees and bushes in the back. "DUH!" How did it take me so long...? So I went and started trimming...see the results. Did I get carried away after I finished the boxes?

Garden Bloom Day on 15th

Yes here it is the 17th and things have been so busy I actually missed posting on the actual Bloom Day. So here is a late post to join in the fun and a peek into my cottage garden.

Beebalm is gorgeous this year. Given to me by a dear friend from her garden and is doing beautiful and  its aroma is lovely, complementing the peppermint that grows nearby. I know its invasive but I love it , what can I do?

Thinking about Window Boxes: Part Three

Now if you would like to see how I got to this point click on Part One and Part Two. These boxes are just above the front yard flower beds where you can see here what I've planted.  The area below is filled with purples, whites and pinks and lots of green.

I decided to go with a mixture of classic choices and a little hardy succulent to try this year.
It didn't cost a fortune either. Bonus!

Drumroll please...

Petunias

Moss Rose (a trailing annual)

Blue Spruce Sedum ( a trailing perennial)

When thinking about it, I figured it would be nice if there was something that could be the foundation plant and that would possibly grow large and beautiful over the years, esp, since the growing season here is so short. It will also produce sweet yellow flowers late in summer to help us into the fall season.
Best thing about the above choices, drought resistance. Resistance is not futile. Couldn't resist.

Thinking about Window Boxes: Part Two

So, I have been trying to make window box plantings last for quite a while.  They always die. They dry out because it is just too hot in the full sun, etc. It's been quite pathetic.  

I have these beautiful window boxes and have had to put (dare I say it)...fake flowers in them.  Yes, I succumbed to fake flowers last year. There are no pictures.  I wish I could erase the memory of it.

Don't think less of me? Are you? Maybe just a little? It's ok.

So as I was getting ready this winter for planning my 10 weeks of blissful gardening.  Yes, I dream of my garden - all winter long.  Hence the garden journal this year. So I made a pinterest board called Through the glass.  Here are some faves, that I was considering for inspiration.

Source

Thinking about window boxes: Part One

I love window boxes. I'm not sure why? Perhaps it's because you can see and sometimes smell the beautiful flowers, while inside the house? Perhaps it's because it reminds me of my Yiayia's home, she didn't have window boxes but a big raised concrete planter wall filled with geraniums and begonias. 

On the years we couldn't spend the summer with her in Greece, she would mail us petals in her letters. I always looked forward to those sweet little colorful petals. Sometimes, it was whole pressed flowers placed inside the paper, written in blue pen on super thin tissue-like letter paper.  This is an art that is being lost by the way.

(Tangential thought being shared here)
The art of letter writing, the art pressing flowers, the art of making connections, somehow I feel like we all have to work harder at it these days. I strive to slow down and appreciate the little acts of beauty around me.  Perhaps, this is why so many of us blog? To try to help the world slow down for a nanosecond and notice the beauty around us.

(ok now it's ended)

The aroma of geraniums always take me back.  Our Yiayia would also put pots in the deep window sills, her little patio was a wonder of color, shade, aroma and love.

What aromas of spring and summer bring back beautiful memories for you?

Share the Day

Sharing withCedar Hill Farmhouse BoogieboardcottageSavvySouthernStyle

Ishouldbemoppingthefloor

June Bloom Day

Happy Father's Day!

We went to church this morning and the buds were on the rosebush. When we came home, a surprise, one sweet bud had bloomed. First rose of the season.

The yarrow is doing beautifully and is making me long for more of it, to fill the color spaces, while we wait for the other blooms.

Made in the Shade

How Does your Garden Grow-2014

Last year I took you on a tour of some of my favorite gardens, if you would like to visit them go here and here and here.  I visited a new one this past week. It is gorgeous.  It's a neighbor in the next town over who sells plants from his garden when he needs to divide his perennials.  Seriously, this is a work of art and love.

This was in the middle of the morning. There was a gentle breeze and sweetest aroma of fresh cut grass and Viburnum.

Wildflower Wednesday #1

It's the fourth Wedsnesday of the month and so I am joining  Kathy Purdy over at Cold Climate Gardening, to look at one of my wildflowers for Wildflower Wednesday.

To be honest, it's not around? Where did it go? I transplanted some to the wood edge last fall. But am not seeing it there. Has the weather been too labile? I wouldn't suspect a wildflower would care that much, they tend to be so hardy.  When we moved to this home, this was one of the main flowers in the garden.  I loved it although it took me awhile to identify it.  For now, I'm still waiting for my Spiderwort.  The white iris has grown stalks but no buds yet.  Funny, this year I may have roses before the Spiderwort or Iris to bloom.  I have yet to see any of the Trillium from 2 years ago either.

On another note, I acquired some common milkweed and tropical milkweed seeds.

Trying to figure out where I should plant them, they will be planted to try to help our poor monarch population. Our little girl hummingbird is also looking pretty large this week, likely going to drop an egg soon?

Share the Day

Embrace it.

If you have been following along, you know I have had a struggle with the lily of the valley taking over in the front garden pathway. It is in full bloom now.

I have decided for now to just embrace it. 

They are delicate and beautiful and filled with a sweet aroma.

There are more important things to struggle with, this does not need to be one.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. ( 1 Timothy 6.11)

Share the Day

What's Bloomin?

Bloom Day May 2014

It's the 15th of May and so time for a little lookie-lookie at what's in bloom in my garden. If you would like to see more from last year's garden, or some of my favorite gardens, last year I featured "How does your Garden grow Mondays" you can also look here and here.

There is lamb's ear that is off to a good start and lupine newly added not taking very well.  If you look past some of the weeds, there are columbine sprouts that have emerged.  It's a late start but a start all the same. The garden here is zone 5 is at least a month behind, sadly that doesn't mean I am anymore ahead in weeding. "It's all good."

Mr. Wooley Thyme is bright and fuzzy, many know I love texture. My garden as you can tell is no different. Isn't it sweet!

Beautiful Spring Day

It was such a beautiful day. Lucky me -took some time to spend a lovely morning with a friend, sipping coffee, chatting and swapping plans of our gardens. It was a special morning, Mr Hummingbird came to visit too. I'm grateful for moments and times like these. I'm grateful for so much.

What do you like do to on a sunny spring morning?

Share the Day

Sharing with
StoneGable
The Dedicated House
Savvy Southern Style 

Come over and play in my front garden.

Big plans, big dreams, so little time (short growing season in zone 5), thus a gardener's dilemmas.

I am trying to think out the front garden bed plan a bit more thouroughly.  It has been neglected for some time, really other than weeding, since we moved into this home. I have focused on the rock garden and veggie garden much more.



Let me describe first what I have.  It starts next to the step to the door with an Azalea ( I know right next to the door, I didn't plant it there.  It is pretty but it will get big and it is already more mature than it should be for that spot, I think?)



Below, the Azalea is tons of Lily of the Valley. Yes, it smells beautiful in bloom and it is so pretty. It is also pretty invasive and I started last year by transplanting lots of it to the wooded area in the back.

Just look how much is back in this spot. See the bench I painted in the back? 

Keeping track of your garden

I am continuing my garden journal this year but adding to it.  Last year I did this schematic to help me remember where and what was planted in the rock garden. You may remember we decided to triple it's size last year and so added quite a few more perennials ,after amending the soil.

This year the journal is going to have dates of blooms and progress of the flowers with photos. I'm keeping a journal on the computer but am also printing out pages and adding to a three ring binder so I can also keep seed packet info, add drawings/notes and take it out to the garden with me. I'm pretty pleased with myself on this one.

Let's see how I do this season?
What's your plan? Do you keep a garden journal?

Share the Day.

Sharing with
Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
Be Different Act Normal
BoogieBoardCottage
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
The Dedicated House
Savvy Southern Style

Chocolate Chip Kale Cookies

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Kale is all the rage. It's easy to grow, high in vitamins but it's bitter. It's not something our family cares for very much. Have tried it as chips, blech! Gross! No matter how much you salt them, and try to convince yourself they taste just like real potato chips, trust me, THEY DON'T. Now kale in soup, a different matter, not bad in soup, not bad at all. But the child, won't go near it, even in soup.
Now I have found a new way to add this healthy green leafy veggie to our life. COOKIES! 

I can't believe this is Spring?

Had been feeling so optimistic this past weekend about the weather, the garden plans, got to some spring chores.  I was so excited I put up our new feeder. Isn't it pretty? Even made hummingbird syrup for the new feeders.  They are getting closer and thought they might even be here in a few days. Did you know you could track their migration, here.

And then...

This was the scene this morning. 

Seriously? Can you see the lines above that is how hard it was falling and still is.

If only it felt like this?

Share the Day

Sharing with

Yesterday on Tuesday

The Chicken Chick

The Dedicated House

Boogieboard Cottage

Cozy Little House

Endive-an Entree or a side dish?

40 days - 40 Lenten Recipes

It's late but it's here.  Endive. In some places it's called Chicory. A leafy green vegetable that when you cook it becomes sweet and soft.  It has a pleasant taste and texture and all you need to do is squeeze the juice of one lemon and a little olive oil over it.  Absolutely delicious, served with a little bread and if you have a little feta cheese.  I'm hoping to grow it in the garden this summer. The planning has started.

Tip: When you are preparing the endive, wash it at least 3-4 times. I usually either use a large bowl or fill the sink and keep washing it. If you don't, you may feel the grit of the dirt. Not good.

Washed well, very good.

Share the Day