A Fanciful Twist

Apple Blossoms & Other Little Delights

Oh apple blossoms...

Yes, they are still around, definitely making garden insects and garden human happy.

I realize I might have become utterly boring, what with incessant garden chatter - 

But you see, it is my joy and what saves me from all matter of anything really.

The last year especially, and it welcomes me daily.

So, I pop out of bed and burst through the gates to see what is happening. 

Oh what joy to see the sun illuminating petals, or the magic haze it creates when it first comes over the mountain.

That light shining on fresh green, as the garden begins to shift and change.

This is the garden behind the main walled garden.

My little escape that was pure brush and cactus and mess.

Little hills I had to level as I create paths and meander around...

Should I put this here or there - letting the garden tell me what to do.

This is the space I have been toiling in for one year, turning it into something just with a bag of seeds on my hip and cuttings from here and there.

I take this and that from the country house garden and bring it here, and vice versa.

And slowly but surely, there is something brewing, changing morphing.

Early spring begins to show me...

I paint arbors with chalk paint and move pots to and fro.

And then all of a sudden the apple blossoms show up, and then begin to unfurl, and then decide to stay a while.

And just when I thought a couple of weeks ago, that they could not get any better, they did.

The citrus trees are also in full bloom, the scent is wonderfully intoxicating beyond belief.

The entire garden is scented and it is utterly otherworldly.

The bees are everywhere, you can here their buzz song the second you make your way up the stairs, through the tiny gate and behind the wall.

In the cool morning, at first light, I see narcissus slowly opening...

Do delicate and lovely.

I remember planting these on December 10th 2020, with Miles by my side, and Matty keeping guard.

It was so cold and windy that day.

And now, here they are, part of a wonderful memory.

The birds tweet madly and build all manner of nests as I work away.

Hello birdling!

I stand back, looking, surveying...

Waiting eagerly for the deciduous trees all around me to sprout some leaves.

I can not wait to see what is to come.

It is only through my lense that I begin to see all my hard work coming together, as wild flowers grow tall and pumpkins pop through the ground.

Hello to you too pumpkin baby...

Slowly emerging out of its seed.

I spot a few wild arroyo lupines...

And marvel at how brilliant the poppies are.

To confuse everyone with their thorny leaves - 

Can't wait to see their delicate beauty, soon I hope.

Below is the view from my super cozy chair.

Where I sit to refuel during my hard work days.

I watch the tender broccoli flowers I left for the bees, as they bustle with activity.

It's incredible how much they love these flowers, and it was perfect to have them here so that they would already be here when the apple blossoms and then citrus unfurled.

It was this curious little plan, that worked.

Endless bees everywhere.

I never see as many bees anywhere as I see here, it's remarkable really.

As the bulbs are blooming, I go in and tuck other summer seeds around them.

Always a plot and a plan for us garden people right?

Just when I think apple blossoms season is coming to and end, more show up.

I have Anna apple trees and Dorsett Goldens.

We'll see if we get some apples this year.

Right now the lime tree is covered in blossoms and bees beyond compare.

I should record the sound, it's incredible.

Oh and, if you get up extra early, you will spot a few Phacelia Campanularia - 

Also known as California blue bells, ever so electric blue.

So, come along with me if you'd like...

Early in the morning, to see what we can see.

Deciduous trees on the hills around are just weeks from exploding I'm sure.

And then there will be green all around.

The acacia trees will be covered in yellow pom poms - 

The roses will begin to bloom, and tea parties in the garden will ensue for certain.

All fun things to be happening for Easter week, don't you agree?

We are about to have the oddest most epic April heatwave that should last about 5 days.

Then it will go back down to normal temps for this time of year.

In the meantime, I have to get out there and make sure all the tender guys have shade, so they do not combust into glitter like vampires :-)

I am thinking about taking all the giant broccoli leaves and making broccoli rolls for Easter.

I did that with the cabbage and they were beyond delicious.

Perhaps with some of my remaining fairy tale pumpkins (the best for eating), and some really savory rice.

Yes, I think that is exactly what I shall do.

I also have a big bowl of quince jam I made from my country garden quince, which I will turn into mini hand pies.

I did some painting last night and am just sort of, living the life of am 1800's girl out in the wilderness.

Entertaining myself with paints and seeds and garden, keeping my days full and busy.

I still haven't been anywhere in a year, except for the country house regularly.

But there is plenty to do for me always, and I can keep super busy.

The list is never ending of things to do actually, and it seems so much more now.

I listen to music constantly, and check on all the doves and their babies.

And of course, I hug Matty a hundred times a day.

That's my life - 

Garden, paint, play piano, hug dog, do laundry, clean, crochet, play with clay.

(clean clean clean)

What about you?

Well, I am off to water before the sun gets too strong.

How are you doing out there?

Sending lots of love this Easter week <3

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

Hello Camellias!

Spring is finally here my friends!

I know some of you are still in the cold, but in the high desert things are definitely changing.

The camellias are always in full bloom on the last day of winter.

And the garden as a whole has so many signs of life.

The wildflowers I planted in December are bushy, bulbs are blooming and the fruit trees are full of blossoms.

I'm so in love with the apple tree blossoms.

I can't wait to see what the garden I built over this last year at home does in the coming months.

But for now, we have baskets of neon fuchsia and cherry red camellias.

I am not even sure if the color will translate via screen because it's so intense.

Their scent is so unique, it reminds me of the best suntan and sunscreen lotion on a tropical day.

I have a basket that has handles but also can be worn as a backpack, which is perfect for collecting around the garden.

Some of these more moody photos remind of a snow white setting.

Such a lovely day for collecting, I just love all the bee and bug activity.

Now, we don't get bugs at all like some of you get, but we get just enough that I enjoy looking at them as they zip by.

Luckily the bees do seem plentiful here.

I brought a bunch of camellias inside, and then could not decide which photos to share as I took so many.

There are still many more to bring in as well.

The bees are in heaven.

I accidentally brought a bee inside one of the flowers, so I carefully took him back outside.

I know many people are not into these red tones, but I love a flower no matter the color.

I can't think of a color I don't like.

Pretty soon it will be storing dried flower time.

This tray below is filled with flowers that have seeds, which I dried and kept from last spring and are now all back in the garden.

There might be a random dried rose in there too, but I crumble them up and let them become part of the soil.

Spring is truly in the air in my neck of the woods.

The grape hyacinths have bloomed madly and I see so many other little sprouts peeking out.

Nothing more exciting than that for a garden lover.

One of my favorite edible flowers is an arugula blossom.

They look like they've been drawn on, with the little veining almost making them look like butterfly wings.

They are so tasty too, I love arugula, do you?

Here is another camellia shot, because I simply could not choose what angle I liked more.

A good excuse to bring out my Fenton vases, spring flowers.

I was just outside pruning the bougainvillea, and it is crazy windy out there.

I received a few more mail order plants and will plant them as soon as I am done typing.

Last year when I ordered plants they were small and awful.

But the plants I have ordered this year are a whole other story, big and full.

I suppose stores realized that they better change their mail delivery offerings due to people shopping online.

It's a pleasant surprise really, to receive such nice plants.

I do hope you are doing well.

We are just fine over here (knock on wood), enjoying nature's offerings.

I'll share more from the garden as it unfolds.

I hope to see you again very soon.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

ps:

I forgot to share that...

We gobbled all those giant Napa cabbages.

I made so many different dishes, but I wanted to share how pretty they were once fully ripe.

I even made cabbage rolls.

So yummy!

 

I will definitely be growing these again next year.

I planted my seeds around July and had cabbages to eat in late winter.

They are a cool crop veggie, so that's how that works.

:-)

 

 

Of Early Spring & Garden Evenings

Spring is in the air in my neck of the woods friends.

We had our cold snap last month, as we normally do in February, and now the fruit trees are happy to blossom.

They always need a cold snap, as do poppies and such.

The citrus trees are beyond full, and I truly embrace every morsel of it.

There is this wonderful time in the evenings that doesn't get photographed much.

Just before it becomes dark and fairy lights twinkle brighter, but right after the sun sets, there is this moment of muted light.

It gets a little chilly and I do my last rounds as I head in for a book and some tea.

This cabinet is my favorite place to be when I run back down to the house from the garden.

But first I thought it would be fun to stroll through, right before the sun fully sets and the sky still has light.

It is not dark blue yet, but evening is dancing about.

I love peeking at what is going on.

Golden hour is just coming to a close and it creates a natural bokeh in the distant tree leaves.

It looks like there are a million fairy lights and that perhaps it is autumn.

But it's simply the illumination of the light on the leaves and the golden sun saying good night.

And now, there are apple blossoms.

Swaying in the wind and enticing the bees.

We are in that time where one day it warms up, and then another it cools down again.

Sometimes I cover my most fragile plants, like the fresh tomato leaves you see covered in the backdrop below.

Spring definitely is coming in and soon it will stay.

I forgot to share a few snippets of our very light snow.

There are the stairs leading up to the citrus grove, and my garden I created on a whim last March to help settle my nerves due to the pandemic.

I call it the secret garden behind the garden, which it really is, because you wouldn't ever guess it is back there.

The snow was full on the mountains and ever so beautiful.

I'm so happy to see the fruit trees blooming, I can't express how joyful it makes me.

I've created all sorts of little stairs on both sides of the small hills surrounding the citrus garden.

These I made more recently out of found objects like broken flagstone and such.

It's all sort of unfolding organically as I go.

I feel like this time of the day is the least photographed.

It's not as magical and golden hour or as dramatic as nightfall.

But it has its own mystery I think.

It's the exact time when all the quail start jumping the fence and running ever so quickly to pop into my trees to sleep safely.

That absolutely warms my heart soooooo much.

To see them running in madly, eager to get into the trees.

And then in the morning, the garden starts to look all new and shiny these days.

Fresh leaves turn up and sprouts push through.

It's time for my best pumpkins to go back into the garden.

For their seeds to bring fresh vines.

It's the circle of garden life.

Such a very beautiful thing.

But for just a couple more days, I will enjoy them in the light of golden hour.

They can make any day remind you of the magic of autumn.

And so begins, the journey of this year's pumpkins.

Another year, another pumpkin patch.

One of the very best things in life, I think.

How about you?

I'm working hard to be back here more often.

I hope you enjoy our visits.

All my best always!

 

Magic, wishes, and stars -

Vanessa

 

 

Pretty Morning Light...

A beautiful morning.

How I love a beautiful morning.

When the air is crisp and cool, the sun bright and golden.

I fluff pillows and dust shelves.

Read a few pages of a book, light classical music playing in the background.

I light my little candles and admire dried rose specimen.

It's so nice to have lovely moments as such.

The roses of last season keep me company in the winter.

But now, the pruned rose bushes have all new leaves emerging and there will be fresh petals to collect once again.

I often change out the frocks hanging from my mirror depending on my mood.

Huge ruffles and antique bloomers with a touch of floral for the day.

I do not really have a set style.

The same way I can find something I like in nearly all decor or garden style - 

I can also find things I really like in most fashion styles.

I love old fashioned styles, but I also love a little glam ruffle.

I love pearls and turquoise equally.

I love found objects from nature and shiny handmade objects.

I can easily go from flouncy gardening clothes covered in dirt to a tulle skirt and a ribbon.

I don't really put any limits on what I like or will wear.

I just go with my feelings on any given day.

I feel the same way about flowers and plants.

I like them all for different reasons.

One of my pairs of ballet toe shoes from childhood moves from place to place in my house.

They still have my little girl handwriting inside.

I never mind dusting (people often ask) because I love my found objects.

I only surround myself with things that I love, so it's not a chore for me to dust.

I enjoy that sort of quiet lovely time.

And so, I had a morning just like that.

Flipping through some books.

Lighting my candles.

Not in a rush to go anywhere.

Planning things I'd like to make.

Watching the sunlight dance on mirror and glass.

Admiring chippy paint.

Putting on gobs of jewelry for fun.

Leaving the door wide open to listen to the birds and enjoy the fresh air.

It was 78'F yesterday.

It will go back down to the upper 60's, but I adore both of those temperature options for sure.

My little antique wooden santo gal follows me everywhere I go.

Keeping me company and wearing lots of sparkly things.

I treasure these moments.

Light and cool and warmth and birds and candles and peace.

You take those moments and savor them as they come.

Some days are speedy, or maybe you're not feeling as peaceful.

Sometimes the chores are endless and you don't take the time.

But, a morning of mindful meditation of sorts, is a wonderful wonderful thing.

My blog service is having persisting issues with photos not uploading or missing from my blog.

If you see a little blue photo name and no photo, you can click on it and the photo should appear.

I hope this resolves soon as it was difficult to get these photos loaded to share here.

I've contacted them endless times so let's hope for that resolution.

But I'm here now typing, so yay!

I'm not sure why dried flowers make me so very happy...

Perhaps the way they turn into paper art, and their color changes so beautifully.

The coral roses turn the most beautiful cherry pink and the pink roses turn lavender.

It's the most curious lovely thing to watch happen.

I just uncovered the mesh protective cover I had on all the seeds I planted on December 10th.

They are tall and strong, and I can not wait to see what flowers show up.

There are about 30 or more wildflower seeds in there.

I see poppies here and there which makes me utterly overjoyed.

They are short lived here due to our heat, but they will thrive until May.

Spring is definitely awakening here in the high desert.

I have more lemons, limes and grapefruits than I can count.

But I am down to my last 3 oranges.

(most people around here have citrus as well, it's very common to have citrus trees due to our weather)

The thing about homegrown oranges is that the skins are even sweet to eat.

A lot like homegrown tomatoes - the flavor is unreal.

The best oranges I've ever enjoyed, whilst sitting under dappled sunlight, listening to them crazy birds.

The momma dove of winter just left with her babies yesterday.

I can't wait to see who takes her spot.

I wonder if it will be her again?

It's a popular place on the top of a pillar, so I pruned the tall bougainvillea so it would not pester her.

 More often than not you will find a momma there, with her guy who stops by to bring her treats all day, or just sits around nearby watching her.

It's a beautiful thing really.

Spring is in the air.

I know not for all of us, so I'll share mine with you until yours arrives <3

 

Love,

Vanessa