Time for linen and gardens -

Officially it's not Summertime quite yet, but it certainly feels

 like it here with temps in the high 80's all week.  

It's an excuse for a brief 'fashion post' which I haven't done in some time.

My wardrobe changeover is underway!  

My heavy sweaters, coats, jackets are gradually being cleaned/washed

and stored away. . . . . . . and the linens are hanging in the closet.

I've purchased a new, slightly loose cut - the style this year - cream

 linen blend blazer/jacket. Very comfortable, doesn't wrinkle too much, 

and I wore it out to lunch on Wednesday over a tan/cream striped tee

and khaki loose cut cropped trousers. 

I love neutrals and stripes in case you don't know!

I also pulled out a pair of sandals and so enjoyed airing my

 toes after months of socks and boots!

Haven't worn a straw hat yet but have a couple at the ready for

bright sunny days, especially when gardening . . . . . . which

I'm busy doing a lot of lately.

This week the ancient John Cabot Canadian rose has gone a little

 berserk and is clambering up the arbor to twirl with the trumpet vine. 

Pink with orange was not planned but actually looks very colorful.  

Let's face it, anything blooming in a garden is a gift, all colors are

 lovely with a green background!

I've planted several large pots of herb seeds, also little peat pots

of hollyhock seeds which I hope will germinate and grow 

where planted later.  

This week I also shopped for the annual hanging Boston ferns

for the front porch. I don't buy the largest as they grow fast and

 soon fill out with a little TLC. 

Already I'm gently shooing away the finches - as soon as they see 

a fern swaying in the breeze they think of building a nest. We

 allowed that to happen some years but they are such messy

 little birds and we'd prefer they move in elsewhere, away from

 where we often sit outside!

Feeding and watering the birds keep us busy enough! We don't

want to be grandparents to their offspring - especially since 

the scary visit a few years back when the five foot long

 fat black snake came to the porch looking for finch eggs in the

 baskets. . . . . . and scared me half to death as it slithered silently

 across the wicker chairs where I was sitting!!! Despite not being a

 venomous snake I still never want to see one that close again.

I'm shaking just writing about it!

The weekend weather here will be mixed - full sun and a high of

 84F today, with rain tomorrow and then back to sunshine and a little

 cooler on Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend.

What's up with Comments?

This is a test post of sorts. 

For some reason which I can't fathom, there seems

 to be no way anyone can leave comments on my previous post from yesterday!

I've checked all my settings and haven't changed anything there so have

no idea what's up!

Feelings.

Feelings brought on from being in a favorite place.

Feelings of home are the best.

Feelings of being messed up by Blogger/Google/whatever, are frustrating!

Yesterday morning the sun was shining brightly casting shadows onto the brick

pathway by the arbor. At last the new jasmine vines are climbing happily.

 Come Autumn they will have to be taken down if we decide to go ahead  

and paint the house, not looking forward to that.

The day was due to heat up to steamy, languid afternoon hours, and it actually

 did reach 100F, then a huge thunderstorm and heavy rain came in the early evening.

Summer is here.

Please try to leave me a little comment today so I can see if it's working.  Many thanks.

Come into the garden. . . . . . . .

pril:  late afternoon in a North Carolina garden. . . . . . . . . .

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were

 voices instead of colors, there would be an

 unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. 

~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke~

The leaves reach out like bright green hands and already tiny figs are
 appearing on the Celeste fig - the main harvest will come in the heat of late Summer.

Afternoon shadows are cast across the garden - this view below is looking
westward - the setting sun is sometimes just visible through the trees. 
It is now so green everywhere, almost hurts your eyes - photos definitely 
don't require any color tweaks!

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.

~ Virgil A. Kraft ~

The arbor needs painting - the entire cottage actually - all will have to wait

 until Autumn because I haven't the heart to cut back shrubs and 

 vining jasmines both here on the arbor and climbing the front porch.

We had a little work done this past week. The gazebo needed a few new screws,

 the deck steps some new wood, and if you look to the mid-left in the above photo,

 the new low stone wall will hopefully divert water runoff from the sloping land

 behind us. This is becoming a problem in heavy rain storms as our grass and topsoil 

are being eroded and the water pools around the gazebo and under the deck.

Always something requiring attention it seems.

Variegated Solomon's Seal already blooming - I love this perennial.

Acer palmatum 'Dissectum' - the bright green Japanese maple. 

Purchased several years ago, it was a very small version in its little pot.

These are expensive trees! No idea it would do this well, although I have given

it a lot of TLC over the years. I've lightly pruned it a couple of times but think

it will require more work come late Autumn when the leaves have fallen and

 the central wood can be seen more easily. Overcrowding there can cause poor

air circulation making the tree prone to fungal diseases. Pruning these trees 

is almost like an art - many rules to follow in order to keep it healthy, shapely,

and looking beautiful.

Visitors are nesting in the birdhouse.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch family now includes squeaking babies. 

(Click below for more on this cute bird)

http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2016/03/after-rain-comes-spring.html

The mom and dad, sitting on the roof or a nearby fence, squawk at me if I get close.

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would

 always greet it in a garden.

 ~Ruth Stout~

I have to agree, I feel exactly the same way!

Just wish I still had the stamina and strong back to spend an entire day

 working in the garden - these days it's a little at a time.
Speaking of which, we are heading out in our gardening gear this morning.
After picking up supplies such as mulch, a few plants, and packets of seeds
yesterday, there is work to be done. Most of the pollen is over hopefully so
 lots of washing down of outdoor furniture, cushions also.

I must away - hope your weekend is wonderful.