SUNNY FACE

It seems the birds dropped a sunflower seed into this pot and it sprouted.

Then it grew.

And a bud appeared.

Then it bloomed.

 

Best of all I can see it from the patio door.

 

What a treat.

I added this picture a couple days later.  Look at the new blooms surrounding the big one.
  One big happy family.

FREE CHAIRS

 

Saturday evening Dennis and I drove to Morton to visit a cool coffee house.  We took his mother with us.  We sat under a tree covered patio and sipped our coffee.  Perfect evening.

Then we drove around town and looked at pretty houses and yards.  Luckily, I was driving or this story never would have happened.

I spotted this sign!

 

 

The sign was taped on a folding chair.

I jumped out of the van and left my two riders in the car.  They covered their heads and ducked down in shame. 

 

 

I looked at each  chair and they all opened and were sturdy, just old.

I am sure these will come in handy some day, so I claimed them and threw them in the van.

My two riders were mortified.  That's their problem.  I think counseling would help.

 

 

As for me, I am happy. 

The people in the house are happy their chairs are gone,

 and so is the neighbor who said, "take them, please."

 

 

Plus, the day before the chairs were $500.

Or maybe it was $5.00.  The paper plate was kinda hard to read.

 

 

SEASON CLEARANCE ON PLANTS

I got some great deals today!  The flower shops are selling their summer inventory at 50% off.

One shop I drive by every day to and from work.  I have already stopped two times this week, but the prices are so good I deserve to stop again.  I picked up a couple of nice hosta, two shasta daisy, and a small flower pot.

 Monday I came across these little rocks, a turtle, and a frog.  Nice gifts for my friends.

                                                                      Booga booga!

VISITING FRIENDS

Goodmorning.  Would you like to go with me to visit some ponds that my friends have built?
These ponds were on the tour last week.  Grab a few bottles of water and your camera.  Let's go!

 

 The use of antiques in the garden makes me feel warm and fuzzy.  What I love even more is when there is a special story that goes with the antiques.  This well pump was from my friend's grandmother's house and she has turned it into a trickling water feature.

 

 

                                                                           Serenity

 

Ah lovely. 

 

I did help mom rinse clothes in a wash tub like this.  I stirred them with a stick to rinse them.

                                                                                                                     Nice leg!

                                                 Layers of Lilies all in full bloom.

 

                                                 Trickle, trickle, little stream
                                                 How I wonder what I'll dream.

 

I think the round tile hold water plants, but then again they might hold wine bottles.

 

 

The Fonz had a ducktail like this.

 

 

These ducks are wild.  They landed on this backyard pond and stayed for the tour.  They greeted everyone.  I think they found their Duck Dynasty.

 

                   Him and her.  He and she.  Man and wife.  Drake and duck.  Mom and Dad.

 

 

A frog spitter.  This aerates the water.

 

 

                      Waterfall.  Water falling.  Wadderfall.  The heat is melting my brain.

                                                                        Pretty.

I have seen this leg before.

                                                       Nice way to hide a gas tank.

 

I wish I could make this.  I have tried and believe me I am not a willowsmith. 

 

Time to hop on the bike and head home.  I wonder if anyone would miss it? 

 

 

No brakes! 

 

 

 

 

READY FOR THE TOUR

My dear cousin, Jean Ann, came to spend the day with me and help greet visitors.

She brought me this wonderful garden hat!  Thank you Jean, this hat was perfect.  I was queen of the pond tour!

 

 

 

 There were a few things that just did not get finished, like painting the back side of a fence and moving some logs.  I am happy with the way the flowers and yard looked.

I've been preparing for this day since April.  To host a tour of my gardens and pond is one of my bucket list items.  That and driving a semi, which I did one night on a back road.  That's another story.

 

Let's walk around together and check on the flowers.

 

 

                                                                      Monardia

 

A mixture of plants.

                                I picked this planter up, on sale, and filled it with annuals.

Yellow is a favorite color of mine.

 

Now I know how the Flying Nun felt.  Hang on, the wind is blowing.

                                              The red hat club hat I found at Goodwill.

Do you think anyone will notice the front door did not get painted?

 

Annabelle Hydrangea.  I have moved her at least three times, so she is still rather small.

 

This pot was my Christmas present from Dennis.

When he said we have  to go outside for your present I was sure it was a pony.

 

The steps now have a coat of white paint on the risers. They look snazzy now.

The front yard. 

 

When you have three Dalmatians you must have a Dalmatian flag out front.

 

Everything is ready.  I'll post more pond tour pictures so you can see the rest of the tour.

 

Until then, wear protection........sunscreen baby.

PAINTING

Here is my "right hand man" furiously painting the porch railing.

The last, week before the pond tour, we were scurrying, hurrying, flurrying to finish the projects on our to do list.

 

Someone took a break.  My knees were bent too long and my back ruptured, and it was too hot, bugs were biting and I feel like whining.

Look how a coat of paint freshened up the gate.  Add a hat, and a cute sign, and open the gate for the guests.  Come in.  Did you sign the guest book?
Yes, I'd be honored if you take pictures.  (pond lovers are so nice to each other)

 

You can leave the gate open.  Tanks for visiting.

THE MAIL BOX

I have been on the look out for an old, rusty mail box to enhance the garden decor.  Nothing says home more than a rusty mailbox.  I can remember walking across the gravel road to get the mail when I was a child.


In grade school, had a pen pal from Washington State.  It was so exciting to get a letter from her.  Then I would respond to her by placing a reply in our mail box and lifting the red flag up to indicate to the mailman to pick up our mail.  Yes, they were mail men.

To capture the nostalgia, I wanted a mail box to set in my yard.

Low and behold my friend said she had one in her barn at the farm.  She brought it to me and my eyes glazed over!  It was in good shape and slightly rusty.  I opted to paint it.  The same week I acquired some huge pink flowers that someone at work was tossing.  They came home with me.  Then I grabbed the hat I recently purchased at Goodwill.

Once I started I could not stop.  I pressure washed the mail box.  The address and name stickers went flying into the universe, the rust smoothed over, and I began painting at midnight.  I shoved the flowers inside and set it on an iron bench at 1:00 am, in the moonlight  The next morning was like Christmas in July!  I ran outside to see how my artistic creation looked.

 

 What do you think?  I think it is awesome!  I hope someone drops me a note.