A Day At The Nursery...

Thanks to a generous gift certificate from Shelly and Andy, I got to take a fun trip to a local nursery. I went to Honeymoon Acres in Kiel with purchasing more herbs in mind. I did buy more lavender, bee balm, cilantro, and rosemary, but I also chose a new Shasta daisy, and even a couple of catnip plants for the Barn Girls.

I needed more potting soil, and then I chose this beautiful, pre-planted pot to put into my antique wash tubs. Handsome thinks we need a second one for the other tub. I'm all for it! We'll go back together soon, just so he can see how vast the nursery is. 

I get to play in the dirt today, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm planning new jellies and jams for the pantry over the summer. The rhubarb is already up, so I think there's a rhubarb custard pie in our future.

Have a great weekend. We've got lots planned, but will mostly hang close to home, so we can spend time with the pups. I do want to continue to keep an eye on Tag.

Thanks to all for your concern for my boy. We're both using leashes when we take him outside, and he seems to be better today. We just don't want to put him in a position to bolt again. You know we'll do our best for him. Thanks again.

Putting Down Roots...

Bleeding Hearts

I think I told you last winter that I had a vision for the plantings at the farm...plants that I typically think of when I think of farmhouses and farmyards. Among the plants I mentioned were bleeding hearts.

Imagine my delight when I realized that one of the first flowers to pop out of the ground near our fence (which is well inside our property line) was a huge bleeding heart bush!

Two Ol' Girls

I asked Handsome to take a picture of me next to this huge plant to give you an idea of just how large the majestic ol' girl is. I imagine this plant is decades old, and her stately size makes her a well-established member of our yard. 

Newly Planted Rhubarb

I also mentioned that every farm should have rhubarb plants. Early Saturday morning, I received a text from Shelly's brother to let me know that a friend was thinning out his plants and giving them away. I contacted him within the hour. Soon after, Handsome and I were heading to St. Anna to pick up our rhubarb hills.

We stopped to pick up cypress mulch and a few other things and then headed home to plant. By noon, our two hills were planted and were being watered in.

Rhubarb For Freezing

We were also given all the cut rhubarb we wanted! I got those home and into a sink full of water to clean, cut and freeze. Of course, I held some back and made a crumble for dessert Saturday night. Now, our farm has rhubarb. I can cross that off my list.

Red Geraniums

When we stopped for mulch, I also chose a large cluster of red geraniums to plant into our half barrel. Shelley surprised me with a galvanized watering can when I arrived this spring, and I admit to copying her idea for displaying it. I found a small wrought iron hook tucked under the adjacent lilac bush, so I pulled it forward and hung the watering can from it. Isn't it a fun idea?

Front Porch Birdhouse

Yesterday, I decided to hang my Willodell birdhouse outside. We've had so many sweet, little birds and I wondered if one of them would move inside to start a family this spring.

Already Occupied!

Within an hour of us hanging up the birdhouse, a little wren had moved in. I had to smile when I heard it calling and singing as if to announce, "Look, guys! See what I've found!" It didn't take long for the wren to start the process of moving in.

Stormy Weather

The day ended with a turn in the weather. It was a breezy day all day, but the winds picked up late afternoon and we actually had tornado watches until 11:30 pm. We ended up with lots of wind, some lightning and rain.

Handsome, the pups and I were safely tucked inside our farmhouse, and I think those little birds had a wild ride in their houses. I'm pretty sure the plants loved the lightning and rain. The rhubarb is already sprouting again, and I won't cut that to give it a head start on the next growing season. I think we're all doing well, putting down new roots at Hickory Hill Farm.

There's A Fairy In My Garden...

Brynwood Needleworks - Guardian of My Container Garden

While I'm confident in my needle skills, I've never considered myself to be a gardener. It's not that I don't want to be a gardener. It's more like...well...stuff dies on my watch.

My forte' is the whole category of "succulents". They thrive on my neglect. In fact, I have a jade plant that came from a hedgerow in my brother's yard in LA about thirty years ago. Florida's rainy season tried to kill it, but I managed to save a piece of it, which still lives in a sheltered, protected pot.

Brynwood Needleworks - Container Garden Lettuce and Celery

Nevertheless, I don't give up. Isn't life like that? "If at first, you don't succeed..." Yup. That's me.

You've read before about a little trick I learned. Tag wrote about rooting the "cut offs" from store-bought vegetables HERE. It really works!

Brynwood Needleworks - My Little Container Garden

In addition to my newly-rooted celery and romaine lettuce, I also have chives (a childhood fave of our elder son), basil and one "Heartbreaker" (heart shaped) cherry tomato plant. I want to add mint and cilantro next.

I must be doing something right these days. We've had multiple harvests from the Heartbreaker to add to our salads, and there's nothing quite like the flavor of fresh basil on our pizza and sandwiches. All in all, I'm getting the feeling I might be able to do this. At the very least, I'm going to need a bigger table for my pots!

A Succulent Post...

You might recall my saying that I'm not much of a gardener. Many of the plants I've purchased over the years have died slow deaths under my watchful eye. I apparently kill them with kindness.

One genre of plants that seems to suit me to a "T", are the plants in the succulent family. I've owned the same jade plants (now impressively huge) for over twenty five years. One of them even flowers at least once a year now! They reside in enormous pots on wheels and have yielded many offspring that I've shared with others or repotted to other places on our pool deck or in our yard.

I absolutely love "hen and chicks", but hadn't had any for years. I found some while shopping yesterday and purchased a small container of them. They're so beautiful with their silvery green, waxy leaves, and when I picked them up in the nursery, there was water inside their petals.

Of course, I had to again fill them to photograph them for you. Doesn't the water look like little gems hidden inside the folds of the plant?

I know that this isn't a "crafty" post, but the fact that these plants love living with me really relates to the fact that I love to spend time in my studio. You see, when I'm in the studio, I'm not hovering over them. And these plants require so little care that they thrive from my neglect and give back so much.

I guess it's been an introspective week for me this week. I've shared more about my thoughts with you than about creating. You've all given back so much to me in return. I've read every note left for me relating to my "Because It Matters" post, and can't tell you how much I appreciated your kind and loving words. Thank you, my dear friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Next week, I'm going to launch my Eight Hundredth Post Giveaway. Can you believe it? It's actually closer to eight hundred forty now. That's a lot of talking, isn't it? You deserve a chance to win something for sticking with me, I think! So, I just want to give you an early heads-up so you know to look for the giveaway post next week.

Also, just a quick reminder that next Monday - August 29th - is my next Memory Lane Monday. I wanted to be sure to give you plenty of time to choose a favorite memory to write about on your blog and then link back here.

You can choose any subject, from any time in your life. Perhaps you have a fun "Back to School" memory you'd like to share? I've really enjoyed reading the stories of those who've participated in the past and would love to invite you to join this month.

With love and gratitude,

Right On Schedule...

It happens every year...like clockwork. Temperatures dip into the 30s, we unpack our sweaters and enjoy an occasional chili dinner. The warm, Florida days yield to cooler weather, and send a clear signal that it's time for my Christmas cacti to bud and bloom.
For the last ten years, this Christmas cactus has heralded the holiday season with her stunning blossoms.
They were white when I purchased the plant, but our water has changed her snowy blooms to a faint pink. I love their "watercolored" quality with light petals with darker edges.
The cactus on the lower shelf of my plant stand is always the second one to bloom. It's almost as thought it knows that the older plant is to be respected. The darker pink cactus will bloom next week, between Christmas and New Years Day. Handsome and I will be able to enjoy our holiday just a little longer because Mother Nature has awakened her beautiful decorations for us.

Beautiful Images & Tiny Inspirations...

I spent yesterday looking through some of my collections and images and thought you might like to see and learn about one of my favorite sets. I have three complete collections of cigarette cards. No, I don't smoke, but I found and purchased these sets about ten years ago. I smile every time I look at them.

Cigarette cards were little card premiums (like baseball cards in the 50s) that were included in packs of cigarettes. They were collected, much like S & H Green Stamps, with the exception that they were not redeemed for other merchandise. They were the end goal. They were printed from the early to mid-1900s. Flowers were not the only theme. There were dog sets, golf sets and war sets just to name a few.

There are fifty cards in each of my sets, and each set is different. One set is represented here. This Wildflower set was issued by Gallaher Ltd. in the 1930s. Another set, Garden Flowers is also from Gallaher Ltd. and they are equally beautiful from the same time frame. My third set is Flower Culture in Pots from Wills' Cigarette Company. All of my sets are British, making them that much more special to me. (Have I told you that my mum and I were both born in England? Another story for another time.)

These cards measure approximately 1.5" x 3", so they are lovely, diminutive works of art. There is an image of the flower and its name on the front, and information about that specific plant is on the reverse of the card. Just looking at them is like walking through my own private garden. The best part is that there is no weeding involved. (I know I've told you that I am not the talented gardner that my mum is!) How many of us actually like weeding, anyway? It's not like I'm alone in this regard, so don't look at me that tone of voice!

So, now you've seen my beautiful garden. Don't be surprised if you see them again in a future post. After all, I do have a reason for bringing them out. You'll see soon enough...

P.S. Don't forget to join my "Followers" list and send me an email so you can participate in my ATC Swap! Be sure to read the guidelines on my ATC Swap Post. This is the link (just click on this sentence).