Dancing Oak Leaves

A good friend makes botanicals out of paper and then prepares them for shadow box presentation. What better place to put, the realistic dancing oak leaves, than in my garden blog.

Eglantine Problem

I have NO idea what these are on my Eglantine. Big tribble looking mossy masses on the branches. It is definately not doing as well as past years with performance for the foliage is sparce and lots of dead wood. It is such a beast and never fails to require 3 or more butchering in a growing season. I am going to say its age is 10 years. Does anyone have any idea what these are?

Welcome to my Mother's gardens. She has a wonderful cottage type feel to her little plot of ground in Elk County, Pa. I hope you enjoy.... 

Plantings off of the front entry 

The Mother...during her obsessive watering of the containers. 

Her containers were stunning this season! 

Saint Fiacre, patron saint of gardners hangs near her stove. I bought her this quite awhile back for her garden. With all the hanging bits, I guess it works. 

A close up of the pastry rack with her crafted clay pastries. She does an excellent job with the faux work. I wish her body would find something to occupy her mind, she needs to start creating again. 

Her kitchen with a drying/dried batch of herbs above this island. The woman does love *stuff* more than I, lol... 

Mom has a jungle at the moment but, it is still good stuff. She hate that grass, it is just swallowing up the rest of this garden. A close up of the Datura is below.... 

Datura or Jimson Weed growing near the archway 

Future studio behind the ivy and hollyhocks. Next year I will be able to lampwork and build my pieces in the gardens. My goal is to get a small porch off of this small 10x10 haven. Such a small detail will push my space over the top, in my mind, to enable a sit and a cuppa.  

I have been experimenting with my new camera. Here is a shot of an eglentine rose, next to the seating area, under the Macintosh tree. I took these hanging out of the kitchen window. 

Borage is such a beautiful herb with its cucumber like taste and vivid blue star shaped flower. Mine self sows each year and I never know where it will be.  

Lazy Gardening

Look at this! I have been such a lazy gardener lately. They need to be harvested for salsa, which other than eating them fresh is the only reason I plant them lately...

This weedy Goldenrod and a Nigra hollyhock combine for great contrast. 

Hydrangeas and Butterfly Bushs, are just wonderful together. 

Salmon Geranium on my front porch 

This blush pink Hollyhock was just beautiful with the morning rain. 

My lovely Trumpet Vine climbing up my chimney. The blotches are so fun. 

Sunflower w/center bee, ;) 

A Cottage Story

Above is showing the first home built, the Blesh's-
Mr. Blesh, the owner of the Hudson dealership and a business man in Lock Haven, had Cousin's house, Ironwood and Roses, built in 1934. Since his cottage across the creek was broken into and robbed seven times during the first year after it was built, he decided to have the place that he calls home built so that someone would live there full time and keep an eye on his place. Russell (cousin's uncle) and Mary were the first people to live in the house, but they were residents for less than two years. His Father, Roy, a bachelor, moved into the house sometime in 1935. He met his mother and they spent their entire married lives here. His siblings and him were born in this house. His Father died in 1970 and Mom moved out in 1971. His parents never owned the house but were caretakers of the Blesh place in return for rent. In 1981, Mrs. Blesh, on whose heart God had moved, offered to give the house and the six acres that she owned on this side of the stream to his family. They moved in August of 1981 and he has lived here ever since.

The building of the second cottage

Above showing the second home, 'Ironwood and Roses'-
Ironwood and Roses towards the river.