garden. grass — Page 2

Still: Blooming, Dealing with Cars, and Taking Dollhouse Photos

September 8, 2015 at 8:36 am by Claudia

The saga of the dollhouse photos continues. Today is the deadline, so whatever I’ve come up with will have to do, I guess. When I look at all the photos, including many close-ups, I’m struck by how many things I would do differently, that don’t look professionally finished.

The crop tool is a wonderful invention, isn’t it? I’ve sure been appreciating it lately.

I’ll be sorting through them this morning and then sending them on to the editor of the magazine.

Fingers crossed.

9-8 purplephlox

The phlox is still going strong. Not only does it smell heavenly, it’s a real workhorse in the garden. And it self-seeds!

9-8 whitephlox

I have to go into NYC on Thursday and on another day (can’t remember the date) next week. I’m helping an old friend with a new project he’s producing, which is a one-man show about C. S. Lewis. Thank goodness for old friends who extend an offer for some work! Normally, I would be in Hartford right now working on Shakespeare, as early fall is its usual slot in the season. But this year, it’s not scheduled to start rehearsals until right after Christmas because the theater is being renovated. Totally understandable.

First of all, that means I have to be in Hartford in the winter. Yuck. But more importantly, I’m missing out on badly needed income that I’ve come to count on at this time of year and that’s been stressful.

Ah well. That’ll teach me!

So, my friend’s offer of two days of work is very welcome indeed. And I haven’t been in the city for a while…I’d say I’ll get a cupcake when I’m there, but I’m on a diet. Hopefully, there will not be a Magnolia Bakery nearby to tempt me with its scrumptiousness.

9-8 hollyhock

This shot of a hollyhock turned out to be rather Impressionistic in style. The hollyhock is also still blooming.

The newish car has to be inspected this week. The oldish car needs to get two new tires, and then I can renew the registration.

Hopefully, that will be the end of the car chronicles for a while.

Happy Tuesday.

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The Garden, A Butterfly & Some Top Secret Work

August 7, 2015 at 8:18 am by Claudia

I’m fast approaching that time in the late summer garden when I stop caring quite so much. As the month turns to August and the light changes ever subtly and parts of the garden are starting to look a wee bit tired, I pull back from the whole thing. Self-protection? Just plain tired of pulling weeds? Probably a little of both. I did yank some weeds the other day for all of two minutes, but that was it.

I still check for daily changes. I await more morning glories. I snap photos. I water the pots and the chicken wire fence garden. But I don’t do a whole lot of cleaning up. Too much energy that I simply cannot summon up. I liken it to pulling away in a relationship; you know it’s going to go south, and your instincts kick in as you create some distance between you and the object of your adoration.

I let many of the plants go to seed, and nothing is cut back or pruned. The birds need those plants, for seeds and shelter. I’ll cut them back next spring.

8-7 hens and chicks

I did summon up the energy to repot the hens and chicks that are on the Funky Patio. They were overgrowing their original container. They needed more space.

This one will come indoors with me for the winter.

8-7 swallowtail

This black swallowtail was enamored of the geraniums, but his wings were fluttering so quickly that it was hard to get a picture. This is the best of the bunch. I love these beauties. At one point yesterday, there was an Eastern Swallowtail and a Black Swallowtail circling each other, swooping, soaring, and (I suspect) competing for the tastiest blossoms.

Don: Don’t Read Any Further!

I grabbed some time yesterday to paint and install two more windows in the Top Secret Project.

8-7 project window 2

These windows also open and can swing in or out.

8-7 project red

This will give you a hint as to the color I’m going to use on the outside walls. Yes, it’s reminiscent of our real-life shed. It was Don’s idea to paint the shed red, so his studio is going to be in the same color range.

Happy Friday.

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Peonies, Roses & Green Grass

May 30, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

Flowers, flowers everywhere here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. The roses in the garden have started to bloom. The poppies have finished their bloom – my goodness, their bloom time is very short! Maybe that makes their vivid orange color all the more rare and wonderful.

And the peonies:

The scent is heavenly. The other day I was standing in the den wondering where this amazing scent was coming from and I remembered I had some in a vase on the coffee table. And I smiled.

Due to someone’s forgetfulness at an airport counter, I have a lovely bouquet of pink roses that Don brought home for me.

There are lots of worries in my life at the moment. I don’t know what I’d do without my garden. I can lose myself for hours there. There’s always something to do and I love doing it all. Even weeding. It is a healing, magical place – at least for me.

Speaking of healing, remember the state of our lawn after it was dug up for the septic work and the tree removal? I’ll remind you:

Depressing. Full of rocks. Lots of ruts.

Well, some of the ruts are still there – we’re working on that. Many of the rocks are gone. But many are still there. Nevertheless….here is how it looks today: