~Food from the Garden~

 

Fresh lettuce from the garden.

I’ve harvested all the lettuce I could, now I must plant more.  I need a long flat trough- type vessel to maximize production. I love being able to eat my fresh lettuce.  It tastes so much better than anything from a store and it’s pretty.

First little harvest of peas and tomato’s.

Beans and tomato’s. I love cherry tomato’s.

Teeny tiny carrots. I got excited and pulled some out to see what was what. I think this is “short and sweet” variety.

More tomato’s and my first little yellow squash. Yummers.

A humble first harvest, prepped and ready for dinner.

My first garden dinner.  Quinoa Veggie Medley. It was good!

 

Ever since reading In the French Kitchen Garden, I had dreams of creating a little potager garden outside my own kitchen where I could wander out and pick a few things for dinner. Many years have passed since I first read this book, but I am slowly, very slowly beginning to achieve what I read about so long ago. Losing the tree last year has left us with much more sun right outside my kitchen, I take my blessings where I can find them, I am thankful for my little sunny patches. I want to find this book and read it again. It is a very lovely book.

~a walk about~

I saw my first hummingbird on April 1oth.  I was so happy. I haven’t seen another one since, but it won’t be long until they are flitting about.

I found a bok choy. What?  I don’t know how it got in this pot, but whatever. I will use it in soup or stir fry.

Ok, the red salvia has turned white. I don’t know why. I think it’s time to cut it back and let it start over. It is pretty with the white rose.

This spring I have seen so many plants come up that I not only forgot about, but it’s been years since I have seen them. Like this clematis. Tucked in among Old Blush rose. Pretty.

This beautiful new butterfly landed right by my feet.  I love how perfect the wings are.

This wild rose was grown from a seed. I love this rose, so fragrant. I love it with this deutzia shrub. I love how the blooms combine.

Maggie an old garden rose.  Maybe a bourbon rose? Smells so good!

I found a little bee..

~Caldwell Pink~ an old garden rose.

It was a cold and gray day that ended with warm and beautiful sun.  I was so happy to be able to get out to walk about the garden.

~Yesterday was a good day~

I came across this quote from   Camilla’s blog Bloom , it struck a chord with me.

   People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa, it was written on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta, India.

Isn’t this a wonderful thought? I think it is!!

 ~I have been cutting many bouquet’s of Camellia’s.

The garden is back to life and I am so thankful for that. I had come to believe that I would not feel the garden call me, that I would feel the love to garden again, I lost my joy somewhere between the death of my brother and then my father. 

It is hard to explain, my garden was always my refuge from the stress of life, it was my buffer from the real world to my own world.   Yet for the last few years, it just was neither a buffer or a refuge.  I came to resent this garden and I wanted no part of it. How sad, but true..

Somewhere between the sun shining and the little buds that have turned to blooms, I am feeling the pull.  As I peer out my kitchen window, it is calling me. The garden is calling me! 

Baby steps here as I allow myself to go and get lost again in my very own garden.  I realize how much I have missed this quiet time.  I almost gave up, but I realize that my garden is  predictable and true.  As I rediscover my plant it is like finding my old familiar friends. It did not give up on me, it has simply been patiently waiting for me~ it was always there.  I know this is true.

~Cherry blooms over my head~

 

~lettuce and arugula happy from the rain this morning~

~Spring in a pot, planted in anticipation ~

 

 
My friends are on their way back!!!!
For this I am so thankful.

~Spring bulbs~

I hope you have something pretty blooming where you are!!  If not, it surely won’t be long…

In the garden with a new linen dress….

Spring has arrived in our garden… we are loving that. It has been too long since we have been able to linger in our garden.
Six year olds grow so fast. A new dress was in order. A cute Butterick pattern was selected along with some red and tan linen. I see a little french girl in my mind…

Our garden is an enchanting place for a 6 year old girl. There are flowers to find. Sticks and stones to be gathered…

There is a soothing rhythm to our garden.  Things happen in the same order each Spring.  Old friend are rediscovered.

Hours in the sun playing make believe games and building fairy houses..  Some of my fondest memories of my children is seeing them huddled over smelling flowers. That is a joyous sight.

Antique rose “Old Blush” is always first to bloom..

Bright magenta azaelas are always pleasing.  Enjoy your Spring!

little happenings….

  ~ look what came!

  ~ Market bags from Penny at Sewtakeahike! I just love them and could not be more excited to go my farmer’s market!I am really excited about opening day. I hope to pick up some tomato plants.  I got some heirloom variety there last year.  Thanks Penny! I love my new bags.  They are very well made, functional and so cute!

Other little happenings around my place~    ~ wild phlox, I love this plant, it takes sun. or part shade, and the color really pops in early spring.  Very dependable. I trim it back after it blooms, easy to transplant and tough.

 ~ wood poppies, this plant is very very dependable, lives in part shade/woodland garden. Long bloom time from spring to early summer. Slowly spreads. Said to repel mammals? Saw this tidbit at a plant sale last weekend.  Not very certain on that, but  I really love this plant.

  ~ I love iris! I have many they never fail to make me happy.   When I think back to my first garden beginnings I think of my mother in law Peggy, she really got me started with many pass-a-long plants, and she really truly was instrumental to me.  She shared with me many plants, many times, I am grateful for that.  Iris and wood poppies both given to me by Peggy.

  ~ the true mark or spring begginings for me is the first blooms of climbing old blush. I love this rose and it is massive. The long cool wet spring has really been beneficial to the flower form. They are full and very romantic this spring.

 ~ this is the view from behind the fence. Main attraction is on the opposite side, but this view ain’t too bad either!

  ~ Swiss chard “bright lights” yum! This is the best thing to grow. It will grow and produce for a long time. You can cut and steam the leaves, it will grow back time and again.  It tolerates light shade. I have a few little onions mixed in.

Happy spring!

A little glimmer of what is to be….

I don’t have a lot to say except I am so enjoying this wonderful spring!  I am always so thankful when this time comes around again. I love to see the new growth of old friends! Each year the garden changes just a bit, and it really delights me to see what is new, what is different and what is just a little more grown up. When you start with emptiness, it is really delightful to see how things fill in and age.   We have been blessed to have a significant amount of early spring rain, to the likes of what we haven’t seen in years. The garden really has responded. My roses are budding up, and first one out of the gate (as it always is is climbling old blush), it is just beginning to pop.  In a day or so it will be magical. In the meantime here are some early morning photos snapped quickly on my way to work ….

mornings are the best just  staring out the window catching little glimpes of what is to be…

 

 Love this japanese maple..please excuse the name tag..

  I just spiffed up the fountain and cleaned the pump, it is back in action!

 

  another view, with azalea and bridal wreath..

  somehow with my glasses on (read blurry vision) this area looked like Monet with the white bridal wreath spirea, red emperor tulip and fuschia azalea (totally need new glasses perscription, and I only wear contacts in the day time…)

 another view “Monet moment”

  cat on log bathing.. he is so cute!

Spring~

Spring is happening…

azalea’s blooming…

wild plum blooming….

unable to keep bird bath full due to nesting…. 

we are very sentimental about our wild plum planted by the previous owner’s the Scrivener’s… residents in our home from the 40′s to 2002? It does produce lovely little plums.

This is serious!

First, the map~
This is really serious! I live for hummingbirds.! I love them as do all members of my family! We say goodbye to them with a heavy heart and wait anxiously for their return. The map is always consulted, and from yesterday or the day before, it has exploded with sightings. This means they are almost here! So, out comes the feeders and I had to double check my recipe!

Here is a lot of information for any who care to read it! To me it is so fascinating. How do these little creatures flow so far, and know how and when to stop. How do they return to the same area time after time? It is amazing to me.

Here is my last reference to the hummingbirds on their migration south. It is just really calming to me to have these bits of nature to rely on. It is grounding for me to know that I can count on certain things to be, no matter what else is going on. When I put my garden to rest in November and December it is with sadness, but also relief that we made it through another season. Of course I am always chomping at the bit to see winter go. This little map symbolizes a lot for us. Growth and renewal. Faith in something  bigger than us. It is all good!
Get your feeder’s cleaned out and prepare some sugar syrup the hummies are coming!