A Glimpse of The Garden

I often talk about my quiet lifestyle and the place where I spend most of my time.  My garden has been a source of great joy and solace over the last five years, since we moved to this house.  Alot has happened in this time and the garden has grown into a little piece of Heaven for us.

This is the first summer that we haven't needed to put forth much effort in it.  Aside from the occasional weeding and adding a few potted annuals, we've been able to sit back and enjoy the scenery.  So for my friends and family who haven't had a chance to see it this way, here's a little tour around my cherished backyard.

Herb box

Hummingbird feeders can be seen from
the dining room window.  We have a pair of
these little guys hanging around, but  not today

The bird bath is always in need of fresh water, it's a popular spot
for all our feathered friends

These roses remind me of my grandmother.  She used to have
many bushes lining the far side of her house

Darren's vegetable garden

I sometimes see chickadees flying in and out of this feeder's nostrils

Dixie's path

Path leading to the composter and pet graveyard

Baby Blue, a new addition to the jay family

Woodpecker couple.  Their little one was foraging on the ground
below but got spooked by the pigeons

Chippy No-Tail,  born last Spring, and here to stay

Another juvenile jay, always close by and eager to be fed

This is just a glimpse of my favourite place.  And even if pictures don't do it justice, I hope you enjoyed the tour :)

Desktop Background

It's been a while since I made a downloadable pic for you, so here's one from the garden.  It looks really nice  large, so you could set it as background on your computer.

Enjoy :)

Awestruck

Even the daisies stand in awe before the ephemeral poppies....

Randomness

Like a painter choosing his palette, I've chosen each plant's place in the garden.  Each spring I wait with anticipation to see if they approve, or if they'll hold back for another year.

Still, the columbines trick me.  They will not be told where to grow.  Their seeds are blown around and carried by my many winged friends to create their own destiny.  I like that.

Garden Pretties

Chives

Clematis

Lilacs

Fuschia

Cornflower

Beauty Beneath A Blanket Of Snow...

Winter is not a favourite season for many of us.  But when I take a stroll to the backyard and see life lingering beneath all the snow, I can't help but smile and appreciate the seen and unseen beauty there.

Here's a desktop background that I hope will brighten your day.  The cold season is long, but as with all things, it comes and goes and warmer days will find us again...

Square Is In - New Items In Etsy Store

My Etsy Shoppe is now open. It features my most recent prints in 5x7 and 8x10, framed in cream coloured mats.

Also, I've started a new line of trendy square prints. I sell them in two popular sizes: 5x5 and 8x8.

Enjoy!

Veggie Patch In Urbania

Thanks to my hubby's green thumb, our garden has produced a delicious variety of veggies this summer. Every year, we find that some things work better than others, only to be surprised the following gardening season with a twist to that theory.

In our northern climate, the conditions are ever changing, so we've stopped speculating about which vegetables to count on and simply grow things for the sheer pleasure and element of surprise. Here's a peek at what we've gotten so far:

foliage of the yet-to-be brussel sprouts

Good Morning Sunshine

The morning sun casts a certain light that makes my garden glow. It's not that this place isn't great any other time of the day, but when sunlight enters at a low angle and gives everything a magical touch, I'm compelled to capture it.

Even the shade garden gets a taste of sunshine bright and early every day. Dew drops sparkle, petals flutter translucent, and my heart is gladdened to be in the presence of all that magnificence.

This is my favourite place in the world. Do you have one, a place that makes you grin from ear to ear and hum happy songs? Does it make your heart soar?

How To Attract Blue Jays To Your Yard (or, garden's got the blues, part II)

A family of six jays came to the yard this morning, and stayed for lunch, a drink and a bath.  I sat in the middle of the yard with my camera, and took these pics.  They seemed to enjoy my company, posing and looking at me in wonder, but unphased and unafraid.

We've have the same adult couple return every summer for the last few years, and they come down to the peanut plate when we shake the container to call them.  Most of these pictures are of the juveniles who are getting familiarised with 'the lay of land'.

Garden's Got The Blues

It amazes me to watch the garden grow.  I am bewildered each year around this time to see the speed at which plants and flowers explode into bright, bushy and luscious life.  Everything seems to be in a hurry to be as it should- green and blooming and alive.  One minute, plants and tree buds are but a green spot on a brown landscape and the next, they are here, and how!

Familiar Faces Of Spring