Saturday, April 22, 2017

Keeping busy

 

Good Saturday afternoon from Plum Cottage. I can hardly believe how fast time is going along. I have been busy, doing a little part-time work that I am getting paid for and enjoying it while it lasts. Each day is a gift and I am thankful to God.

I mentioned in my last post about making up little pillows to commemorate dance memories. Well, I made one and it is on display at the dance studio where I am working part-time. I’ve had one inquiry so far and she is looking for the right photo of her daughter to use. Here is my sample creation. I used iron on fabric for printing out the photo.

04-13-annas-heart

I’ve been working a couple of days a week on tutu’s, for a Swan Lake performance. Will work another couple of days next week.

I’ve been working in my ‘secret garden’ and also in the screened room off the back of the cottage. I am getting a neat antique wooden piece this weekend from my BIL & SIL so am making a spot for it. This area needed to be worked on. I’ve not really done anything much with it since losing my dear husband. I am working on making it pretty back there because I want to take outdoor showers again. If you’ve never taken a shower outdoors, you don’t know what you are missing. It is wonderful. The ‘secret garden’ is right outside this area also.

I’ve been working outside 3-4 hours each morning I’m able to and it feels great getting something accomplished. I’ve been watching gardening videos on you-tube and am greatly inspired by them. Those British shows are GREAT. Below is just one series. Check out ‘Big Dreams Small Spaces’, ‘Love Your Garden’, & ‘Gardener’s World’.

Britain's Best Back Gardens 1 of 3 - Challenging Plots

Britain's Best Back Gardens 2 of 3 - Working Gardens

Britain's Best Back Gardens 3 of 3 - Top 10 Favourites

Now, here are some photos for you to enjoy. I know a lot, if not most of you, are starting to enjoy all of the beauty bursting forth in your own gardens. Yay, for you.

‘Gardenia’ ~ I love the scent of gardenias. The scent is one of my first scent memories of Florida as my grandmother had a huge bush in her yard.

04-15-gardenia

‘Golden Dewdrop’ the scent reminds me of jelly beans. It is called this name because of the golden berries that form after the flowers are done.

04-15-golden-dewdrop

‘Thryallis’ has a lovely scent during the day. I have this in the back part of the property and I do not take care of it. I think it is taller than I am and I’m 5’6”.  I also have 5 of these growing in pots.

04-15-thryallis

The next photos are of bougainvilleas, I have three different ones.

04-20-boug

04-20-boug2

My friends Nanci & John gave me this years ago. I love the bit of pink.

04-20-wh-boug

Here is one pink and this is all on one shrub.

04-20-wh-boug2

‘Dancing Ladies’ orchid.

04-15-dancing-ladies

Unknown orchids.

04-20-d-orchid

04-15-unkn

‘Granada’ roses.

04-15-granada

04-15-granada2

04-20-granada

04-20-granada2

04-20-granada3

This is an unknown with velvety petals and a sweet scent.

04-15-red-unkn

One of the recent tea roses I bought.

04-15-tea-rose

Unknown, with a wonderful scent.

04-15-unkn

04-20-unkn2

‘Maman Cochet’ bud with afternoon sunlight backlighting it. It also has a wonderful scent.

04-20-maman-cochet

04-20-maman-cochet2

I worked outside this morning for another 4 hours.  More forward progress, but there is still a LOT to do. One day at a time, as I have time and feel like it. Summer will be here before I know it and I’m trying to get a lot done before it gets too miserable out.

That’s it from Plum Cottage.

Have a lovely Sunday and a great upcoming week.

FlowerLady

Quote by Alan Titchmarsh:

“A beautiful garden is like a big hug.

It can heal the heart & bring joy to those in need.”

39 comments:

Terra said...

I can tell you are accomplishing a lot around Plum Cottage. Whenever you post a photo of your gardenia I can almost smell it. The ballet heart is both darling and dainty.

Sally said...

What a talented lady! Any little girl would love one of those pillows.
You have so many beautiful blooms! And, you mentioned scents. Oh, the wonderful scents on the air.
I understand wanting to get a lot done in the garden before it gets too hot. Early mornings are the best.....

Happy Gardening

lil red hen said...

Your garden certainly lives up to the words of this quote! It would bring much joy to me to walk through it. My irises were beautiful on Easter Sunday, but after rains and winds this week, they look weary. Your roses look so healthy; how do you manage to keep them this way?

The heart with the photo is beautiful!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love to hear of all your projects, both inside and outside, but I freely admit,I look forward to seeing those lovely flower pictures.Thanks for sharing these beauties.

Cheryl said...

Such beautiful, beautiful things in your garden! It does sound like you've been quite busy, both inside and outside of Plum Cottage!

organicgardendreams said...

Dear Lorraine, I am so happy for you that you found a part time job at a dance studio!
Gosh, working four hours a day in your garden, that is a lot of time that you are putting into your green paradise. I am sure after each garden session you see the fruits of your labor and this must be a rewarding feeling.
Love the photos of the flowers that are blooming in your garden, especially that white bougainvillea. I am going back and forth about planting a white bougainvillea in my own garden as well. They are so much tougher and drought tolerant than my beloved roses and therefore would be much more appropriate for my climate than the roses are.
Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!
Warmly,
Christina

Jane said...

Best of luck on selling your little ballet hearts, Rainey! Making tutus sounds like a fun job. Loving your flowers, the forsythias and daffodils have just opened up here. Everything is golden! Have a lovely week!

Hugs
Jane

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Good Morning, Glad to hear that you are doing well and staying busy... Nice to have a little part-time job... I know about Gardening especially this time of year. It's hard to stay on top of things!!! We are finally getting RAIN -and lots of it... So good AFTER our horrible drought last year...

Amazing to see all of the flowers/plants in your yard growing. So many of those we can only enjoy inside at the Conservatory at Biltmore....I love orchids but they only grow inside in our area... You are blessed to live so far SOUTH.

Hugs,
Betsy

L. D. said...

I always enjoy seeing all of your flowers. I just watched "Secret Garden" on cable the other day. Your gardens are all like that. It is special place where you live.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Such pretty sweet roses at your place. Thanks for sharing.

Deborah Montgomery said...

How fun to make tutus! I would be tempted to make one for myself and dance around in my secret garden, twirling around in it -- haha! Those gardenias are so lovely. All the flowers, really. What a healing place a beautiful garden is. And an outdoor shower sounds just lovely! xo Deborah

A Joyful Cottage said...

Great quote and I couldn't agree more. A garden is a healing place. Your flowers, as always, are gorgeous. I can almost smell their scent looking at the photos. The pillow is super sweet. So pretty. xo

Val said...

That heart pillow is one of the prettiest things your talented hands and heart have ever created, Lorraine. Just beautiful. ♥

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

The heart is a perfect memento that could be adapted to so many other occasions...baptisms, first communions, graduations. Hope you can find other ways to promote it.

When my daughter took ballet lessons I redesigned the costumes each year. They gave me the ourfits and trim and I just did what I wanted with them. I had forgotten that. I was a pretty involved mom as my daughter grew up.

Outside shower? Is the water warm? Interesting concept.
xx, Carol

Rebecca said...

You are just too, TOO blessed with all those sight and scents! Thanks for posting them! I can't imagine living so surrounded by so much beauty....♥

Rue said...

I'm glad you're doing well, Rainey :)

I'm sure that mother will really enjoy the heart you make for her.

Your garden has such beautiful flowers. My favorite is the gardenia, because of my grandmother, but I'm always amazed that you can grow orchids in your yard.

Have a lovely week, my sweet friend.

love,
rue

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Rainey, What a blessing to enjoy your work at the dance studio and also design pretty items that will bring joy to others. Love the heart you sampled with the sweet little girl.
AW how gorgeous your garden blooms are this spring.
You are certainly busy and it shows. Joys to you this last week of April. xo

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

You have so much talent, Lorraine!! I would have a great time wandering through your gardens, investigating every plant and all the nooks and crannies! I'm guessing your feet must be healing since you are able to spend 4 hours in the garden now - that's such a blessing!

Darcie said...

Yes...time is just flying by! I don't know how it happens that way, but I can't seem to slow it down either. What beautiful heart pillows you are making! Can you imagine the years of sweet memories that will offer! Beautiful work as always!!

gld said...

You have been busy! I need to catch up. I didn't realize you were working part-time. What a good thing.

The flowers are gorgeous and so is the header picture.

Dewena said...

I would think that working in a dance studio with all those children who dream of being a ballerina could be very nice and surely they would treasure one of your beautiful little pillows as a keepsake.

Thank you so much for including the links to these great Brit gardening shows! I didn't know about them and would enjoy them so much. I pulled them off to my desktop where I won't lose them. I wish our PBS would show them. Your flowers are so lovely, I love that unidentified red rose! There is nothing like gardenia, just smelling them brings back memories of all the gardenia corsages my father gave me for Easters. My birthday is coming up and my daughter is going to get me perfume and asked me what scents I loved and I wrote back, "gardenia, please!"

Outdoor shower, how refreshing that would feel--if there were no peeping toms around!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Lorraine: That heart is absolutely darling. You are very artistic and all your flowers are so beautiful. No wonder you are the FlowerLady..Happy Wednesday..Judy

Unknown said...

Hello Rainey! Such lovely photos of all of your beautiful flowers! I think you are so talented with your hand stitching. I would like to try that again. You're very inspiring! And thank you for mentioning the British TV shows that you watch on Youtube. I hadn't thought to do that, and I'm so excited to know there's an outlet to watch gardening shows again! Because we all know the G is "silent" in HGTV these days, haha! I can't remember the last time they had a gardening show that wasn't a contest. I'm so glad we got some rain finally! Have a very lovely weekend! :)

Jessica Jarrell said...

I love days where I get to spend 3 or 4 hours in the garden. I'm the same as you, I feel so accomplished. The blooms you have are so diverse and amazing! I would just love to see your gardens and I hope I can have ones so extensive some day. Flowers really are one of the best medicines. And an outdoor shower? Oh goodness, that's right up my alley! :-)

Hope you are having a great week FlowerLady!

Diana Studer said...

Your garden is looking loved and happy. Granada rose has lovely soft mixed colours.

Susan said...

Your flowers and roses are gorgeous! I love it when gardenias bloom. There fragrance is heavenly - even better than a rose, I think. Your dancing lady is ahead of mine. Mine should bloom in the next couple of weeks.

It sounds like a fun sewing project that you're working on. It's nice to be able to share your talents with others. Have a nice day!

Melanie said...

I love all your flowers, they're always so beautiful. I didn't know you were working for a dance studio! Is this something new?

BeachGypsy said...

Lorraine i just love looking at all the pictures of your beautiful flowers! You have such a variety and so many ive never heard of!!-- so i learn something every time. It takes years to build on a garden like yours--- they dont happen overnight. Hope you have a lovely weekend

September Violets said...

I'm so glad that you are keeping yourself busy and happy. The embroidered heart pillow is BEAUTIFUL!! I just love this, and I'm sure you will get more requests as people discover this. Wouldn't this look great in a frame with the printed program of a performance beside it. You have a wonderful gift!
Your gardens are just amazing! I love coming here and taking a tour through the garden you have created (enjoyed the previous post too, as I catch up with you). I really want to work hard on my gardens this year as they have been somewhat neglected the last couple of years. Most things carry on, but there's always the extra love we can give the plants, right? Enjoy your weekend, and good luck with your costume creations ... please share a photo when they're finished :)
Wendy

outlawgardener said...

Oh my, your pillow is beautiful! I have a gardenia in the greenhouse that is just about to bloom and I'll think of you as I enjoy that sweet scent! Your flowers are gorgeous! I can almost smell them from here.

Cynthia said...

I love this sweet little pillow you created. Just lovely! Pretty garden you have there.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How wonderful that you are enjoying a part time work and what a wonderful place to work at! Your hearts are so lovely! And your garden flowers are always beautiful! All of that hard work gets rewarded!

My Journey To Mindfulness said...

You amaze me with your talent
and when I see your roses
I miss having them
Here by the damp woods
no roses will grow...

GretchenJoanna said...

I have never seen a bougainvillea that was not dark pink. Those white and variegated ones are lovely. I can't grow them here, but my father had one growing on the side of our chimney and in the winter the heat radiating from the bricks kept it alive for many years. Thank you for showing all these flowers that enrich your days!

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

So many beautiful flowers. The roses are so lovely and delicate looking. What a wonderful garden you have!
I love the heart. So pleased to hear you are enjoying your part time job. Good for you!

Deb J. in Utah said...

I love the heart pillow. Beautiful flower pictures. Have a good weekend.

M.K. said...

I'm late commenting - sorry! You have so many friends who come and comment here. Isn't that just lovely? I also think that little dancer heart is absolutely exquisite. Such a nice job on the beading! I'm gld you have some work, not too much, and hope it lands you more as you desire it. The blooms are, as ever, stunning. I wish I could smell them :)

sweetbay said...

So happy that you were able to get a part-time job that you like! The embroidered pillow is exquisite.

Your orchids and roses look beautiful! The buds of 'Mamam Cochet' are sheer perfection. I love the vivid colors of 'Granada' too.

Red Rose Alley said...

What a sweet heart pillow. And of course, I loved the roses. They are such a sturdy and wonderful flower withstanding all kinds of climates. : )

~Sheri