Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Diary of a little white cottage

Long... long time ago, before I even knew our little white cottage existed, I made a promise to myself to surround my life with flowers.  That was going be my life.  And thus, last year when we moved to our little white cottage and I went crazy planting flowers and seeds a million, the neighbors started noticing.  They noticed the change and some started coming by to say nice things.  Some commented on the lovely transformation they were starting to see and planned daily walks around our street just to see what was going on here.  


When we, ourselves, started walking round our neighborhood in the evenings and stopped to meet people, they would tell us that.  One lady across from where the Cat Lady lives told us that she and her husband would drive by sometimes just to see if they could take a peek round the fence and see what was growing in our gardens.  She gave me some root cuttings from some of her flowers, but I planted them in our raised beds up front, and didn't survive the heat.  Then, one day right after we moved in along came Jane.        


Our neighbor Jane down the hill on the farthest road of our neighborhood came by full handed with gifts for my garden--a bunch of fragile looking things-like cuttings from her garden as a welcome gift that I promptly and happily planted, without even asking what they were...  


I'm so glad I did!
I've been delightfully surprised by Jane's cuttings this year... 


I don't know what the name of this plant here is, but I find it incredibly lovely and even mysterious if you ask me... with flowers in such unique shape against the dark wood behind... 


And there are also the Mexican Petunias that Jane gave me, which by now are growing like crazy against the wall in one of the flowerbeds..  I have divided these precious treasures and spread them around the garden in several places.  They're late bloomers, so they'll be putting out a show of their own right on time when the garden starts looking rather tired.  I am waiting for such delightfulness with a joyful heart.


Birds know my heart.  They rally round daily sowing their own seeds... seeds that later get to bloom in delightful yellow flowers.   


And what especially lovely surprise this was.     


Early this spring I planted nasturtiums seeds around the pond along with the big Elephant Ear bulbs, and what joy they represent in these hot days of summer with huge lushness and dainty orange blossoms mingling happily....



The little mermaid who lives in our pond had found a house of her own among the vegetation...  her cozy little house is perfect for her.  She looks happily planted there as if part of her surroundings.


The Crepe Myrtles don't cease to amaze me.  Their bright bouquets of deep reds, pink and lavender are like promises to me... of good days, and sunshiny mornings, and rainy days and butterflies and everything that's good.



The gardenia bush that I'm so devotedly and fondly caring for is putting another exquisite brood of blooms soon to be opened.  I cannot love these flowers with such lovely scents any more, and I worry about what to do with them in the winter time, as I understand these are tropical breeds and must probably would not survive our short, but chilly winters.   I supposed that's why I planted them in a pot from the beginning rather than on the ground.  I will have to bring it in and figure out where to place it, along with all my collections of potted ferns and geraniums.  My little sunroom-dining room will be my winter jungle. 

Every day, a little hummingbird, or maybe two... or three, come by to sip nectar from the amalgamation of tube-like flowers in the garden.  They like to take early morning baths in the pond's fountain too.  Yesterday morning, a teensy little one stood by the window right where we were having our breakfast--wings beating frantically in mid air, just to say hello.  I could almost hear him saying "good morning, Cielo... how are you doing!

What an amazing world this is.  I am humbled and amazed by God's creative powers.  

And to all of you my dear lovely hummingbird friends who always come by to say hello:  
Cielo


21 comments:

  1. Your yard is amazing in such a short time. I know your neighbors are loving it just like I do.

    We moved into our house 3 years ago and immediately began planting. Our neighbors have taken notice too. :)

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    1. Isn't that nice... so rewarding too! ;)

      Thanks for stopping by

      Cielo

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  2. I would definitely route my walks to see your gardens if I lived in your neighborhood. Do you add nasturtium flowers to your salads? They are pretty and look like smiles among the greens.

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    1. Like pretty faces among the greens... love the imagery! Have to try that!

      Cielo

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  3. I would love to see it all in person.. it looks lovely .. with love janice

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    1. Oh do please come by... any time. I'll send the fireflies to guide you here! ;))

      So good to see you again my friend!

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  4. My neighbors' husband built her a small but so useful greenhouse last fall in their back yard. I am so envious. However she lets me put a few of my potted plants in it during the winter months. Maybe your handi-man could build one for you. :-) It would look really neat in your yard I'm sure. And would save you from having to put your plants in your house.

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    1. That is such a good idea... I'll have to do something like that... back at the house in the roses I had a portable greenhouse, but winters there are too harsh and even protected my plants didn't survive our winters. I gave it away when we moved because I thought that coming to the "south" I wasn't going to need it any longer... oh yeah! ;)

      Thanks Jenny

      Cielo

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  5. BTW..your header photo is beautiful.

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    1. Thank you... the front of our little white cottage.... it is looking so lovely.... I added a new area rug in black and white... got to show you! ;)

      Cielo

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  6. You have done such a wonderful job making your garden look so pretty.

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    1. Oh thank you Betty... hard work, but all worth it me thinks! ;)

      Cielo

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  7. I never get tired of looking at pictures of your garden Cielo. Every inch of it is so beautiful. You´ve done such an amazing job of bringing it to life. That mystery flower that your neighbor gave you is called Cleome or Spider Flower.

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    1. Ahhh, Spider Flower... Thank you! Thank you for letting me know. Isn't it lovely. In my mind I named it "Cat's Claw", because for some reason it reminds me of that ;)) Now I know. Thanks

      Cielo

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  8. Yes, Cleomes! Aren't they wonderful? I am trying to soak-up the images amd scents of my garden, to get me hrough our long and cold Toronto winter.

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    1. Ahhh winter up north... I am so glad I don't have to bear that any more. Our winters here can be cold, but super short... and the sun always comes up mid-day to warm up the earth with loveliness and joyful thoughts.

      Cielo

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  9. Through vision, and much hard work, you make your world lovely......

    This is your Art.

    Tessa

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    1. So nice to hear that... an art... yes yes yes it is... the thought makes me happy!

      Thank you Tessa!

      Cielo

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  10. And another part of your Art, is your sharing your world, with others, on your blog.

    Merci.

    Tessa

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    Replies
    1. You're most welcome! It is my pleasure.

      Cielo

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  11. Hi Rita! Thank you for your happiness my friend. Your smiles make me happy too... I'm glad you're here. And thank you for that explanation the other day... I really appreciated it.

    Hugs and love

    Cielo

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