A Garden Party

Second time I've decided to post bunches of photos, and say very little... (hard for me to do) with the intent of sending this off to the Fishtail Cottage for a Garden Party tour. You can go see what I mean by clicking on Garden Party.



Not a whole lot of progress in my garden since last week's party. Truthfully I'm so busy with my work at Goat Hill Fair, ( <- click to see what work I do) that the house & garden take a back seat until after the show is over. There has been the mundane, not -so- pretty-to- photograph upkeep of a lawn, pulling of weeds, and pruning of overgrown branches.  All much needed tasks, but bo-ring!


Here's some pretty instead ~

this variegated Calla lily is from the garden of  Hubby's deceased Aunt

more vintage signs in the garden

pulling out winter crop and starting seeds

Penny the hen from next door

combo of rose, mock orange, and fremontodendron

star magnolia - long since leafed out...

Look at the same star magnolia image from above ^ done in Waterlogue app.... I love it!

That's all I've got for now. Back to Goat Hill work... anyone want to come along on a tour of that fun place? Maybe I'll post about Goat Hill after the May show...


Happy Mother's Day to the women that make life one beautiful garden....

May Queen

Can there possibly be a better way to celebrate all things flower & garden, and SPRING, than MAY 1st??  It is May Day!

A virtual bouquet to family and friends....  not hung on your doorknob - with a knock-knock to offer you sweet spring salutations... yet, with sunshine thoughts anyway ~

My garden has come alive! The veggies are beginning to shoot skyward. It has taken quite some time for them.. after first planting - some seeds, other starter plants - the Cali weather has been on a roller coaster ride and I do believe the plants stayed in hibernation for awhile, peeking out and then deciding to stay-put for a short time more.

You'll notice that many of my images are Instagram, or shot from my iPhone. Seems such a handy tool when I'm out gardening. It slips quite easily into the pocket of my apron!

I do have a "big-girl" camera.. and she WOWs me every time with the close-up shots I get of individual blossoms. It's just heavy, awkward and potentially dangerous ( to her ) while handling with clay dirt all across my hands!



The magnificent walnut that graces our backyard does not leaf out until late May. So she still looks like this ~

One of the veggies that was plenty happy with the fickle weather - actually preferring some cool, dampness - is the artichoke. We've already sampled some of our homegrown for dinner!  * a little side note: the artichoke capitol of the world is not far from where I live - Castroville,CA. The beachy area near Watsonville and Santa Cruz. Marilyn Monroe was once crowned the May Queen ARTICHOKE Queen!

one from my garden

I have loads of roses I tend...I adore... these grow over an arch intermingled with jasmine. The scent at this time of year as I wander through the gateway to the far back.. is breathtakingly sweet!

Still following me?... step along my gravel footpath... (this is a vintage sign from England - scored at an estate sale many years ago)

Purple lilac... whereas the first image I shared (above) was my white lilac - the white beauty new to me this year as a gift from a set of friends at Goat Hill Fair, to honor the passing of my Mom. Bittersweet but perfect memory as I garden!

I have so many images of my home and garden - my place of quiet content - my refuge...
This post is quite lengthy, so I hope any who follow are still reading ~




A couple of artsy images to shake things up!! hhhaaa

Veggies, again....

How can one resist swiss chard? My gawd the vibrancy...

Now - LETT UCE entertain you!! hha  A little piece of humor & light ... a vintage sink for a plant vessel ~

Yellow is a favorite of mine ~

... and in the front yard too ~

Lady Banks  ^ comes to visit each spring, knocks my socks off and then heads off to parts unknown until the following spring. Me thinks she needs to visit more frequently!! Don't you feel the same about these wonderous plants?




I am linking to a Garden Party and I hope that's where you've been to find my slice of abundant life... go read here { click - Fishtail Cottage }. I'm heading over there to go on some garden tours, myself... can never get too many ideas for the garden! Especially on May Day!

Mornings with the Mournings...

First thing each morning, I go to the kitchen to brew some tea. Always,  an open window is my ritual {Hubby is kind to help}... or I struggle with that 70 year old monster myself if he hasn't had the chance. This window looks out into our backyard garden. On each side of the pane are old twisted-wire plant hangers. We've had some visitors claim these planters as their home! A feathered couple of mourning doves, that I believe are hoping to start a family!

A couple of days after this portrait of Mr. Mourning, the pair left my window...

my pie-bird seems to be crowing at the dove

See the Missus - she's lying down - her black eyes following my lens, mid-picture...

Was so wishing to witness the birth of the babes....
Surely seemed that they might stay with this nest. They definitely weren't frightened by our close proximity, or the camera clicking away!

Maybe next time, Mr. & Mrs. Mourning.... our garden is your garden!



* go visit all of the fabulous blogs that are linked at My Romantic Home!! I'll be there.

Got Statues??

Like garden statuary much? Apparently I have a fixation! While out in my back-forty (hhaa), tending to the massively overgrown garden, I took notice in all of the pieces of various statuary that are artfully gracing my yard. Seems I've got a cement art gallery going on back there! Wanna see?...

wait!... there's more ~

and finally....

looks like some foofing of the bacopa is needed !  ^  a little fertilizing, maybe?


Thus you have my garden gallery! There are a few more pieces a bit worse for wear, in bits 'n pieces strewn about. I really should part with some of those!







* Linked to the lovely blog of My Romantic Home.

The Seduction of Spring

That ole' crusty winter has been whisked away. Spring sent the winds to push it out of our lives for the next half-year or more. Remnants of rain - droplets of winter tears - periodically sprinkle newly planted seeds.

Mesmerized and enchanted by Springs flirtatious ways... that I am! Walking takes on entirely familiar, yet fresh & new emotions..   How delightful the mimosa perfume punctuating the air!
Kaleidoscopic color feeding my eyes.  So enticing the soft pink fruit tree petals cascading from the boughs... only to land in diminishing puddles and float in circles for a time.

Spring - deserving of an award for starlet of seasons. You make me smile - take my breath away at the beauty of nature - I sit in wonder of it all!

Joys are abundant in my garden, at my home during this early springtime in California! Lucky me!



*** Linked to: see more home joys at Romantic Home..

Picnic Perfection!!

How delightful does this look??!! Here's what I wish to be doing this weekend ~

image from French Essence

We've been asked to join in a picnic. Yes, it will be set in redwoods. Very near to our home. In that hilly town of Los Gatos... {I've not talked much of walking there lately}. 'Tis likely we'll meet , but we're double booked....

HA! Such is the life... too many things to do, too many friends to visit, too much food to partake!




{I borrowed the picnic photo from French Essence - who got it at this lovely site}
http://www.inpraiseofshadows.se/solbrinken.html

Love Notes and Hearts

During the "winter of cleaning" that has been going on in the cottage 'oer here, I've come across some fun mementos. They've got lots to do with love and heartfelt feelings and the showing of emotions.

Valentine's Day. Hearts and notes of love suit this day well....



Stuck back in a closet and refound - this vintage silk covered heart pin cushion.  The kind of odd object that I adore finding at an estate sale...  ->

This pink vintage candy box ^ was filled with cards, good wishes and notes of love. My family - Hubby, parents, brothers and sisters stuffed this box with goodness of the non-chocolate type for my 50th Birthday. The sweetness inside oozed with emotion.... 100 times more potent than a confection indulgence.

special notes from Hubby & my brother

Two vintage hearts -

A thoughtful note from my niece sent to me upon the eve of her college graduation. So happy that I printed it and stashed it away. Only to be found, and now coveted... never to be misplaced again.

On another night I will sit and share the delight I feel for some recent love notes....
They are ridiculously silly, quirky and one-of-a-kind!! All from my Valentine.

** read more about love, love of home, and love of garden at My Romantic Home!

Yukon Cornelius {He Has Nothing To Do With This}

Ya know the part in the vintage Christmas animation of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, the boisterous character of Yukon Cornelius puts his mining pick into the ice, sticks his tongue out, and with a slight "tttthhh" sound - he exclaims: "tttthhhttthhh NOTHIN'"??! do you remember?...

That's precisely what I've got for a blog post today....  ttthhhtthh NOTHIN'... much. Some little stuff here and there ~

Clear Lake, CA

Girlfriends enjoyed a getaway at this lovely place ^ . Laughter is good medicine.

A local team  {and favorite of mine} the San Francisco 49ers played and ultimately lost the Super Bowl..... there's always next year.

Your City shines brightly with or without a trophy stating you're #1. You ARE number ONE!

Winter keeps hold. Yet, Punxsutawny Phil says spring is coming round the bend. My garden and I relish this thought. Bleak times in the backyard.... still found time to play with the camera and found beauty on a rainy day ~

My work pleasure is continued and currently underway for the newest event on Goat Hill {vintage} Fair's Spring show. Lots to be done. Fun ideas in my head, many new contacts being made - as well as keeping current with our old friends at www.goathillfair.com.

See? isn't this such a mish-mash of topics? this is what goes on in my head on a daily basis!  :-)



I've hit the TV hard for all awards shows. The red-carpet is such fun. And I give it my all to see the movies nominated for those type awards. Cannot seem to talk myself into paying and sitting with eyes clenched shut for Django Unchained. Though I have found Quentin Tarantino talented in his unabashedly unmerciful use of violence... a little goes a long way!

Argo had me on the edge of my seat. Flight was sad and brutally honest about one man's struggle with alcohol. Silver Linings Playbook - filled with great actors -  was tormented in an easy to watch way. Looking at Bradley Cooper makes it very easy to watch! So pleased to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in the mix. I was delighted and transported when I saw this nearly a year ago. Quite an experience. Makes me long for sun, color, warmth & travel just playing it back in my mind...

Adore Dame Judy ^. Cannot get enough of Maggie Smith either!! Is she everywhere? or is it just me... I recently saw her in the new film "Quartet".. and to be honest - I've been watching more television than just award shows. HURRAY that I've decided to join the world and become a bonafide Downton Abbey junkie!! Maggie and crew are superb. This is one area of my grossly disorganized topic conglomeration that Yukon Cornelius would NOT say...


ttthhhhttthh - Nothing!  Yukon would say gold was struck with Downton!!


Will anyone find this tantalizing reading?? doubtful... yet, I decided that there's enough garden content to be considered within boundaries to share over at Romantic Home. I'm a rebel like that! Yukon would like me!  hhaaa