Friday, May 18, 2012

Catching Up...& TGIF!

Linking to My 1929 Charmer's "Sunday's Best" ~ Take a look!
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I have been busy painting watercolors this week, and now need to catch up! (Thank you so much to my friends who continue to check on me even when I haven't posted! ♥♥)...

This is Peter the Toad...so named by my son Jonathan...(he is almost grown but just loves these little toads around our house)...we had company on Sunday...some small boys who wanted to "catch toads"...Jonathan was so worried that they would hurt one...he immediately went to oversee the hunt and to make sure they just looked and didn't harm any...

My sweet, gentle boy! (LOL ~ he would be so embarrassed!...he doesn't read my blog, though, hee, hee....) ~

Anyway, "Peter" got his name because earlier this Spring Jonathan found him in our back yard, and he had an injured mouth...(not much you can do for a toad ~ and it appeared to be healing) ~ Jonathan named him Peter because he said it looked like he had a "hare lip"....;^)

So now, he is easily identifiable for Jonathan.  If you look on the right side of Peter's mouth (his left) you can see that it is slightly disfigured, though completely healed now. I guess our back yard is his "territory" ... are toads territorial? He seems to have decided he likes it here, at any rate. Tonight he was snuggled down under the moss in my Fairy Garden. (below)

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Peter, snuggled in!
 
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Okay, I have been dealing with this mess in my Fairy Garden for weeks now...the kettle that I have everything planted in is located directly under some scaffolding, of sorts, that holds my big wind chimes...
 
Birds have been trying and trying to build a nest on top of the 4x4 that supports the chimes...every day they try to build, and every day the wind blows all the would-be nesting material down in my little garden...
 
Every night I pick all the straw and dried grass out of the garden...the next night it's back....
 
SO, I got the idea to use a rubber snake that we had of Jonathan's...it was in the big bag of dinosaurs we keep handy for when little folk come to visit...
 
Mr. B draped it on the 4x4 for me...
 
And, evidently, it is working!
 
No straw or other dried-nesting-material on my little Fairy Garden plants for the last three days! I don't know how smart birds are, or if they'll figure out that the snake isn't real eventually (maybe we need to resposition it periodically), but for now I am happy...
 
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A mess in my garden!!
 
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A slithery salvation!
 
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Would you look at this?...My Lemon Balm is humongous...you really can't appreciate the enormity of it in this picture...anyway, I had to cut it back, as it was completely encompassing the pepper plants that share that bed...(that is Max and Ruby and Warren's (the rabbits) house in the background)...:^)
 

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Aren't these gorgeous? They are from my daughter Mandy's retail shop ("Enchantments"...isn't that a great name?) of long ago...(the one that made me realize I did not need a shop to be fulfilled in this lifetime...;^)
They are "Witch Balls"...the threads of spun glass inside them are supposed to catch and hold evil spirits....


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My gorgeous hot pink petunias of March/April finally began their decline (they looked like most petunias do in late August... except in May)...since they were hold-overs from last year, I wasn't surprised, or upset ~

I was anxious, actually, to get the pots replanted with new vinca and vinca vine, with a few pink and white cypress vines in the middle...

Mr. B refused to just discard the spent petunias though, so now they are re-planted at the side of the house...

Typical...

"American Pickers" needs to contact me, seriously...;^)


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My Butterfly Bushes are beginning to bloom! These were Mother's Day gifts from last year from daughter Katie...♥ They have such a unique fragrance...kind of like honey...kind of like wine...a sweet"boozy" scent that bees love, anyway!


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"Sweet Annie" ! No, not me, this wonderful aromatic herb!

I have thought about this plant for years (ever since having a dried wreath of it ages ago), and just this year got some seeds from an eBay seller and planted them (good thing I read that the germination period is LONG or I would have given up on them and planted something else in that pot!) The seeds themselves were almost microscopic...and it took a good three weeks for them to sprout!

She's growing well, now and will hopefully reseed...she is of the Wormwood family (Artemisia Annua) ~ the same herb family that is used in making absinthe!... I also got some seeds for that particular herb, Artemisia Absinthium, which I will plant this weekend, along with a whole row of flowers/wildflowers in the garden.

(I will not be brewing up any absinthe; I just think it is interesting...;^)


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Aren't these snow white petunias pretty? I have them in a pot on the patio steps with vinca vine...every once in a while you catch a whiff of that lovely evening fragrance!


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Plumbago...I got this plant when my younger daughter Katie and I went to visit older daughter Mandy in St. Charles a couple of weeks ago (when we got the cool statuary photos from Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries)...
It is tropical, but supposed to be non-poisonous, so I can try to winter it over inside...it looks a lot like Sweet William, but has the most heavenly blue flowers!

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Anyone that has anything to do with naming a product, no matter what kind, has to be aware of their power over most of the buying populace...

I can't understand companies that have products, colors, etc., just numbered.
I don't think I am alone.

I am such a sucker for a name...

This coleus is called "Alligator Tears"...
I would probably not have purchased it otherwise!


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One can never have enough Vinca Vine! It is perennial, so you can justify buying lots of it, right? (It winters over in pots just fine)...only thing is, I just keep getting more pots..
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Daughter Mandy dug this moss up for me for the Fairy Garden...not sure if it's going to make it; it gets quite a bit of morning-to-mid-day sun...but it's hanging on for now...
(I love moss!)


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My hydrangeas are in bloom! They range from cerulean blue to a soft lilac hue, all on the same plant...I'm really pleased that I have one little area where I can grow my familiar shade plants, here in our re-purposed cotton field...;^)
 
Have a wonderful. productive (or relaxing, as the case may be) weekend, everyone!
 
 ♥ ♥ ♥
 
Anne
 
Linking to Beverly's Pink Saturday
 

49 comments:

  1. Nothing more beautiful than blue flowers - I struggle to keep my hydrangeas alive here in this windy dry valley. Never thought about rubber snakes - I'll have to try that, the robins kill my hanging plants every year :( The toads are in heaven in that little fairy garden...

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  2. Hello Anne,

    Absolutely enthralling this post about your garden....I have to make do with my balcony potted plants but it has its inhabitants....the lizard who returns each year or rather the descendent of.

    Enjoy your weekend

    Amanda :-)

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  3. You have a busy, beautiful garden. Love those witch's balls. It's nice that your fairy garden can provide shelter for Peter. And so lovely to have a kind and caring son. Have a wonderful weekend. Tammy

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  4. I love your garden and all your plants in particular your beautiful hydrangea and butterfly bush. So sweet that your son shows such an interest in wildlife and is protective of the toads.

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  5. Wow, your flowers are so beautiful. Some of them are new to me. And so pretty.

    Great idea to put the snake up there. :)

    I am glad Peter is doing well. And he has a lovely garden to live in.

    Have a great weekend.

    Take care, Janet W

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  6. Hi Anne! Oh, I loved touring your garden today!
    It makes me want to go garden shopping AGAIN! Smile!
    How's the sweet kitty cat?
    I love the toad story and the snake idea! Bird's are coming closer to our house now that we moved their feeder.

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  7. Wow, I don't even know where to start. What an amazing garden you have, and what a wonderful tour this was. I really enjoyed the story of 'Peter'. How sweet that your son is so sensitive with animals; he sounds like such a kind soul.

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  8. Wonderful flowers !!!! I like the snake trick. I hope they don't find out ; )
    Your pots look so beautiful. You have a lot of plants we don't have here in The Netherlands. Even the coleus here look different. The leaves are more round shaped ; )
    Have a great weekend.

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  9. Loved your garden tour, and Peter...I love moss too, and have cement pots filled with it each year-doesn't seem to winter over too well, but I keep trying.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. I loved this post and seeing all your lovely flowers! I'm afraid I'm jealous of your toad--We've had them on our porch for the last 5 years and have been left alone, until Tuesday when Todd just found them irresistible, now a new home has to be found for all of them. :-(

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  11. I have SO enjoyed my walk around your lovely garden! Funny how you are tricking the birds with that snake!:)

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  12. I just love all of your garden. You have such unique embellishments throughout your garden and it's really beautiful.

    Gretchen

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  13. Loved your post and the garden! hydrangia's are my favorite flower. I has to laugh at Peter the frog and your son. It reminded me of a Leave it to Beaver episode! He loved frogs as well!

    Have an awesome weekend!

    Diane

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  14. Hi Anne..
    Everything around your place is so beautiful...all a-bloom.

    Love, love, love the lemon balm.
    My sad little lemon balm is still trying to recover from our winter.

    So glad that you found a solution to the bird nesting problem. Hope it lasts.

    Love those glass balls.. beautiful.

    Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful.

    {{hugs}}
    Kerin

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  15. I followed you back!! What beautiful photos, so much going on!! I have the very same witch balls!!!Thankyou so much for visitng me, this starting over is a challenge but you made it so worth while!

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  16. Quite lovely! Visiting from Pink Saturday.

    Pink in the Sink. Have a lovely weekend.

    PS. I am your new follower.

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  17. Hi Annie, I found you through Laurie. She and I are friends of Diana too. One big happy family, LOL I would love it if you would follow me also. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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  18. Those witch balls are beautiful. I will have to keep my eye out for some. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  19. Those witch balls are beautiful. I will have to keep my eye out for some. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  20. Hi Anne, Thank you for visiting me and following too; now it is my turn to tell you what a lovely site you've got here. Like Kim above(a good friend)I like toads-I grew up with them and enjoyed rescuing them out of our swimming pool. What lovely plants and flowers you have in your garden-some of the herbs I'm not familiar with. I'm joining you as well. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Noreen

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  21. What a beautiful garden you have and I love the witch balls and the toad and well just everything. Your photos are beautiful and we can't wait to see more and more.

    Bert and I are your newest followers. thank you for adding beauty to our day.

    My Vickie

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  22. Anne,
    I just found you from the comment you left on my blog. I'm so glad you visited and are following, because now I got to meet you and see your wonderful blog! Of course I had to visit your blog and I love it! I absolutely LOVE your header, your pictures of you and your parents, and your post. The snake was a very good idea. I hope it continues to work. I really enjoyed my visit here and will be your newest follower! It's so nice to meet you too!
    Julie

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  23. Everything looks so pretty! I love the frog story. Those witch balls are so pretty--love that look. Colored glass is a favorite of mine!

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  24. Hi, Anne...glad you stopped by because now I've found YOU and your beautiful blog! Such a small world, too...I had Plumbago on my front porch when I lived in St. Charles! Now, I am actually able to grow it here in the desert of St. Louis. And, I am convinced birds aren't very smart...I have set a large "saucer" on the ground with water, as well as a large bird bath in my yard, and I still (after 6 years) have a pair of doves that insist on trying to get water to drink from our pool! Good luck with the snake...remember it's a fake one and that it's there, or you might frighten yourself one day. Happy weekend - off to read more posts - Tanya

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  25. Anne it is so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I just love your blog and the pictures you show. Hope we will get take frequently.
    Hugs
    donna

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  26. Hello Anne: Thank you for following my blog today and leaving me a comment. Now I have yours to enjoy. I shall be spending more time to really see all that your garden entails. Very enchanting and I adore all of it. Blissful...

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  27. I just stopped by to check out your blog and couldn't tear myself away! I just started a fairy garden today and now I'm totally intimidated by your fabulous fairy house. Of course I'm following you! You had me at Fur In The Paint! ~ Maureen

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  28. Hi Anne,
    Thanks for visiting! Your blog is delightful,I am your newest follower and I hope you don't mind I have also linked my blog to yours. What a beautiful garden you have, fit for a fairy!
    Kelley

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  29. We both like wtaercolor,fairy gardens,plumbagos,blue hydrangeas:)

    What a pretty blog you have~

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  30. Your garden is beautiful with some of my favorite things...esp sweet annie!

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  31. My grown son is a big-hearted fellow, too. He adopts animals that no one else wants (one cat had turned-in eyelashes, another had damaged vocal cords). It's a tribute to you that your son is so thoughtful and caring.

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  32. What gorgeous photos... I'm in awe!

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  33. HPS!


    What an amazing garden you have!
    Love blown glass balls like yours!


    Gabriela

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  34. Your postings always inspire me so! Thank you! I really like your butterfly bush. I want to try one now! Love the story about "peter-the toad".

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  35. Well, I just realized that I wrote "deserts of St. Louis", instead of LAS VEGAS - duh! What a bone-head!

    I also felt compelled to tell you that when we lived there, my daughter was only 4-1/2 the summer of the big flood. She was DELIGHTED with the toad hatch, and would go outside every single morning, with a big cardboard box, and catch all the little toads she could.

    She would bring them up to the big deck, where we had a kiddie pool set up with just a tiny bit of water, and put them all into the pool, where she would play with them all day. Come evening, she would gather them all back in the box and turn them loose, only to start over again in the morning. Happy Sunday, Anne - desert of St. Louis?!!! I swear I wasn't drinking! :-)

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  36. oh your yard and garden are divine..truly beautiful..and that fake snake doesn't look so fake...I think I would have messed my pants..;) lol..thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and of peter the toad as well.;)

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  37. Hi Anne! Thank you for your visit and comment on my blog, I was very happy to see her there! Check back often ...
    Thanks for the new friendship, we can now visit us always, is welcome to Brazil!
    PS: Your garden is wonderful!
    hugs
    Luciana

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  38. What a lovely post with some gorgeous photos.

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  39. Anne your pictures are wonderful of Peter the toad. You have some lovely flowers growing and I know about lemon balm - smells terrific but it does get a bit out of control - also be prepared once sweet annie takes off you will have it everywhere and forever - take it from someone who has been pulling it up for weeks now. lol xo xo Pixie

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  40. Your flowers are lovely..I've had a witches ball in my kitchen forever..I love the way it reflects the light...I think most herbs can go crazy...

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  41. Thanks for visiting!!!!!

    I love your blog and your gardens. I used to have Sweet Annie and Buddelia, etc., at the house I moved from 2 1/2 years ago. Now we're in the woods and I have a huge learning curve.

    Yep - will be following you from now on!

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  42. Sweet Annie, I
    am smitten with
    your lovely gardens!
    I have always wanted
    the blue hydrangeas,
    but, alas, it is the
    white ones that thrive
    here in Minnesota : )

    Love how your big
    boy is protective of
    his toady friend. My
    youngest has collected
    frogs since he was a
    little guy and still likes
    them, today....

    Happy Tuesday!

    xo Suzanne

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  43. Beautiful hydrangeas! Please don't stay away to long, I just found you. I would love to see more of your fairy garden. I've always wanted to do one. Your blog is adorable and I can't wait to take the full tour! Sweet story about your son and the frogs.
    Have a great day….

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  44. Hi Anne,
    so nice to meet you. Your blog shows so many interesting things for me. I love herbs and cats, LOL. Your sweet Leo reminds me so much to my dearly missed little Sissi. She was only some years with me but sooo sweet. Your Mom was really a Beauty. I am sure you inherited many nice talents from her.
    I will follow you, too.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  45. ah, so nice to meet you as well!! thanks for visiting and following! I love your garden- so many of my favorite plant too. I am so jealous of your butterfly bush! I would love to have one again. Unfortunately, they have been deemed as "illegal" plants here in Oregon. so dumb. I'm hoping they will change their minds on that, or that I can dig up a wild one somewhere and bring it home! Fairy gardens are so fun- the shop where I sell stuff has a ton of things to build one :) little miniatures!

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  46. Love those witch balls, and this really is the prettiest blog! Good luck to Peter the Toad.

    Must start a 'fairy garden' in our own garden, though ... better do a bit of research, though, first on how to persuade them to visit ...

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  47. That is so cute about your "Pet toad" We have lizards here in Orlando and I always see the same ones, missing tails or funny colored. Gorgeous flowers, but YIKKES on the snake...Even if it is rubber LOL!

    Carol

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  48. ...sO faerie beautiful!... ...xXx... ...Samantha...

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I love your thoughts and comments, and I read each and every one! Sometimes life gets in the way, though, and it takes me a while to respond...Thank you for understanding! ♥...Time is precious, and the time you have taken here is truly appreciated!