Wednesday, January 9, 2013

New bloomers and gardening

Good afternoon Friends ~ I have a dinner invitation. Mark’s sister’s eldest son is in town on business, and asked if I’d like to go to dinner this evening and I am looking forward to the visit.

Today makes one month since Mark left this earth. It doesn’t seem possible, but it’s true. Yesterday was better than my foggy Monday, and today was better and I am thankful. I had some errands to run today, and had a couple of gift cards that I decided to use to buy some plants for my ‘sanctuary’ gardens.  These were all under $5 each. I bought 4 yellow bulbines. They just looked so happy and I don’t have much yellow in my gardens. Oh yea, I forgot to take a picture of the two little pots of crossandra that I also got, these were all from Walmart’s garden dept.

I looked the bulbines up when I got home, and they can tolerate drought and poor soils. They can be divided and I’m going to do that with them, and they also reseed. Hurray for that.

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If anyone can tell me what my two orchids are, I would greatly appreciate it.

You can see a pot of Persian Shield and an Impatiens in the back ground. These were all bought from that place that sells their 3 gal. pots for $5 each, these were less than that because they were smaller pots. Can anyone tell me what type of impatiens this is, with purple/green leaves and that wonderful fuchsia color of blooms.

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Here’s the other orchid.

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Now, here’s the project that I started on yesterday. It was one I wanted Mark and I to tackle when he got better. My hamelia patens bush got totally out of hand and took over our grotto area and my shed. Then recently it got some kind of black fungus that ended up being on some other things too, so it has to be severely pruned. There are rose canes up in the mix too, so I’m just going to work slowly and use the tree saw and my hand clippers and go for it. I’m not crazy about being on a ladder but do it when I have to, and I’ve been slowly and carefully going up and down the ladder.

This first picture is ‘after’ I cut away a whole bunch from the north end.

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This view is inside the secret garden looking east into the morning sunlight. Look at that monster. It just kept spreading and spreading. I don’t mind the roses doing that, and I didn’t mind this one doing it either until it got that fungus. Butterflies and hummingbirds both love this. I will keep it cup back to a manageable size once I get it cut down. At least I hope I will. Smile

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Morning shots from this morning. I want to be thankful for the gift of each new day and these pictures were a blessing to me today.

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Some still life scenes from inside our little cottage.

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Some of our rock collection.

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Outside the living room.  I put this stained glass window panel in this window to block off the driveway from inside and give me some light without having ‘buggies’ being able to look in if they happen to get into our property. The piece of aluminum on the wall is from an old screen door.

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That’s it from Plum Cottage. It’s been a very warm and humid day today, in the low 80’s. I hope we get some cold weather before winter is over, it would be so refreshing.

Count your blessings every single day. Even if you don’t think you have any, stop and think, and I just bet you can come up with something.

FlowerLady Lorraine

16 comments:

Terra said...

Take care of yourself dear one, and how nice you will be going out to dinner and will be planting lots of colorful plants in your garden.

Nancy J said...

Lovely sky photos, sorry I cannot help with any flower names. Your words are an inspiration to me right now, thank you so much Lorraine, Cheers from Jean

Sunray Gardens said...

Your Orchids are beautiful. Love the flowers but have no idea which ones they are. Hope you have a wonderful time tonight. Will do you good.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Christys Cottage Wildlife Garden said...

Hi Flowerlady. I'm glad you're feeling better today. Your dinner invitation sounds wonderful. I really like all your pictures. I especially like the stained glass and the way you put the piece of a screen door on the wall....very clever. Can you tell me what the pink hanging flowers are? They are so pretty.

Heather said...

Good for you Lorraine, each day is passing and I can already tell you are much stronger... beautiful plants you have purchased, but I am sorry I can't help you with any info, on my side of the world these would be "exotic"... you are doing a great job with your all your little tasks, we do what we have to do! Stay strong...Cheers!

Gary said...

Hi Lorraine,
I hope that the meal went well, and that the food was delicious and the compant good. I love the arrangements you have around your home, especially the rock collection and the piece of iconic plasterwork. Very special!

Lynn said...

The garden looks so much better cut back. Sunlight . . . and your gorgeous sky was sent special for you. I love the play of colors in a room when you repurpose stained or beveled glass like you have in Plum Cottage. This weather is just plain weird. Warm, freeze enough to wilt everything, now chilly. Enjoy your evening.

Rebecca said...

Lorraine, as usual I enjoy the "inside look" at Plum Cottage...and what a great idea - to hang the screen's insert on the side of your house! I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for something similar.

You should be proud of all your hard work! It certainly makes a difference, doesn't it? I'll be you go to bed quite exhausted.

Glad you got to spend some time with your nephew(?) Hope it was pleasant - maybe bitter/sweet....

Sleep well tonight. Hope tomorrow's morning is as beautiful as the pictures you posted today :)

Tootsie said...

girl...I have no idea what your orchids are...but they are GORGEOUS!!! I am also just in love with your header photo!!! Thanks for the visit on my post about the wash stand...I always love to hear from you!

RURAL said...

Lorraine, lovely to see shots of your garden, I had to keep reminding myself that things grow there in the winter, and are not covered in snow.

Please be careful on the ladder, it can be dangerous. Take your time, and be secure.

Jen

Ruth Hiebert said...

Talk of counting your blessings. I count finding you as one of my blessings. You are in inspiration to me. I love the sky pictures,oh and the orchids are lovely as well.Such beauty right before our eyes.

Morning's Minion said...

I've just caught up with several of your posts--it is always restful--calming somehow, to read your words and enjoy the lovely plants and projects which you share.
I can only imagine how greatly you miss Mark--and will continue to do so, but it seems that you are taking many positive steps to weather this difficult time.
I am greatly impressed that you knew how to replace the spring in your clippers!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

My heart was pounding thinking of you up that ladder! (I'm a two rung girl)
Lorraine, your garden is totally beautiful, I hope to be just half the gardener you are, one day!
I so hope your dinner went well and it was a lovely get-together, if not a little bitter-sweet?
What an inspiration you are, I will be sure to count my blessings too.
x

L. D. said...

The sky shots are so wonderful. I like seeing all the projects going on. The agatized wood is a large chunk of rock. I have few smaller ones like that from my dad's collection. Your orchids are wonderful. I am jealous.

Antique ART Garden said...

Stay off big ladders missy! Save jobs like that for your bosses's friend who was going to help or your nephew when he comes back.You have to remember safety reasons for not doing certain things if no one can hear you if there is a problem. Hugs, Gina

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Wish I could stop by and give you a hug you sweetie. I'm catching up on your posts. I see you're staying busy and completing a lot of projects. So love your little tours. Like I've been to your garden/home dozens of times. The orchids are beautiful. I'm considering getting one to bring some color indoors. I'll keep you posted if I purchase one. On to read more posts!