Around the garden - June

Around the garden - May

Some new flowers and plants!

Bearded Irises

I think these bearded irises were really popular 30-40 years ago because each spring, you can spot these welcome visitors in the yards of almost every house on our street.

Ranunculus

One of my favorite spring time flowers in a vintage blue vase!

New flowers

Every year we succumb to buying these gorgeous hydrangeas and every year they are unsuccessful!  Any tips?  Are these just doomed in the hot Texas weather?

New flowers

My mother-in-law gave us an assortment of flower bulbs from her own garden this year and it's been fun to see what flowers have been popping up all over our yard.  These gladilous bloomed just recently and were a welcome surprise.

Around the garden late May

Twin calla lilies!

BK built these flower boxes for the backyard and we had a lot of fun ordering heirloom roses to plant in them.  It's been fun to see these bloom and each time we get a new flower, we proclaim it our favorite.

Vintage Monday: wood llama

Andrea was quick to spot this wooden llama on our thrifting trip and when she pointed it out to me, I immediately snapped it up.  Good thing for eagle eyes and quick hands because the lady at the cash register acted like she would clobber us over the head with the llama and run off with it at first opportunity.  She kept commenting on how "mid century" he was.  Over and over again.  And then eyeing and sizing us up as if to see who would win in a foot race.  I don't blame her, I think I would do the same if I worked in any sort of thrift or vintage store.  I'd be in the back hoarding all things owl and Pyrex. 

Thank you to Jill for the beautiful peonies!

Around the garden: Early May

We potted new flowers and succulents for the patio this past weekend

The vegetable garden is doing well.  We had to get rid of the spaghetti squash--it kind of outgrew the space I think, then suddenly died.  Now I think the cherry tomatoes will take over.

Cucumbers

My mother in law gave us flower bulbs from her garden and we were so excited to see the first one bloom--a calla lily!

California Love

Flowers at the farmers market

Most delicious macarons at Miette

Heath ceramics (I acquired another bud vase!)

Beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom

Vintage Vera!!!  (more to come next vintage Monday!)
How was your weekend?

Around the garden...

Spring is here! (and spring showers as well!) We've been potting little succulents for the patio.

Planting new roses, peonies and ranunculus

And started our vegetable garden! It's going to mainly be a 'salsa' garden this year with Roma tomatoes, Serrano peppers and cilantro.  We added some cucumbers and spaghetti squash for good measure as well.  Can't wait to see how they grow!  Are you doing any planting this spring?

Gardening: Peonies

BK and I are going to attempt what might be a foolhardy adventure in planting and growing peonies in zone 8b.  We've ordered bulbs from the Hollingsworth Nursery and will be planting them in some new flower beds he has built.  Hopefully we won't have as brutal of a summer like last year (80 days of over 100 degree temperatures!).  Any advice for peony planting?

Birthday flowers

Enjoying these lovely flowers, good food, snuggly puppies and bossing BK around today!

Wedding flowers

Yesterday, I had the honor of witnessing my good friend Grechen's wedding.  I offered to make her bouquet and then belatedly realized I had little experience.  I made my own bouquet 7 years ago and remembered thinking it should've been left to the professionals.  Thankfully the guys at Austin Flower Company were really patient and helpful with throwing out ideas and flower combinations and also some mad google-ing saved the day.  I wanted a bouquet that reflected the bride's taste: simple, modern and just a little unique.  I chose green-white hydrangeas to give the bouquet shape, hot orange tulips for color and bear grass to create some interest.  For the groom's boutineer, I used another hot orange tulip, bear grass and some berries the flower guys suggested.  In case he got hungry and needed a snack...  At the end of the day, the flowers were just part of the background as the beaming smiles of the bridge and groom, the quietly spoken vows, and shared laughter took center stage.  Congrats Grechen and Leo!

 

Wishlist Wednesday: California

Back from a long weekend trip to California and already missing it.  The weather was crisp and cool, a welcome relief from the Texas heat.  We had all sorts of authentic Japanese cuisine, freshly picked peaches, apricots, cherries and strawberries, and of course See's chocolate!  Here are some pictures from the trip:

Gorgeous wildflowers everywhere

 

Roses at the nursery

Fruit trees at the nursery

Shopping at the Japanese grocery store and market

Shabu shabu at Japantown

The mothership

 Roses to bring home!

Around the garden

Here are some pictures from around our garden this lovely spring!

We planted this gingko tree last fall and are excited to see new leaves!

Some flower hanging baskets in the back yard

And we started a strawberry patch this year too!

New garden flowers

Now that the vegetable garden is planted, B and I turned our attention to the flower gardens.  Landscaping certainly is an art, and one we are not well versed in.  We know what we like, but achieving that is a bit tricky especially when you're trying to plan in advance for how the flowers will eventually look versus the immediate gratification of having what you want right now.  We chose quite a few perennials along with annuals this year and hopefully will keep seeing them year after year!

Flowers for October

B sent me flowers today, through email.  He took pictures of all the flowers blooming in our yard (in late October no less!) and sent them to me just as I was getting on the plane.  It was wonderful to come home to B, greet the pups and take a look at these beauties in person.

We're taking suggestions for names for this little gnome

that lives in the back garden.  Any thoughts?