A Lovely Season -

Keeping busy preparing for Easter as springtime envelopes the landscape. Bluebells are ringing........narcissi perfume the air in that rare, brief loveliness of the last cool days before the intense heat arrives here in the southeast.

Not quite 'hopping' along as the influx of rabbits seem to be doing, but enjoying the 

days leading up to Easter as all around the garden bursts forth with fresh new

 color and loveliness.  Staying busy meeting up in person with friends 

'misplaced' over the years for one reason or another - springtime often brings

 that, fresh new starts after Winter hibernation. I'll be back soon to share

 azaleas, garden birds. . . . . . . and some travel plans for this year!

The week that was!

This past week went well despite ongoing heat and no rain at all. Dragging out the garden hoses helped the shrubs a little . . . . . . . but obviously didn't help with my shoulder and back issues. Thankfully Bob took over when I'd done my bit!

We did take a side trip over to the North Carolina Museum of Art after picking up the laptop from the certified Apple dealer. Luckily we thought to throw hats in the car having planned to walk through the gardens and park area, but not go inside the buildings. Being so hot, 91F, we didn't stay too long but did enjoy a walk and a rest along the way. As Noel Coward wrote eons ago, only "Mad dogs and Englishmen (and in my case, women) go out in the midday sun", and yes we were almost alone which made it quiet and peaceful. It was hard to resist dipping toes into the pool in the Rodin Garden, and lovely to see waterlilies surviving the heat.

Should have taken a chilled drink with us!

The Mirror Maze

North Carolina Museum of Art

Raleigh

Auguste Rodin

French 1840-1917

The Three Shades

I did turn on the oven to bake one thing this week - another apple and
 plum galette - but kept meals to salads mostly.

This salad was quick and easy to make and is really good. 

My dear friend Ruth in Wiltshire, England shared it this week

 and I made it, along with grilled salmon on a bed of kale quinoa,

for supper in the gazebo last evening.

Haricots verts steamed for a few minutes until still a little crunchy.

Drain well and, while still warm, add small tomatoes cut in half, some

 chopped red onion and a garlic clove. Toss with a simple dressing of

 one part red wine vinegar, two parts good olive oil, and freshly ground

 pepper - we have cut back on salt so left that out and didn't miss it at all!

As for the flowers, the addition of two beautiful elephant ears (gifted to me by

 my hair stylist on Friday when getting my hair cut) really took them to another level. 

Note I added my sweet leather elephant to the table . . . . . seemed appropriate.

Hope you are enjoying the Labor Day weekend.

Here's to another good week ahead.

Life's Ups & Downs. . . . . . . .

Yes, I'm back on my newer laptop. Picked it up yesterday and everything

 appears to be OK. 

I've stayed busy this week cleaning out kitchen cabinets, sorting through

spices and dried herbs etc., throwing out some which were far too old, 

cleaning containers I will keep. Wiping shelves, bottles, dry food

 containers etc. 

What started all that? 

 A near kitchen disaster, one I'll tell you about just in case you ever

find yourself about to do what I did.

CHIA SEEDS.  

If you use them be careful . . . . . . . . don't make the same mistake

 I did last Sunday!!!

When I took out the glass container to add some seeds to my

 breakfast yogurt, I noticed some disgusting little worms crawling

 up the inside. 

I was so upset and grossed out that in my haste to dispose of the

 entire contents, about 6 ounces, I dumped the lot down the

 garbage disposal and turned it on.  About an hour later Bob

 asked me why the water in the other sink - we have a double

 sink - was not running down the drain!

Then I realized what I'd done. Chia seeds are so tiny and yet

 once wet expand into a huge gelatinous mass. . . . . . .which

 they had done in my drainpipe. If you add them to smoothies

 and don't drink them quickly you will have noticed this.

It took several hours with a container of drain de-clogger, hot

 water, and a neighbor's plastic 'snake' before the clog dissolved

 and water gurgled down the pipe again!

Thankfully no call to a plumber and a huge bill.

Are you planning something big for the Labor Day weekend?

We will be spending time watering that's for certain. With no rain

to speak of and continuing high temperatures the garden is sad, 

dry as a bone, drooping and dying.

Enjoy your time.

 

February freeze time -

This has been a somewhat strange week.  
Weather all across the board. . . . rain, fog, sunshine, ice, more rain and cold temperatures.  The painless needle in my arm came back to haunt me in the dark night when Covid #2 vaccine played havoc, fever, chills and the run over by a bus sensation.  Don't let my personal reaction put you off though, get the vaccine, and the good feeling later that you are much safer and will be ready to stretch your wings and take flight again soon.

Wings.        Delicate feathers.         Our feathered friends.       The way to fly.

The garden birds are also tired of rain and cold.  On the warmer, sunny day they seemed so chirpy.  We cleaned out the birdhouse - still filled with nests of twigs, moss, grasses and such. Now ready for new construction crews who will hopefully arrive come spring.  

My Valentine flowers are still looking lovely - when they start to fade I will dry the roses. On that sunny afternoon I sauntered around the garden to prepare a list of all the work we need to address come spring.  Many bulbs are pushing through that soggy earth and two daffodils were already blooming. . . . . . . always a lovely sign that things are looking UP!

A change in the air. . . . . . . .

If you are celebrating Labor Day have a great time.

Hurricane Hermine has certainly made the holiday weekend a bit of a

 wash out for many on the east coast. Fortunately we got off lightly,

 mostly saturating rain on Friday, but thankfully no strong winds bringing

 down trees or causing power outages in my neighborhood. 

I feel for those who have damage from the storm in surrounding areas.

Just one week until my big trip. I have plenty ahead to clear my

To Do list, so my Labor Day will be busy.

Eastertime. . . . . . .

I'm not doing a lot of Easter decor around the cottage this year.

As we're getting ready for a big trip in a few weeks I'm just trying to keep 

my head above water with so many things on the calendar . . . . . such as the 

garden in need of much TLC; doctor, hospital and physio appointments; and of 

course deciding on what to take to wear in Europe where the weather is always 

somewhat unpredictable, going from cold to hot in no time depending on which 

country you happen to step ashore on.

Meanwhile, the white rabbits did hop out of storage in the attic.

The daffodils bloomed and the tulips are coming along well, although

the azaleas are so late this year.

A couple of girlies are getting Easter baskets - and there

will be eggs enjoyed in some type of disguise, whether soft-boiled

for breakfast, hidden in a cake, or scattered about the front lawn 

for a little hunt.

May Easter be a very special time for you and your family.

Don't forget, one post back you can enter my GIVEAWAY for a 

free beautiful large canvas print of your favorite photo.

Wishing and hoping. . . . . . .

There was a little warmth in the air on Monday, a slight feeling of a 

change on the way. 

Then yesterday brought more rain and misty bone-chilling grey. 

Even the birds went into hiding leaving the branches bare.

The garden has nothing much to offer yet so I bought some cheerful 

flowers at Trader Joe's.

Hurry Spring. . . . . . you will be welcomed with open arms!

Millions at last count . . . . .

There he was on my birthday morning as the sun came up, 

munching breakfast on the deck.

No, millions of grey squirrels have not invaded my 

garden - maybe just a dozen at the most recent count -

but this year is one of those bounty years for acorns. 

Millions, trillions, perhaps even a gazillion, are 

carpeting the back garden.

In the sunshine the camellias literally glow. . . . . 

. . . .the golden angel trumpets continue to open and dangle above the overgrown lantana. 

A few late hydrangea blooms wait patiently to be cut and 

dried at just the right moment when their brilliant blues 

turn rosy pink tinged with olive green.

Along the back fence the jasmine has clambered cautiously 

all summer. Here and there a golden leaf falls into a 

special little place announcing autumn's arrival.

Early clouds soon cleared leaving a cobalt sky, perfect 

weather for a birthday, or any day.

I have pansies to plant, along with bags of tulip bulbs. . . 

meanwhile I'm just enjoying these last warm, clear days of 

autumn.

Thanks to each of you who sent birthday greetings, 

I was thrilled to be remembered as yet another 

year passed by and a new one began.

State Fair flowers and gardens . . . . .

Our state fairgrounds cover 344 acres in Raleigh, North Carolina's capital. Most weekends during the year a huge Flea Market is held here, but come October the annual State Fair and Agricultural Exposition, dating back to 1853, takes over for 11 days when over a million people attend. For the past few years I've been traveling at fair time so have missed visiting.

Once away from the raucous midway, the exhibitions are fun and range from livestock to fudge-making, but I have to admit my favorite on Monday was the Flower & Garden Show area.

First off, at the entrance to the gardens I was amazed by the tall yellow flowers with beautiful sprays of bright green leaves. I immediately looked for a Master Gardener (thank you Ms. Effie)to find out what they were and how could I get some. They are the Senna alata (or Cassia alata) - also called the candle bush, candelabra tree, candle tree or ringworm tree(medicinal use includes making a paste of the leaves to treat ringworm). Being a tropical plant, they are grown here in pots from seeds which require a start in a greenhouse in early spring. They will not over-winter in our horticultural zone 7b. I doubt I'll be growing any - will just make a note to come see their loveliness at the state fair next year.

More candelabra trees mixed with other tropicals, angel trumpets, roses and coleus - so pretty.

I was extremely interested in the splendid garden design section. 
There were many themed gardens, these two were my favorites - 

. . . . loved the idea for all those empty wine/water 

bottles - make a waterfall out of them - and the vertical 

wall garden is fabulous.

Bonsai ~ have you ever tried this very interesting type of gardening? The tree or shrub is dwarfed by pruning the roots and pinching back, and is grown in a pot or container and trained to produce a desired shape or effect.

Last but not least by any means, the autumn chrysanthemums in all their brilliant colors. Yes, there were plenty of pumpkins also but I know by now we've all seen as many as we can handle - until Halloween is here of course.

Hope you've enjoyed this little stroll through the 

North Carolina State Fair gardens.