Home and Gardening With Liz: June 2013

June 30, 2013

Peonies and wild life!

I've gotten behind on posting.

My peonies are just about done already but I took some pictures of them last week when they were in their glory.

The evening sun provided perfect lighting!

There is something about white peonies that seem

quintessential summer!

My favorite shot...

You can see the salvia is blooming too. Everything is reaching towards the sun. My spruce tree has gotten so much larger since I planted the perennials.

I ended up using stakes because the peonies were

on the ground.

The Max Frei Cranesbill comes back reliably every year.

I sure like this plant. It provides a great border at next to no maintenance.

The reds that weren't quite open

A bouquet I gathered for my daughter to take home with her.

A few iris were still blooming along with the Donald Wyman lilacs. I'm real pleased with them! Third year in and they bloomed like crazy this year!

There are three of them here...it's all part of my

plan to make a "green" wall to provide more privacy in this side part of the front yard.

My one Alium that made it. Not huge this year like last year. The others got nipped by the frosts and it knocked them down.

While I was outside early evening a few days ago I spotted this little fella coming out of the woods. He was a little worried about the lawnmower action going out out front.

We stared at each other a bit and then he ran towards

my garden area.

He's just a young one. I did my best with my iPhone.

This female turkey seems to have made herself a regular around us lately.

We get a nice variety of birds here. I managed to

catch a shot of these Cedar Waxwings that arrived.

I've never seen them here before. When they flew off

a few more of them were nearby and went with them.

A quick shot with my iPhone again. This is the best I've seen these Neon Star Pink Dianthus so far. I guess they are maturing!

The weeping larch is doing great too.

The two planters were new this year. They're just starting to fill out.

The Dusty Miller is turning into a bush!

Straight ahead is my lilac topiary tree which has grown beautifully but I'm struggling to keep it a moderate size. I'm questioning my choice of where I located it because of how I have to keep trimming it back so much.

When I got it- it had a lopsided shape which I've been trying to help straighten. All the weight was on the right side.

I really cut into it this time and now it looks more even.

It looks a big naked right now, but it will fill out again.

As you can see my roses are blooming on the arbor.

I seem to have all but lost my Sweet Autumn Clematis this year. There are a few leaves coming on it but they are way down at the ground level.

I've got some morning glories that are starting to climb complete with bird pooh!

The arbor is a favorite landing spot.

Well, I'm long winded today so I better stop.

I hope you are enjoying your gardens

and keeping busy too!

June 26, 2013

Independence Day-Lets Celebrate!

July 4th

Independence Day

*************

Let's celebrate!

A new find for me.

This pictures portrays both segments of the Declaration of Independence and also segments from the "I Have A Dream" speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King

On a visit to Pennsylvania in 2011 I picked up this bread tray at my favorite place called Wendell August. These are hand forged and crafted at their company as they have since 1923

(read about it here)

I've added a bit of red to my plate rack to get in the spirit too!

(3 more pieces from Wendell August are on here too)

I wanted to create a cheerful expression of patriotism, classic Americana and summer vibes.

I was able to collect my own flowers from my gardens.

I've got peonies, salvia, an iris and some lilacs in the bouquet. It smells delightful!

When Susan at Between Naps on the Porch posted a tablescape by her friend Marie I spotted this Uncle Sam in the car. I was smitten by it immediately and was thrilled to find it at Pier 1 (only one left too!)

I mixed my sparkly napkin rings with these red napkins that are adorned with tiny crystals. I chose the rattan chargers to add a little organic matter.

The Diner Checked dinnerware, cherry and red swirl glassware all fit in well with my theme.

I slipped in a piece of Coconut Cream Pie

(we'll probably have apple pie but I had this on hand)!

I found the vase in storage. It was one of my Mother's treasures that she allowed me to take home a few years back. I love the cobalt blue ruffled edge on it.

My centerpiece dish has cherries on it like the red pitcher. When we eat I will use it for serving on and my florals can be easily lifted away. If we have any guests I will take this outside on the patio.

Aren't these salt and pepper shakes cute.

They are another Pier 1 Imports item... as are the scattered glass beads and stars.

I'm hungry how about you!

Thank you for visiting and I hope your Independence Day celebrations will be full of good times and good food!

I will be joining the following parties...

Cuisine Kathleen

for

Let's Dish

and

Between Naps on the Porch

for

Tablescape Thursday

June 25, 2013

Sofa Dreams

Eight years ago we ordered new furniture for the living room, had it painted and carpeted. We got brave and went with lots of color (our son quipped that we had gotten "color courage").

This large wedge style sofa was a statement piece

but as it turned out for us it wasn't a comfortable piece because it lacked enough back support.

I sold her on Craigslist and off she went with a

delightful couple that live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Back in April we ventured out to many stores to

look at sofas.

We landed on this one and then the fun part began for me of sorting through fabrics. The manufacturer was sponsoring 40% off with the store for 0ne week so we jumped on it.

I always bring pieces of my carpet & fabrics from our home to help me choose my fabric. What I like about my new color is I can change the accents with it and bring in another color very easily. I briefly considered that brown fabric but the print was too bold and again dominant.

After many choices I landed on these. The fabrics had to work with our other furnishings because I wasn't changing any of that.

After having such a dominant print on the other sofa I went with more of a plain fabric but chose to add a print with the pillows.

Well she came last Friday and I'm super happy with it! It fits in the room so much better too.

I had the same cording that is on the red paisley pillows added as an accent on the sofa.

We're ready to change the wall color but wanted to see the sofa in the room first. I'm going to lighten it up. I want more contrast with the furniture which I think will also give it a more updated look.

Benjamin Moore-Linen Sand 2151-60

This new color has the right tones in it to work with our furnishings, but not quite as bold as the Concord Ivory that we have now.

We've painted a sample on the wall to make sure we like it, but haven't painted the whole room yet. It almost looks white, but I assure you it isn't. This also is only one coat and we'll put two on so it will truly reflect the color we've chosen.