June.Garden.Beauty

Time. Thankful. Anticipation.

The end of a holiday week-end.

Time to enjoy the coolness of the evening.

Thankful for loved ones  and the 

memory of those gone before.

Anticipating the gifts of tomorrow.

Remembrance.

{May flowers lining the sidewalk to the front porch.}

Boom Bloom

Boom! Bloom! The Rio Samba is always the first of the roses to bud and blossom. This year has been no exception. And look! Can you see the lavender budding out in the background? Spring has taken its own sweet time to get here this year, but it has started to get warmer and the garden is responding.

This miniature rose is one of many tiny blossoms on a plant that has grown quite large in the past few years. It started out as a small potted plant from the florist department at the supermarket. Each year it becomes more and more magnificient, as though it is trying to say "Look at me now!"

The Peace rose is right by the front steps. Its color matches the rocking chair that sits on the porch next to it. Both bring calmness and peace to my heart. Especially when paired with a cup of fragrant tea.

Japanese Iris were transplanted from my mother's garden more than ten years ago. Sis and I wanted them as a token and memory of mom. We planted them along with snowdrops in the tea garden in remembrance. They have become established and are blooming profusely this year.

The temperatures are predicted to be into the 90's by the end of this week. The cool spring appears to be over. And with the warmer temperatures, even more buds will burst into bloom. Anticipation! Bloom, garden, bloom! Boom!

Happy Mother's Day

Snowballs in Spring

My snowball tree is filled with an abundance of pristine, white blossoms. They grow in beautiful, clustered orbs. Each branch is heavily laden with snowballs.

My tree was a gift from Karleen. Each spring when it blooms, I think of her and appreciate my tree {and her} even more. Just seeing it reminds me of early childhood memories. My family lived in a barracks that had been converted into an apartment for university married students {like my parents}. Units were small and close, but the back lawns were all connected and all the neighborhood children had a wonderful time playing together outside. When the snowball bushes bloomed, we had wonderful snowball fights with the soft, pristine blossoms. 

The floral snowballs also remind me of real snowballs! The kind that are hard when they hit you and that melt when you try to bring them inside! And they remind me of the quintessential Hostess Snowball. Do you remember them? They were a concoction of chocolate cake covered in marshmallow and rolled in coconut. So tempting in the package at the store, but mother would never buy them {they are "just fluff" she'd say and "not good for growing kids"}. But how pretty they were! Instead we'd use the idea to make homemade truffles at home and sis and I would roll them in unsweetened, flaked coconut until they were as dense and pretty as the blossoms on the snowball tree!

And you can make some too! Here's a recipe I enjoy. Find the coconut and you can roll to your heart's content. The recipe even includes tea!

Basil & Tea Truffles

• 2 cups heavy cream (or SILK soy creamer)
• 1/2 cup packed, fresh basil
• 2 tea bags, Earl Grey tea
• Pinch of salt
• 1 lb. chocolate, bittersweet, chopped
• Crushed cookies (gluten-free if necessary), toasted chopped nuts, shredded coconut or cocoa powder, for rolling.

Bring the cream to a low simmer over medium heat. Then remove from heat and add tea bags and basil leaves. Steep for 15 minutes. Then strain mixture and discard the solids. Return the pan of infused cream to the heat and simmer for five more minutes. Then, stir in chocolate until melted and combined. 

Cover mixture and place in fridge. Cool completely (2 hours or overnight). 

When ready to create truffles, place the topping or toppings of your choice in bowls. Use a spoon to scoop by teaspoonful and make a rounded 1 inch ball. Then roll in one of the toppings listed above. Each truffle should be well coated. 

Store truffles in a covered container in the fridge until ready for use.

Snow. Drop.

The snowdrops are blooming! Drooping, the are white, and dainty. They burst into bloom in late February and grace March with their presence. They are classic in their crisp, simple lines and are a beautiful blend of white and green in clusters that invite you to draw near. Aptly named "snowdrop" because they look like little drops of pure white clusters that are falling to earth and they appear when winter is still here. Snow. Drop. Snow. Flake. Snow.

You can read more about this lovely flower here.

Morning Crocus

It is amazing what some sunshine and daylight will do. Even on the shady side of the house, the crocus were opening at first light and waiting for the sunshine to hit their flower bed. Often we don't stop to think about the mechanism of some types of flowers. Blossoms that open every morning and close again every night are amazing. It is said that these types of plants have a nyctinastic trait, displaying rapid movement rather than the slow movement normally seen in other plants. There are several reasons for this action. Some plants are protecting their blossoms by closing at night when it is chilly. Others are saving their nectar from the bats and moths that are active at night. The creator placed such wisdom in the beautiful flowers. They close not just on a whim but for a purpose that preserves them so that they can survive. Isn't it wonderful that they do this so we can enjoy their beauty for greater lengths of time?

I hope you have a beautiful day and that you can take time to stop to observe the blossoms that surround you. 

Crocus

The spring crocus has appeared this week. It's wonderful to see some color in the garden again. It wasn't that long ago that snow covered this flower bed. But hidden below the surface were sprouts of green and eager flowers that were just waiting for sunshine! 

This picture was taken at dusk, right after the blossoms closed up for the night. Tomorrow I'll share a daytime picture!

Orb of Sunshine

Winter Aconite is one of the first flowers of spring. At the first of March, a row of them were blooming along Grandpa's pathway to his front door. They look like little orbs of sunshine! Their official name is Eranthis hyemalis and they are a species of a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Although native to woodlands of Europe, they grow successfully in many places in the United States. Aren't they pretty? I love the bit of cheer they add to a cloudy day.

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February in Pink & Red

Valentine's day has passed, but I cannot allow the holiday to pass without sharing bits and pieces of this heart-filled holiday.

February has been cold and snowy. It's been the perfect time for projects and crafting. Even simple projects like organizing a bookshelf can brighten up the day.

Red is the color for tea service in February! It is such a cheerful color and is the color of love.

Valentine's cards and tea samples from friends brighten February days, making a daily walk to the mailbox a rewarding experience.

And pretty in pink, a puppy's visit was so pleasant and sweet. Cuddles and tugs-of-war alternated with this frisky little beauty.

Good morning! Being called "handsome" is a great way for some to start the day!

Flowers. Tulips and lilies.

Chocolates and a tea tasting.

Red roses. Beautiful red roses.

And a Valentine's brunch of crepes, fruit sauces, and Darjeeling tea.

Happy February!

Spring should be here soon!

Do you have snowdrops in bloom yet?

None here.

The Autumn Crocus

The autumn crocus continue to grow in a garden jumble, years after the gardener who planted them has passed away. Without her care they mix with leaves and overgrown foliage. Their pretty purple faces radiate beauty in the chaos. While searching for information about these pretty blossoms I discover that autumn crocus are very toxic but that some herbalists use it with care for the treatment of certain illnesses. Poets of old knew this too, and described a lovely venomous meadow on an autumn day.

Autumn Crocuses (Les colchiques)

The meadow is venomous but lovely in autumn
The cows graze there and are slowly poisoned 
The colchicum colour of shadow and lilac
Flowers there your eyes resemble that flower 
Violet shades like their shadow that autumn 
And slowly your eyes empoison my life. 

The children arrive from school, what a fracas,
Dressed in smocks and playing harmonicas
They gather the crocuses that are like mothers
Daughters of their daughters your eyelids' colour
That beat as the flowers beat in the wild breeze.

The herdsman sings and sings quite softly
While slowly mooing, the cows abandon 
Forever this wide field flowered by autumn.

Author Unknown

A Walk Around the Yard

There is a chill in the air these days. But the sun shines through mid-day, giving just the right amount of warmth to the day. A walk around the yard is in order while the sun shines! Autumn is here. The plants reflect the affect of the heat of August, but are revived by the coolness present now. The lavender is blooming again, giving one last burst of purple before winter arrives. 

The cone flowers are very weary and tired. They have started producing seeds, but some faded color remains and bursts of cheer show forth.

The roses are less full and not quite so vibrant, but their faces still show of unfolding beauty and charm. I love the soft apricot essence of this blossom.

The hollyhocks just never give up! Beautiful, stunning blooms showcase some parts of the plants.

While other parts are dry stalks of seeds in pods. Each pod contains a spiral of small round discs that fit together perfectly! Every time I pass by them I pluck some of the pods, squeeze them tight, and release the seeds into the soil below. I love hollyhocks and simply want to help nature replenish the supply for next spring and summer!

The lawn is still green and the leaves have not quite turned to gold. But the tired, weariness of foliage and blossom is evident. There is beauty in each stage of every season.

Peace. The result of walking around the yard on a day in Indian summer.

Autumn Fires

In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The gray smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Craftin' with Lavender

The lavender is beautiful in June! It's time to make lavender crafts! Years ago my children's Suzuki piano teacher taught me how to make lavender wands. She was a very special person, believing in embracing the whole child. Not only did she teach appreciation for music and how to play it well, but how to incorporate the little things of life --- like flowers, fine food, and beautiful art --- into one's scope.

After mastering the art of weaving lavender wands, it was easy to learn how to make lavender bottles, mussie tussies, and lavender baskets.

Today "the traveling teapot" and I teach how to make lavender wands --- step-by-step --- on the Traveling Teapot blog. You are welcome to stop by!