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

Field Notes of Flowers

This spring I am going to keep track of what's blooming, where it's blooming, and when exactly.
Our lilac bushes were not loaded with blooms like last year. Culprit is deer! It's definitely not the bushes as they are green and lush. I like to think of each blossom as a tiny goblet raised up to cheer on Spring. Cheers!

All of the mustard along the roads are like one long waving ribbon! I think they are delicate and pretty.

I would love to do needlework but there is not enough free time for that right now. The next best thing is to put my field flowers on burlap. It's pretty. Simple. I can look at them the rest of the year.

Has everyone else noticed that there are hardly any honey bees out there? The hornets and bumble bees are out, but the last few years the honeybees are a rare thing. I believe it is more than some disease. I'm certain it's all of the pesticides and herbicides. It makes me want to become a beekeeper.

Succulents and Warm Weather

The weather has been fabulous here. Unusual for March. Today it hit 78! It's hard to stay inside when it seems like we have been inside all winter. Plus the time change gives us extra time in the evening to be outside. Check out the succulents. The colors are super!

We've had the lawnmower going, the rototiller going and the hedge trimmer! This is the time of year when everyone walks around with a big smile on their face! (I mean don't we always?)

Chippy White in the Greenhouse

A very beautiful chippy white chair.
In the perfect place.
A greenhouse.
Aqua blue hose: Accessory.

Connecting with:

White Wednesday
Common Ground
French Country Cottage

Ivy and Elephants

English Style Cottage Garden at My Fingertips

Pop up gardening book!

I feel like Cinderella when I open it.

From above they are just as pretty!

When you open the pages they spring to life

which is what we are waiting for outside.

Books like this were first made in the 1800's

but this one is fairly recent

I picked it up at Goodwill

It has provided lots of inspiration and dreaming

The soft colors of roses, delphiniums and other

cottage flowers make my heart pitter patter faster

Isn't this just dreamy?

Someone has already cut flowers for me!

No deer or groundhogs in this garden

Just flowers and sunshine.

I've collected a few of these books

from the outside you can't tell

what suprises will justle about when

you open the book.

I am still a kid at heart

With a drawer full of seeds to plant

and some in the refrigerator too!

Connecting with Pink Saturday

and Maleviks Rose Garden

Horses and Their Foals Dazzle Us

The pasture is full of life. All legs bouncing, running about and staying very close to Mama when we are near. When the foals are full and tired they lie down and roll on their backs and set back up and nibble on grass like this one. Childhood is great. Foalhood? Is there a term for a foal's baby months?

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.

Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella Fairytale Daily Painting

Spring with it's warm freshness is visiting and in my mind as I painted this with a light and airy feel. I held back on most all of my black, but a little. When I went outside to check on the sheep this morning the deer ran across the field, the birds sang, Canada geese flew overhead, and I thought, "It's a lovely day!" Soon the geese will be making nests by the creek. Fawns will be hiding by the creek, too, in dappled light. I felt like a woodland princess even though I had on a big down jacket, rubber boots and my hair was a bit of a mess! We girls are all a princess at heart.

Colors are soft and play off against the smokey, blue-green background. I put in a pinch of the color red to catch your attention, Snow White holds a red heart instead of an apple and has the tiniest red bows in her hair. You might notice our fluffy white, westie dog made it into the painting, too, by my signature sitting on Cinderella's foot.

This original painting is for sale one ebay.

English Roses: The language of love

Roses are so heady with fragrance and their lush cups of ruffled opulence dazzle us all. The english roses of David Austin look like the roses of the old masters paintings. They are made from some of the same bones, if you will.

I found my 2010 catalog unopened hidden in with some mail. The pictures make you a bit giddy especially if you love roses. David's display gardens in England are perfect! The foxgloves, the catmint, and the campanulas all mixed in and overflowing with happiness!

Our ground is still frozen. But we can surely dream.... To see his beautiful rose selections go to www.DavidAustinroses.com