What else but my garden would get me outside at 6:30 am without having had even one measly cup of coffee?
You should be impressed.
Dame’s Rocket, which resembles phlox, is a wildflower that grows everywhere in these parts. I know it’s considered a weed, but I think it’s beautiful. This one is growing alongside the house.
Silver Dead Nettle in the main garden is starting to bloom.
The Lady Elsie May roses are just starting to bloom.
The clematis, which didn’t bloom for four whole years. Once we lost the shade of the willow, it took off like a rocket.
The poppies. The gorgeous flowers just last a day or two. Then they’re gone.
A weed, though I hesitate to call it that, that just finished blooming.
I think it’s beautiful.
The wild roses, which any other time of the year I call brambles, are blooming. These are right outside our kitchen window.
The big garden bed a few days ago.The catmint is blooming, as are the poppies.
Oh, heavens. I love my gardens. The camera I got for Christmas is experiencing Spring and the gardens of Mockingbird Hill Cottage for the first time. Camera, meet gardens. Gardens, meet camera. I could easily be outside most of the day taking pictures.
A little overzealous weed-whacking the other day resulted in a cut peony stem. The next day I rescued it and put it in water, pretty sure that the bud would never bloom. I was wrong. Look what awaited me this morning! Hello, sweet peony.
It’s Sunday. The oppressive heat has broken. I’ve been watching the Red Sox/Yankees. I’m reading another excellent Deborah Crombie mystery. I finally cleaned up the porch, even the two bags of salt that were still there from this past winter. We have worries. We have cares. But we also have love, our sweet cottage, our little girl and the glory of spring here in the Hudson Valley.
Not bad at all.
If you’re at all interested, I was recently interviewed by Linda Huffman, who publishes an online magazine for women called Women Encouraged or “We” Magazine. If you want to read the interview, click here and then click on the Market Place page (in the column on the left.) Linda, thanks so much for the opportunity and for such great questions!
Happy Sunday.
Good morning, Claudia! Your garden looks BEE-YOU-TIFUL!! I’m headed out to mine right now–the weeds need some serious attention. They kind of took over while I was on vacation. But since it is so chilly and windy this morning, I thought a warm cup of tea and reading your post would be the best way to start my Sunday morning. I hope you and Don have a wonderful day! xxoo, Martha
Have a wonderful Sunday, Martha!
Hi Claudia! Oh, look at your pretty blooms! I love it. Your entire garden looks so lush and gorgeous. I think you deserve the cup of coffee now!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
I’ve had my coffee – thank goodness! So good!
Just finished reading the interview article Claudia, over my second cup of coffee. Enjoyed it very much, and I agree, to do just one thing for the rest of my life would bored me to tears.
have a lovely day, raining here a bit,
Sue
You too, Sue. Hope to get around and visit some blogs later today. We’re under a severe thunderstorm watch later in the day. Yikes.
Good morning SweetClaudia! I am finally getting caught up enough to visit. I am so thrilled to have a computer again-after missing one for several weeks. Your gardens are just gorgeous. You and your new camera make quite a pair. Good job for both of you. I don’t know if I could do walk sans coffee-that is always my first stop-well, right after my early morning “don’t wet the bed” visit…lol Hope you have a wonderful, blessed Sunday- xo Diana
I wasn’t out there too long, Diana…and the coffee was brewing while I was taking pictures. Have a wonderful day – so glad you have a computer again!
Beautiful flowers, I can almost smell them ; )
Thank you so much for sharing.
Have a great day.
You are most welcome. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Good Morning Claudia! Your yard is looking beautiful. Isn’t it fun to take photos of flowers. They take on a whole new meaning. Have a great day today. Our heat broke also. We are suppose to have more storms but not until the end of the week.
Judy
We have a severe thunderstorm watch for this afternoon and evening. Right now, however, it’s beautiful! Have a wonderful Sunday, Judy.
Beautiful blooms Claudia. But mercy sakes girl, I never venture out without pouring my coffee first!! I am not familiar with the author you mention. Will check her out. Your sister mentioned a book a while back that I am reading and loving!!!
Have a lovely day!! I am in Big Bear, and it is glorious here!!!
xo Kris
Love, love Big Bear. And Lake Arrowhead. Have a great day!
Good Morning, Claudia
You’ve chosen a beautiful way to start your day. I love checking on what’s blooming in my garden. Some phlox is there, purple archangel (I do like that name for it better than “dead nettle” -a bit more uplifting), just a few Morden Blush roses so far. I don’t mind that the clematis hasn’t taken off just yet; don’t you find the anticipation is half the joy of mucking about in gardens?
Sending a scratch behind the ears to Scout,
Karen
Absolutely – the anticipation is wonderful!
Thank you for sharing some of your glorious flowers with us!
You are welcome, Susan!
Thank you for getting outside early and sharing with us. I went out early this morning, too.
It is so beautiful there, Claudia.
I bet it is just as beautiful where you live, Beverly!
Your garden is beautiful, and I know that you are glad to be home where you can enjoy it. Have a wonderful Sunday. xo Laura
You too, Laura!
The sight of the garden in the morning light or evening shadows gets me out right away…
Oh yes, Donna – me too!
Thank you for identifying those wildflowers for me..I also think they are beautiful.. both the purple and white ones..sometimes I bring a bunch inside to enjoy..Clematis can be so stubborn..mine took quite a while to bloom and now it is covered with big purple flowers..and your wild roses..ours grow along the edge of the woods along with honeysuckle and the smell is almost heavenly..What would we do without our beautiful flowers??
We have wild honeysuckle, too, Nancy. So pretty it is. I don’t know what I would do with flowers! Have a great day.
Seeing the shot of the house, I thought: THAT is a home.
jane in tx
What a lovely compliment, Jane. Thank you!
Your garden is just….words fail me! Beautiful, inspiring, peaceful, tidy…perfect!
I read your interview – it was wonderful! I loved your description of Don – that is exactly how I would describe my husband Charles!
I hope you eventually got your coffee!
It’s awfully nice to be married to good guys, isn’t it, Paula? I DID get my coffee. And then Don and I went out and had Cappuchino Kahlua ice cream! Great mocha taste.
Hi Claudia,
Gorgeous photos of your sweet thriving pretties! I have to say, I am partial to poppies and peonies and that one, single, pink peony bursting into life in a little water made me smile! Enjoyed reading your interview, very refreshing!
Have a great week!
Poppy
I can understand why you’re partial to poppies, Poppy!! Have a wonderful week.
Claudia, thank you so much for your visit and kind words, you made my day! I love Flox and Sweet Williams, too. I love all cluster flowers! Your garden is beautiful. I am trying to sell my house and move back to my home town of Auburn, NY. I miss my hubby too much to stay here. But meantime I am enjoying my wild back yard as always, ha! ♥
You have a treasure trove of wildlife there, Kerrie!
Hi Claudia….I really picked a great day to visit with all of your beautiful photos. Your cottage looks bathed in green, a sign that all that snow has done it’s work in soaking the good earth around Mockingbird Hill. The closeups are inspiring and and oh so artful. You and your new camera do see eye to eye…so to speak.
I read your interview. Also, inspiring, thoughtful and encouraging. Loved what you said about Don. I did an interview with Geneablogger a few years ago and answered a similar question in much the same way….HiHoney is my rock.
Although, I don’t comment often, I read your posts daily and enjoy your photography, writing, quilting, gardening, collecting and all. My goodness, but you are as ‘antsy’ as me. LOL!!! We sure get a lot done though! Keep it up!
Sue CollectInTexasGal~Today’s Post~
Here Comes The Stinking Bride
We are lucky indeed, Sue – we have good mates! Thank you for reading the blog. And yes, I AM antsy!!! I can’t do just one thing and I know you can’t either. Take care! xo
that Dame’s rocket is pretty! Never heard of that…or seen it. The phlox is going crazy here as it’s not been to terribly hot yet. Your garden in the morning is just gorgeous…I can see why you’d be out there so early sans coffee! :)
thanks for showing us…I watched a little bit of that game too, last night. I like Mike Napoli…was sad to see him leave the Rangers. :( oh well, that’s BASEBALL!!! It was a good game… You’re a Red Sox fan right? (not NY?)…I can’t remember. anyway… going to read your interview.
Life is good. Pat
Yes, Pat. I’m a big Red Sox fan. One more game to watch tonight – the rubber game, I guess!
Happy Sunday Claudia! I love Dame’s Rocket although I’ve never heard the proper name for it before. We also called it wild phlox. I just love the scent. Your garden is lush and lovely. J
Thank you so much, Julie. Thank goodness we have gardening!
Gorgeous photographs. Congratulations on the interview, too. :)
Thank you, Eileen.
6:30 a.m. – without coffee? Yep, I’m definitely impressed. You won’t find me outdoors that early…you won’t even find me out of bed! :-) Your gardens are looking lush and beautiful. Going over to read your interview now…
Unfortunately, I seem to wake up around that time every day!
Even your weeds are pretty! What a lovely area you have to sit and admire your garden too. And you back home in time to enjoy all of it! (With a little hard work thrown in, of course.) Beautiful photographs, Claudia.
Thank you so much, Dewena!
Loving that garden, so beautiful. And your flowers are so pretty…I can’t wait for my first rose, hurry up…
Jen
Bring on the roses!
Good Morning Claudia, Your house looks beautiful, I love the shutters, they remind me of the wooden shutters in Cyprus.
I love gardening, I can get lost for hours, digging, planting and weeding, so I do understand how you feel about wandering around your garden at 6.30 am. I have been looking for the plant you call Sweet Rocket and what we call Honesty for ages, with no success. I love the flowers and then when they go to seed, they produce silver, paper thin pockets to house the seeds. I used to use this plant a lot in flower arrangements, but not so much nowadays.
Thank you for the stroll around your lovely garden.
Best Wishes
Daphne
You are very welcome. The garden just might be my favorite place!
Your garden looks beautiful !!! So glad your weather has improved. What a wonderful time of year….listening to a baseball game and reading a good book are necessary ingredients for the making of a perfect summer day (hope you’re wearing flip flops!)
Life is good indeed!
Lori
Birkenstocks!