Spectacular Flower and Plant Patterns

Giant Lobelia, Photographed by George F. Mobley

The leaves of a giant lobelia plant, photographed on Mount Kilimanjaro's Shira Plateau in Tanzania, spiral around the center. See a wonderful slideshow from National Geographic with more Plant and Flower Patterns. Click on the thumbnails instead of using the arrow buttons.

Galvanized Planter Love

I have always loved galvanized tubs, watering cans, and buckets. A neighbor lady who was moving to Boston recently gave me a watering can with a long spout just like the one on the lower right. It had been left outside with water in it and had frozen so it doesn't sit flat. But the bottom hasn't blown out so it doesn't leak. I am going to pound the bottom gently and see if I can fix it. It's a style I don't have and I was so pleased to acquire it. I have no idea what those large items are. Garbage cans? Storage bins? Don't they all look great as planters?

Meet Me For Lunch Here - My Treat!

 

There's only one problem about our lunch date. I have no idea where this place is located. It would be fun though. You'll have to take a rain check until I find the address. *

I had a late breakfast and will skip lunch today since I have a dental appointment at 12:30. I like to wait a long time before eating solid food after I have my teeth cleaned. I might cave and have a milk shake later.

Webster Wants This

This is perfect for both of us. Webster likes a cozy place for his bed with a back and a great view from the front and I love cubbies. A genius design: love, love, love - want, want, want.

Lily of the Valley on a Shell

photo by Rosemary Beck

I took this photo last year when one of my very few stems of lily of the valley was snapped off by an animal in the night. I can't understand why they aren't multiplying like crazy like they did at my other house. Maybe they don't like it here. I looked today and can see only 3 pips. Any suggestions? Maybe I'll buy some more at the plant sale in town on Saturday.

I was a busy bee working outside using the shop vac in the garage and on the balcony too. It's starting to come together nicely but I have miles to go and must keep up the momentum before the heat sets in. 

Cottages and Roses

Cottages and roses are perfect together, aren't they? I decided to skip my office meeting and broker open houses today to give my place some much-need attention and some real elbow grease. I'll never forget the first time I heard those words...I was cleaning my bathroom tub as a 4th grader and my mom walked past and told me to use some elbow grease and I actually started looking for it. And that's the truth. My mother laughed when I asked her where she kept it.  

Stone and Brick Outbuilding with Dovecote

I hope there is something like this at the end of the drive I pictured yesterday. I've always preferred the gardener's cottage to the big mansion behind the gates. Now I have my own cottage having wished for one since childhood.

My Dream Driveway

Isn't this the best driveway ever? I'm not talking about the site with the trees on either side and the gate...I'm talking about the road itself. I love the packed pebble center and sides and the packed whatever lanes. I'd love to know more about it. I have a gravel drive with belgian block curbing to contain it. I am not a fan of blacktop at all. We had a lot of snow last season and I'm amazed that all of the gravel did not end up on the lawn but it was very minimal for some reason in spite of all the snow plowings. I think I finally mastered parking in the right place.

The road above has a concrete look but it probably isn't. I'll let you know if I ever find out the secret of this paving technique.