Tiered stand ~

With the arrival of Spring I thought it was time to make a few decorative changes in the kitchen.

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 I decided to start by putting up one of my tiered stands. This stand is huge, if I would have known how large it really was I probable wouldn't have purchased it. The good news it very easily comes apart for storage...each tier fitting within the other.

I took it out, screwed it together and then...hmmm, what to put in it. I have pinned so many ideas for tiered stands that I should be an expert, but like with so many other things, I'm not. 

Then I remembered an adorable vintage tea set, a gift one Christmas from my brother, currently languishing in a closet; time to get it out and enjoy it.

I would put together a tea station. Why not, I love tea and brew a pot every morning, it would be nice to have everything in one central place.

It was fun to gather it all: different teas, napkins, accessories and two charming books on tea. The books given to me by very nice people...thank you again Ralph and Barbara, and you too Jerry. I dressed it up a with some lace and potted herbs.

Now I can pick a selection of tea, brew a pot, and read about it all at the same time! And, it looks rather nice.

I love an easy solution to a problem and if you really get stymied, sitting down with a cup of tea always helps.

Thank you for visiting.

A little something ~

A little something pretty for your day...

Alstroemeria, Sea Lavender and Heavenly Bamboo

Alstroemerias are such great plants and have the wonderful habit of reseeding themselves, often in strange places, but never in my garden, unwanted. Paired here with Sea Lavender it makes a very long lasting bouquet.

Books, gardens, France and roses ~

I don't reread many books, so the fact that I am rereading both of these books says something about how good I think they are.

The first book is, On Gardening by Helen Dillion. To those of you who aren't familiar with her she is a well known garden authority and writer. Her garden in the Dublin suburb of Ranelegh is the most famous walled, and some think most beautiful, garden in Ireland. You can see a bit of it here: Dillon Garden. On a trip to Ireland I was lucky enough to be able to visit her garden which on certain days is open to the public. 

This book is comprised of  weekly articles she wrote for the Sunday Tribune. Written with wit and charm, full of useful tips and gardening philosophy it makes wonderful bedside reading. She has since written other books but this remains my favorite.

  

The other book is: The Greater Journey by David McCullough.

"From a dazzling beginning that captures the thrill of arriving in Paris in 1830 to the dawn of the 20th century the author chronicles the generations that came, saw and were captivated by Paris..." It is a compelling story of the French cultural contribution to America in among other things, medicine, art, and writing.

Fascinating, engaging, and well written it will entice any Francophile, armchair traveler, or those lucky enough to have visited, or plan to visit Paris. 

And this rose...

well it really doesn't have anything to do with books, it is just another one of the antique roses in my garden. I included it because it is so pretty!

Mrs John Laing.  Hybrid Perpetual, 1887

Happy reading. Enjoy your day and don't forget to smell the roses.

Thank you for visiting

Lavender dreams ~

For the past two years, in the far back reaches of the garden where things are a bit rugged and the plantings are very casual, I have been trying to make a lavender walk.

I love lavender, for its appearance in the garden and for its fragrance...it makes a wonderful  addition to bouquets and of course dries beautifully. I like to combine lavender, rosemary and a few roses to make dried bouquets; tied up with a ribbon they look so pretty. I also tuck bunches in my closet to thwart insects and odors. 

Butterscotch rose on the gazebo

But although some Lavenders do well for us I have had a little difficulty getting them established and I have come to the conclusion that in my garden they must be planted before it gets hot. Frequent irrigation will simply cause them to rot.

So I was very happy to walk into the garden shop a few weeks ago and see a nice selection of Lavender in gallon containers, available and ready to plant before summer arrives.

Below is the area where I put them. We were blessed with a nice rain the day after I planted them; plants always seem to do better if they get some rain right after planting. So far they are doing quite well and if they make it through the summer I am hoping that by next year both sides of the path will be completely filled in.

Gardening is so much fun!

Thank you for visiting. 

I hope you have a fragrance-filled day.

Easter ~

Madonna lily in the front garden 

Romance and roses ~

To me there is something very appealing in the simple combination of roses and scented geraniums, plus the combined fragrance can be intoxicating.

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Here in an old glass container I casually put together the old Tea rose Monsieur Tillier, rose scented geraniums and a few sprigs of Santa Barbara daisies. There is certainly nothing elegant about this but  in my opinion the roses with their pale rose, salmon, and purple multi-petaled blooms really don't need much added; their beauty stands alone.

Monieur Tillier Tea rose, 1891

Tea roses are my favorite roses, these are not to be confused with Hybrid Tea roses. Tea roses are a much older class of roses. They need little care, I almost never prune them as I like their large, open growth which fits in with my informal cottage garden style. As far as feeding, an occasional scattering of chicken manure seems to suffice. Granted they do not have as long a vase life as Hybrid Tea roses but the aura of romance in their lovely blooms more than makes up for it. Think of lovely ladies in soft, wispy, pastel gowns strolling at twilight  through bygone gardens and you get some idea of what I mean.

Thank you for visiting.

I hope you have a delightful and very romantic day.

Something new ~ bath salts

One of the nicest things about living in a old house is the wonderful built in clawfoot tub. The slanted back makes it extremely comfortable and the size is just right for me to stretch out and totally relax.

 After a day spent working in the garden a nice long soak is especially lovely and the addition of  a handful of bath salts and a touch of bubble bath can turn a simple bath into a fragrant, silky, luxury. Turning the lights down low, adding music and a glass of wine...total indulgence.

How this all ties together...

 ...well, when I was making Rose Cocktail for my roses a few weeks ago I did a little research on Epsom Salt, one of the ingredients, and also the main ingredient in bath salts, I learned that soaking in a bath including Epsom Salt helps sooth out sore muscles, softens skin, is an excellent way to exfoliate, and along with magnesium is a source of other trace elements. Unlike some things this is a pleasure that is good for you.

All of which led to...

the idea of making my own bath salts.

There were many different recipes on Pinterest, this very basic one is the one I used. You can add lots of other things including various herbs, rose petals, and oils. To add fragrance I used lavender oil but next time I might try something different. If you want them colored you can include food coloring. 

I substituted pink Himalayan sea salt for half of the rock salt to add a little color. I have several of these air-tight jars, but anything with a lid would be okay.

These were so easy to make...wouldn't they make nice hostess gifts.

You might want to give it a try.

Thank you for visiting. 

I hope all of your troubles soak away.

What brings a smile ~

"Now that we have had some rain, do think I could get my hair back?"

I bought this tree man several years ago at a garden shop while visiting my sister in Carmel. I put him on my big shade tree in the back garden. When the tree had to be cut down I removed him and packed him away. A few months ago I came across him in storage and realized that this Liquid Amber tree along the driveway might be the perfect place to put him back up. And it was.

 Seeing him always makes me smile and here I can see him from the windows in the kitchen and the office.

The poor fellow hasn't had any hair (leaves) since he was put here, today however I noticed that buds are beginning to form so pretty soon he will be perfectly coiffed. Both he and the birds will be happier.

 Thank you for visiting, I hope your day has a smile in it.