Not OUR Garden

 We went on our first official Home and Garden Tour of the summer today!  Twelve homes and many of the gardens were open for our meanderings.  It was hot, but a breeze made it tolerable.

Congratulations to the home owners, the North Anthony Area Association (Fort Wayne, IN), and ARCH, Inc. for a pleasurable experience.

Here are a few of the garden views that caught my eye...

Full on Friday





Today...a FULL display of baby's breath and beautiful yellow lilies...

The Price is Right

Lying on the side of the country road yesterday, I spied a pile of "stuff" with a sign saying "FREE".  My friend was driving, and it wasn't a good time to stop.  Last night my husband agreed to drive out with me and see if anything was left.  Sure enough! 
Look at these sweet "feet"...
and the rust...just the right amount!
My husband remembered we had an extra piece of glass in the garage (I'm always on the lookout for glass - even if I don't have anywhere special to put it - yet!) This one fit perfectly!
Now to find the perfect place for it...
On a covered porch or patio, pillows - or something else - could be stored inside.  The lid lifts off!

Out and About

 My friend and I enjoyed breakfast at the Covered Bridge Restaurant before heading to Hurshtown Gardens--an Amish enterprise near my home.  While their stock has thinned out, their hanging baskets were some of the grandest, most healthy I've seen this year! 
 I didn't buy a hanging basket but purchased some onions and tomatoes to enjoy at home. 
We then headed to Parent Road where I bought the "Blackie" sweet potato vine (below),
some red raspberries, 
and some eat-out-of-hand peas.
After depositing the vine on a lawn chair near the garage door for future planting, I strolled around the front of our house where I found the first bloom on this clump of black-eyed-Susans.  It's just a matter of time till they are all open and "smiling" at me!

Finally!

Finally!  We came home from our overnight in Chicago to find the yellow lilies had opened beautifully!
See them in the background (to the left) behind this Russian Sage?
The hosta were blooming, too.  Each with a unique shade and shape.

Sweet!

A vintage tablecloth, roses off our bushes in a vintage vase, sunshine, and cup of coffee shared with a friend this morning. Sweet.

On the Fence

Here are a couple of decorations we have on one of the fences bordering our property...
The lilies below have been "on the fence" for several days now when it comes to blooming!  Maybe today?

A New Angle

Here's a different perspective for me!  I stood behind our shed and took a picture of the lilac bed and the side garden that grows along our garage.  Seeing it this way gives me a few more ideas!!!
These mature lamb's ear grow in the garage-side garden. I transplanted a few a couple of weeks ago. They seem to have taken root just fine...
 A couple of days ago, we moved these chairs to a new spot thinking we may create a mulched or graveled area to include the tree behind them.  We'll wait for cooler weather to tackle THIS project!
Behind them, the clematis bloom...
...and they overlook the bed that includes the grass and this lily.

When Life Gives You Mulberries


We inherited a  LARGE mulberry tree.  It is an attractive tree - most of the time.  About this time of year, it is annoying and messy!  Last night, however, I served our guests this delicious cobbler.  The recipe was the first that came up when I googled "Mulberry Cobbler"It was just delicious!


Crispy Mulberry Cobbler
  • 1 Tbsp. flour
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 3 c. mulberries
  • 1 c. flour
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/3 c. butter or shortening
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  1. Gently rinse mulberries in cool water.  Combine the Tbsp. of flour and sugar in medium bowl and toss gently with berries.
  2. Combine flour, sugar and baking powder in mixing bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add in egg; mix just enough to moisten.
  3. Grease 8-inch square baking dish. Fill with berry mix. Crumble topping over berries. Bake at 350 degrees till slightly golden, 30 to 35 min.
  4. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
I baked the night before serving and covered with foil.  It was delicious unheated—it was soft and moist – not crispy.

No Place Like Home!

I was anxious to stroll in my own yard after a week of beauty in Kentucky...to see what had changed and to enjoy the familiar.  The fern, hosta, and sedum had grown to proportions I haven't seen in the six summers I've gardened here!
The astillbe may not have become fuller, but certainly taller!
The color of the spirea blooms never cease to draw my eye to them.
The clematis had spilled over the backside of the fence!
Not to be outdone, several hosta had bloomed themselves!
A great amount of rain fell yesterday.  There are weeds waiting to be addressed tomorrow. Today, however, is a day of rest.