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. . .   . 

Checked out of Hospital

Luckily my Dad got out of the hospital, not moved to a rehab facility, and is home. I gladly committed to being here night and day until he regains strength and can be back to his independent self. He is so happy to be home. Who would want to look out onto a gravel roof all day at the hospital?

When you have to stay in bed for weeks it really zaps your strength and it takes a bit of time to rebound especially when you are older. All of the physical and occupational therapists come here which is wonderful!

Right now I am looking out over the green fields at some Canada geese. When we came home from the hospital nine deer ran across the hillside jumping and kicking. A pleasant reception to be sure.

We are itching to get gardening again! The above photo is from the Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Rhode Island. (My husband checked out lots of beautiful books for my dad to look at.) One book says this is a camel and another says it is an elephant! Maybe it was originally an elephant that they let grow into a camel? It is formed from California privet which grows fast and is fairly cheap unlike yew. So we don't have any excuses for not growing topiary shaped animals.

Edwardian Cat Named Lester

Lester loves being outdoors even when he is dressed for indoors. Every button buttoned and bowtie tied, but Lester hid his shoes in the bushes so they will stay clean. His feet are feeling the outdoor bliss and if I know Lester he is about to race off and his toy rabbit will be para sailing behind him. He comes here to admire the birds who are not as flighty as the birds at home. The topiary birds move ever so slightly in the breeze just enough to make them seem a bit real.

This is an original watercolor painting on 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and has been finished with a light acrylic varnish. For sale here.

Victorian Edwardian Dress Aceo Painting

I've painted a few victorian and edwardian clothed ladies on aceos. The soft colors with roses and lace have me wanting to plant as many old-fashioned roses as I can this spring. The lawn dresses these ladies wore were delicate and had yards and yards of lace on the cotton. The bodice, the sleeves and the skirt. How did they not tear it when walking through gardens? You definitely had to be a lady and not race your male friend through the rose paths.

I've got some soft, soft white cotton about 5 yards. Now to assemble enough vintage or vintage looking laces to sew up my own. I can't wait.

Original Watercolor Aceo painting is for sale here.

Florida Gardens and travels

The roses here in Florida are loving life and prove you can grow roses in sandy soil! The one pictured above is Frankly Scarlet from Jackson and Perkins. The gardens left on the tags so we didn't have to guess. A wonderful floribunda that blooms and blooms and the flowers have a rich red color. The nights here are chilly, but it warms up in the day quite nice. I had on my jacket when I took these pictures. (I believe I might be the only one in Florida wearing a down jacket at night.)





Our favorite place to buy vegetables and fruit along the road. The prices are wonderful. The grapefruits are delicious, oranges are dirt cheap and so sweet. They have to load most of the produce back up at night and store it safely away from the frosts.




The bismarck palms are the shabbiest grey color. I love how the threads from the palm leaves stand out in the sunshine. These can take a frost which they've had here the past few nights.




Santa was spotted in a store carrying a surfboard and sunglasses. His shirt said, "Ho, Ho, Ho, Dude." His beard had a frost or two. I'll post more pictures when I can download and resize easily.

German Iris Flowers Perennials

Usually on Mother's Day's all of my irises are blooming and full of ruffles. (I hope all of you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day.) Yesterday I had to take pictures of some of them since they are magnificent. Their blue-green sword foliage is some of the first up in spring and the last to die down in the fall. So all around they are a great addition to the gardens. Some bloom in spring and fall now and are called reblooming irises. I do have a few more different varities and I'll try to get their pictures up soon. What is blooming madly in your garden?

Happy Gardening!

I need blinders - Garden distractions

I need blinders just like these horses have so that I can make a straight shot when I go outside. I start out for something and then get distracted by all the plants unfurling around me. Soon I am down on my hands and knees looking at nature's intricate beauties.



Look at the dewdrops on our ladies mantle leaves. It's a wonder any of these are clear because once I get down on my knees the cat starts biting my toe (for fun, mind you) or licking my fingers.



These dew diamonds are little miracles. All these hidden jewels to be discovered today. Did you know that dew will not form if it's windy? The moisture in the air will be fog instead. Nature is amazing.

The silver mound is so ferny you just have to run your hand over it and tussel it a bit.

The peonies are loaded with buds and the ants are rushing around snacking on the sap.

Look at the texture of the leaves and stems of the rhododendren.

I round the bend and the flowering quince wakes you up with it's splash of red and a jolt of sunshine. This ornamental shrub is about the size of an outdoor building. The bright light reminds me why I went outside again. I went out to check on the lambs and to take a short break from painting. It also reminds me to adding weeding to my list of things to do.

I'm loving the paintings I'm working on! Check back.

Log Cabin House with Black Picket Fence

Black picket fencing? Yes, and look how wonderful it looks with the coloring of this old log house. It picks up the black shutters and black door trim. A white picket fence would look out of place I think here. When this house was remodeled all outside boarding was taken off and what a jewel it is now.

This house reminds me of the log cabin quilt pattern with the red square in the middle. I love the red door and the red lantern on the outside windowsill. Colors are everything. Brown, cream, black and red. I would love to make a miniature log cabin quilt with these colors. We've all been sick at our house so it won't be soon. Besides I can't add one more thing to my lengthy to-do-list right now.