Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

My Favorite Week

June 9, 2018 at 10:21 am by Claudia

Stop the presses!

It’s my favorite week of the year.

Because:

And because:

And because:

And because:

Not to mention these, which are blooming everywhere:

And these buds on the catalpa tree, which will open this week and fill the property with their glorious scent.

None of which, by the way, I had anything to do with. The wild roses were already established (and they’re invasive,) the peonies were planted long ago by previous home owner, and the catalpa has been here (along with four other catalpas up in the woods) for years and years.

This week, when they all take off and blossom, is my happiest week in the garden. Frothy little white flowers on all the edges of the property, beautiful peonies down by the entrance to the driveway, and beautiful blossoms high up in the catalpa tree.

I texted a photo of a peony to Don last night, with the caption “They’re here!”

It’s also a simply beautiful morning. I’ve been sitting on the glider for about two hours now. I don’t want to leave. So I went inside and grabbed the laptop so I could write today’s post outside. Birds are singing, the bullfrog is doing his thing, cyclists – both bicycle and motorcycle – are passing by.

I’m going to stay out here most of the day. Tomorrow morning, I’m going into the city for a couple of days, returning Tuesday. Since Don’s time there is limited now, I know he wants to lap up all he can, while he can, so I decided I would go to him. Then it will be back home to start the mowing process again. I’m not complaining. I come alive in the spring and summer.

Yesterday, I stopped at my local nursery and picked up a few more plants. I planted some additional coneflowers in the big garden bed because I love them and I know they reseed and will go a long way toward filling up the side of the bed that’s closest to the maple tree. I also bought another hollyhock.

And these, for the vintage plant stand:

More lobelia, which will get bigger and spread and the tendrils will hopefully go between the wires (I’m already training them.) This must be the summer of lobelia: my hanging plants, the pot on the table, which is full of purple and white lobelia, and these newest additions. There’s something romantic about lobelia in this kind of rusty vintage plant stand. I like it.

We’re slowly getting used to ETM closing. But it’s very hard for the cast. No one would know watching it, but the joy has diminished a bit. How could it not? We’re in mourning but time helps ease the pain a bit. I would do anything to protect my husband from this. But I can’t. I can be with him as much as I can, however. Meanwhile, the landlord has begun showing the apartment and that makes Don sad. He really loves that apartment and I know he’d give anything to keep it. If we were wealthy, we’d rent it. But it rents for more than our hefty mortgage payment. The whole thing makes me unbelievably sad. I cry a lot.

Okay. I’m going to hang out here today, along with a little garden work and weed pulling.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden, Peonies, trees 31 Comments

Around the Garden

June 8, 2018 at 10:07 am by Claudia

They’re all over the property, these beautiful wild roses, which just a month or so ago I was cutting down because they are also known as pesky brambles. And they’re a pain in the tush. But for a few weeks every June, they bloom and there are clouds of sweet scented white flowers everywhere.

Here they are flanking the path to one of our crabapple trees, just off the secret garden. I wish they bloomed all summer long.

The second day of the first rose to bloom. So lovely.

Soon to be gone poppies.

Opening any day now. About a week later than usual – the first time that’s happened in the 12 years we’ve lived here.

On the porch.

The tragic suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain this week are deeply shocking and very sad. Despite money, fame and all the things that we on the outside think must make for a perfect life, we never truly know the battles that are being waged in private. For anyone. I’ve lost more than a few friends to suicide. It’s heartbreaking and seemingly senseless to those who are left behind. “But she had a child!” “He had an amazing job and life!” “But he/she was rich!” “How could you leave a child behind?”

It’s a tragic permanent solution for the person who, in that one moment in time, can see no other solution to the pain that rages within. When nothing matters but relief.

Remember to be kind. To reach out with a smile. To never assume you know what someone’s life is like.

If the only thing we lived by was kindness, this world would be a better place. It wouldn’t solve everything. It wouldn’t magically erase mental illness. But it would go a long way toward making the world a gentler place to live in.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 49 Comments

Blooms

June 5, 2018 at 9:03 am by Claudia

Blooming:

I tried to sit on the porch this morning, but a little sparrow kept chirping at me. Flitting from the rose bush to the clematis, he/she was clearly anxious. I finally realized that there’s a nest down in the boxwood and the parent was trying to feed some babies.

So I came inside.

Can’t I just sit on my porch for a while?

Thank you for all your kind comments.

I will be perfectly honest here and say that I’m not doing well.

So, while I’ll post daily, I might not write much. Or I might. Who knows? I’m just trying to keep busy between bouts of profound sadness. Trying to stay strong for my husband who is doing his best to cope and be positive in the midst of heartbreak and loss. I don’t want to say more than that because it’s his story and it should be private.

Thanks for understanding.

Also: I think my AOL email was hacked. I changed my password of course, but if you get anything weird, just delete it.

 

 

Filed Under: Don, Escape to Margaritaville, flowers, garden 38 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.

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