Snowballs and I go way back.  Not the kind you form from freshly fallen snow, but the kind that grows on branches.  

For as long as I can remember, my momma had a snowball bush growing just outside her kitchen window.  A bright and sunny window that welcomed the afternoon sunlight ... a cheerful spot that could turn a most ordinary day into a breath of fresh air.  I loved doing dishes in momma's kitchen, that says a lot right there.  I have so many memories of momma's snowball bush full of blooms in springtime, and the sun filled window making a rainbow of colors that danced in the soapy dishwater.  Mostly, it was momma making this time special...and I still enjoy washing dishes in her sink beneath the sunny kitchen window...even though the snowball bush is long gone.

So, I made sure to plant two in my garden and the memories flood back every spring as they bloom in my garden and I bring them indoors to enjoy, like these in the dining room.

The Likes of Which We've Never Seen!

Since purchasing our place in the mountains there have been many times I've felt like a little girl again, as time and time again I am filled with such wonder and excitement over the views, creeks, waterfalls, and nature surrounding us in our neck of the NC Smokey Mountains.

On this special day, we saw the likes of which we've never seen!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Spring Garden

Wordless Wednesday

I'll Be Missing Summer...

I love autumn.

But I have to confess, I'll be missing summer.

I'll miss the long warm days of sunshine.
The garden bursting with beautiful blooms,
butterflies,
bees,
and
I'll especially miss the hummingbirds.

Late Summer and a Little Surprise

Are you like me and have mixed emotions about the summer season coming to an end?

In the South the autumn season puts on quite a show as cooling temperatures usher in a turning of leaves that is absolutely beautiful; I just wish winter didn't follow so close behind.

We've been getting a little more rain here lately with a few quick shower here and there, but I'm still having to water every other day or so.  I do believe the azalea bushes are suffering the most; they have such a shallow root system and the leaves begin to droop if I'm not consistent in giving them a drink.

Though it's late summer and much in the garden has faded there is still beauty to enjoy, like the sweet autumn clematis growing on a trellis at the back of the garage.

A Hydrangea Morning ~ Drying and Propagating

Silk hydrangeas make for a beautiful Dining Room Centerpiece.

And they are oh so pretty picked fresh from the garden, like these hydrangea in a blue Ball jar.

I also enjoy decorating with dried hydrangea, but most of mine have been cut from the bush, already dried and brown, like these Hydrangea in the Keeping Room.  They are pretty but I want to dry some fresh cut from the bush while they still have color.

A good friend of mine has hydrangea bushes that are huge.  Her house was built in the early 70's and she thinks the bushes were planted by the original owners. Year after year these two hydrangeas, planted side by side, are full of huge and beautiful white blooms.

Last year I cut some hydrangea from her bushes, but it was after the blooms had dried on the bush and was brown.  Since it's mid-August and the flowers are just beginning to show signs of turning colors, I wanted to cut some for drying, so she said to come on over.

You'll have to forgive me for the iPhone pictures, it rained last night and I was soaking wet by the time I finished cutting, so I chose the quick and easy way to take these pictures.

Knock Outs and More Favorites

Roses have always been one of my garden favorites.
Though finicky and magnets for pests and disease...there is just no other flower quite like the rose.

As years pass,
our property becomes more shaded,
so there are fewer roses in my garden,
but oh how they steal the show.

Changing Up the Kitchen Island

A while back I shared about the bunny garden pot holder I got for my birthday, Bunnies in the Farmhouse Kitchen.  They are super cute and it's been fun alternating plants, now they are holding one of my favorites, rabbit's foot fern.

The bunnies are still on the island, I just slid them over to the other side to make way for some beauties I brought in from the garden.

A Favorite Place

If you drop by to see me in the spring or summer

you'll more than likely find me in the garden,

one of my favorite places to be!

Damsels in the Garden

Rounding the side of the house is a shady area with lush green shrubbery,
pachysandra ground covering,
an old urn filled with hosta
and
a lot of activity!

There is fluttering,

flitting

and

flying,

as the broad winged damselflies do their dance.

They are beautiful and remind me of butterflies!

Peonies ~ Benefits of Light Colors in the Garden

I love this time of year.

Being outdoors and working in the garden is like therapy to me...good for the soul!

Two of my favorite garden shows are P. Allen Smith's Garden Home and Erica Glassner, the host of A Gardner's Diary which used to be on HGTV.  (Why do they always cancel the good ones?)

From early on I've held fast to the advice of experienced gardeners when planting my garden.  These shows, packed full of great information from good garden soil to pest control, led to me writing note after note in my own gardening journal which I refer to often.

One of the elements mentioned, time and time again, was to incorporate white and other light colored flowers in the garden.  Not only are light colors beautiful with backdrops of green foliage, they become the star of the show in the evening.

Spring Garden and Babies Too!

This is such a beautiful time of year.

The sights, sounds and smells are wonderful.

It's the perfect time to take a stroll through the garden to see what's blooming.

I admire the flowers while Ellie-Mae hopes to see something she can chase.

She is posing for you,

that little white "dot" just in front of the porch.

While Down South...

We love touring historic homes and gardens

so we were in heaven

while in Georgetown, SC a few weeks ago for a plantation home tour.

I'm just sorting through some of the pictures, so here are some southern scenes for you.

On the way down, I always try to get a picture of the old Sinclair gas station.

The Old Maple ~ A Sad Day!

One of the reasons I fell in love with this property was due to the trees.  I love trees and this property had plenty!

A number of different oaks; Willow, Pin, White, and Southern Red.

Several different Magnolias; Southern, Star and Purple Tulip.

There are also Bradford Pear, River Birch, Crepe Myrtle, Fringe, Pussy Willow, Purple Plum, Dogwood, and the list goes on.

There were lots of maples too, one of my favorite trees!

Maples offer great shade on hot summer days and their fall colors of red, yellow, and orange are spectacular!

This beauty is huge and is in the courtyard just off the back of the house.  It's been rainy here lately (I'm ready for some sun!) and the maples are just beginning to get their leaves.  

She is a haven for the birds, three feeders hang from her branches.  She also provides shade for the screened porch during the summer months, her leaves allowing dappled sunlight to shine in on the porch from early morning until the noon of day when it disappears over the roof top.

So it was a very sad day

when

the

decision

was

made

to

cut her down.

Beauty in the Morning

This was one of those times when ordinary turned into very special.

Something you have to experience for yourself  . . .  Maybe?


The sun was just beginning to rise,

 a gentle breeze on my face,

little sprays of cool water here and there,

and an early morning watering turns to pure joy.



Beautiful blooms dappled by the early morning light...

Clematis

The Buzz

Hi Sweet Friends!

It's a beautiful day and I've been enjoying the bees,

watching them happily buzz from one bloom to another,

so here's a little something to brighten your day...

Summer Garden

Are the leaves changing colors and falling in your neck of the woods?  They are here in North Carolina.

It's amazing how fast summer is flying by,

and since the maple and dogwood leaves are already turning colors and falling

I thought I would take a stroll through the summer garden before the flowers fade away.


This spring I decided to Keep the Entry Simple by just planting ferns

and they have done really well...

Along the flower beds the Liriope muscari is in full bloom...

On the Farm

Farm life,.

It's like a step back in time when I visit.

On my sister and her husbands farm there are

Friesian horses,

every kind of duck,

a pond full of turtles,

cats,

dogs,

Bonita the deer,

field upon field of hay and sunflowers,

beautiful gardens,

and the list goes on.

Adding a Little Sunshine

A sure way to brighten the day

is by bringing in a little sunshine from the garden.

Adding a few Daylilies and a bit of Lantana to the milk glass vase

and the dining room is bright and cheerful...

Such sweet flowers,

they make me smile...

Hope your day is filled with sunshine and happiness!

Is anyone happy?  Let them sing songs of praise.

James 5:13

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