Excitement Found In The Garden And Rolling Along

I am so happy with the results of the replanted Iris Garden this year.  The hard work was so worth it.  There may be more flowers to open.  Maybe some different colors that I see in the photo of 2009.  Iris have different blooming times, early, mid and late.  Time will tell.  Oh, and some bloom early and then again late !  It has been so much fun for me to watch with anticipation each day to see what new blossom I will see .   Some photos may look like duplicates but they are different in very slight ways !

All this beauty sprung forth from these elegant harbinger spires !  They did not disappoint !

The entire garden is looking wonderful in regards to health and bloom activity this year and I am really enjoying it.

I think I am on a roll.  By that I mean I am getting a lot of different types of things done.   And, oh, how good it feels.  I have always worked hard throughout my entire life and I am grateful that I feel well enough to continue to take care of things at home.  However, it is getting more challenging to try to keep up with all the home care activities.  And, I am a long way from maintaining my home like I would like to and like I was able to do in the past.  I am really trying to clean out all the many things that I certainly no longer need.  It is a bit daunting especially since I have lived in this house 25 years and have not been forced to liquidate like one usually does when they move.  But, I take a lot of comfort in that I have not had to move as frequently as I did when I was younger and the rent "was always going up".  It took a lot of energy and there was always the expected expenses of moving.

I am trying to find some handyman and garden help but it is very difficult and I may not find anyone.  Front what I hear there are many experiences where the people just don't don't show up or they are living "on Mountain Time" !!!

Ivy, my "Resident Heart Beat" is doing well.  I don't think she is ever going to be totally comfortable with her life.  I have another appointment for her with the Vet to work some more on finding a diagnosis of her watery eyes.  She does not seem to be uncomfortable but she may have always had the problem.  The drainage from her eyes is at an amount that there are little reddish/brown drops on the floors, furniture and especially on the window sills.  I think she has settled in and in general is quite content.  She does a lot of purring and she comes looking for me when she wants a little pet on her head !

The sun is shining bright and that always gives me a lot of energy !    I am on my way to discover what the day brings !

I hope your day is going well.

Mary

Beautiful Time Of Color

What A Spectacular Yellow Rose. It just bloomed today.

Some more new colors of Iris.

The Lavender is growing nicely.

And, the Orange Daylilies that are planted alternately with the Lavender are setting buds.  A little ladybug is visiting one of the buds.

The White Garden is bursting with blooms.

Yes, these are Black Petunias.  

The Camellias are still showing color.

And Rhaphiolepis Indian Hawthorn is doing nicely.

Thanks for taking a stroll through the garden with me.

Mary

Twenty Five Years Ago - Who Would Have Thought

When I was on a four-day week-end vacation in the California Mother Lode I became interestingly infatuated with a Small Historical Town.  My trip was for the purpose of looking for an area that would take me away from living in an expensive busy big city to a quieter home as I was getting older and dealing with rehabilitation following orthopedic spinal surgery because of cumulative injury and disk herniation of my low back resulting from many years working as a Registered Nurse.  The uncertainty of my ability to return to work was looming in my consciousness especially since my pain level continued to be very debilitating .  However, the mobility of my left leg had been restored with the nerve decompression. And, that was a huge blessing.

When I travel and have the time I like to check out different cemeteries that can give me a quick history lesson of the area and the time. 

As I was driving on the little winding gravel road and turning at the next corner, I was very surprised to see a headstone directly in front of me from 1804 with a very visible engraving of my first name and middle initial.

It took my breath away.  As I pondered what I was seeing my thoughts drifted to comfort and home !

The Small Historic Town became my home shortly thereafter. What a miraculous time in my life !

It wasn't until ten years later that I decided that it would be a good idea to purchase a cemetery plot in the same cemetery that I visited that first day visiting the Small Historic Town. The cemetery is about a five minute drive from my home and the grave site is under a very large oak tree.

Since the passing of My Special Man in 2014 and his request for me to have his cremains inurned in the same location where mine will be inurned I have slowly (as funds permitted) had the preparation of the gravesite started.  A few months ago the required cement curbing was completed.  The cemetery contractor came to my home to select rock from my garden to use as a representative border decor of my love of nature and my garden .  The next activity is to have a meeting to discuss the headstone.  As I have posted on March 15, 2018, I have an idea for the headstone that I want to discuss with the Memorial Headstone Engraver.

Business is business.  Compartmentalizing helps with carrying on with business !

When I first visited my little town,  little did I know that there would be someone to share my little cemetery plot with ! ! ! With the way I am feeling lately, I think it will be quite a while before I will be joining My Special Man.  But, who knows, I sure don't.

God Works In Mysterious Ways.

Goodness and Love to All.

Mary

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers Almost Everywhere

The garden is becoming a riotous display of colors framed with  multiple shades of green .  I Love It.

Have A Good Day.  Remember to count your blessings and gifts.  If you look for them, you will find  them!

Mary

Mothers

I hope this special day on the calendar has been what you may have hoped for.

For many years Holidays have been unpleasant experiences for me other than when My Special Man was in my life. He made certain that he took special care of me on Mother's Day especially because following my daughter's second marriage her relationship with me changed dramatically in all regards .  It is sad how that can happen especially since we had a very close relationship and we always were in regular contact.   She never had any children and I would describe her current husband as a very selfish controlling and possessive person.  One way of describing him is to say "lots of red flags".  I really do not know if she is happy. 

And, my son has never lived nearby and spent many years living in Europe and Asia while in the Air Force Military.  If you are familiar with my blog, you may have a little insight into the complexities of his life.   And, I really do not know if he is happy with his life either.

Realizing that the many years of raising them as a single parent were some of the most difficult years of my life saddens me that they choose to alienate me .  The fact that they really did not have any healthy role models or loving supportive extended family certainly can have detrimental  effects on  children - as well as a mother .

I feel so blessed and grateful that I have come to a place in my life of acceptance of what IS and not let it take away my ability to find joy in the present while remaining receptive to any positive changes in the future .  Acceptance without expectation works for me.  And, my motherly desire for them to live a happy life can never be taken from me.

Just one comment in regards to my own Mother .  The day she left this earth,  I felt like a bird out of a cage.  I don't mean to sound harsh but it is what it is.  My young life was one of feeling very alone because of all the overly harsh  restrictions and isolation from my peers and experiences of simply "growing up".  But, I certainly learned how to clean toilets and work hard in the home until it was perfect!!  As the saying goes, if they knew better, they would do better. I hope there is truth in that saying?

I have enjoyed a very peaceful day, nurturing my cat, Ivy and playing in my garden that provides me so much joy and peace.

Blessings to All.

Mary 

Living In The Country

Seeing a notice like this in the local news is one of the many reasons that I enjoy living in the country.  It is a small reminder of a simpler time.

Cattle being moved on Hwy 88

April 29, 2018 at 8:50 AM:  Ranchers are moving cattle from one pasture
to another across Hwy 88 near Liberty Road, outside Clements.

Be extra cautious if in the area.

                           (art canvas google image)

Not a lot happening in my life.  But, I am grateful for feeling very well and enjoying the beautiful weather and working in my garden. The garden flowers are bursting from their little coverings and shouting about how happy they are to come visit. The Iris continue to show me new colors and beautiful form.

The Roses are about to burst open and The White Garden is looking like it is going to be the prettiest ever. Of course, photos will be coming soon.

Ivy is adjusting well and has decided that her favorite spot where she likes to settle is no longer one of the many living room chairs but near me at the end of the sofa where I generally sit.  I am very happy that I have her.  She brings me a lot of pleasure and I enjoy nurturing her.  How sweet is this !!!

I hope you have a Splendid Day.

Mary

And This Is Just The Beginning

Last fall I worked very hard refurbishing the front flower bed where a vast number of Iris were planted by me around 2008 .  They were overcrowded and very nutrient poor by 2017. 

Originally, they were super fantastic with breathtaking beauty . Yes I have posted this photo (one of most favorite) many times, because it thrills me so.  Do you see my precious Cavalier Love Dog-Lily hiding in "my garden"?

The pile of Iris rhizomes in the first photo were planted again in much improved soil and the next photo was taken a couple weeks ago. They were planted with no regard for color because I had no idea what color I was selecting from the pile of rhizomes. 

The next photos are just the beginning of what is to come.  The photos were taken this morning.  What a delight it is to watch and see what the next color will be as they open.  I have names on all the tags from years ago and I want to identify each flower as it opens. A task that is very time intensive !

My fascination with Bearded Iris originated when I was living in the Santa Clara Valley, California before moving here 25 years ago.  A few blocks from my home there was a commercial Iris business called Maryott's Iris Garden.  It was the highlight of the neighborhood and it seemed like you could look as far as the eye could see and all you saw was Iris flowers in every color imaginable.  Many of my iris come from Maryott's when they would have a yearly Iris Open House Sale.

Unfortunately, the land has been converted to million-dollar-plus residential homes. At least, I have my beautiful memories of standing in the Iris Fields, soaking up the luscious colors and natures abundant  grandeur !!!

If you enjoy gardening, I hope your weather is cooperating with your gardening wishes !

Mary

Six Barrels Full And The Beauty Of The Season

Believe me, that is a lot of weeds to hand pull !  But, oh, so good to have a good start cleaning the garden.  I know this is not a very glamorous photo but it has a lot of significance for me . I have not been sure I would be able to work in the garden any more.  For the past few days the weather has been absolutely fabulous for working/playing in the garden .  And, I have been somewhat amazed at how much I have accomplished .  However, my greatest amazement has come from the fact that my back/body does not feel any different than if I had not been working outside.  Absolutely Astounding !!!  My gratitude is Huge.  Living a day at a time is so freeing !

And, now a little Beauty - a lot of Beauty !

The White Iris are robust, beautiful and tall, almost as tall as I am at five foot tall.

There are so many more iris in the White Garden than years past.  These are below the fig tree that has started to leaf out !

And, this is a large, Bridal Veil Spirea, blooming nicely.

Now, let's move to the front garden where I worked so hard last year to refurbish the multicolored Iris garden.  I can't begin to tell you how happy this photo makes me !

Just look at all the healthy long stems approaching their burst of color and beauty.

These photos are some quick clicks of the camera when I did not take the effort to produce quality.

 

This is an "ol' standby" that never fails to bloom.  It is Lavandula Lanata, woolly lavender, a species of flowering plant in the mint family .

The Lady Banks Yellow Climbing Rose is in full bloom on the fence.  Look at all those weeds that need some ATTENTION.  Speaking about ATTENTION - look who crawled out in the Iris garden to greet me this morning as I was out taking some photos !  I am glad I saw him /her before I was scared out of my skin !

 The first Roses to bloom are about to display their first flush of the season. I can hardly wait.

There are a lot more flowers blooming, but that will have to wait until I can spend more time with the camera.

Ivy Update - - - She is a "KEEPER" !!!

I hope you have had a Good Week.

Mary