soeurs du jour

Fleurs du Jour

I have had a rose garden since our second summer in this house.  There were roses spread throughout the garden beds, BB emptied an existing oval perennial bed and moved all the roses into that one spot for me.  The past three summers I have planted vegetables in a nice size bed behind the garage.  Then I realized that it was hard work being a farmer.   And really, I didn't want to be a farmer.  That's why there is a farmer's market! 

This year, BB (who was, I think, somewhat horrified by the dreadful overgrown state of my vegetable garden each summer when I would give up) suggested that I plant a cutting garden instead.  It made terrific sense.  Vegetables at the market are inexpensive, cut flowers can be pricey and I love having flowers in the house.

Now, on Friday nights I come home from work,
 get a glass of wine and I fill my house with flowers.

My little kitchen bouquet, see my aprons?  I love my aprons.

Fancy and elegant roses for the dining room.

Huge hydrangeas for the living room.
(Snitched from my neighbour, with her blessing,
she moved yesterday and the house will be empty for a bit)


Clean white cosmos for the bathroom counter.
And finally,



Homegrown glads and farmer's market lavender in the bedroom.

So much more sensible than vegetables, don't you agree?

***

I wrote this lighthearted post on Friday night.   What I really wish now, is that I could bundle all of the flowers into a nice bouquet and walk up to my sister's door and say, hey, these are for you and we could lie on the bed together and watch House & Garden TV.

Kath

Grow your own salad bowls.

Last evening was beautiful.  I felt a breeze, saw shadowy spooky clouds and watched an amazing lightning storm.  I went out to water my pot plants (no, no!  I mean my pots with plants in them) and had the greatest idea.

I love it when I find a treasure whether it be from a garage sale, a thrift shop or an antique store.  I especially love it when I find something with a price tag that says "free".    I bought this old aluminum pot at the end of last summer on one of our trips to Toronto.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it, I knew I wouldn't cook in it.  It wasn't free but I think it was $2.00.

At the beginning of this summer, I dragged it out and filled it with dirt.  I had nothing to plant in it so I grabbed a package of mixed lettuce seeds and threw them in and from time to time I've sowed more seeds.  We've had some lovely salads out of this single pot, it grows just enough for one big luscious salad, but the wait between full bowls has been too long.  I shall pick it almost clean tonight.

My great idea?  

Next summer I'm going to plant seeds progressively over four weeks in four different pots. I think it's a great idea, I will have four salad bowls growing at different rates providing us with at least one home grown salad a week throughout the summer.   The lettuce from the farmer's market is great but there is nothing like a salad made with lettuce that was picked minutes ago. 

So simple and easy, you could do this on a balcony or outside your back door like I have.

Brilliant, huh?

xo Kath

hosta la vista

this beautiful hosta garden is hidden in the park across from our soon to be new condo.  hidden away in a shady area, it has a very magical feel to it.  the light that filters through the trees is very special.   

yesterday a. and i took a road trip up to my brother's long term care facility.   oh no, he doesn't live in a long term care facility, he runs one for their three almost dead dogs.   blind, deaf, stroke victims, g*d knows what's happened to chelsea's fur, i swear this is one motley crew.   my brother and his wife deal with huge health issues, he's a quad in a wheelchair, she suffers from lupus, but honestly they are the picture of health next to the three muts.  along the way we did the obligatory garage sales and junk shops.   we bought a le creuset pot for $15, some vases, rope (his purchase not mine) and yay!! some hostas at a great price.

you see, hostas are my favourite plant.  the broad leaves, the colour, and for someone like me, a non gardener, the best plant ever.   you can take a hosta, stick it in the ground and tell it to cover up that space and it will do just that.   year after year.  fanning itself out over the empty spaces until your garden looks like a magazine cover.   

i love this picture of our little family within our family.  i tweaked this photo with some of the pioneer woman's photoshop actions.  i love how this photo has all my favourite things, the babies and the hostas.  

okay, i had most of the afternoon to think about this and i've decided that the reason i like a hosta is the same reason i like other people's children.   other people, your friends, always espouse about their perfect children.   they do everything they are told, immediately, with smiles, and politeness; give a kick, their children are the children you don't have.   but that's okay, i know when i'm beat, i love a hosta, a hosta does exacty what it's told to do.  a plant only  a mother should love.