KNIPHOFIA FOREST--SHARING BOUQUETS FROM MY GARDEN

I thought you might like to see one of the more unusual plants in my English Garden--the Kniphofia, or Red Hot Poker. This plant was given to me by a friend and it easily multiplies. I'm getting quite a collection of them. I think they are very interesting. I'm trying to get other things planted among them that will bloom at the same time since they are a little stark by themselves, however, they really do lend interest to a garden! They look like orange flames or tall candles.
Below the plants you can see one of my garden stones. This is the first one I ever made. Yesterday we were cleaning out the barn and I devoted more of my old dishes that used to be garden border dishes for making garden stones in the future. I use the broken bits of plates, jewelry, etc. for creating beautiful stones for the pathways.

Today we were privileged to have lunch with cousins visiting from Tennessee. We met them after church. and it was great to visit even for a short time. I hope you had a blessed Sunday! LORI

NEW OLD PICTURES AND EXPLANATIONS

THANKS FOR THE INQUIRY INTO WHAT'S IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE SECOND PICTURE ON THE LAST POST!

SINCE THE GARDEN IS NOWHERE NEAR AS NEAT AND PRETTY AS IN OTHER YEARS, I DECIDED TO DO WHAT I DID TWO POSTS AGO AND RUN MORE PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR FOR ALL YOU WHO ARE NEW TO FOLLOWING MY BLOG. IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THE POST BEFORE LAST, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK FOR ANOTHER VIEW OF A CORNER OF THE GARDEN AND MY FAVORITE LITTLE GIRLS.

WHAT YOU WERE SEEING ON THE LAST POST IS AN OLD QUEEN SIZED IRON BED FRAME. I BOUGHT IT AT A GARAGE SALE AND USUALLY HANG A LACE TABLECLOTH OVER THE TOP AND CURTAINS AT THE CORNERS. THIS GIVES DIFFUSED LIGHT FOR READING OUT THERE. THE BED FRAME IS BURIED PART WAY IN THE SOIL AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 5 YEARS OR SO NOW. IT'S LIKE A LITTLE GARDEN ROOM WITH CHAIRS AND A TABLE INSIDE!

AS FOR THE BOTTLE VASES, I SAW THE IDEA AND LOVED IT. I TOOK WIRE AND TWISTED IT AROUND THE NECK AS TIGHTLY AS I COULD--NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS--AND THEN AROUND THE POSTS. HOPE YOU ENJOYED TOURING MY LAST YEAR'S GARDEN!

I'VE BEEN 'CLOSING IN' ON BOOK THREE IN MY SERIES--I REALLY AM FINALLY ALMOST READY TO GO TO PRINT! PRAY FOR ME ON THIS! Blessings, LORI

A VISIT TO MY COTTAGE GARDEN

Here are some pictures of my garden! I hope you enjoy the tour! The first is my current favorite spot in the vast English garden.

Next, devotions in the garden.

Two free finds lend a whimsical touch to the garden.

A close up of the abundant Sweet Williams. The pretty little blue flowers are Nigella or "Love in a Mist." Isn't that pretty name? They self seed freely and each year there are more and more. They are so lovely and I use them for pressed flower pictures.

Next I invite you to my vegetable garden for a moment. These are the cabbages, radishes and peas. I think they look charming! Below them we stray from the garden for a moment to go into the house. I spring cleaned this 8X8 dormer yesterday and added some decorations to the wall. I call this area the "European Corner." I usually love American Victorian antiques, but have this small section of the house that reflects Europe--some Vermeer prints, a little delftware, and the spinning wheel!

The weather is so beautiful that we can't stay in the house for long. Let's go back outside. The next picture is a view from the other side of the garden where the "snow in summer," is blooming profusely.

Another view from the east and then a picture of a recently made garden stone amongst the Sweet Williams. Next is a close up of yet another garden stone--I had too much fun making these!

More Sweet Williams surrounding my old iron headboard.

Next is a picture of the lovely and profuse Meadow sage along my back deck!

And last we wander back out to the vegetable garden to watch Miss Emma pick the first strawberry of the season. One of her first statements upon visiting is "Granny, Berries!" She loves to eat the blueberries and strawberries I have in the freezer. I thought it only appropriate to let her pick the first one of the season!

I hope you enjoyed the visit to the garden! Blessings, LORI

Garden Stones

Yesterday Rhiannon and I made garden stones! We didn't know what we were doing for sure. I was working from memory of a project I did a few years ago at a craft night. We saved broken dishes and little stuff to use for several years. Finally we got brave enough to try. I ruined two of the stones today while trying to turn them out of the molds. They were apparently not dry enough yet. Our weather turned rainy and cold last night and I think they needed more drying and setting time.

We learned some things and are anxious to try again. I am discouraged with myself. I saved an oval casserole pan--perfect mold for stones--for several years. I got it in a box of "free" junk at a garage sale. Along with that I saved several large pieces of broken transferware (my favorite style of dishes) to use in making these stones. Just a few weeks ago I threw out the oval pan and dishes in a barn-cleaning frenzy. I figured I would never get around to using them and out they went in a rash-trash moment. I mentioned the project to Rhiannon and she thought it sounded like fun. Suddenly I realized the other supplies I needed would be really inexpensive and obtained them. I went to get the oval pan and broken glass and realized it was gone! Still not recovered from that. I'll be on the lookout for another oval pan. I did save the heart shaped ones and a ruffled cheesecake pan for molds. We live and learn. Blessings, LORI