Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

On a Windy Sunday

at by

5-15 spirea1

The spirea bush that is down by the road is blooming. Big, fluffy tufts of white. I have always assumed this is a bridal veil spirea, but I could be wrong. I sure love it – it’s one of the early spring delights around here.

5-15 spirea2

5-15 spirea3

So pretty, so delicate. Today, that bush is being blown every which way as a cold front comes through here. The temperatures have dropped but will start to climb back up tomorrow.

I caught Henry investigating the top of the garden bed. I opened the front door and said “Hey, no garden for you.” He took off like a shot. I actually didn’t need to say a word; just opening the door is enough to send him back to his lair.

It’s so windy today that my parents’ wind chimes are constantly making beautiful sounds. Hi Mom and Dad.

5-15 albumsfromlinda

These are the albums that dear Linda sent my way. Don loves all of these artists, so they are perfect for the TSP.

Coincidentally, some albums I ordered arrived yesterday.

5-15 albums

Also in this particular group that arrived in yesterday’s mail? The exact same albums that Linda sent to me! Great minds think alike. They are from the Etsy shop, Petals and Brims. Again – all albums Don would love to have, including Earth Wind & Fire, though I must confess that they are a particular favorite of mine. I’m the big Earth Wind & Fire fan around here.

5-15 gettingthere

We’re slowly getting there.

We watched one of our favorite movies last night, The Awful Truth. It’s a very funny screwball comedy starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, and Ralph Bellamy (who Don worked with many years later on LA Law.) We actually own a copy of the movie, but it’s somehow more fun to watch when it just pops up on TCM. Brilliant.

You know, Don had a recurring role as attorney Russell Spitzer on LA Law and we figured out that the episode with Ralph Bellamy aired in 1988. I remember seeing it when it first aired. It’s a very touching story about Bellamy, a legendary lawyer who, it turns out, is losing his mental faculties. Russell Spitzer (Don) was defending Bellamy’s character. They had a lot of time to talk and Bellamy told great stories about his days in Hollywood.

Anyway, in 1988, I saw Don on that episode. Little did I know I would meet him six years later!

Amazing, how these things happen.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

Hidden Surprises

at by

5-13 hiddenviolets

As I was mulching the garden beds on the side of the house, I saw these violets tucked under my spirea. What a lovely surprise! Later, I found a white violet in the garden bed.

I love garden surprises.

5-13 hiddenwhiteflowers

Hidden under the hosta: surprise Star of Bethlehem flowers. This plant was already up and running when we had the big freeze/ice, so I didn’t think it was going to bloom this year. There are a couple of other flowers completely hidden under the leaves at the left.

5-13 hiddencatmintflower

And tucked away in the back of the big garden bed, hidden from view, the first blooms on the catmint.

Since we’re in the midst of what has turned out to be a late spring  (no matter what the calendar says) and green is the theme – green shoots, green baby plants, green leaves – encountering these little blooming surprises makes my day.

Mulching is done for the time being. We scattered grass seed on some bare patches in the big corral. I weed whacked.

Today, I’m going to start potting impatiens for the porch. And I’m going to plant some morning glory and zinnia seeds in the Chicken Wire Fence Garden. Rain is on the docket for this afternoon and tomorrow, as well.

And we have to buy a new kitchen trash can. Isn’t that exciting?

Just finished reading The Travelers  by Chris Pavone. I’ll review it next week on Just Let Me Finish This Page. I’ve read his other books – boy, can he write a spy novel! Excellent.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Mystery Plant?

at by

More mowing yesterday – we’re finally finished with the property.

Until next week.

I weeded the big garden bed and started to put some mulch down that was leftover from last year. This morning, I’ll go to the garden center to buy more mulch, some seeds for the Chicken Wire Fence Garden, some topsoil, and some impatiens for the pots on the porch.

5-11 yellowarchangel

My trusty little patch of Lamium Yellow Archangel has started to bloom. This is one of the first things I put into this garden bed ten years ago and it has bloomed like clockwork ever since. Isn’t it pretty?

Okay. I have a mystery plant question. I think I know what this is, but I’m not absolutely sure. After mowing the lawn and walking in and around the big garden bed for two days, it wasn’t until the end of the day yesterday that I noticed something blooming. Something that was growing right next to the big Sugar Maple tree next to the house. (Since we live in the country, plants and weeds spring up everywhere and I tend not to notice them.)

5-11 growing out of tree

Here it is. It almost looks like it’s growing out of the tree.

5-11 spirea

A closer look. I think it’s a volunteer spirea, but I’m not absolutely sure. Some version of Bridal Veil spirea?

5-11 white flowers

If it is, it’s blooming earlier than my other spirea.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives