Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Tree Peony looks stunning right now!



This tree peony has travelled a long way with me. I first had it in NJ on our farm, then when we sold the farm I moved it to our last house in NJ and then I dug the poor thing up again and moved it here to Charlotte with us! It has done the very best in NC. I just love the color and the location in my garden. I will be moving it with me when I move to our new home, whenever that is! But for now I hope you enjoy looking at this wonder as much as I have!



This stunning blossom was the best one I think I took tonight. I just love this plant. When we move I will be taking it with us!



I tried something different and took this shot really upclose. It is different but I like it!



I love this blossom because it shows the peony fully open. This one blossom measures almost 10" across!



I stood back and took this picture. These blossoms are truly amazing this year!

Monday, April 13, 2009

April Showers bring May flowers!



Well we are going to have more rain until Wednesday here in Charlotte. After such a beautiful weekend I was really sorry to see the rain move in. Oh well the old saying April showers bring May flowers will be true this year! After last years severe drought it does look exceptionally nice having nice green lawns, flowering trees, flowers popping up left and right! Our reservoirs are back to the level they should be, which is a good thing! We can water our plants (when it isn't raining) and wash our cars if we feel so inclined. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday and have a wonderful day!!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!



I wish everyone a very Happy Easter!! Enjoy the day!

I've been splashed!



Mary has given me the Splash award. It is for blogs that inspire, awe, allure, amuse, bewitch or impress you. Thank you so much, Mary!

So here are the rules for passing on the award:

Put the logo on your blog/post

Nominate up to 9 blogs

Be sure to link to your nominees within your post

Let them know they've been splashed with a comment on their blog

Link to your nominees

Have fun!
I'm splashing:

Sarah at www.britgalusa.com
Victoria at http://vintagetea.blogspot.com/
Rue at http://ruespeanutbutterandjellylife.blogspot.com/

And the Winner is......



The winner of the book giveaway was Mary from Book-fan Mary!! Congratulations Mary! I will mail your book out as soon as you e-mail me your mailing address. I have it somewhere on my computer but can't seem to find it right now! My e-mail address is cmcdermitt1@carolina.rr.com.

Happy Easter!!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Walk around the yard and the neighborhood today.

Before I start I just want to say the Gerbera Daisies in the header above are growing in my urns out front. The one has a double flower on it, split right down the middle!

Today I walked around the backyard in the morning snapping pictures here and there as I went along. Teddy was with me, he loves to play stick and walk around with me. He's my own personal protector I think! Then John and I went and had lunch with Megan. She had to work today so we picked a place not too far from her work. We had a really nice visit with her. We went to Olive Garden. it is raining here (it started around noon) so I had the Chicken Gnocchi Soup with salad and it was yummy, just right for a rainy day. On our way home I snapped some pictures in our neighbor's yards. They don't mind because they know I love pictures of flowers and I have always asked for permission, which they have always granted. I hope you enjoy your walk with me! Everyone have a great day!


This is the pond behind our house. I went upstairs to close the window in the back bedroom and saw this beautiful view from that room! I don't know why I haven't noticed it before.


This is another neighbor's backyard. When we look off our screened porch to the left this is what we look at-not bad huh!



This is my neighbor's huge snowball bush in her side yard by the street. This picture doesn't do it justice. It is gorgeous!


This is the ironwork we have hanging on the chimney of the outdoor fireplace.


These azaleas we have lined along the screened porch. We have 9 bushes around the porch. They bloom about 4 times a year.



This is the one of the Japanese Painted Fern that I have in my back garden. I have not touched the color of this picture at all. This is really the color of these beautiful ferns-sometimes at night they look ghostly, all shimmery in the moonlight!


All 6 of my holly trees are blooming. The bees have been really busy!


This is a beautiful heart-shaped leaf from my hosta plant.


This is my hosta plant in an urn on the patio.


This is a closeup of the hostas in the urn on the back patio.


This is a flowering shrub in the woods behind our house. I'm not sure what it is but the birds like and and so do we!



Here is the tree peony that just started to bloom in the backyard. I brought this tree peony from NJ when I moved here 5 yrs. ago (in June).


This is one of the two urns I made up last Saturday. I put them right in front of the porch, so it would make a nice entryway to the house.



This is Teddy having a grand time with his stick in the backyard!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Today is my TGIF!!

Our office is closed tomorrow in observance of Good Friday, so today is my Friday!! I am so glad I will have a 3-day weekend! I have some things planned. I plan on painting the rest of my Queen Anne's Lace watercolor, I have some jewelry I want to make and I might even get my potter's wheel out and throw some small dishes. Everyone have a good one!