Dewdrop Gardens

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Summer Blooms

I want to share with you the blooms in my gardens that we have been enjoying this summer so far.

If you are still around and reading this, I want to thank you for waiting for me.

Astilbe

I haven’t written on my blog in a few months.

Crystal Fountain Clematis

I've been so busy with life; my online life went by the wayside.

Fuschia

I have so much catching up to do. And I have no idea where to start!

Kniphofia - Red Hot Poker

But, life has been good...very good! :)

Pansies

I don’t feel guilty...well, ok a little, because I know I've been neglecting all my online friends. And that has bothered me.

Japanese Painted Fern

So, if I've missed something important, let me know.

Stella D'Oro Day Lily

Calibrochia - Million Bells

Caladium

Asiatic Lily

Spiderwort

Pee Gee Hydrangea at the back of the woodland garden

The best thing to do is start over...

Jackmanii Clematis

And that's what I'm doing.

Purple Reign Asiatic Lily

Artemisia and Lavender

Siberian Iris

Globemaster Allium

Canada Day Geranium Planter

What could be more fun than working your hobby?

Thanks again for hanging in with me. I hope you will pay me a visit at my new blog, Dewdrop Gables where I share my love for crafting.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay safe!

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Spring Flowers

The spring flowers have finally arrived in our gardens!

Just a few short weeks ago, this is what Mother Nature brought us.

April Snow Showers

And now, the gardens are alive...with the sights, sounds and scents of spring.

Scilla (Chionodoxa forbesii)

Striped Squill (Puschkinia scilloides)

Anemone Blanda 'Blue Star'

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

Forsythia

Hellebore

Marsh Marigold

I love Hyacinths! I have them planted around my front door and in the courtyard, so I can enjoy their aroma every time I walk by.

Apricot Passion Hyacinth

Anne Marie Hyacinth

Delft Blue Hyacinth

City-of-Haarlem-Hyacinth (yes, Haarlem is spelt right)

Jan-Bos-Hyacinth

I have to admit, as much as I love the hyacinths, my favourite spring flower is the narcissus. Daffodils are so beautiful in their amazing assortment of sizes, styles, shapes and colours. I have a nice selection and hope to add more unusual ones in the fall.

Full House Daffodil

Tahiti Daffodil

Tete-a-Tete Daffodil

King Alfred Daffodil

Sound Daffodil

Irene Copeland Daffodil

Cool Flame Daffodil

Ice Follies Daffodil

But, I think my favourite thing in my garden is this rusty old plaque...

Grandma's Garden Plaque

It's amazing the way Mother Nature throws her worst at us and just a short time later, she surrounds us with a rainbow of beauty. She's my favourite lady to work with.

I like how Alex Trebek thinks...
'If you can't be in awe of Mother Nature, there's something wrong with you.'

I'm sharing with:

The Dedicated House

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Book Page Wreath

Christina, from The Frugal Homemaker, posted about her Burlap Book Page Wreath last October during her 31 days of Pinterest Pinned to Done and I pinned it hoping I'd get to do one.

Then I saw Talitha, from Love, Pomegranate House, do a Paper Dahlia Wreath last week and it was gorgeous! I pinned this one, too.

My Book Page Wreath is sort of a combination of the two. Here's a quick run-down on how you can do your own.

1. Cut a circle out of a cardboard, I used a Pepsi case.
2. Tear pages out of an old book, I used an old dictionary I found at the thrift store. Roll them into tubes and use a hot glue gun to secure.
3. Glue the tubes onto your circle, starting at the outside edge.
4. Glue the next row between the tubes on the row before, continuing until you are as full as you like.
5. Use ribbon you have on hand, or I cut a piece of linen from a scrap I messed up, and glued it into a ribbon.
6. Hot glue the ribbon to the back of the cardboard. (I should have painted the back! Oh well, no one will see it)

1. & 2. I used a lot of pages!! From 540 to 811 in the dictionary. There were a few not used, but still...

3. The pages weren't as old as I'd like, so using a mixture of the tea and steel-wool soaked vinegar I used on the garden cart wheels, I sprayed the pages.

4. After it dried, I really liked the aged look.

The tarnished silver spoon and cup were mine when I was a baby!

Spray painted vase with dried hydrangeas from my Limelight standard.

I love my wreath! Simple, but it did take a bit of time. And I love it hanging in the office where I see it the most.

Yes, I know, it's not springy colours, but I love the rustic feel of the mantel.

What do you have on your mantel right now?

I'm sharing with: