Hiya!!
I am back ♥
I have returned and am ready for some serious fun.
You?
I have had a very busy week filled with friends and work and fun.
Boys playing music in the garden.
Singing like mad.
Good food, laughs, friends.
When you are really busy you don't really notice that plants get dinosaur size overnight.
Until you look at them and are gobsmacked.
Amazing what a little heat can do for the green, eh?
We set out on our rounds.
The hydrangeas are turning up.
I have two big bushes in the shady part of the flower garden.
Love seeing them.
My little brownie always cuddles up to me when I am pulling weeds or taking photos.
Or if I am fast asleep.
While I was squatting down taking photos he was leaning on me, sniffing my hair, etc.
He is such a curious kid.
Love is on his terms.
I am loving the huge amount of hollyhocks that have turned up.
I know you know that already, but even other colors are turning up.
And there are so many shapes and different ruffles.
Oh oh, and I can't get over this perfect red rose.
Isn't it something?
Feel free to click on the rose pic for non-blurry version.
(the pic is crystal clear in person, but my reds get blurry on my blog, weird right?)
One of my fave things is to jump into my garden swing as the warmest golden morning light shines though the garden.
I sit in the shade and just watch the sun make everything glow.
The big rose bush is about done.
Some people down the street have roses all summer.
I must look into this.
I did read about how you can fertilize in a way to get roses all summer and fall.
Liquid fish emulsion maybe??
Do you know anything about this?
It's all so green, it feels like summer just about.
Bright and hot and wilty flowered.
Last of the Oriental poppies.
And bees.
What would the garden be without the buzzing?
Here's something curious.
My coral rose bush got one bunch of white flowers that slowly took on a coral tone.
See them there?
That was wild.
I had never ever seen that happen before.
As it gets warmer the poppies fade away.
Did I tell you, hollyhocks even turned up over by the courtyard garden outside the office, gallery and gypsy wagon?
Thank you hollyhocks!
My sister washes linens and hangs them outside the cottage to dry.
Isn't that so darling?
I was getting worried because the bees seemed to be coming less and less over the last few weeks.
At first they were here in droves, then faded away a little.
And, being obsessed with the bees, it alarmed me.
But then...
I got a little closer...
And noticed them up to their elbows in work.
Buzzing about.
Squeezing their little bodies in...
Then I was happy.
Amazing...
Little...
Creatures.
Aren't they?
We need those bees, love them so.
I have one last giant fairytale pumpkin from my garden last year, waiting to be roasted.
The seeds from another are doing quite well.
I didn't put in a proper pumpkin patch this year.
But I am letting all sorts of vines grow around wildly.
It's the first year I am letting both the flower and vegetable garden mostly do what it wants to do.
The veggie garden is moving really slow this year.
But I see tiny arugula and basil and tomato sprouts doing their thing.
And of course...
It seems, we are being graced with the year of the hollyhock.
I love seeing them dance around the front porch.
I for one am ever so glad for that.
Sometimes, you have to just let things go wild.
Our property has a little bit of a wild feel.
Or maybe a lot a bit :-)
The wind blows pollen off of endless tree catkins everywhere.
Oleander leaves and flowers tumble around.
And I tip toe around, wondering what all these hollyhocks make of everything?
Well, time to put the finishing touches on some party planning.
Plus, my sister turned up with a new and improved hoola hoop.
So, I best go look into that asap.
Back super soon with tea sipping details.
Loooove, V
I am sooo repeat obsessing on this song right now.
Natalie Taylor.
Check her albums out on Itunes.
I just bought all her songs, she is quite refreshing and good.