Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Gardening, Berry Picking, Bunny Watching

July 20, 2016 at 9:58 am by Claudia

7-20 frontlawnmowed

I love looking at the lawn just after it’s been mowed. In this case, by me, on Monday. I mowed this side of the lawn (and it’s much bigger than this photo indicates.) Don stepped in and did the other side. Now we have to tackle the corrals and the back forty. It takes a minimum of two days to mow all of our grass, sometimes longer. And we do it with a gas-powered push mower, not a riding mower. Even if we could afford a riding mower, I don’t think we’d invest in one at this point. The exercise is really good for us.

Checking out the gardens:

7-20 browneyedsusan

The first Black-Eyed Susan (or Brown-Eyed Susan, it seems to be called both) opened up the other day. There are many more to follow. I suppose I could simply call it Rudbeckia, and solve this problem.

7-20 coneflowerandbee

If you look at the upper left hand corner of the coneflower, you’ll see a little bee, nicely blending in with the flower.

7-20 daylilyandbug

I can’t stand it, this is so beautiful.

7-20 hostablooms

All of the hostas have blooms now.

7-20 liatris

The liatris will soon be blooming. There are more spikes than ever this year, which makes me happy.

7-20 morningglory

The morning glories are starting their climb up the chicken wire fence (this is in the Memorial Garden.)

7-20 moonflower

Also in the Memorial Garden – moonflowers climbing up the trellis.

Since yesterday gave us temps in the mid-eighties rather than the mid-nineties, I spent most of the day outside. I cut back the catmint to encourage a second bloom, I weeded, I tried to tame the crown vetch, which likes to take over, I cut back the wild roses near the maple tree – I did a lot of ‘garden maintenance.’ It looks a lot better out there now.

And we meandered up to the back forty,

7-20 donwithblackrasberries

where we picked another bowlful of black raspberries!

Sort of a perfect day for yours truly. I ended it tired, but happy to have been out in the garden, with the little bunny chomping on grass at a safe distance. Until I apparently got too close and he ran up to the back forty. He’s dining on the grass outside our living room window as I write this post.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: animals, bunnies, flowers, garden 32 Comments

Scenes from the Porch, Early Monday Morning

July 18, 2016 at 9:21 am by Claudia

In the wake of more heartbreaking news over the weekend, I decided some ‘self-care’ was in order. So I sat on the porch on this beautiful morning. I thought I’d share some views from the porch. Enjoy.

7-18 miniaturerose

A miniature rose bush sits on the picnic table. Don gave it to me for our anniversary.

7-18 butterflybush

The butterfly bush is getting ready to bloom in a week or two.

7-18 coneflowers

Coneflowers and hosta.

7-18 hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea.

7-18 overwinteredgeranium1

The overwintered geranium is blooming.

7-18 overwinteredgeranium2

7-18 bunniesonthelawn

Misty morning and bunnies dining.

7-18 coneflower

7-18 impatiens

Pots of flowers and gardening supplies.

7-18 conesandhostas

Right next to the entrance to the porch.

7-18 butterflybushandsun

Early morning sunlight through the trees.

I hope this has provided a brief moment of respite for you. The world seems to be spinning out of control. When “the world is too much with us” (thank you, William Wordsworth) I seek beauty in nature’s gifts. I dig in the soil. I even pull some weeds. I thank the heavens for this beauty.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: bunnies, flowers, garden, nature 37 Comments

On Sunday

July 17, 2016 at 10:25 am by Claudia

Two hours of sleep last night.

Yikes. It’s due, I’m sure, to a mixture of things: grief, which hit me rather heavily the other day; this election, which has made me angry and fearful; and the violence taking place all over the globe, which has left me feeling enraged, profoundly sad, and powerless. Even though I try to limit my exposure to the news, these last few weeks have been so full of senseless tragedies that I (we) cannot help but be affected.

Needless to say, I feel like a wet noodle today.

7-17 gorgeousdaylily

Oh, pretty daylilies, why do you last only one day? (Don was flabbergasted when he heard they were called daylilies because they bloom for one day. He couldn’t quite take that in.)

7-17 hollyhocks

The hollyhocks are still hanging in there. They’ve been tied to the fence as the rain had done a number on them.

7-17 whiteconeflower

Coneflowers, white and purple, are everywhere in the gardens. Since I love them so much, this mid-July gardenscape tends to be my favorite.

The little bug was identified by two blog readers as a green crab spider. Those pincer-like legs are apparently very powerful and are capable of grabbing a butterfly or a bee. It seems impossible, given its size, but apparently it’s true. And that explains why it is just sitting on my coneflower for days at a time. It’s lying in wait.

There is always, always, something new to discover in the garden.

Friends, that’s about all I can come up with today. Time for more coffee.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, garden, insects 30 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

Thanks for stopping by.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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