Easy and Lovely ~

Last summer I had some of the prettiest Zinnias in the garden: they were all in various pastel shades. Zinnias come in the most wonderful different colors, sizes and forms, plus they face up well to our long, increasingly hotter summer weather and are super easy to start from seed. I made the discision then that next year I would plant lots and lots of Zinnias.

 

 This year I was once again able to get a good selection of seeds in soft pinks, lavender, pale yellow, and   I added Envy, a beautiful chartreuse colored zinnia to the mix.

 

 Because I wanted a lot of plants I mixed all of the packets of seeds together and planted them in seed starting mix in a discarded flat. First I lined the flat with newspaper; I find this works well. That was two weeks ago and now you see all of my abundance of little seedlings, in a couple more weeks I can plant them out in the garden!

These are from last year, aren't they pretty ~ you can see why I love them.





 

  If you get a chance try planting a few Zinnia seeds, so easy and you won't be disappointed. Oh, I almost forgot.. they also make great bouquets.

 

Thank you for visiting I hope you have a flower filled day.

 

Un peu de beauté pour votre journée ~

It will come as no surprise to you who know me, but I love tools and equipment, all of those wonderful aids for sewing, gardening, painting, woodworking, and the many other endevors. I think many tools can be attractive in themselves, thus this photo of an old, very well used watering can. I have several watering cans stashed throughout the garden just in case something needs a quick watering. This one sits next to some blooming Alstromeria. I thought that I would share it with you as a little something to add beauty to your day! 

 

 

I am looking forward to be taking a photography class this coming weekend, I love my camera but I don't use it to it's potential; I hope to learn all sorts of interesting new things. Meanwhile, as far as equipment is concerned I am struggling with trying to assemble a garden cart...more of that later.

 

Thank you for visiting ~ Have a lovely day.

 

Not a Pretty Post ~

What a mess!  My poor, old 30+ year old deck is finally being rebuilt and instead of flowers, wood and tools are littering the rear garden.

 

 

 

All of the joists and support beams are being removed and replaced. About 75% of the flooring will be turned over and reused ~ thank goodness for the durability of redwood. It will all be sanded down, stained and sealed.

 

 When I see how damaged all of the old supports were I am surprised I haven't walked out and fallen through!

 

Lattice panels will be built for under the deck, and the flower border will be completely redesigned and replanted with an emphasis on easy care and low water usage.
 

 

Hopefully in another week all of the construction will be done, the mess cleaned up and the deck will be ready for enjoying this summer.

 

Thank you for visiting and Happy Mother's Day!

 

Eden ~ A Touch of Paradise

 

The roses have been particularly splendid this year, I don't know why, we didn't get any extra rain; perhaps it is because the winter here was so mild. 

 

One of the most spectacular and charming climbing roses in my garden is Climbing Eden: most aptly named for this beautiful rose is exactly what you would expect to find in paradise.

 

 

 

Eden is a french rose hybridized by Meilland and does extremely well in warmer climates. Although a robust climber it is restrained in growth and doesn't intrude as so many climbing roses do.  The flowers are amazing ~ multi-petaled, with a slight variation in color, globular in shape and sweet smelling. Stylistically, they fit in perfectly with David Austin and antique roses.

 

 

I am making plans to replant a large border adjacent to my deck that is currently being rebuilt and I think including another Eden to clamber over the railing is a must. What do you think...isn't she gorgeous?

 

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a rosy day.

 

This post has been linked to: http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.

 

 

La brouette rouge ~

Some women crave jewels, candy, and luxurious lingerie, not that I don't enjoy all of these things but I also have a thing about tools and equipment, especially for the garden. And red wheelbarrows are my special weakness. So when I went to Costco last week and found that they had these beautiful  wheelbarrows well, I simply couldn't leave without one!

 

 

 It was heavy so they loaded it all in the car for me. It came in three parts: the handles, the actual metal bucket and a box full of as it turned out, lots and lots of nuts and bolts and a sheet of really bad directions.

 

I have never put a wheelbarrow together before and I must admit it was a bit daunting, but I got it done with everything in the right place and no leftover bits and pieces...

 

After I got it all assembled I put it on this cracked concrete pad adjacent to the driveway...it's so shiny and new I hate to get it scratched and dirty ~ maybe I will fill it with potted plants and use it as a planter for the season.

Here she is my beautiful new brouette rouge...wheelbarrow sounds so lovely in french!



 

 With my new found skills I just might tackle assembling that garden cart that has been sitting boxed up in the shed for the past several years!

 

It's amazing what we can do when we have to.

 

Have a lovely day 

 

This post has been linked to: http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

 

Un peu de beauté pour votre journée ~

Here is a little beauty for your day...it certainly added some to mine!

 

The first of the Clematis to bloom; The blossoms are huge and in such lovely colors. So pretty and sadly I don't remember it's name: oh well.

 

 

I love Clematis but they do better for me in pots, some of them are getting quite large and scampering up the lattice in the gazebo and the climbing roses. In our climate we can cut them back after the initial spring bloom and they bloom again.

 

I however have never found the time to do it...but this year by hook or by crook I am going to!

 

Have a lovely bloom filled day!

Time to go to Bed ~

After a busy day it is always nice to look forward to slipping into my soft, comfy bed and relaxing with a book or two...or sometimes watching television. I love my bedroom, it is one of my favorite rooms in the house. Last night after working all day in the garden and a nice hot shower it sounded particularly appealing.

 

 

 

I like to keep a few flowers on the bedside table along with some books I am currently reading and a fragrant candle. This candle is Fig from Flora and Fauna, a really lovely fresh scent.

 

 And the roses...a David Austin introduction: Mary Rose. It is the rose that many years ago 

 started the  the interest in Austin roses in Southern California and in my opinion is still one of the best. All of the wonderful petals plus its amazing size and wonderful fragrance.

 

 

A few books, some lovely flowers,and the sweetness of fragrance in the air...come on Miss Twiggley it is time to go to bed!

 

 

 ~ Bonne nuit et doux rêves ~ 

 

This post has been liked to: http://www.ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

 

The Birthday Girl ~

It is Miss Twiggley's birthday, hard to believe but she is already a year old. I thought I would share the year in photos with you.

 

Here she is at three months old, the day I brought her home ~ how could anything be so adorable...

 

 

...taking a little snooze on a kitchen chair, still a tiny kitten

 

having a bit of teenage fun investigating...

...almost fully grown enjoying the sun in the entry hall window

 

A big girl now...I love how her nose is half black and half pink, she really does have remarable patterning.

 

 

In all of her glory ~ such a beauty!

 

 

I can't tell you how much fun, enjoyment and companionship Miss Twiggley has brought to me. I searched for over two years before I found her and it was well worth the wait.

 

Thank you once again Tracy for breeding such wonderful feline friends.

 

Meow