Monday, June 25, 2012

LADIES OF THE GARDEN



    Standing dignified, surveying their garden areas, my Garden Ladies stand ready to delight. Each dressed differently, their names include: Tea Lady with the teapot for her hat and silverware dangling around her head; Blue lady with the blue beaded purse, straw hat and blue gloves, a blue plaid dress, and of course her quilt;  Garden Lady with her moss purse, a metal bird perched upon her claypot hat, and an apron with pockets for her gardens tools; Herb Lady done up in red checked splendor, hat, apron, red purse and gloves, looking over the many pots of herbs. I found one such lady many years ago at a garden show looking very plain..just a hat and shirt. I bought her, brought her home, and had my husband Ron "install" her in the yard. She needed a name and an outfit. Now I have five. View them all in the Garden Patch Photos. The girls are made of landscape timbers. But you can use a fence post, tree limbs for arms, and use pieces of tree branches for the eyes, nose and mouth. You can also paint the face on or use a paint bucket, painted and draw the features on the can. On one of the ladies, I used two tiny sticks for the lips, painted them red, and glued them on the face. So be creative! Dress them with old clothes, hats, beads, scarves, garden gloves and little "touches" to make them your own. You may have to cut the dress up the back to properly fit, then pin as needed. Of course I gave them all names and they wear a clay rounded disc with their name tied around their necks. My husband attached them to the fence for safety. They are left out during all kinds of weather, and we take them down end of summer. They are all so beautiful!!




Wednesday, June 20, 2012

EARTHLY DELIGHTS HAS ARRIVED!


   I am so excited, Earthly Delights is up and running! Under  Heather's guidance,(remember she is my blog mentor), two recipes are available. I was too excited to actually do the recipes, then take pictures, and upload. I just wanted to see them on the blog. I will prepare said dishes and post them above the recipes soon. The picture above shows my home-grown radishes. Aren't they beautiful? Tasty too. Took about 5wks of growing time, and when I saw the rounded little heads, I pulled them out.
   My recipes will include herbs, use fresh when possible, and be current to the season. I am growing grape tomatoes now..they are sweet, small and can be used in so many dishes. *Hint..watch for my puff pastry tomato tart appetizer idea!!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

BEGINNINGS

 There is always a beginning.
    The seed is planted, you water it, provide sunshine..then you wait for that first tiny sprout. Its a joyous occasion, at least to gardners. I compare that little sprout to my blog. "Its out there" for all to see. Heather, my mentor, has guided me through every step..we're still " nuturing" !!!!!! I hope you are enjoying the 98 pictures of my garden areas, which can be viewed in the gallery. Above, is my red house,the front facing the west directly and the back to the east. This is a springtime view. The purple phlox are always beautiful. They last for only a few weeks, then start to fade but they are durable. They love the sun, endure  the cold, and can tolerate being walked on, snow shoveled, and dug up up by the dog! Recently, I started shaping a rather large one into a heart. I took my garden scissors and simply cut the shape. I will keep it watered even after the blooms fade and fall. It will stay green through the summer. I told Ron, my husband, this is my "heart " to you!!
   I live in the midwest, Ohio, and lucky to have 4 distinct seasons. But we are always ready to see  Spring come. I start preparing myself  in March by looking at pictures, magazines, garden books, and walking the yard. I can't wait to get outside and start the cleanup. I even visit all my favorite nurseries. Gardening always satisfies. It makes me happy!
   

Sunday, June 10, 2012

SAM

This is Sam, my son Ben's Pug. He is joining me on my garden adventures. Just a year old this month, Sam is my companion in the backyard. You will be seeing alot of him as I share our Thymes together!

Monday, June 4, 2012

WELCOME

  Hi, my name is Diana and welcome to my garden. This blog is a work in process. I have lots of pictures to share. I try to create scenes and I like to decorate the yard, the garden, the screened in porch. So be patient with me..its coming, I'm learning, and I can't wait  for you to see it all. This picture shows me under the arbor in the southwest side of my house. Today is June 4th, so its the first bloom of my roses.
  This picture will be under the heading Seedlings which will be my profile. I consider that a beginning, like when you plant a seed. My posts you will see under the heading Daily Sprouts. You will see things  "growing" on my blog so revisit often.