Morning in the garden

Look who I found resting on the pepper plants.....a little gray tree frog.

All the poppies POPPED this morning!

Daffodil Dreams

Spring Time Favorite!

I guess I'm about a month behind...this photo was taken in early May.

It's feeling more like summer everyday.

  That is what we were waiting for all those cold winter months when 

we thought it was just never going to warm up!

Well mother nature is sure to continue the cycle.

Sprouting, growing and blooming all that lush greenery we dream about all winter.

Wander about New Hampshire

CATHEDRAL OF THE PINES
Rindge NH

Bell Tower at the Cathedral in the pines Women's memorial
devoted to American Women’s service and sacrifice.

TARBIN GARDENS
West Franklin NH

Fall is beginning with cooler temperatures and shorter days.

The night air is cooling to near 32 degrees.

Time to prepare the gardens for their winter nap.

Summer's Bounty

The front yard garden....less mow, more grow!
I plan to expand in order to keep up with my husband's love to give produce away.

Clematis

I decided to plant some zinnias and cosmos seeds
that were about 5 years old.
They are putting on quite a show!

Our neighbor shared peaches from his trees.
I had such a great time peeling them using a hot water bath.
Then I made a giant pie.

I spent time in the garden on Mother's Day

Early Summer blooms have arrived.

Dappled Willow

Salix int. 'Hakuro Nishiki'

from Britt & Matt's Wedding last May.

The forget-me-nots are from our daughters wedding last May.

New field stone path I laid with 14 stones transported from VT to NH.

It goes to the side door at the garage.

Japanese Painted Fern from Mom's garden.

 This is the small flower bed we dug up last year

so that the perennials would have more room to grow.

The iris and lilies bloomed for the first time since we moved in.

The white foxglove was dug up from Vermont.

Wine & roses weigela in foreground with broom in the back.

Brookgreen Garden South Carolina from November

The Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower Gardens National Historic Landmark in Lake Wales, Florida.
This garden located at 300 feet above sea level;
the recorded highest point in Florida .

The Singing Tower built in 1927-1929 houses the Carillon
made up of 60 bronze bells, weighing 16 lbs to 11+ tons.

The Carillon (60 bells) reside at the very top of the tower

behind these lovely tiled grilles.

Heron and Eagle sculptures were craved in place
at the top and base of the tower.

Edward Bok's study was at ground level complete with a large fireplace.
He is buried not far from the front entrance.

The tower was not in the original 250 acre garden plan
that surrounds the structure.
In all the natural beauty of the Gardens,
Bok believed something was missing.
Remembering the glorious sound of carillons in his native Netherlands,
he decided to build a beautiful Singing Tower
as the focal point of the Gardens.
Architect, Milton B Medary was commissioned to design and build
the majestic Singing Tower.

A Tropical place

The Camellia trees were just starting to bloom in Early November.

Spanish moss drapes and decorates nearly every tree.
We learned at the Orlando History Center that it was also
worn by the women of the Timucua Indian tribe.

The orange groves were just starting to ripen their fruit.
It was really something to see mile upon mile of orange trees heavy with fruit.

Garden Harvest

WE HAVE CUCUMBERS!
I easily pick 3 to 5 every day.
I've given them to relatives, neighbors and co-workers.
I've made salads and salads and salads.
What else you wonder could you do with cucumbers?
Soup, yup done that.
I've pureed them and made cucumber cubes to toss in soup this winter.
My favorite is Cucumber limeade.

Puree a couple of peeled, seeded cucumbers, add 1 1/2 cups cold water, juice from one lime, 1/2 cup sugar (I used maple syrup) and 1/2 tsp of kosher salt and crushed ice. Very refreshing.

I planted herbs in and around the veggies and flowers.

This year I planted scarlet runner pole beans.
Very pretty red blossom and huge beans I believe I leave on to dry.

Was away, got a nasty cold, visit from Irene...everything is back to normal

We went to St. Louis for of a National Tax Conference. It took place at the Hyatt which is right on the park. Just a walk across the road to the ARCH. Well, I failed to take any good pictures of the arch. It's actually so massive that it is quite a challenge to get a good shot. This one is actually taken in the negative.
And of course you can't be in St. Louis without visiting the Anheuser Busch brewery. Just a few miles down the road. This is the original Brew House from 1891 still in operation today.
On our first day in the city we had beautiful 80 degree weather and headed for the Missouri Botanical Garden. We walked for a good two hours and then had lunch in the new cafe.
This fence surrounds the formal rose garden. I love these fun blown glass rays of sun. And we saw other blown glass pieces incorporated through out the garden.

This is the Jewel Box located in Forest Park, home of the 1904 World's Fair.

Half way through the week I got the head cold. I'm guessing I just was not careful enough about washing may hands while in the airport and plane. Coming home on the plane I was so congested that the pressure in my ears was unbearable. When we landed at 1am I couldn't hear out of either ear and that lasted for two days.

We escaped any major hit from Irene. She just left 3 inches of rain and leaves everywhere.
And we are happy to report that our daughter & son-in-law are fine in coastal Stella NC they are now waiting for the power to come back on.

Bits of the the garden

"There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments."
-- Janet Kilburn Phillips