Yes, I know, I really should mow, but I can't kill these pretty wildflowers!
After a warm, leisurely day of doing battle with the Bermuda grass, I feel light-hearted, optimistic and oh, so smart! I gambled on Monday being gorgeous, taking this day off to tackle the gardens. Mother Nature did not disappoint.
The soil is warm to the touch. Garden beds alive with wiggly, squiggly worms. Flowering trees beginning to bloom. Perennials are plump and green from these plentiful rains.
Are you a consistent planter of flower colors? Or, are you be swayed by the newest pretty thing? Seems every year I find another new 'favorite' color.
Two years ago it was red. Last year, orange. This year's Mother's Day gift is inspiring an entire summer of hot, hot pink.
In spite of the iffy weather, 'twas a particularly marvy weekend.
I thank Habitat for Humanity for these skills. After Hurricane Katrina, BK and I helped re-build homes on the Gulf Coast. We must have looked like we knew what we were doing because they put us in charge of ceramic tile. (Hot Tip: The grout neatly covers up all of your mistakes.)
Meg & Bella celebrate their freedom.
Once the weather cleared, I turned the horses loose to kick up their heels. I secretly love watching horses even more than I do riding them.
The Garden Faerie created Mish Mash Mondays. Isn't she a smart cookie? :)
32 comments:
looks like an absolutely perfect day!
I too am taking more time off so I can get back into the garden. There is so much to do after being away, on holiday, for a month. I love the wind chimes against the sunset in the last photo.
Hi, Kate! I have been having trouble opening the comments here, so I haven't been able to tell you that farming is dangerous, so be careful! And, I love the red and white tulips!
Wow, I'm so impressed with your new ceramic floor, Kate! Wish you could teach me how to do that:) Meg and Bella are magnificent--I don't ride, but I love to watch horses, too. As for colors in the garden, pink and purple are my mainstays, but I've been branching out in recent years. Last year I planted lots of seeds in the butterfly garden without a thought to color--it was so loud you needed earplugs:)
Glad the weather has improved for you, but my recent experience in Oregon has convinced me that we get more rain in Illinois!
One of the things I luv about your blog (and your life) is the variety. Never the same, never boring, but always enjoyable.
I have some favorite colors for the garden, but mostly buy plants that look really healthy to start with because sometimes it's not pretty what happens after I plant them.
Don't cut the grass -- you are NOT a killer of wildflowers.
What pretty young feet you have.
donna
Hi, Wendy!
Yes, it was a marvy time. A day in the garden always sets things straight.
Welcome back Melanie - you lucky gal, disappearing for a month! :) I hope you had a wonderful trip.
Hey, Jan;
Thanks for the heads up. I switched the comments setting. Perhaps that will fix things. Farming is dangerous! I have a feeling after this catastrophe I'm demoted to safer weed wacking!
Thx, Rose;
I'm proud of that ceramic floor, too. I should have taken before and after pictures. The BEFORE pic would have shown you the ancient rust-colored shag carpeting. Ah, the 70's. Now that was fashion faux pas decade....
PS: The earplug garden! LOL! You're onto something. I'd love a tour of that crazy spot!
A thoroughly delightful Mish Mashiest of Monday posts, Kate, that all tied together, like you, beautifully. I'm stunned at your many talents ... I would not even know where to begin with ceramic tiling. Kudos to you and your volunteering stint! Love the free feeling photo of Meg and Bella ...
Wow, helping to rebuild homes after Katrina, I am way impressed. The floor looks beautiful.
I love the picture of the horses, and of the sunset. I wouldn't mow those wildflowers either.
I'll save the save of the columbine for you.
Hi, Joey;
We didn't have a clue what we were doing when Habitat assigned us to ceramic tile. I guess it's like most things in life. You muddle through and figure things out as you go along...
Yay, Sweet Bay! I am so excited for new Columbines! Grazi!
Aw, thanks, Donna;
Say, I really enjoy the new header photo on your blog. So cute!
Kate girl have those Morden rose bush come yet ? LOL .. I really hope they look amazing to you, like they do me : )
I love the grout beauty treatment for your feet ! haha
Horses .. I can still remember my first time on one .. I was three my sister five and of course adults were leading them but I totally feel in love with these gorgeous creatures .. the look the smell the feel .. I haven't been on one since I was a teenager now though .. but watch them if I can ? YES !! I understand what you mean .. that playful freedom they have is amazing : )
Joy
I love flowers, colors don't matter. I keep trying to grow poppies every year, and they always fry when I try to harden them... :(
Your tile photo made me laugh, and your horse photos is just... WOW!
Kate, you never cease to amazing me! Your floor is amazing! I have been getting adhesive off our rentals wood floors, ugh! We are getting almost daily rain - things are so green!
Hi, Joy!
I'm so excited for those roses. I checked them out online after you mentioned them and just fell in love with the color. :)
Hi, Snowcatcher;
Bummer that the poppies don't like you. Seems like they would do well where you live. But, I have trouble with things in this garden that grow like weeds for other people. Maybe give the Iceland Poppies a shot?
Hi, Gloria;
I could do without some of this rain but it's amazing how green and lush the gardens are... now I just need those little posies to start blooming!
Oh such gorgeous pictures! Love the horses and the shot of the tree with the mountains in the background. So glad you're finally getting warm weather - it's about time! A special thank you to you and BK for your help rebuilding my state after Katrina.
We had the same weather here in Wyoming! It's been really nice for about 4 days now.
Love love love all your photos in this post, especially the running horses!
Great job on the tile! I did a tile job in our bathroom last fall. It was fun to do!
Thx, Jean;
I have fingers crossed that the weather cooperates. I'm behind on so many outdoor projects! Much planting needs to be done. :)
Hi, Toni;
Tile is fun! It looks so daunting but it's actually very easy to do, don't you think?
Glad it's warming up in Wyoming. We've had a tough spring...
Glad to read I'm not the only gardener to tile floors as a sideline;) Don't even get me started on decorative tile borders! I'm glad we are done tiling at our house (until the next remodel).
I'm currently into dark, broody colors...until I see something at the nursery in flower that I just have to have!
Christine in Alaska
Hi, Christine;
It's kind of like opening Pandora's box, isn't it? I was at Home Depot drooling over the new tile mosaics today... trying to find a lame excuse to add some tile to the kitchen, too! :)
I love every color of flowers but right now my favorite is pink and lavender. Flowers bring such joy and healing!
Hey Kate: Cool blog and great photos. Especially love the photos of your horses ... they are magnificent!
I go in color streaks too ... last year orange and yellow and this year I'm all about pinks. A girl has the right to change her mind every year, right?!?!?
Mmmm... cookies! I mean, hi! It's so cool you can lay tile--I love the pattern. And cool you volunteered for HfH, too. Now, I don't want to panic you, but you know that photo of the white flowering shrub/tree I should be able to ID but they all look the same to me? There are MOUNTAINS in the background!!
Hi, Priscilla -- Pink, I think, will abound in my gardens this summer, too. :) I'm suddenly out of my blue phase into the pink.
Hi, Beth;
Thanks for stopping by. I wish more Dakota gals blogged. I've found you and Gloria in SD so now I can keep tabs on what's flowering back home! :)
Hi, Monica -- Yep, I'm surrounded by mountains. :) You'll have to come visit sometime. That's a little cherry tree in the pic.
Post a Comment