garden — Page 255

Bits and Pieces

July 6, 2008 at 9:49 am by Claudia

It is a lazy Sunday here in the Northeast. Humid, chance of showers and gray skies – the same weather report we’ve had for several days. I’m am not a lover of humidity. Unfortunately, I live in the Hudson River valley where humidity and allergies reign. Nevertheless, I will press on and share a few photos with you. I found this sign in one of my favorite antique malls. Don’t you love it?

I also found this lovely vintage wicker rocker. It was “as is”; a little worn, which made me love it all the more. It came with two lovely cushions in rose, green and cream – a flower pattern on one side and a stripe in the same colors on the reverse side. Those cushions are safely inside. Our porch gets very wet when it rains so I thought the better choice was to buy some outdoor cushions. I will change them out again when the chair goes inside for the winter.

I took a little trip around the property. Here are some more photos of beautiful blooms:

I’m off to check out the garden, prune, go to the nursery and then work on my present for my friend’s daughter who graduated from high school. I’m making her a crocheted throw for her dorm room. Can’t share any photos of it in progress because she might see the blog.
Have a great Sunday!

What’s happening in the garden

June 27, 2008 at 5:12 pm by Claudia

I have a fairly new garden. We’ve lived here slightly less than 3 years. When we moved in there were very few plants established. Of course, the peonies were here and some lovely hostas. But, that was about it. We fell in love with the 4 beautiful trees in the front yard: a shag hickory, a weeping willow, a sugar maple and a catalpa. I also saw the potential for a garden, but didn’t do any planting until the following summer. Since then, its been trial and error in this rocky soil. Some things do well, others don’t. I tend to stick to perennials which means I have to be patient until they get established. I’ve been trying roses, with limited success. The bugs certainly seem to like them. Some scenes from the garden:

These are my rose bushes. The yellow rose is the Julia Child rose and it has a licorice-like scent. The deep pink is Lady Elsie May. I’m pleased that it has really taken off this year.

A close up of the Julia Child rose

A view of the shed

One of the shed window boxes

A close-up of a Lady Elsie May rose

My creeping geraniums

Coreopsis

Hostas, sedum and day lilies

One of my potted arrangements on the porch

I will post more photos as the summer progresses. I missed the blooms on the Catalpa tree – they appeared and disappeared when I was away. If you’ve never seen a blooming Catalpa, you must. It is a glorious sight – snowy, fragrant white blooms all over the tree. They only last for a week or two and I think the heat this year shortened their bloom time. We have three Catalpas; one in the front yard and two up in the wooded portion of the property.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Peonies

June 4, 2008 at 11:53 am by Claudia

They’re blooming! Like clockwork, the first week of June brings the lush beauty of newly opened peonies. Thank you to the unknown previous owner of this house who planted these beautiful babies. What pleasure they bring all these years later!

The porch has been swept, cleaned and straightened after my furniture refinishing project. It is a somewhat gray, rainy day – maybe the perfect day to sit on the glider and read. I’m currently reading The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffennegger. It was recommended to me by an actress I worked with in San Diego who insisted I borrow her copy. What a lovely, moving novel. I recommend it highly. I must finish it so that I can return it with great thanks when I fly back to the West Coast next week.

I’m off to read!

Bits and Pieces

What’s happening in the garden

Peonies

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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