Last Minute Annuals, Poison Ivy, Rescued Bunny and Other Goings-On in the Garden...

First of all, I never posted a picture of the living wreath I made a while back. It filled in nicely enough, but I think I much prefer to keep the colors more uniform--either shades of a single color or just two colors..

But a satisfying project nonetheless.

Last week I attacked the gardens in front and back for much needed weeding, cutting back of spent spring plants and choosing a few spots to plant some annuals. I have to say weeding is pure tedium to me and I know I am not alone in this. While some people enjoy weeding as a therapeutic or meditative exercise--this does not describe my outlook. I slogged through and cut back lanky spring bloomers that had long since passed their blooming prime--the poppies, iris, allium, camassia and due to neglect--my peonies.

while a few blooms thrived...

too many others were left to droop and wilt on the ground

Because once again, I neglected to stake them early and each rain shower bowed more and more stems to the ground... such a waste of glorious pink petals. Next year!

It struck me once again while I was cutting and cleaning up, the Darwinian nature of some weeds. I'm always amazed when I find a weedy plant that so closely resembles one of my perennials, that it has grown up through the desirable plant and escaped unnoticed for weeks. I found two shrubs/trees growing within one of my lilacs out back! A more attentive gardener would have shown these party crashers the door weeks earlier... ah, well.

After the work was done and most of the poison ivy scrubbed away with Tecnu, I drove over to the nursery for the fun part. Hollandia Nurseries always has a good selection and is a joy to wander through.

I brought home a dozen perennials and several flats of annuals and set to distributing them around the garden. During the planting I was forced to tie up my Cavalier because she had discovered some baby bunnies in the garden and could not resist hunting them (yikes!). I know it's her natural instinct, and I encourage her to chase them when they are older and faster for exercise, but I can't bear her going after the defenseless young babies. Ironically, she ended up saving one! She was tied up while I planted and suddenly started barking very excitedly. I went over to investigate and saw that she'd spied a little bunny who'd fallen in the pool and was frantically swimming back and forth. I scooped him out and released the poor guy near the wood's edge.

 And back in the studio some jeweled beauties were grown.

Pastel Gemstone Long Clusters

Linked + Dotted Prehnite Pebbles

Rose Quartz Gem Weave Danglers

Wire and Pearl Coiled Blue Lace Agate Necklace

Fringed Laguna Agate

Sparkling Neutrals

My best selling color combo... Shades of Sand and Stone flower earrings.

 

Same sparkling neutral color palette applied to long gem weave danglers.

A September batch off to NY

On their way to Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa's boutiques... and a few are in my online store.

Like these

and these

I'm not really ready to accept the deeper colors and richer feeling of fall--there are still so many warm days reading out by the pool to enjoy.

 And bunnies to watch hopping around the garden.

Fuss Creations for the New Year, Client Inspirations and a Slow Cooked Meal...

I'm making a concerted effort to round out the Fuss Collections and get my creations into more stores and boutiques this year. One addition to my collections came from one of you! A client recently ordered my "This cloud not only has a silver lining" necklace with the smaller silver berries hoops and asked about a gold fill version. I've offered the golden berries hoops for some time, but just added a "Golden Cloud" necklace today.

Golden Cloud Necklace

Another client had previously ordered my simple pearl flower drop earrings in gold fill (I am currently out and waiting to restock the pearls when I travel to Tucson Feb 3-5). She requested one of my favorite flower necklaces with clusters of pearls to either side rather than gray moonstone--I think the result is perfectly lovely! She is wearing it to her wedding which is always especially meaningful to me! She is going to send pictures this summer and maybe I'll ger her permission to post them here.


After remaking some pieces for one of my local boutiques, I couldn't resist photographing the jewels in a grouping.

I think these photos will work well in promotional mailings that I'll send out this year.


And I'll close with a tasty eyeful. I snagged a Williams Sonoma Slow Cooking book from my parent's house a few months back and have started trying out some of the recipes. With the kids' varied sports schedules, it is fairly rare that we are all home at the same time for dinner. So a meal that can simmer and stay warm for anyone to grab when they are able is ideal. My first dish attempt was Chicken Korma--delish! It is recommended to be served with rice, but I put out some couscous. And I myself, ate it alone like a soup or stew---amazing! I plan to add more onions and maybe diced bell peppers next time to add more veggies.

Chicken Korma, Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking

This is a shot during the first phase, combining the spices and onions and getting them all nicely aromatic in a saucepan before adding to the crock pot with chicken broth, tomato sauce and chicken. The last step was my favorite--during the last 15 minutes of cooking you add a slurry of buttermilk and crushed pecans to thicken.

And keep the entries coming for my Valentine Giveaway! Post a comment here to be entered:

Valentine Giveaway!

Summer Fun

This past weekend I brough the camera out to the front yard to capture the kids on the swing--amazing fun.
Our property only has one tree of substantial size as it used to be cleared farmland. We had the tree doctors out several years ago to trim what needed trimming and they added metal braces for extra support to some of the larger branches. My hubby climbed out on a high limb and added this simple tree swing and it is loads of fun for swinging.


Effortlessly flying through the air--just be careful and hold on...


I've spent the last couple of weeks in a metalwork class at the high school and learned a lot. I hope one day (maybe next year) after I've had lots of practice, to incorporate bezel setting and soldering into my work. Here is my first, quite imperfect creation:
And added to the shop this week:



Signing off!

Oh, Darn...

Once again, I failed...

..didn't stake and criss cross the stems with string to support the 15 gorgeous peonies I have in the front garden. And of course it rained hard this week, again and again, so my beauties are drooping to the ground under the ponderous weight of the luscious, ruffled pink petals.


When will I learn?
They do manage to be beautiful despite my neglect.

In the shop is a pair of earrings inspired by lush peony beauty.