Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Life at the cottage...

Once upon a time some years ago I promised myself I was going to surround myself in flowers—that was going to be my life.  So I created a garden, and then again a second one, which I carved out of the wilderness, somewhere in the South, where we now live.       

It was all worth it... the demanding and challenging wild nature of the South, the arduous work, the amount of sweat, mosquito, chiggers and spider bites, the poison ivy, oak and sumac, the deep mud, rain, scorching sun, the aches and exhaustion all worth it indeed.

So from this...


 We went to this in only three years... (same spot as above)


And from this... (I already had the blessing from above since that very first day I discovered our little white cottage... oh yes, look at those sun rays shining down!)


...to now this (same spot as above)




from this...


to this.. same very spot!  (look at how much that skinny tree in the above pic has grown!)



Another view from before...


and then now... you can hardly see that window on the right, now covered in vines...



And then the pond...


To now this... 



The kois are huge, and we have never seen our goldfish grown as big as the ones we have this year..



The Annabelle hydrangeas love kissing the water


There's an angel hidden behind the Elephant ears and Annabelle hydrangeas...

Can you see him!


I love it all!


During our cold winter months last year I decided to surround our little back porch in flower pots this year... so I did! 




I have no idea where I'm going to put all these many flower pots during our winter months, but I'll figure out something when the time comes...



Our veggie gardens are giving their precious jewels too!


We had never had such a huge crop as this year, 
our tomatoes are huge and healthy, and the green and orange peppers plum and beautiful... 


I am also embellishing our little white cottage with plenty of hydrangeas collected from the garden. They're so beautiful!  I love hydrangeas, and they are another dream come true, as they would not grow in my previous garden at the house in the roses.  The bush by the front door grows flowerets in tarnish colors and vintage beauty.  They're not pink, or blue or lavender like the other bushes, but all of these colors in a lovely faded tone.  I love it.  



I had a very good day at work today, and the plea I offered last night and again this morning where I kneel down in that little sanctuary under my window, has been answered.  "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand". Psalm 16:11  



14 comments:

  1. Oh the vision you have when it comes to anything in your world! I am in awe of the beauty your dedication and hard work create... For it is not just vision... I have vision... It is discipline and kneeling in the muddy grass and tending.... patting dirt around a dry bulb and closing your eyes with a smile that sees the flower that will respond tomorrow..... My dear mother had that.. and my dad. And I am sure the trait passed down to me. I am just AWOL.

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    1. Our souls watch and remain in awe... lucky we are.

      Hugs

      Cielo

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  2. How did you do it? I have tried to do that to our home over the last 18 years and I have a brown thumb. I am hoping to do better at the next home we move to in a couple of years. Would love to know how you plan on a garden spot and get it to be so pretty.

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    Replies
    1. Don't despair! Keep trying, keep planting, planting... remember, a garden doesn't come to life by only dreaming about it... it requires effort, and it will never disappoint you!

      Cielo

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  3. I've watched your garden grow these last three years as well as your beautiful home. I am asking the same question as Betty above. How did you do it! Do you have a particular plan, or formula, or set of rules you garden by? Do you follow guides in books? Love your garden.

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    Replies
    1. I don't know how I did it, really. I dream, and then get to work. No plan, no formula, just work on what you'll want to see! ;) Good luck. Don't quit, don't stop!

      Cielo

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  4. So beautiful! How often do you deadhead and fertilize? I had just about asked the gardener to tear out all my roses,but you make me want to keep trying.

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    Replies
    1. Deadhead whenever you see roses wither, the tip of the stem will dry up, and the bloom falls off, deadhead then, and do it often. I fertilize at the beginning of the spring and then again during the summer months, after pruning. Don't take them out! Give them some love first. They like to reciprocrate! ;)

      Cielo

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  5. All I can say is "Wow-oh-wow"! Beautiful!

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