Friday, June 27, 2014

In my element...

I have a new friend, Jane at the blue house down the hill. 


Yesterday Jane and her family stopped by our little white cottage while at their evening stroll through the neighborhood to say hi. We talked for a while out in the front yard, and later I invited them over to the back… to see the garden and they were delighted—the garden drenched with the scent brought in by a boisterous evening; of crickets chirping loudly deep in the thicket and frogs serenading the early moon… 


Jane promised to share some plant cuttings... from her mother’s garden, and asked if she could come back again to take some photograph... for inspiration.  She has always dreamed of having a lovely garden, but haven’t had the courage to start one… and how was I able to create my little paradise in such short time? 


Well, we best ask Apollo if he knows how that happened... Apollo, who by the way, had finally found his way to our new home… it took him a while to get here, but he finally made it.  Best ask him if he may know how this garden happened to be, because all I know is I've been working working working day and night and night and day and then one day it all came into being… like magic.  And now people are saying how lovely this place is looking and what an outstanding change from what it was just a few months ago…  I am truly thrilled.


In the morning, a lovely bouquet of blue hydrangeas was waiting for me at the front door…


From Jane’s. 

 

I was told that my hydrangeas will grow to some rather big bushes and the window behind them most probably be almost completely hidden. I have no experience whatsoever with hydrangeas. Do they really grow that tall? My hydrangeas are in bloom but I haven’t’ done any cuttings, cause I have read that hydrangeas grow on new wood… and how far into the plant can one cut the flowers without damaging next summer’s bloom?  I dunno.


Basking in the sun in the stillness of mid-morning… enchanted by the songs of birds—the “pretty pretty pretty” flatteries of the Mockingbird mingling with the “chowee chowee” chirrups of those other birds, and over there farther down the privet, the chanting of the ravens. And there are those huge fat types of bumblebees fluttering the idle hours away; over my head in boisterous concerts of buzzing and burrowing into the wood. I have learned that these creatures are called the Carpenter Bumblebees… they insist in destroying the gutters of our roof. And there are big menacing orange wasps such as ones I’d never seen. Every creature visits now and then… but I’m not afraid of their nearness. Of none of them. Nor of their buzzing or bustling or humming hustles and bustles all around me. They don’t troubled me at all; except perhaps, for the Yeppers Creeper the mosquitoes. I’m learning that I’m allergic to them… They're driving me insane...

Anything new, or exciting, or interesting going on in your neck of the woods?

Please do share!



11 comments:

  1. I am so happy that you have met a nice friend in your lovely new home. Nothing new around here - just working about 1-1/2 hours in the garden everyday - watering, picking roses and dead heading. When you have over a 100 rose bushes they keep you very busy. I am upset with my gardener. I had planted a Julia Child's miniature rose bush and the darn gardener pulled it up and threw it away. He is not very careful of my plants and I pay a lot of money for complete yard care, weeding, pruning, etc. I must have a little talk with the the owner of the business.
    Your garden has come a long way and it is simply stunning. I don;t know how you work out in all that humidity - I would be passed out in the yard LOL
    That was so nice of Jane to bring you flowers. Some of my hydrangeas are 7 feet tall in 10 years. When I first plant them I don't cut the blooms until they get a little bigger. I just cut the flower off then it dies.
    Good luck and have a wonderful weekend.
    Mary

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    1. I love it—love when I get to sit quietly in my favorite spot and read all comments, opinions and recommendations left here by my friends and readers… I learn so much from you all, and I love it. I truly do. My life is so enriched by you all. Thank you Mary for letting me know about the hydrangeas... wow, 7 feet tall. Who would had known! Oh and yest, you best talk to your gardener... throwing away a newly planted rose bush... I'd go nuts. ;)

      Hugs

      Cielo

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  2. So nice to know you are meeting the neighbors. You work so hard to create your special place and you do it for your own pleasure, but it's so rewarding to hear another praise your accomplishments. I love the mirror and green shutters on the fence.
    Another door to fairyland. The humidity and the nasty mosquitos are hard on you but your plants must love it, they look beautiful.
    Happy weekend.
    Sherry

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    1. The mirror is my old "magical' door I had in my garden at the house in the roses. I was finally able to bring it to the little white cottage. I gave it a new coat of paint, in Vintage, from Americana Decor. I think is looking lovely!

      Cielo

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  3. Those are such intense hydrangea colors! They're just beautiful Cielo. Hydrangeas grow all over the place where I live, I see them growing even in empty lots and along the sides of roads. They're called Hortensias around here. Interestingly, they all start out pure white and then begin to turn a light powder blue as the blooms mature. We never get those intense colored blooms, I guess it must be the soil or perhaps the local variety of hydrangea. I've seen very tall ones and I've also seen people prune them so you can always keep them under control if they begin to get too tall. There are also miniature hydrangeas, I've got two miniatures that are quite a bit smaller than the normal sized ones. You could always plant miniatures in front of your windows, though they are particularly lovely in pots.

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    1. How very lovely to have hydrangeas growing all over the place... even in empty lots! Oh, that must be quite a sight. I'd love to plant hydrangeas in pots, but will they grow the same as if planted on the ground?

      Cielo

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    2. They won't grow nearly as large if they're confined to pots...they're sort of like poinsettias in that sense I guess. They stay small and compact if they're potted but if you plant them in the ground after Christmas is over, they'll grow taller than your house in one or two seasons!

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  4. So pretty there. What a sweet gesture leaving a bouquet for you. I do not know much about hydrangea other than I love them. My are so short this year after the bad winter we had. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hope your hydrangeas will get better and prettier blooms next year!

      Cielo

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  5. how lovely that you have a neighborhood friend. and she lives in the "blue-house-down-the-hill". (you manage to make everything sound magical!!!)

    and she appreciates a lovely garden area. it would seem that you "were brought here", to mentor her, on making her own beautiful garden area. :-)

    gentle hugs,
    tessa~

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  6. Well we finally may have found our new home . it's a Miners Cottage that has been extended and has many things on our wish list we never hoped to actually have and at a great price too. It needs a little love but I think when you are standing in a house and you realise you are looking for the perfect place for your christmas tree you know you have found home . Oh and a pool and dishwasher oh my God has been abundant in his blessings to us . Now the major bit , the packing and moving and settling in.

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