A Pink Bouquet

Many flowers are in bloom, so I went to the garden and made a bouquet.

I probably don't do this enough, but with new varieties this year I wanted to try them in a bouquet.

I had some spent violas that were ready to come out of the pot for summer, and when I pulled the violas on one side of the pot, I found this. 

When I gasped and saw them, they did this! Needless to say, I put the violas back and left them alone. I have seen the mother bird back at the nest feeding them, so they are safe for now. 

In  Victory,

Sherry

Garden Progress 2026

The garden is off to a good start here at the beginning of summer. I started eighty percent of it from seed this year to save money. There were many more native plants that like our climate. 

Every year the garden is an experiment. I try new things and change things around. I used to be bothered by the change-ups due to something not liking the place I put it or the weather being so harsh, but now I like it. It gives me something to go out and tinker with. This garden planting system was new to me this year, and I am still seeing how it turns out, but so far so good. I mixed up as many herbs and flowers as I could in with the veg; this confuses the bugs. 

So far it has worked. I have some beds not planted as densely and some planted really densely. A few things are also volunteer, and I just let them come up and fill in the bed. 

The chives got repotted. They had been over run with grass seed that had gotten into the pot by mowing. 

The lavender I started from seed two years ago, it is really beautiful this year. I brought an ornamental bee skep out to place in the bed for fun, and it really looks at home here.

I have grown nasturtium for years and the seed from the store doesn't germinate very well at all. Last year I noticed the one plant I had that was thriving was producing a lot of seed. I saved that seed and this year I planted it and I had close to perfect germination. That is a trick I will use again.

I love these dark purple bachelor's buttons, this was Black Ball.

A clematis that is new to me. Last year I noticed Menards was selling $5 perennials. I found this in the selections and was thrilled to find a clematis that wasn't expensive. It is growing really well. 

I have also found the secret to sowing poppies. It is called snow sowing. I get a lot of ideas for gardening off of YouTube and one person I watch said to go out in the winter and sow your poppy seeds right into the snow. This gives them moisture, cold stratification, and they germinate when the time is right. I have done this two years in a row and it does work. 

The Cathedral Bells rose.

These sown last year only bloomed this year. They are related to chamomile, but you don't drink them. They are the Marguerite daisy. I always wanted some of these but couldn't find them in a garden center, so I just grew them from seed. They will come back each year.  

For all the seed that I started and didn't have anywhere to plant it, Hubs made me a plant shelf along the shed. He just used a large board on top of concrete blocks. 

I am now starting to get bouquets! That is the best part of growing all of these flowers.

In Victory,

Sherry

New Dawn Climbing Rose

For the first time, my New Dawn climbing rose has bloomed. I got it last year at Walmart. They will often have old rose varieties that are really affordable. 

It has a fruity, heavenly scent that reminds me of honeysuckle. 

I was really excited to see how heavy it bloomed.

I put together a bouquet of some bachelor's buttons.

This whole corner of the garden is so pretty this time of year and smells divine.

In Victory,

Sherry

A Potting Shed

With hundreds of seedlings needing transplanting, I decided to remodel a shed and turn it into a potting shed. It was an underused space in my garden, and I really needed to get out of the kitchen repotting and starting seeds, so this was a perfect solution.

It was a really basic and ugly shed, but with a coat of white paint and a rearrangement of the shelving, I was surprised how my ugly duckling progressed.

I am pleasantly surprised how it is turning out. This side is just about like I wanted it, but I am still working on the other side. This is the rustic potting table and flower-arranging spot.  

There is even room for the bistro to stay out and be styled. Here I have my white lilacs, which look lavender when they open, in a vintage ironstone pitcher.

I used it for the first time this past weekend and stayed out there repotting summer plants for hours, and it is awesome! 

In Victory,

Sherry

Spring Mini Bouquet

I love mini bouquets. I plucked these flowers and made this in a hurry.

There is much gardening going on now.

Have a blessed day! 

In Victory,

Sherry

The Enchantment of Peter Rabbit

There is something really enchanting about watercolors, especially the watercolors in children's books. None has ever captured my heart more than Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit. 

When I found this tea set, it was one of my most favorite finds ever.

Charming to the core and childish in embellishment, but oversized cups that you could even serve soup. It was made for the Peter Rabbit fans to enjoy.  

An African violet to brighten my tea tray. 

I laid these tulips here in between seasons, and it looked so pretty I just decided to take a picture of them there.

Many of my photos may take on a nursery theme this year; we have added a new junior member to the family, and I often think of her when I take my photos. This is an original Victorian wicker baby stroller that has been restored. It was restored for me by my parents when I was a teen. It has been in storage for years, but I decided it was time to get it out and use it. I thought it would be a great way to celebrate starting something new.

In Victory,

Sherry

Spring Flower Arrangements

Last year I made several spring flower arrangements. I have never done that before, but it was a fun hobby to pass the time with a cold spring. I won't be making that many this year, but I thought it would be fun to put them all in one post for this year and revisit them.

Pansies are a favorite! 

We had a storm, and some redbud branches ended up in our street, and I used them in this arrangement.

Oxalis is new to me for using in flower arrangements, but I love the way they look.

Fuchsia was also new plant to me, and it looked spectacular when it bloomed. 

The main plant here was the bocopa plant. It trailed out of the container and was gorgeous but didn't survive the heat of our summers that well.

It is about time to start seeds. So many dreams about the garden, but it will all unfold in time.

In Victory,

Sherry

January Tea

I have a large collection of pictures I have taken over the years. I am just putting together a post of past images for today. 

 

No words to share today, just the promise of spring around the corner.

In Victory,

Sherry