Tulips as Cut Flowers

A new year. A new project.

Since I have this flower obsession it only makes sense to share it with others who love fresh flowers. It is a laborious project that my back can surely tell you about. Many tulips were lovingly put in the ground (sounds so simple) with compost added then covered again. They went on a hillside so drainage wouldn't be a problem when our Spring rains come. The temperatures are in the teens here so the roots should be growing 8 inches below the soil as the soil temperature is warmer there. Hidden but very busy.

The months of March, April and May they will be dug out with bulbs attached, hosed off and stored in a 38-40 F cooler til market days or florists call. The reason the bulbs are left attached is they have a long storage life until you actually cut them from the bulb and add to a floral arrangement. You will also get longer stem length. Many start showing color at the same time so this helps the grower, me, have a little more time to sell them. 

The tulips that will be available are all billowy doubles that you don't see for sale in your grocery store. These are luxurious and look like peonies. Real showstoppers. Can't wait to share photos with you.

A note here about adding bonemeal. If you are planting with a cat or dog helping they will go bananas over the bonemeal. I used in some beds and didn't in the others for that reason. I think it just as wise to sprinkle fertilizer on the soil when the tulips first start poking up through the ground in the Spring. 

Watch how the Smithsonian gardeners plant tulips here. That soil in the video looks completely different than mine. 

596https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/videos/400-tulips-in-20-minutes/15596

Scottie ACEO Illustrations

It's that time of year that makes our hearts beat a little faster. The early daffodils are blooming. Tulips

are up and the cheery red noses of Peonies are showing! The iris are sharpening their small sword leaves with each other and happiness is in the air.Good bye Winter.

A little Scottie dog aceo painting love. Not just any Scottie. He is a horticulturist quite schooled in the ways of plants and all of their phenomenal attributes.I will undoubtedly learn much from him this Spring. Scottie Horticulturist is for sale on Etsy. 

We have two red foxes that circle the farm morning, noon and night. It's amazing how afraid of humans they are yet they lay low waiting for chickens to fly the coop. We have some that are free ranging, but there are a select few who think they are mountain climbers. Fearless. Those we keep try to keep a close eye on when they are out. Chickens are the best grasshopper eaters around. They can also pulverize your garden in hours so there is a delicate balance to be kept.

Grow on flowers, trees and shrubs! That message is not for the pesky weeds. . .   . 

Mermaid Painting Sea Gardener Daily Art

Etsy store today.

Art -- the great escape from cold blustery weather.

I will go to the beach and swim, dive and sunbathe.

Even if it's only in our minds, I can relive it over and over

each time I look at the painting, when the painting is finished.


Portfolios have been on my mind of late.

"Have recent art and be ready to talk about some of them."

Tell about why you created the piece and what it means to you -

What materials did you use and how you feel you could improve on it.

What if I spent more time and effort telling about how I could improve on it

than what it meant to me? Just kidding, but by painting every day we

can work out alot of those things.

Now art is not always an escape, it's expression, it's about colors,

it's about memories and hopes...and on and on. Soft edges, hard edges.

It's about both you and me and all the viewers.


Now to get my boots on and lock up the chickens!

Bring in the firewood and visit with both Hercules and Ion.

Art can mean something different to each artist.  

Westie Aceo Illustrations

Shop.

It's Fall but we are thinking about Spring already. Thinking about seeds and bulbs and all things green and beautiful. Leaves float and twirl some days and other days the wind whips them by. Mother Nature is playful one day and strict the next hurrying them on their way. I want to get as many oak leaves as I can in the compost pile.

This year I am noticing how beautiful the Korean Dogwoods trees are coloring up now. Some trees here are almost fully decloaked but not the Dogwoods. It's November and they are center stage! They bloom later than the other dogwoods in the Spring and I cannot think of anything negative about them.

We have wood for the fire. Let the wind howl and bring on the seed catalogs!

(Still trying for one aceo painting a day.)      

Original Aceo paintings

At the drawing board and loving it. When we create it makes me feel weight free...until I stand up! Gardening with all it's wonders and helping others has kept me busy before.

The titled of this illustration is Gentleman's Agreement. It's a small 3.5 inch by 2.5 inch painting.  Such a darling size. This boy made an agreement that he would search high and low for the largest flower. He succeeded. You think of all of the men and women who searched the globe and brought plants and seeds back to their countries and today we are enjoying them in our own gardens. Thank you all!

We have had a lovely summer with lots of rain. The plants and garden loved it. Love this new cool fall weather though! Yes!

Do It Yourself Girl Illustration Garden and Farm

How was your Christmas holiday? We had a white one here and it's still white out.
It really is beautiful but if you are not bundled up properly it feels like the North Pole. We run around outside looking fluffy but that means warm and the wind bypasses us.

I've started some new artwork and have a few listed in my etsy store  Dictionaryreader. How many out
there are do it yourself-ers? I know there are many. So here is a little grouping of art
I did for all of us.

Happy New Year is soon! No dieting til then. ;-)

Seeds catalogs are my good friends!

Styling Collage Photography

It's not what you have

 it's how you arrange them.

It's not how expensive the items are

it's about texture and color.

That is pretty much the rules I use

when it comes to styling collage photography.

These are my two photographs from Instagram

I love how art is in everything around us.

Both of these photgraphs were taken with my iphone 4.

You have to love the iphone...easy to carry and usually

always with me wherever I'm at.

We were very, very fortunate that we didn't lose

our electricity during Hurricane Sandy.

There were a few flickers and I waited up a good

bit during the night waiting to light candles while

the wind roared outside.

I feel bad for all of the others who had extensive damage.

Schools were cancelled for two days and many

business offices were closed as well.

Connecting up with Common Ground Linky Party

Frida Kahlo ACEO Portraits

Flowers are a woman's best friend.

 Frida thinks that and 

her hair is the best place to 

display them.   

In this little aceo mixed media painting

Frida picks some for herself and some for you

and left some for the birds to dance on.

We are getting a good scrubbing of wind and rain

from Hurricane Sandy.  Sandy please settle down!

The good thing is we are getting family time inside!

More about painting here. 

Photography and Plants

I love textures in plants and weathered wood.

I love photography and my iphone

comes in handy outside when the lighting

is just right. Not that I wouldn't love

a fabulous, expensive camera, but I can 

have fun with my phone during the wait

(long wait) for a nice camera.  

Fall has arrived and we were bundled up today.

A frost will soon hit us and I don't think it will

be unexpectedly.  Can hardly believe summer

is over outside, but summer will live inside

for the next nine months.

I've been trying to sneak in some artwork.

My schedule is filled to the brim, but it's

always rewarding to paint. Maybe I can share

those next time.

Keep warm. 

Nearly Black Daylilies

July is the month that the heat loving
plants come into play.
The darkest daylilies I have are nearly black.

Yesterday it was above 100 degrees

outside and these flowers stood tall, strong
and never thought about wilting.

(It's been around 100 for a few days now.)

By itself the color might seem too bold,

but put them next to green boxwood,

lemon-lime-colored angelina sedum

and a little variegated silver queen

and they look rather subdued!

This weekend I was reading

that daylilies are edible.

Green Hydrangeas - White Room

We get to enjoy chartruese hydrangeas flowers twice.

When they first form before they bloom white

and then again when they dry.

I love this color with white.

These old soup tureens hold everything

except soup at our country farmhouse.

They make the best vases.

I love the lacy flower petals in abundance

 that look like French pantaloons.

Outside there are other white and green combinations.

Our westie dog got on the hay bale for about 2 seconds

 then jumped down to the shade.

Smart dog.  

Happy 4th of July!

Whether you are inside or out...

Keep cool!

Connecting up with Faded Country Charm
French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday 

French Mirror Doubles as Tray

I love finding things already the color and patina I want.

This vintage mirror is one of those.

Already chippy and white.

Laying it horizontal it made the perfect tray dining alfresco.

Today the weather was beautiful again.

A few of my favorite things were gathered

up and set on the tray. 

The lighting was awesome and I had

so much fun with my camera.

Light was bouncing everywhere.

A sweet spoon from the 1800's

The white hydrangeas are about

the size of a snowman!

They call them Florist Hydrangeas

but they do well to zone 5. Yay!

I had to add flowers everywhere I could. 

The lavender makes me want to iron my clothes

 with lavender water like the French do. 

It might be easier to dry my clothes on the

lavender bushes...like the French do as well!

Mercury glass. Love.

Happy White Wednesday.

Joining up with these friends,

 Faded Charm Cottage,

 French Country Cottage,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

Cottage Garden Party

Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Inspiration

Organic Green Silverware

Today a fair wind brought

many creative ideas 

my way as I worked outside.

Why not make our own edible silverware?

Doesn't that sound fun?

It was for me.

Someone make dinner,

someone set the table,

and someone cut up the silverware.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

I love all of the little details.

This salad would make a

little woodland fairy happy, too.

I pulled weeds from the garden

and tilled part of it for the 5th time,

but who is counting?

Maybe the ideas come from the

jarring of the tiller?

Weeds or flowers or both.

They are still a pretty spray of white.

So many tiny flower petals

surround the golden sun center.

Connecting up with these friends.
Fridays Unfolded
Inspiration Friday
Simple and Sweet Fridays

Table Nosegays and Roses

I love flowers.

Flowers on dishes.

Both ways

on plate designs and

live garden flowers on plates.

Summer is here

and it's a beautiful way

to celebrate it.

Do you remember looking at the window

waiting for it to come?

I had an idea to put an assortment of nosegay

flowers, petals and fronds at each plate.

A little afternoon tea entertainment.

The weather has been fabulous.

Hope you are enjoying Summer!!!

Connecting with: Tuesday Garden Party 
and Between Naps on the Porch

 

White Plate Herb Garnishes

White Pottery Barn Plates are given a little bit of French Country at my home.

A sweet "French Bow" tied out of lavender.

Provence in Maryland!

It's a combination of a nosegay and a garnish. Double the fun. Dual purpose.
The little floral bowls are from a thrift shop. No marks on underneath. I still
think they are pretty, valuable or not, to me they are sweet.

Herbs always look 'glam against white.

Rosemary. It's aroma is unmistakable and lovely.

I put some rosemary ropes and swags on the plates.
It also looks like a crown!

This simple rosemary heart plate went right on the wall for us to enjoy!

Gardens may be time consuming but they give so much pleasure and entertainment.

I would have made more but it's dark out now...

Connecting up with White Wednesday  and Cottage Garden Party

English Garden Mauve Flowers

All of the summer dainties are coming on now. When I walk outside I can't help but snip a few to enjoy inside. I picked a few perennials that were mauve. Mauve is the color the English love to use in their gardens and it seemed fitting today since it is the Queen of England's birthday. (The Queen also loves beautiful gardens I've read. Me too.)  I was tempted to add some contrasting leaves with them, but the flowers were so tiny, except the clematis which looks like a trumphet compared to the small delicate blossoms of verbena, veronica, catmint, agastache, and spiderwart. They are more like tiny bells. Burlap might be considered a bit unrefined but not so when you sprinkle a bouquet  on it.

I  had a jolt when I was pulling out some grass against the rock wall.  I undercovered a garden snake! Eecckkk! Luckily I didn't pick it up with the handful of weeds...and that pretty much ended my weeding for the time being. Snakes are good for organic gardens but we should be working on different schedules I think. This is one time I was glad that I wasn't down on my hands and knees...it's much harder to get up fast. Connecting up with Blooming Tuesdays , Oregon Cottage, Flowers from Today and The House Among Roses

What grows in your garden? Mauves, pinks and whites? Maybe whites, yellows and blue?

Garden Topiary Art

Recently I stumbled upon these beautiful topiaries at a garden nursery.

I haven't seen a flower topiary like this before. Makes me want to get out the chicken wire and clippers and tailor myself  a green shrub flower. It would always be in bloom wouldn't it? 

A mailbox topiary. Too cute! I also like the canopy one on the far left.

Grow this up through your patio table and you would never need to take the "umbrella" down for the winter months.

So many ideas and inspiration awaits at most nurseries. Another great reason for evergreen shrubs and trees. Not that I need one. Connecting up with A Southern Daydreamer and her fun group of outdoor enthusiasts and Fishtail Cottage.

Goldcrest Foxglove Digitalis Orange Perennial

A beautiful discovery for me is this bright gold-orange-perennial foxglove. How would this look with burgundy roses? Or white roses? The name of this one is Goldcrest. We can thank David Tristram of England for breeding it. It's really stunning.  More about David Tristram here.

I love how the leaves are more refined and a little grey green. They are not hairy at all.

My tomato plants are still inside and I am so glad now that they are. Last night there was snow on the hills here! It feels so cold after all of the hot weather we enjoyed and on the west coast they are having 81 in Oregon.  We bundled up today at 38 and rain! The second reason I am glad the tomatoes were tucked away is because two sweet Canada Geese dropped in for a visit and they made a dash through the grass to get to the tilled soil and walked all around looking for sprouts. I've never been thankful for weeds as I was today as I left some around the base of the roses and it kept my campanula sprouts hidden! Thank you weeds for keeping my green babies safe. Canada geese are really elegant though. They don't waddle like ducks. Their necks are curved when they walk like a swan... well at least when they are power walking.

One thing was crossed off my to do list this weekend. Hostas were divided in one bed and relocated. So you see the rain for the last 3 days is just what they need not to get burned. They have such tropical looking leaves in mass and you don't have to dig them up like semi tropicals. Whew! They deliver green all summer!  I would never sniff my nose and say they are too common.

Do you all like the new blogger posting page?

White Flower Hedgerows

White flowers are cheery even on cloudy, drizzle days like today. Hedgerows here have a wide collection of shrubs and trees. So I just picked three, white field notes. Then I divided those up to put in small white milk vases...but first they had to go on the burlap for their portrait. The dogwood is obvious and now for the other two I will tell you shortly. The one looks like a viburnam. It is a tree about 15 feet tall and some varities grow to 30 feet. I need to be on a first name basis with these pretty things. The leaves are as gorgeous as the flowers. Here is a list of recommended viburnums here.

It's time to shear sheep. There will be lots of white wool around to wash and tie.

I'm connecting up with these fun friends:

White Wednesday, Ivy and Elephants, Savvy Southern Style