Our little bit of EARTH...

It's being a while I have written something in here. I have not visited this space mainly I have been in school, travelling, injured, and everything in between. However, the creativity has been in always progressing. Well enough of that, I want to share some pictures from 2017 urban gardening. Straight from our backyard.

These are garden runner beans, when I was in the UK last summer, I saw these in a friend's garden. They were not that big I immediately walked towards it because of the lovely flowers. This past spring one of my friends did an art show, and she had these beautiful plants incorporated into her art exhibition. So far they are not producing many beans but a ton of flowers and few beans here and there. 

I have stopped buying dill from my local nursery mainly because every spring I get few plants from the previous year's seeds. So it so cool to see them going into seeds. I also like them in my salads, and of course, I am looking forward to pickling some runner beans with dill if I am lucky with my beans. 

I changed the spot for eggplants from last year, and unfortunately, they are not doing well this year. I see one flower and the bees are buzzing around it. Hoping to see at least one eggplant this summer. Few more happenings at home; besides summer courses this summer we are making popsicles at home and celebrating the month of August with canning.  

A pot of strawberry jam simmering while I time myself outside pulling weeds and attending to our garden. 

We loved the honey peach popsicles with a hint of lemon!

Fresh flowers

Streaching the life of flowers in another arrangement!

fresh flowers, decor, and moods

As growing up I always enjoyed having fresh flowers around the house. I also grew up having beautiful plants around the house. Now, that I pay more attention to detail, I am kid who enjoyed the wonders of nature in our house. I still do, ironically I get very excited to bring flowers home. I use to tell my friends, that it was my therapy. Fresh flowers cost less, than my co- pay to the therapist depending on the bouquet give or take...

I have planned this year to bring more flowers, because little Nicolette loves creating beautiful spaces just like her Amma. 

Do you bring flowers indoors, How do you add color to the winter dull? Do you buy flowers or do you think it is a waste of money?

Front yard is in bloom

Finally things are taking its shape. Some of the flowers have bloomed. I hid some of my container plants along the border of the front plant beds add some color in between the leaves. 

This includes burying some containers in the dirt but it all works in harmony see the waves of not overwhelming blooms. The impatience are doing great this year despite the call from the nursery to destroy them plants. Geraniums are happy at the steps while Hydrangea bush is cascading with its heavy blooms. It is truly inviting when it is watered on a regular basis. 

Containers

 

I like to have flower pots by our doorway, even though we do not have much space at the door. I received a petunia plant from school as a gift from parents and I was kind of thinking a way to add that to create something fun. Few trips to the nursery always catches my eye with interesting plants.  Hopefully no more trips to the nursery until Fall. 

I found a flowerpot that I have acquired long time ago and I created a mix that would compliment what I had received from parents. I was happy with the end product. Then I got more creative when I was at the craft store, since they have done markdowns on bigger planters.

I decided to go for a wider mouth, glazed, and a sage green flower pot. I did mix in a dark potato type plant, red coleus, verbena, and a basil. Like I said I was all into experimenting. Not much of a bloomer but seems to be happy at the front doorway.  

Working for myself...

 

This summer I am taking a break to take care of myself. I am also working for myself this Summer. I am already busy re- stocking my tiny Montessori Shop! I am planning to introduce couple of more new items this Fall and kind if excited about it. 

I have plan few fun quilting projects this Summer which I am really looking forward to. Knitting projects are over flowing which includes few cowls and hats for little Nicolette. 

The fabric stash is piling up and the garden is growing with beautiful flowers. I was able to cut some Hydrangeas to adorn my work table it was truly a welcoming sign towards creativity!

There are few sewing projects to be tackled making couple of dresses for Nicolette and some fun things for me, in the work pile. 

Enjoy!

My love for Hydrangeas...

If some one asks me what is my favorite flower in Northeastern Gardening I have to agree on the endless Hydrangeas. I am addicted  for this plant and it comes in so many varieties just make me go nuts. 

So far this season I have met my budget I cannot spend money on any plants. How pathetic is that I have met my budget. I might get some wiggle room in Fall gardening and that is going to be tuff as I want to buy bulbs. This year going back to work might interfere with my planting schedules. 

However I have scored two variegated Oh... Yes! You heard me right variegated hydrangea plants. Whenever I go to Boston to do my museum papers I pass the Northeastern University and all I can see is this beautiful plant in bloom. Since then I have been looking into this variety. When I found it finally I did not wanted to loose it with limited quantities. 

I would love  to create a variegated corner in my garden. And I bought a deep red almost like Fall foliage hydrangea. They are not in bloom yet but working on spreading their roots deep. 

This is what I bought last year and it is blooming. Look at the blooms in deep blue. When I was a Virginian it was always pink if you do not treat them with alkaline. 

This one is from a friend. They are gorgeous love the shade when it is in the stage of a tight bud form it has a light green huge. It is breathtaking when the buds starts to open it change to bright white almost like a cotton ball. 

This is another variety of endless summer Hydrangea with loose pink blossoms. The sales from this plant goes to breast cancer research program. A good cause to add more hydrangea to our yard...

Except for few I have written about all the Hydrangeas in my yard. There is one bush which have not bloom this year. I will probably do it next year or later this year. I guess by now you know how much I adore this beautiful plant.

Quote of the day “ treasure time like gold”

Enjoy!

Roses are in bloom

My roses are in bloom finally. I did had a bug issue at the beginning of the growing season thanks to my neighbor she offered me an organic solution. I spared it and it is all gone the new growth looks healthy. 

This is lovely I love the rose garden that I have established last year. This is a very young garden and still growingI have planted couple of knockout roses and some regular roses as well. I cannot wait these plants to mature. I got these once again for a very low price at the end of the season last year. I have not shopped for plants much this year. I still have few in mind that I am looking.

Look at this one, this beauty is hiding among the leaves. I love this shade of pink not too bright and not too light I wish I can remember the correct name of the shade. I will be bringing theme inside once they started to bloom more.

Lovely! 

I still see the bug attack this plant went through. This is indeed a beautiful shade of pink. I cannot wait to see these in full bloom. I am considering to add a rose vine. That will add much drama to this corner of the yard. I am thinking. I am leaning towards a lattice  to be installed in a section of the yard so I can train the vine to go on it. 

Quote of the day " read how to books"

Enjoy!

Simple Pleasures

I always like to cut flower from the garden to bring inside. I do not have much but I bring them as much as I can during summer. So far I have done some arrangements.

This was growing in my yard all over the back corner. I decided to bring them inside they are really pretty and have already developed seed pods. I like the seed pods as well they add some whimsical to the arrangement. 

I used an empty jelly jar Nicolette love to see flowers in her room. Soon I am going to bring some more to my room. As soon as I get rid of the clutter. 

Quote of the Day “ look for possibilities not limits”

Enjoy!

Indoor Plants

I wanted to say I always like to have plants inside my home. However, I used to collect a lot even when I was living in Sri Lanka. I want to say I love having indoor plants. 

Here I am kindling my interest again very slowly. I own two plants at present. This beautiful peace lily was given to me by my the school that I will be working this Fall. 

This beautiful African violet was given to me by a friend. It is blooming now for the very first time. I love it I use have a collection of african violets with self watering pots. I might start them again. 

I do enjoy plants I guess it add some fun and peace to the dwelling.

Quote of the day “know how to wait”

Enjoy!

Flowers at Home...

I am planning to add a new aspect to my house as well as to my blog. Hopefully my goal is to be informed myself with names of flowers. I was a teacher and I use to get most beautiful flower arrangements as a whole for the classroom as well as for myself. I thanked from the bottom of my heart to all the thoughtful parents I had. 

Well the aspect of this is now that I own a house with a reasonable size garden I wanted to add flowers to my garden. I have been working on this from last summer. I enjoy bringing fresh flowers from the store once in a while to brighten up the snowless winter we have this year. 

To begin I am going to start with the most common flowers which is used by the florist is Alstroemeria. Did you know this is also called the Peruvian lily. This is also called a filler flower. 

I love the colors of this bouquet it is a wonderful green reminds me of Spring is just around the corner.  Even though my bouquet is collection of mums and Asian lilies. they all blend in harmony. 

Quote of the day “send flowers to express your love to someone”

Enjoy!