Fountain from inside the Water Garden

 

Just because it's funny ... Chatsworth south

White Garden caladiums and Chatsworth

Here is a current photo of the front yard Sunny Border looking back into the White Garden. 

So happy with the caladiums we planted around the border in the White Garden. they bring sparkle and light to that dark and shady corner of the yard. Also notice, if you haven't had the time to travel to Chatsworth to see the fountains we have the pump in the goldfish pond shooting straight up in the air 6 feet, it makes me laugh every time i see it. You can see I centered it on the gate opening. The plan is to turn a cast iron urn into a dripping fountain but I have to figure out the plumbing first. So, for now... Chatsworth it is.

Baby Ella - Update

Almost four years later... God is good!

Well, here we are 2 heart caths and 1 open heart surgery later. Four months old, growing and learning as fast as a weed. The end of July holds another heart cath and another open heart surgery for Ella. Her main goal is chewing on everything she can get to her mouth, she is teething and drooling like a pro. Her other goal is to stay cool, she hates to be hot. Good luck with that one - Carolina Girl!

Grand daughter - Baby Ella

Our lives changed February 16th when our son's baby Ella was born. We quickly discovered that her heart had a major birth defect and she was not expected to live through the night. This is her photo today, three weeks later, after two heart surgeries and many, many prayers.

Many ups and downs have been hard on both our families but we now have hope for the future.

 While searching for any meaning through this whole time, I found a quiet garden space. This garden as well as the landscape all around the hospital show that they understand the quieting peace people gain from natural spaces and flowers.

Please pray for this baby as she continues to grow and faces at least two more major surgeries before age three. I have a feeling I am going to be sitting in this garden again, seeking peace and meaning through out the next couple of years.

First Christmas Tree - this year

This is our first Christmas tree up and decorated this year. The tree is my vintage 1966 aluminum tree from when I was 2 years old. The ornaments are all silver and white, the white lights are on white wires so the whole theme is consistent. I think it looks great. Merry Christmas to me. It gives me great joy to bring out things I have had my whole life, and it looks better than it ever did before. Let the Christmas season begin.

Teenagers with a GOPRO ...

... equals a pretty cool shot.

Newby Hall UK - Fantastic Herbaceous Borders

Newby Hall UK - Fantastic Herbaceous Borders

Jack Frost 2001? - 2015

Today we said goodbye to our loyal friend Jack. 

Love that Dog 

by Sharon Creech

Love that dog, 

like a bird loves to fly 

I said love that dog 

like a bird loves to fly 

Love to call him in the morning 

love to call him 

“Hey there, (Jack)!” 

Agastache blue fortune at sunset

My first attempt leads to plots and plans

     This is my first attempt at growing anything other than perennials. This is an heirloom seed for dipper gourds used to dip water from a bucket dropped down into a well. My long range goal across the street at the historic property at which I now volunteer is to create a small fenced in kitchen garden. I have located wooden split rail fencing at the local big box home and garden store, I think I can fence in the small yard behind the Old Kitchen for about a hundred dollars. 

     By growing these gourds I have discovered that the light is not the same on both sides behind the Old Kitchen (c late 1830s). The right side gets sun all day, the left side only gets light from noon to sundown.

There is a huge difference in how the gourds have grown. One side is 12 feet high and hanging with gourds, the other side is barely knee high. 

     This winter I hope to sell the dried gourds to raise money for the garden projects. Would you give a five dollar donation to help restore the gardens at a historic property? i am hoping people will, as a keepsake from their tour of the mansion. 
     Next Spring I need to get the seeds started much earlier, which is hard to do when you are teacher as I am. Spring is a busy season for me. I also have decided to get some 12 foot posts and grow the vines up on wire mesh - high and up off the ground makes the handles long and straight. I have all this winter to plot and plan. 

Clematis Henryii - late August

Loved and Spoiled

Our neighbor came by to say a sweet goodbye to Jack. They have been so kind the last couple of years to come over and walk Jack for us during the day when we are at school. They even put dog bones on the front porch for him to "find" when they took him out. Jack - loved and spoiled by so many folks.

We don't talk about it - but it will happen soon. 

In the middle of the day

Mama deer sneaking her twin fawns across the busy road and down our driveway - right in the middle of the day! It was 1 o'clock in the hot afternoon. Crazy and kind of sweet. You never know! 

Happy Fourth of July from Pinewood Cottage

Agastache - Blue Fortune

Right beside the the front steps into the house - this little patch of licorice scented Agastache Blue Fortune - hyssop - makes me happy each time I see it.

In the White Garden right now

 White mandevilla slowing climbing to the top of the fence.

 White yarrow, petunias and million bells on the boys head, and the new clematis Henryii, growing nicely (the last one did not make it through the freezes this past winter).

 White moon vine should be at the top of the fence by July. I look forward to the large white soap scented blooms.

Achillea - White Yarrow - a close up

Driveway Border

 Here's what's blooming in the Driveway Border right now.

 "Turk's Cap" lily - about 5 feet tall - leaning gracefully.

 Echinops Ritro near the top of the driveway - I think it wants more sunlight.

Urns leading down into the driveway yard - White petunias, chartreuse sweet potato vine, vinca, and dracaena Spikey Plant.  

I have big plans for this yard. Sky pencil hollies have been planted to hide the AC units and the dogwood tree and large clump of aspidistra Cast Iron plant (to left behind wall) are to be replaced with a living wall of sky pencil holly. I have about 20 cuttings rooted, ready and waiting for cooler raining days this fall to get into the ground.

Baptisia 'Blue Towers'

Baptisia can also be rooted from stem cuttings. Cuttings are genetically identical to the plant that provided them, which ensures the preservation of desirable characteristics such as unusual stem or flower color. Be aware that many new Baptisia cultivars are patented and cannot be legally grown from cuttings or other clonal propagation methods.

Most baptisias root easily in spring when the growth is still relatively soft, but the success rate drops as the stems harden. Good cutting material can generally be found in late April to early May. Cuttings should be taken so that at least one set of leaf buds can be inserted below the potting mix surface. Dip cutting in a rooting hormone and insert into a mix of 3 parts composted bark to 1 part peat. Keep humidity around cuttings high with a supported plastic tent. Cuttings should root in about 8 weeks.

Division or transplanting of Baptisia is difficult because of their deep woody root system and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

http://www.plantdelights.com/Baptisia-Blue-Towers-for-sale/Buy-Blue-Towers-Baptisia/ 

Happy Friday from Pinewood Cottage

Peony - Karl Lagerfeld