Monday, November 7, 2016

What a gorgeous day!

Good late afternoon Folks ~ Hope you all had a nice weekend. 

This morning I ‘was’ thinking of going to the local botanical garden, but changed my mind because of cloudy weather with possible rain, so worked in my own gardens. It turned out to be a wonderful day, no rain, a nice breeze all day, cooler temps, no sweating. Perfect. This is the kind of weather we wait for each year, this is the time our gardens really do well down here in s.e. FL.

I worked outside around 2-3 hours. Am happy with what I did today working the patio area outside the window of my ‘creative & computer’ space.  The other morning there was a little hummingbird flitting right by the window at the blooms of ‘whirling butterflies’, Guara.  Mine has pink blossoms. I want to make this a happy space for butterflies and hummers.

Now that the weather is so much nicer and my feet are so much better, I have ‘energy’ and look forward to getting a lot done.  The other day I worked on clearing paths in the main garden. I am making forward progress, but there is still a LOT to be done.

Below is the main garden path, with the back section behind statuary, not done yet.

Before in Sept.

(it was much worse before I tackled it the other day.)

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After

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This is the garden path that I can see from my bedroom, looking west.

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There are paths at the top of the photo below, going left & right, they just are weed filled. That’s what happens when you don’t take care of something for 5-6 months.

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Here is a sunrise the other morning. The colors were beautiful, even with the wires.

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Now for some flowers around the property.

The first is an unknown that I picked up last Wednesday at a lady’s house who sells plants she grows. I’ve bought from her quite a few times, when I had my job, because she was on my way to work. I happend onto her street the other day after having lunch with a friend. The lady who sells plants has a very think European accent, so I don’t really know what this plant is. It can be used as a ground cover also.

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This is buddleia. I also have this in a pale yellow.

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Plumbago

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Ruddy Rose or X Ruttyruspolia
Family: Acanthaceae

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Thryallis.  I love this happy little flower. It has a sweet scent too.

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This is Spicy Jatropha.

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Crusty bits and pieces of fossils, shells and rocks from the gravel driveway, plus an old silver plated fork.

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More crusty bits, old coral and rocks.

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A ‘carpet rose’, I think.

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The other day after lunch and before buying the plant, I stopped at a shopping center across the street from where I’d had lunch with my friend. There was a book store in this plaza that my dear husband and I used to go to on occasion. This little shop is so cram-packed you can hardly turn around. It is unique, it is esoteric, books galore on all kinds of subjects, gardening, family, cooking, religions, rocks, crystals, incense, essential oils, CD’s, notecards, wind chimes, statuary, jewelry and much more.

The owner, Tomash, European, had called and left a message on the machine right after my dear husband left this planet, and I never called him back. He had wanted to know how we were doing as he’d not seen us in awhile. He and my husband used to get into some good discussions.  Anyway, when I saw him, I told him about my husband being gone almost 4 years now, and he gave me his condolences. I then started looking around and was overwhelmed with feelings and almost lost it, as in started bawling, but I didn’t. I didn’t know if I’d find something to buy or not, he is not cheap at all.  Things are not on sale. Smile I then spied a box of audio ‘Narnia’ cassettes, and asked him if he had the books. He said he thought he did, and found it. It is unabridged, the whole set of books in one volume. The stories in sequence as to how C.S. Lewis wrote them. 776 pages. $19.95, so I bought it.  I’ve wanted to read this collection for years. The book is FAT and HEAVY. I’ve almost read 200 pages, and I love it. DH would have enjoyed this also.

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As I was getting ready to leave, my eyes started filling with tears, just too emotional being in that little funky store. ‘Rainbow Bridge Books’. I did much better after I was out of there.

Now on to a happy note from this afternoon. I was out hand watering potted plants and was given a real wonderful treat.

The first photo you can see one of the old dead canes from my wonderful little rose ‘Kathleen’, that I lost this summer. I was bummed out as it was one of my favorites and I had had it for many, many years. I was thinking to myself that I’ve got to plant something else in this terra cotta pot, when lo and behold, what did I see but new growth.  I could hardly believe it. I’ve been watering this pot, even though I thought the plant dead. Obviously it wasn’t and I was blessed by God with a revived ‘Kathleen’.  The pot is full of weeds and some orchids that have spread to it and other stuff as well.

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Here’s what I saw,

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then, as I was moving aside weeds to see more, I spied two more shoots. I was thrilled and thanked God again for this gift to me.

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I look forward to these new shoots blooming for me, and for the little cutting that rooted for me to bloom too. Here’s a photo from this old plant.

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Ok, that’s it for now from Plum Cottage. Enjoy your week, count your blessings. Let others know you love them and care for them.  Encourage and pray for others.

FlowerLady

31 comments:

SimplySingleSenior said...

this post is BEAUTIFUL - so emotional - happy, sad, hopeful. Your gardens look great and your hard work and green thumb obviously contribute to that! What a wonderful gift to have Kathleen back! I truly believe God bestows gifts on us to remind us he is with us ALWAYS!

Marti said...

You have so many interesting plants. I hope you find out what that hanging plant is. The leaves look like one plant to me and the flowers like another, so now I am curious.

Hooray on the little rose. I love it when a plant decides to come back from the dead (or dormant).

That sounds like a pretty good price for the Narnia books. I never have read all of them.

I've just spent a few minutes reading through your blog to get some inspiration. You have the gift of determination and overcoming depressing situations. Thank you.

Joy Junktion said...

Oh, you will love having and reading the Narnia collection. C.S. Lewis books are great! Your garden continues to bless you with beauty and memories! May God continue to provide those special moments as well! Blessings, Cindy xo

Ruth Hiebert said...

God gives these special blessings from time to time.I think it must make Him smile when He sees our joy at these things.

Karen said...

Rainey, I love your before and after photos. I keep forgetting to do them and I'm always regretting it. You've done lots of work; how nice the weather has cooled off a bit.

I love the coral, what wondrous patterns! And I've never read the book, but what a great bargain, that is a lot of book for the price. I can well imagine the feeling of being in the book store without your dear husband, I would have cried, too. How nice of the owner to remember and console you. The rose was a wonderful surprise. Hugs to you, my dear, dear friend. :-)

Nancy J said...

Your words and your flowers and garden views always lift my heart. Tears can come uninvited at any time. Gaura, I had a plant once, but not where we live now, beautiful delicate blooms. Take care as you wait for the new President to be voted in.

Summer said...

Really gorgeous♥

Jane said...

I don't know how you do it, Rainey. With all your heat and humidity, maintaining a garden must be an uphill battle.

Hugs
Jane

Melanie said...

What a beautiful post...I'm glad your weather has cooled off a bit so you can work in your gardens. I can only imagine how hard it would be to go into that bookshop that your husband loved also. The one store I have a very hard time going into and shopping in is the Michaels near our house, as that's the one Phil used to work at. I always expect to see him rounding the corner. God bless you, Rainey...I hope you enjoy your Narnia book.

Stacey said...

Lorraine, your posts are sweet and beautiful. I always am happy when I see a new little shoot in my flower beds too. All of that work you are describing is my favorite thing to do!

I've never read The Chronicles but I know the books are extremely popular and C.S. Lewis is quoted quite often. Must be some wisdom there. :)

Janice said...


Your gardens are filled with beauty this fall. I love your new find - the hanging basket plant is lovely. One step at a time in the garden and it will all get done in due time. It's just now beginning to be fit weather to pursue outside projects. _Janice

L. D. said...

You have shared a lot of good things. All of your tours and weed clearing are so great to see. You flowers looks really great. I am glad you didn't have any storm damage.

Jessica Jarrell said...

I cannot tell you how many times I've almost lost it out in public. That rush of emotions all at one moment is hard to ride out. Your yard is looking amazing! I know I say it all the time, but I'm so jealous of all your flowers. I've got some marigolds still and of course mums, but other than that, all my flowering stuff is done for the season. Sigh. I'm also jealous you saw a hummingbird, I swear I'm having hummingbird withdrawals over here 😁

Hope you are having a good week FlowerLady!

Cheryl said...

What a lovely story of the rose that you thought was gone. It is a gift!

I can imagine that it was hard to meet the man whom you had not seen since your husband's passing. Any "first" is hard, isn't it? I am glad that you were able to purchase something that is bringing you joy.

Hope you continue to enjoy the pleasant weather!

Deborah Montgomery said...

I like to think that my little hummers which I enjoy so much in the summer might be in your garden even now. Wouldn't that be amazing?! It will be fun to think of you taking care of them until they come back here to see me next spring.
The Narnia books never get old. A joy and a sadness to think of enjoying them with your dear husband. Praying for continued comfort for you.
The gardens and flowers are looking beautiful; such a blessing to see new shoots coming out, too.
Blessings, Deborah

Rebecca said...

The CS Lewis book sounds like such a delight! Glad you bought it.
I enjoyed everything in your garden - especially the blue bottles!

NanaDiana said...

Gorgeous and I am so glad that you were rewarded by your faithfulness in your caretaking of that sweet little plant. Your pictures are always just gorgeous, Lorraine,and I love seeing them.

I am so sorry that visiting that place made you so sad. I think sometimes the first foray into a meaningful place is the hardest after we have lost someone. Maybe if you go again it won't be so hard. Glad you got the books-that is a great set of books to read. My grands have read them all.

Blessings to you- xo Diana

Susan said...

Hi Lorraine, you are so right about Floridians waiting for this kind of weather. After a long hot summer, the cooler temps reinvigorate us. So much more enjoyable to work in the garden. How wonderful to discover that your little rose is alive and well. These are the kind of discoveries that give gardeners so much joy. Enjoy working in your garden.

Maryann said...

Beautiful flowers, I love plumb ago, I grew it for the first time this year. Love the blue bottles as well, I think I'll try that next year. Our garden is winding down, soon we will be bringing things in. What a blessing to have your rose regrow, I would have been delighted too.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Lorraine, your garden is beautiful and all the blooms you share are gorgeous. Finding new growth is always a special surprise. Glad you found the book. With winter on the way, you will be all set with your reading material.
Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week and weekend ahead.
Keeping you in my prayers. Blessings xo

Annie said...

What a wonderful surprise to see that rose shoot. It's hard to believe 4 years have passed by.

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

You have such a lovely garden. It's so uplifting to "stroll" through the garden with you. Thank you.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

It was 25 degrees here this morning in Western PA and getting dark at 5:30 so this was so much fun to see : )

Darcie said...

You put so much hard work into your place, but I know it is so gratify. Then when you share your pictures, it is always such a beautiful work that you do in your corner of the world! Your journey through your grief has thought me so much, and my heart aches for you during those hard times. You have been and always will remain...and inspiration to me!

Unknown said...

I enjoy reading your blog but rarely comment (log ins are a necessary evil)Your "unknown" plant is Persicaria capitata aka jumpseed / pink knotweed. I just picked one up at the Marion County MG plant sale last month. Mine is going to live in a pot until I find out how much it likes to spread. Our hot summers can soon let a garden get out of control!
jan in ocala

Leslie Kimel said...

I love all your interesting rocks and corals and fossils. You have the neatest collections! I'm so glad that your Kathleen has recovered. I lost a bunch of roses over our very dry summer and am pledging to take much better care of the surviving roses from now on.

Sallysmom said...

Hope all is well with you.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

I always rely on your blog to see some pretty blooms. Thank you Lorraine!

Tootsie said...

The Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite! I still have my box set of all the books...I have had then since I was 10 years old. I loved to sit in my closet and read them...lol
Your photos are gorgeous as usual my friend...I have missed visiting your musings...and I hope to get more time to get around and catch up on everyone and everything I have missed...<3

PS...thanks for stopping by and visiting my 'barn' project.

Unknown said...

How absolutely wonderful to find the new shoots on your Kathleen rose! I know that feeling and it's just beautiful! I love your garden and always love hearing about what's going on in your world. Blessings! Lynn

M.K. said...

Hello, FL :) So glad you've begun reading Narnia. I loved, loved that series as a child and read it many times. You are so right about this time of year being the BEST for southern gardeners! So much of the overgrowth is asleep, and you can actually get stuff done. Looks lovely down there.