Category Archives: seasons

Happy 1st Anniversary!

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by in anniversary, change, Connecticut, Critters, moving, nature, photography, seasons, South Carolina Garden blog

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On October 19, 2014 I published my first post for my blog: Always the Garden. I remember sitting with printed directions on my lap following every step trying to set up my pages; it was all new learning for me, scary and difficult. I had to refer to the Lingo sheet just to get through the directions; what’s a widget, dashboard, gravatar, header, menu, page, and post? Help! Starting something new is challenging and often I thought about giving up, but I didn’t and I’m glad.

I never knew the Blogging World was out there; it is a place of wonder; you can travel around the world and learn about interesting people and their lives. There are blogs on every topic of interest; most include beautiful pictures and writing.

When I started my blog I lived in Connecticut; a lot can happen in a year; now we live in South Carolina. My favorite season in Connecticut was Fall and now I’m experiencing the same joy: cool mornings with day time temperatures in the 70’s, breezes and no humidity.

Hidden in the foliage of our Lantana bush I discovered:

a chartreuse tree frog

A chartreuse tree frog.

and…

a gecko

A gecko; I love his eye, tinged with blue.

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Our Fall pots are filled with cold hardy plants: Ivy, Petunias, Marigold and a colorful plant called Croton. I used to buy Crotons in the Fall in Connecticut to add Fall color indoors.

May you experience joy in the changing season!

Thank you for taking the time to read my words.

xxoo

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Spring in the Garden

24 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by in cottage garden, photography, seasons, spring

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Chartreuse, emerald, jade, and lime are visible in the gardens now; the perennials are emerging. It always amazes me how sparse the landscape looks this time of year. Come June the borders will be overflowing with color.

The different shades of green in the front borders remind me of Ireland.

The different shades of green in the front borders remind me of Ireland.

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My favorite garden is my shade garden growing under our Oak tree.

The reason I love the shade garden is because I love the beauty of foliage. The varied sizes, shapes and colors of leaves are refreshing; some fern like, others broad and bold, fronds, blades, and needles all add interesting texture to the landscape. The saying goes: “opposites attract”. Placing plants with different foliage next to each other adds beauty to the garden.

Two favorite shade plants are: Japanese Forest Grass, a small grass that has yellow and green leaves, and Corydalis lutea; it has fern like foliage with tiny yellow flowers.

The Corydalis reseeded itself in the grass; the different foliage makes a lovely contrast.

The Corydalis reseeded itself in the Japanese Forest grass next to the heart shaped leaves of the Forget-me not plant. All three plants make a lovely contrast.

The before and after pictures of some beloved plants:

The before: This plant is Alchemilla Mollis. The common name is Catmint 'Walkers Low'. The cupped leaves hold droplets of rain that shimmer like diamonds.

The before: This plant is Alchemilla Mollis. The common name is Lady’s Mantle. The cupped leaves hold droplets of rain that shimmer like diamonds.

The after: Lady's Mantle in June; covered with sprays of dainty yellow flowers.

The after: Lady’s Mantle in June; covered with sprays of dainty yellow flowers.

The before: This plant is called Nepeta 'Walker's Low'. The common name is Catmint.

The before: This plant is called Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’. The common name is Catmint.

The after: 'Walkers Low' Catmint covered with spikes of purplish blue flowers in June.

The after: ‘Walkers Low’ Catmint covered with spikes of purplish blue flowers in June.

And lastly:

The before: Buds of the Chinese Tree Peony.

The before: Buds of the Chinese Tree Peony.


The after: The Chinese Tree Peony blooms in May.

The after: The Chinese Tree Peony blooms in May.


A Tree Peony is not really a tree; it is a med-sized shrub. The beautiful large flowers are magenta and 8' across.

A Tree Peony is not really a tree; it is a mid-sized shrub. The beautiful large flowers are magenta and 8′ across.

Happy Spring!
xxoo

Happy 2015!

01 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in gardens, nature, photography, seasons, writing

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When the heavenly, almond scent filled the entire kitchen, I knew my giant muffin was ready to eat. I pulled down the oven door, slid out the rack and carefully placed the mouthwatering pastry on my plate. Just as I was ready to take a bite, an email from my Jazzercise instructor appeared in my inbox. Drat! How did she know?

When I take the tree down and all the decorations, then I start watching what I’m eating. So, tomorrow the tree comes down and all the decorations. But today…

I love the possibilities a New Year brings. I look ahead anticipating the unknown with optimism. In October 2014, I leapt off into the unknown and started my blog. It was a goal I had for a long while. Blogging is a wonderful journey; you get to travel to many places making new friends along the way.

This year I want to learn more about: pruning shrubs and trees, my camera’s many features, and organic vegetable gardening; growing more, rather than paying for them. I also want to write more blog posts each week and read more books than I read in 2014.

May your New Year be filled with hopes and dreams that come true for you! xxoo

Please enjoy a slideshow I made for you of photos taken, in past years, in fall, winter, spring and summer.

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Dressed for Christmas

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Christmas, holiday decorations, seasons, winter

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I love the month of December… winter comes and brings lazy snowflakes, hot chocolate and warm fires. December also brings Christmas and one of the things I love about Christmas is decorating the inside of our home and the outside. I filled the urns by the front door with evergreen branches and holly cut from our property. We bought green roping from the grocery store and I attached lights to it using wire. Then we hung it over the door and added a wreath. I couldn’t forget the iron gate, the urn in the boxwood garden, the potting shed and the lamppost.

~ our front door
~ our front door
~ the iron gate
~ the iron gate
~ the potting shed
~ the potting shed
~ the urn
~ the urn
~ the lamppost
~ the lamppost

I’d love to hear about your holiday decorating!

The Challenge

14 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in gardening, photography, seasons

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Katherine Tracy, owner of Avant Gardens, recently posted something on her blog that caught my attention: The Slow Flower Challenge. Katherine attended a lecture given by Debra Prinzing. Debra spoke about her book: Slow Flowers. The book explains the importance of using flowers that are available locally rather than purchasing imported flowers. Debra is challenging herself to do that for a year.  Katherine liked the idea, so she too took on the challenge and will use plant materials from her garden. Click on the link above to see the beautiful display Katherine created using plant materials from her garden, and read her entire post. 
I agree with Debra and Katherine, and decided to also take on the challenge. Our gardens are a valuable resource that we should not ignore. With clippers in hand I went into the garden, cut branches from trees and shrubs, and snipped flowers and berries. I loved the challenge and come December, I will once again be in the garden.

These are the 9 plants I used:

My flower arrangement:

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