It's been a gorgeous spring, as the sun gets stronger and stronger.
Slowly petals droop and fall.
Another season is on the horizon in the desert.
Which includes mad tea party season, so it's exciting too.
I've been working on some drawings to share.
Some for fun, some for a freebie coming up.
I take lots of walks & runs through the garden everyday.
The little cottage sits in the back garden to the west.
So I loop around garden paths, enjoying the sights and sounds.
I planted nothing this year.
The annuals self seeded and the roses are just doing their thing.
It has been a huge luxury.
First year in 14 years that I am not working on something feverishly in the garden.
The wonderful news is that hollyhock season is fully here.
Such a lovely time.
And I'll tell you, I had to work to save all these babies.
You've heard about the gophers digging tunnels and deep caverns under all the hollyhocks.
Eating roots until they would just fall over, all over the garden.
Finally I fought back in the nicest way possible.
Just pushing the dirt back down around my plants and reinforcing them.
Hoping the gophers would get the idea and leave.
And, so far, they have.
Knock on wood.
Alas, they are attacking my plants somewhere else.
We have a true gopher epidemic, so it's just par for the course.
The good thing is, these are saved for now.
It's worth every tissue paper thin petal glowing in the sun.
Today I sat in the garden and watched the light dance through the hollyhocks.
There is a video at my instagram if you'd like to peek.
They grow taller and taller every minute.
While I draw...
In pencil and ink.
Getting some treats ready for you all.
Cozy as can be in my little cottage that hides in the garden.
Sweet little escape.
I'll wrap my drawings up, paint them and be back with some goodies very soon.
How are you out there in your neck of the woods?
Love, Vanessa
ps: On Friday a little storm came in with cold rain and cool winds.
And then the most crazy thing happened.
Not crazy for cold states.
But crrrrazy for the desert.
It snowed on the mountain, at the end of April!
Yep, snow.
Crazy bizarre Arizona.
Don't worry, it was 82' the next day with full sun at my house, hahaha!
Probably still cold on the mountain though, as I spied a little snow lingering up there today.
