Pink

 

                       I'm so glad I took photos last week before our torrential rains and mudslides this week.  I was to get five puppies to foster, but my road was closed, the bridge collapsed, so stuck inside until the sun comes out this weekend.  The roses are now tattered and all my plants are laying on the ground.  What a mess.

                   I am also glad I got my Mills Rose food because the roses did fantastic this year.  These fairy roses I have been bringing back to life since I moved here and they covered the driveway.  

     This rose I picked up for just a few dollars at Lowes on the clearance table in the winter, named Bewitched, didn't expect much and I love it!  It performed and the fragrance is the best of all the roses I have.

    Bewtiched, I should have bought them all at $4.  Although we've gotten too much rain, I'm glad we got any. For the past three weeks I've been laying low and couldn't do yard work because of a torn meniscus.  Doesn't take much for that to happen.  I went outside and saw three bears in my yard, pivoted to sprint to the front door to slam it shut so my dogs didn't come out and see them, heard a pop that sounded like a bone snapped.  I am not good at laying low!!!

   And this is my Easy on the Eyes just starting to bloom and I love it!  I wanted to go back and get three more, but with my knee not driving far and they are now closed until fall, but I will be going back to get more.  This one, too, smells so good!

                         A new find that I couldn't pass up, decoration only.

                                I planted maroon hollyhocks, but they're pink!

                        With hydrangeas, the soil determines the color and I think the farmhouse is telling me something.  Everything has been on hold for many reasons.  I finally had the county out to do perk tests, we need a new septic system/tank at the farmhouse, so we are splitting the farmhouse from the main house and getting two and it is going to be a big ordeal and I am afraid to see what they do to my Mexican hydrangea area where the original tank is and which have not bloomed yet.  We also have a driveway person coming to put in some grates so it doesn't flood the front path anymore and to cut a new driveway to the main house.  When all that is finished I will be getting a fireplace put in.  I have friends coming in the fall with their chows, I hope to have it all finished.

   I love Rose Campion and think I should add some alba in for next year to mix with the pink.  

Vintage Photos

  Today while cleaning out some books, I found these two photos tucked inside from the 1940s, 1950s of the Tiny Farmhouse.  Wow, a lot has changed since then!

 I don't know how they could park that big car in that tiny carport! 

White Squirrels & Roses

   Minka is back this year and has stayed a week.  Hope she never leaves!
 

   Always in the trees, has not been to the feeders that I've seen, travels between the farmhouse and main house.  

     Let the blooming begin!!

Roses Unlimited Part 1

                         By accident I found Roses Unlimited in Laurens, SC.  I had remembered the rose growers on the Atlanta botanical tour using this product out of TN, I couldn't find it locally, but when I googled it, this small rose grower just an hour south of me had a supply! 
 

                        In the middle of nowhere on a back dirt road, there were five greenhouses full of blooming roses.  

                     There were only two other ladies there, so it was pleasant to spend a lot of time alone in each greenhouse sniffing the roses lol.

                       I was there to buy my bag of Mills Magic and two roses, and I accomplished that, but I will be back!  Probably many times!

                        They have Red Eden, I have the pink, I have to find places with more sun!

                          I bought this one called Easy on the Eyes.  If where I plant it, it flourishes, I will buy a lot more!

                        I have also found a peony farm called The Peony Fields which will be open to the public next year!  They plan on yoga and photography sessions. Looking forward to buying peonies!   The Peony Fields    

                                       Happy Easter, Happy Spring
 

Deck Chairs Arrived

                       The new polywood deck chairs arrived.  These should last a very long time, tired of wood that rots and falls apart. Situated to view the bamboo forest with a cup of coffee!
 

                         I've been collecting enamel mugs for the coffee station, something portable that won't break, plus love how pretty they are.

                               Have to have a bear! This is also a good bear viewing area, don't know how guests will feel about that though. Don't think I'll tell them lol.

                                                  Easter rabbits.

    I know these plastic plaques don't quite fit the farmhouse theme, more of a mod '60s theme, but I really like them, and don't come across them very often, so when I see one, I get it!

                        I had a number of new bird houses to put up and found these great hooks, one on back of the house and the other on the tree and you just click it in. So easy!! 

                  A chickadee house to be viewed from the deck.

                    On a rainy day last week, I thought it would be the best time to dig up that old rose that I found and transplant it to the farmhouse in a spot with lots of sun. It was a HUGE root.  Took me two hours to dig up.

           I was soaked and covered in mud, but it was worth it, it's been a week and the rose is looking fantastic.  Can't wait to see what color it is.

                      Sold one of the hooked rugs locally and she sent a photo. Looks fantastic in her room.  The border is so pretty.  If it had only been smaller, I would not have let it go.