Tea in Martha's Garden

           Hello everyone,

After spending several hours working in the 

garden on this beautiful day I decided it was

time for a tea break.

This secluded spot in our garden is

my favorite place to have tea at this

time of the year as it has lots of color

and fragrance along with bird songs.

The garden statue was named Martha

      so this little garden was called after her.

Tulips, daffodils,virginia bluebells,

hyacinths,violets are the main show

in here now.

                                                                           Peeking over the old picket fence.

                                                                               The Star Magnolia has been
                                                                               blooming for awhile now.

                                                                               I picked a colorful bouquet.

                                                                             Tea Time.
                                                                                   

                                                               Well, now that I am rested up (almost)
                                                                          I have a few more things to do in the
                                                                          garden if I can get my back to cooperate!

                                                                                                    Thank you for stopping by,

                                                                                                                       Carolyn

Sunshine Yellow Garden Tea

                 Hello everyone,

               I hope you are enjoying a beautiful

          sunny weekend as we are here.

               This afternoon I set up for tea in the

               garden as it has warmed up here and

          all the spring bulbs are blooming.

                                                                                   

                             The Hillside Garden is awash

                                            with color.....mainly a mix of daffodils.

There is no shortage of blooms

           for bouquets from now until October.

                           Sunny yellow china for our tea.

                            It is so nice to be able to have tea

     in the garden again.

An old garden chair holds

my bouquet of daffodils.

                        Well, I am off to enjoy a lazy afternoon

                   with a book and another cup of tea.

                   It is our Victoria Day weekend here so

                     I hope my fellow Canadians enjoy their

long weekend.

Take care,

               Carolyn

Clematis in the Garden

           Hello everyone,

                  We have had some mild days lately that

               have me thinking of our garden again.

                      Clematis is my favorite vine in our garden

                  so I thought I would share some photos

of our garden clematis.

                    The clematis above is jackmani and it 

                        softens the fence as well as adding height

                       to the garden. Roses and daylillies are a

pretty combo with it.

                                                                Ville de Lyon clematis growing
                                                                over an old birdhouse.

                                                                 Jackimani Superbra growing up a post.

                                                                Clematis growing up either side
                                                                of the arbor add color and interest.

                                                                 Jackmani superbra grows in
                                                                 several places in our garden
                                                                 as it blooms prolifically.

                                                                    I think this one is multi blue.

                                                               This one still blooms late in summer,
                                                               It is called General Sikoroski.

`                                                                Clematis and roses are a
                                                                 favorite combo.

                                                              The clematis Rosemoor in the background~
                                                              sadly one cold winter recently was the death
                                                              of this one and I haven't been able to find another.

                                                                     Nelly Noser ~ pink with rose stripes.

                                                                Clematis Josephine is a double for
                                                                most of the season but later on it has
                                                                single blooms.

                                        There are hundreds of different varieties of
                                                  clematis and most of them are easy to grow.
                                                  They like full to part sun and rich well drained soil,
                                                   neutral to slightly alkaline so here a bit of lime
                                                   may be necessary here as well.They have different
                                                   pruning needs so keep your tags to see when to
                                                   prune.
                                                   My advise is you can never have too many in your
                                                   garden so check them out this spring and see what you
                                                   can find.They do need to be tied up to get them started
                                                   on a trellis or other support but well worth the effort.
                                                   I also love them growing through a shrub or rosebush.

                                                    Word on the street is our rain is over a good snowfall
                                                    is on the way so spring is on the way but just not quite
                                                    yet.

                                                    Do you have a favorite clematis......let me know what you
                                                    would recommend.

                                                                                 Take care,
                                                                                            Carolyn 

Looking Back ~ Our Summer Garden

                                                                          Hello everyone,

                                                    This time of the year, I enjoying looking back at the
                                                    photos I have taken in the garden in the summer so
                                                    I hope you will enjoy looking back as well.

                                                   The photo above was taken in August when I had
                                                   a garden tea party.This bed is usually on the covered
                                                   and screened porch but for the tea party I needed the space
                                                   there and thought it would look inviting in our garden terrace.

Last year we painted our house gray and I

love the delphiniums blooming near by. 

     Last year was a great year for peonies.

                                                      Normally, we have a table in the terrace so
                                                      we can enjoy lunch in here.The virginia creeper
                                                      growing over it gives us a shady spot and the
                                                      peonies, roses & lilacs growing nearby add beauty
                                                      and fragrance.

                                                        Last summer my husband made the gate for me as
                                                        a birthday present.He had already built the fence
                                                        and arbor. We gave them a coat of blue/green stain
                                                        that I love.

Martha's Garden is enclosed and

one of my favorite garden spots,

          especially in spring and early summer.

              The bistro set was a yardsale find that got

     a coat of the same blue/green stain.

                                                         The  front garden surrounded by a
                                                         picket fence and two arbors...also,
                                                         built by my husband.

                                                           Clematis with delphiniums in the
                                                           background. I love clematis and I
                                                           don't think you could ever have too many.

                                                            I love this early foggy morning shot
                                                             taken from the balcony.

v                                                      I have a few hammocks that I like
                                                                 to move around the garden from time to
                                                                 time... a great place to relax!

                                                                I am currently working on a garden magazine
                                                                 so, it is a great winter time project for me.

                                                                 So, what about you....are you dreaming of
                                                                 your garden and making new plans for it?

                                                                                           Take care,

                                                                                                   Carolyn