Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Interiors

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Because I’m in the mood…some interior views of the dollhouse:

mirrorindollhousebedroom

dollhousestudio

boxofbiscuitsondollhousebed

The box of biscuits was made by Norma.

dollhouse-acupoftea

dollhousearmoireinden

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dollhouseaga

dollhousekitchenandbowl

dollhousewoodenbowl

A closer look at that wooden bowl. From Weston Miniatures/Etsy.

dollhousepottingtable

dollhouse-bluebirdcup

dollhouseknittingbasket

Capturing dollhouse details can be a challenge, but it’s awfully fun. I haven’t done very much with the dollhouse in the past week or two. Funds are a little tight at the moment; in fact, I had a potential Etsy order all ready to be submitted when I decided to put it on hold. And, of course, the outdoors and my garden are calling me much of the time. As it should be.

We took another five mile hike yesterday. The last quarter mile or so is the hardest. At that point, both Don and I find ourselves hoping against hope that the end of the trail is just around the bend. But we did it. It was a gorgeous day and perfect for hiking.

The county is doing some work on our road in preparation for repaving it in the next month or two. So they’ve been working on all the culverts that run beside the road. We have one in front of our house. As I saw the machinery they were using yesterday (they haven’t reached our culvert yet) I got a little panicked because the peonies and a hickory tree and our bridalwreath spirea are all right next to the culvert. Don talked to the guys and they assured us that all would be safe, but not before I had made a little sign asking them to be careful when working around the plants. The peonies have been there for years and I couldn’t bear it if something happened to them.

I mean, look what I saw yesterday:

peonybud

Peony buds, complete with the obligatory ant.

Soon!

Happy Wednesday.

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Flowers & The Woods At MHC

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Looks like you love hydrangeas as much as I do! They really are perfect for a cottage garden. Frankly, they’re perfect anywhere. I have two hydrangea bushes in my gardens, not counting the new one. One is an Annabelle hydrangea and it has been a gorgeous workhorse in the garden for several years now. It blooms on old wood, so I really don’t have to do anything from year to year. It is in the garden bed that borders the far side of the porch.

thurslimelight

The other one is a limelight hydrangea that I planted about two years ago. It’s in the same garden bed as my boxwoods. Such a lovely hydrangea it is! At the end of the season the blossoms turn a deep pink. I try to cut them at the moment when the pink is the most intense. I don’t have to prune it, which I love.

Both of them made it through the horrible winter beautifully and I’m so grateful for that.

And now I have my newest hydrangea! Bring ’em on! If I had the room, I’d have even more.

Speaking of winter and plants, I had to spend several hours yesterday cutting back dead and damaged canes from my rose bushes. They didn’t fare quite as well from the winter as the hydrangeas did. There is lots of new growth on all four bushes, but there was definitely damage done. Between the rose bushes and the brambles, my hands have been repeatedly pricked by thorns. Enough, already.

apathinourwoods

Thought you might want to see one of the paths in our woods. They’re getting overgrown due to all the rain, so we’re going to have to mow them very soon. Huge areas of the woods are covered in vinca right now, so there are lots of beautiful purple blooms everywhere.

vinca

abenchinourwoods

You might have noticed a bench like this one in the photo of the path. For some reason unbeknownst to us, one of the previous owners of this property left behind a lot of cinder blocks. We find them everywhere, but there is one area in the woods where there are masses of them.

A cinder block Stonehenge.

We decided to recycle some of them by using the blocks to make some benches. There are three benches along the paths, in little clearings where we can stop, sit and listen to the sound of the birds all around us. Don suggested painting them, but I really want the benches to be a part of the landscape, as if they’ve always been there.

asigninourwoods

This old street sign sits in between the branches of a tree. That sign came from our old neighborhood in San Diego; in fact, we lived on that corner and when the signs were being replaced, we somehow ended up with this one. It’s a wonderful souvenir of our first home together, a place we lived in for six years.

My favorite little area in the woods is a little clearing we have named Catalpa Grove, for the three catalpa trees that encircle the clearing. As catalpas are always the last trees to leaf out, I’ll wait until that happens before I take a picture. It’s the place I seem to gravitate to; canopied by big old catalpas, with a cinder block bench on which to sit and think and meditate. I spent some time there the day my mother died.

galvanizedplanter

I’ve started adding things to my galvanized planter, which lives on the Funky Patio.

lilacblossoms

And I must show you one more picture of the lilacs, which I know will be gone all too soon. They are really lovely this year due, I’m sure, to the cold, cold temperatures we had this winter. Lilacs like that sort of thing.

Oh my heavens, the scent of these beauties makes my head spin!

I see a bud developing on the poppy, some of the ground cover in the garden is flowering, the peonies shoots are getting taller, the wild honeysuckle is in full bloom – every day holds a new discovery.

A hike in on our agenda today. Since the rest of the week might be rainy, we’re going to take advantage of this beautiful weather.

(If you see a little ad nestled between lines of text for this post or any other post, I’m testing an ad for BlogHer – just to let you know!)

Happy Tuesday.

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Gardening With Hydrangeas From The Endless Summer® Collection

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I love gardening. When spring arrives, I am outside most of the day, weeding, planting, mulching, pruning, taking photos, and generally sighing with happiness. We’ve lived on this property (my first ever house that wasn’t a rental) for almost nine years and in those nine years, I’ve added perennials to existing garden beds, created 4 new garden beds, and if I could, I’d add even more! There are roses, catmint, poppies, sedum, hosta, boxwood, bee balm, phlox, day lilies, butterfly bush, peonies and two versions of one of my favorites: hydrangeas. Oh, those hydrangeas! Dependable, large, lush. Such beauties they are! So when BlogHer and Endless Summer® Hydrangeas asked me if I would take a closer look at their collection of re-blooming hydrangeas, I jumped at the chance. I don’t know about you, but I see their distinctive blue pots in my favorite nurseries and I’ve been hankering for one of my very own.
Bailey'scloseup

We’re talking gorgeous color here. Some information for you on this collection: “The Endless Summer® Collection is the world’s first and best assortment of re-blooming hydrangeas. They are easy to grow, requiring a low investment in time, money and effort for a big reward. They are beautiful for gardens, containers and in cut and dried flower arrangements. No matter which variety, their beautiful big blooms enhance any outdoor living experience.” How could they not? BloomStruck_Logo_CMYK

The hydrangea that was graciously sent to me by Endless Summer is their new BloomStruck™. I counted the days until it arrived on my doorstep. With every garden bed already full around here, my husband and I decided that we needed a hydrangea on the outside of what we call the Dog Corral and adjacent to a little funky patio that we love. It will definitely add some much-needed beauty to a utilitarian chicken wire fence.

Bailey'sEndlessSummerpot

I dug the hole, which should be one and a half times as wide as the size of the pot. Well, I should be honest here. When I got tired, my husband took over. He’s got more arm strength than me! Scout, our Border Collie, supervised. Isn’t that hydrangea stunning?

Bailey'splantinfo

By the way, Endless Summer includes lots of information as to soil and when and how to plant and everything you need to know about your hydrangea.

Bailey'sgardensoil

Our soil has its share of clay, so I amended it with some garden soil, adding it to the bottom of the hole. That’s what works in my particular soil. Your soil may need different amendments. I loosened the bottom and sides of the root ball, then I made sure the crown of the plant, where the base of the stems meet the soil, was even with the ground. Then I refilled the hole with soil.

Bailey'splanted

All of our garden beds are edged with rocks that we’ve found on the property, so we did the same thing here. (Oh boy, do we have rocks on this property!) I can’t wait to watch this grow. If you’re unfamiliar with hydrangeas, the color of the blooms is directly influenced by the pH of your soil. If your pH is acidic, the blooms will be blue. If they are alkaline, the blooms will be pink. You can easily run a pH test if you’re interested and there are products you can add to the soil to change your soil’s pH. In fact, Endless Summer® offers two products that will do that for you. Color Me Pink™ and Color Me Blue™ are safe, all natural and organic. As for me, I like the element of surprise, so I’m going to watch and wait. Pink or blue, I love this plant. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit the Endless Summer® website. If you leave a comment on this post, you will be automatically entered in a contest to win a $100 Visa Gift Card. Leave a comment with an answer to this question: Do you grow hydrangeas? Tell me how you use them in your garden! Happy Planting,

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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