New Guy in the Garden

I'm ever so pleased to introduce you to, My little European Golden Boy !!!

Isn't he head to toe adorable?

I stopped in at Black Cat Antique Mall and this little guy was pretty much by himself in a booth space. I was ohhing and ahhing over him when Q (the owner) said, "do you want him?  I'll need to catch the booth owners they're just leaving with a load and he didn't fit"  After a quick curb side conversation I paid the adoption fee of $45.00, and brought him to live at my house and keep me company.

At 27" inches tall I could tuck him in anywhere, but I chose a place where I can keep an eye on  him ~ whether I'm inside or out.  Placed him on this big cement round that was already in the ground and level. Just had to do a little trimming around his shoulders and head on the bush behind him.

One of his previous "parents" painted him gold ~ I was planning a makeover that required dry brushing him with white paint, but changed my mind. I kind of like how the gold has turned green in the crevices.

 Isn't that the sweetest face ever?

His little hat with that wonderful feather! 

And his faithful puppy ~ sitting by his bare feet!

 Just off my back deck is a path by the pond to the upper level.

See him there in the back above the stairs?  

Years ago I removed part of the brick wall and made this stairway up to the upper level, but it's rather narrow ~ so off to the left is a rusty, but ever vigil, Guardian Angel, that has kept the way safe for lots of little feet for many, many years!

 Now I have somebody else besides the cats and chickens to talk to when I'm having my morning tea.

Welcome to my garden Henri Luc!

Sharing with the following:
Ivy & Elephants 
My Salvaged Treasure
Simple & Sweet Fridays
Bells Rose Antiques


~~~Thank you for popping in~~~

Happy Hunting & Gathering!!!

A May Day Garden Walk

Just a little stroll on this gloriously sunny day, this very first one of May!

Okay, lets get started~~~

See all of those yellow and green specks? They come off the maple tree in the billions. The pond is just to the left and it's a total mess this time of year.  Lets follow the stone path to the side of the house.  Note to self...small yummy strawberries are blooming!

A stone pagoda nestled among two different varieties of Lungwort.

A crystal toadstool~~~yard glass art is fun to make and inexpensive when you thrift the pieces!

Lets go over to the green refuse/mulch area and check out the "I MADE IT AFTER ALL" survivors!

Ohhh! the Calla Lilie's are doing rather nicely here! I see September Flowers to the left, and an Elephants Ear in back to the right and few more Callas way in back. A yellow pond lily in the foreground that is about to bloom, guess it didn't need as much water as the tag said! These are all cast offs that were either doing extremely well or looked as if they wouldn't make here in the dead and dying bucket.

I love the crepe paper look of Rockroses and better yet the deer don't seem to care for them!

 Lets go on through the arbor!

The wisteria is finally getting a foot hold and starting to cover the top. The deer keep the lower part trimmed up very nicely!

I've trained a small white rose along the fence and across the top of the bird feeders. It will be in full bloom soon!

 These Olearia were sale plants last year...just bought one more "on sale" this year to plant to the left. The white roses are just above them along the fence.

Just a wee little break here, the ivy underneath this bench has the best little morsels! Oh, just go on with out me!!!

Both of these Rhododendrons are on the other side of the fenced area. They were ruffed up quite a bit several years ago when a big tree had to be taken down here.  With time and the fine spring weather we've had this year they are spectacular. I ordered a 1/2 load of "horse chips" to mulch underneath these and other plants and beds, already done the Rockrose area.

 

Back in the yard proper again. My son-in-law mowed last night (thanks sweetie, YOU ARE THE BEST) and I was suppose to edge today! The front entry stairs are just to the right.

A secret watering hole hidden among the branches of the Variegated Wigela!

German Chamomile that seeded itself along the front steps.

Baby Blue Eyes growing along the rock path to the side entrance. I started with five small plants and have divided them each year until the whole length of the walk way is edged on one side.

 I thought this photo to pretty to toss just because it had cobwebs!

Purple flowering Clematis vine, Jackmanii...I think! They're a darker purple than in the photos.

 

~~~Without cobwebs~~~

I planted a bunch of Irises in a pot one year, they didn't do anything so I dumped the pot that fall into a flower bed.  Viola! they have come up every spring since. They've got moved around a wee bit as I dug and shifted things around.

Sharing at the following...please join me.

Ivy & Elephants

~~~Thanks for popping in and strolling around the garden with me~~~
Happy May Day!!!

Wrought Iron Footstool Makeover

It's been awhile since I posted, I've working non-stop getting all my garden areas in shape.  It feels so good to go out and get something accomplished.  They were in fairly desperate straights after not being able to do much last year.  And then we had a bad freeze and I lost quite a few things to boot! I've taken a little time for junking expeditions by hitting a few sales on the way to buy plants~~~that's the kind of multi-tasking that makes life fun!

I just picked this wrought iron footstool up about two weeks ago.  It's been sitting on my deck awaiting it's turn at a makeover.  And as with anything that's on the deck the cats thought it was quite nice to nap on.

The blue top is a faux fur that has seen better days!

Aren't these legs the best! Of curse I love anything that's wrought iron.

I used this bright and cherry floral fabric.  It's an old rubber backed curtain panel from the 60's. I have two very large panels, so when the cats (and they will) mess this one up I can re-do it quick and easy.

I gave the base, which had turned a grayish dull black, a quick coat of black spray paint. Had the whole project done in under an hour!!! It's a great addition to my wrought iron collection, and will come in handy for extra seating at the table and of course it's main purpose~~~To hold napping CATS!

 

Who's that over there reading a book? Why it's my beautiful little garden fairy!

Thanks for popping in~~~

Happy Hunting and Gathering!!!

Planting In Wicker

I stopped by my favorite nursery, Garden Elements, and found the prettiest pansies, Frizzle Sizzle in shades of purple. They're so ruffley.  

 

I had already purchased the pink snapdragons earlier at another market.

I got home and unloaded them unto the back patio to await planting.  My plan was to incorporate these into beds that needed filling in.  But they looked so pretty sitting in this little corner that I decided to search out some pots and keep them right here.

I went out to the shed to fetch the pots and there sitting on the shelf were several wicker baskets. I had forgotten all about them!!! It was about a year and a half ago that I picked these up with the intention to use as planters.  But this time last year (and well into July) I was sick with pneumonia. So I missed the whole spring gardening time.

The bigger basket with the lid I lined with some rubber material (pond liner) that I had. The wine carrier/picnic basket I just filled as is since the weave is very close on this one.   The bigger one might go two seasons  but the other will probably be just this year.  Which is pretty good since I only paid 25 cents for it and $3.99 for the other.

I added a plastic #7 house number with jute string to the larger basket. Just coincidence but it's holding seven plants!

I have two of these little cedar box planters, just using one here. I think it goes well with the wicker. The pansies look so bright and happy in it.

I had already planted the baskets when I brought home some Sweet Alyssum? (could be wrong here) for another area.  Well I thought they would look well with the others and since they tend to cascade over edges they would look very smart tucked into the wicker planters.

I'll be keeping an eye out for more wicker containers like these to plant next year. I'm so glad that spring has arrived here. The weather is exceptionally beautiful and unseasonably warm...just perfect for gardening...we usually stick to the saying "April Showers Bring May Flowers".

Thanks for Popping in~~~

Happy Hunting and Gathering!!!