Late Summer Garden

 Last year we put creeping jenny plugs in our garden.  Even with the high heat we had this summer, jenny blanketed the space around our plants and flowers.

Our hops went a little crazy on the trellis (yes, there is a trellis under that growth)

and against all odds, plus the fact that t.o.b. chopped the plant down almost to the ground, a daisy found a way to push up and out!

A second blooming, although small, of my foxglove made me happy.

Not bad for September

Foxgloves and other beauties

I made several attempts to grow foxgloves at my previous home, but after just my first planting  and some crazy weather here in Spokane this Spring ~~ VOILA!!

 I'm sure it is the better soil Derek gifted t.o.b. with last Father's Day.  Much more successful than the rocky tree rooted dirt in our old backyard.

I love how they poke above smaller flowers and make themselves known.  And they keep blooming up the ladder day by day.

The peonies came with our new home and produced abundant humongous blooms this Spring as well

Not to mention the day lilies we inherited from the previous owners.  Thank you very much!

Ahhhhh HAPPINESS for me.  The little things in life

Oil cloth pattern from long ago (repost)

Every once in awhile I take out my old magazines and go through them page by page.  The ads are fascinating ~ especially those in my April 1928 Ladies Home Journal. 

This particular magazine has ads for ice boxes. Yes, those iceboxes.  The ones where the man actually delivers big chunks of ice to preserve your food for as long as it takes the ice to melt.

And so many ads for the fashions of the day.  Hope to post them in future blogs.  But today it seems fitting to offer patterns for the gardener . . . oilcloth apron, seed belt, cushion and tool kit plus a flower basket.

Seems like a good idea even for today's planter!

A field trip to remember ( from 6 years ago!)

Each spring RoozenGaarde has more than 1000 acres of flowers blooming in their fields located in Washington’s fertile Skagit Valley.  This year I was invited to join five friends on a trip across the state to visit the tulip fields of Skagit Valley.  Pictured here are just a small number of the tulips, hyacinths, crocusand daffodils that were in full bloom while we were there.

RoozenGaarde is the largest flower bulb grower in the United States covering 1000+ acres and a beautiful 3 1/2 acre Display Garden planted with over 1/4 million bulbs and featuring an authentic Dutch windmill!

There are wonderful photo ops throughout the Display Gardens.  One side is bordered by this amazing old worn split rail fence covered with moss in places!

Walking through these lovely gardens on an early April day was definitely a surreal experience and one I was privileged to enjoy with old and new women friends ... 6 of us in all.

(Please click on the photos to get up close and personal with the blooms)

Snow is finally dwindling

Only on the north sides, in this neighborhood, does any snow linger on the ground.  The sun came out for short periods of time today, then hid behind grey clouds.  But it was warm enough, with a light jacket, to take a nice long walk for the two of us.

Last week, while at Joann's for some "necessary" quilt fabric, I walked by the faux greenery and wreaths.  This one brought me back for a second look.  Had to have it!!  

Looks so festive on the grey shingles!

Spokane River

over its banks again this Spring . . .

Love this river!  Wherever you are in the city or outskirts you are never far from this wonderful river.  It flows right through the center of downtown.  We were close to it when we lived at Stateline (where WA and ID meet).  And its just a short drive from our new house.

And just up the hill is Arbor Crest winery.  We will certainly take advantage of this beautiful spot looking down on the whole city and river.

Came across this lonely Canada goose on our walk along the Centennial Trail . . .

New Beginnings

Remembering the wonderful flower box on legs that my son gifted me and how I filled it to overflowing with flowers that first year.

It was a priority of mine to move it to our new backyard.  T.o.b. shoveled the dirt and put it in buckets to make it easier to move.  He and son Derek settled it on the patio at our new home and tomorrow there will be a trip to the nursery with Dawn (my DIL) & Audrey (DIL's mom) to start finding new fillers.

I have THE BEST men in my life!!  They are so good to me.

drip, drip, drip

We have had so much rain this Spring. The river is way up and, we feel like Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula has jumped the Cascades and landed in Eastern Washington!  So lush and green

The sweet grass is ready to dry and braid

My Oriental lilies are early and healthy this year.  Just wait 'til they get some sun.  They will be as tall as me!

 Hostas and ferns are lovin' the cool damp weather

 The lily of the Valley have never spread like they have this year, and bloomed right on time for Mother's Day as usual.

Japanese maple breaks up the green vision of the backyard

as well as the big bronze maple tree in the corner of the lot . . .

Oilcloth patterns from days gone by

Every once in awhile I take out my old magazines and go through them page by page.  The ads are fascinating ~ especially those in my April 1928 Ladies Home Journal. 

This particular magazine has ads for ice boxes. Yes, those iceboxes.  The ones where the man actually delivers big chunks of ice to preserve your food for as long as it takes the ice to melt.

And so many ads for the fashions of the day.  Hope to post them in future blogs.  But today it seems fitting to offer patterns for the gardener . . . oilcloth apron, seed belt, cushion and tool kit plus a flower basket.

Seems like a good idea even for today's planter!

Why can't Spring last forever?

Borne on a gentle breeze, through my kitchen window . . . Spring blossoms perfume

Canadian chokecherry trees

 lilacs already in bloom

 Shauna's redbud

 mystery tree over the fence in the front yard

flowering plum