My Lacecap Hydrangea is Starting

The Lacecap hydgrangea buds here at my cottage are just beginning to open. I took this photo with my iPhone yesterday.

I think my variety is Taube or maybe Lemon Wave based on the photos on this website. I'll have to wait a little longer to find out. I didn't buy this plant that I've had for at least 5 years, I dug it from a friend's yard and it is thriving. I think I should try to root a cutting and plant one in the front too. This one is in the back in a corner under my balcony where it gets the perfect combination of sun and shade. 

Climbing Roses and a Beautiful Window

I have never had roses except for the wicked multiflora growing on the edge of my woods. The thorns on these beautiful pink roses look like the ones I've been dealing with. I'm happy with peonies and hydrangeas because they aren't dangerous. Smile. via

Napping Dog: Webster's Watercolor

Doesn't he look like the most contented dog ever? It's been way too long since I used the Waterlogue App on my iPhone to convert a photo into a watercolor. Now I want to do more. Don't have it yet? Get it here. xo

Delightful Sleeping Porch

I go to sleep every night in the summer with both windows wide open and most of the time there is a faint breeze blowing on my face. So far I haven't had to turn on my A/C this year but I'm sure I will have to break down eventually. I always turn it off at night in favor of open windows. I've never slept on a sleeping porch but this looks like a great one. via

Chicken in the Red Clover Patch

I have lots of this red clover here and there on my property mixed in with the white clover which is predominant. I'm told white clover is better for bees because their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red clover. I have no idea whether this is true or not because I have seen red clover honey on the shelves. via

Tuesday Gif with Peonies and Tabitha

Peonies in full bloom cannot take days and days of unrelenting rain.

I bought a couple of herb plants from Whole Foods in Morristown. I divided the Rosemary into two plants and repotted them. The Lavender was divided into three plants that I arranged in a clay pot shaped like a chicken. They look so nice at my entrance.

Too Much Rain !

We are in the worst weather pattern and the peonies are not happy. We went from no rain to too much rain and I really need a few sunny days for a project at one of my real estate listings. 

Artwork in Progress

I love seeing artwork in progress with the scene and the sketch in one photo.

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A work in progress in a very large sketchbook.

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The finished drawing is very nice, isn't it? It looks like an engraving but it was done with a gel pen. Sjaak Kaashoek is a professional artist living in the Netherlands.