A Cottage in Spring in Normandy by Louis Aston Knight, (American, 1873-1948)
Summer's Day in the Flower Garden, by Robert Peyton Reid
I have some pictures of my flower beds as I am progressing on getting them cleaned up and in shape. A friend dug out the tall grass and got the garden bare enough for me to see it as a blank canvas on which to create a landscape, and gave my garden decor a fresh coat of white paint. Krylon Dual is the best. She also brought me some annuals and ground cover plants so that I can have them established in the flower beds for years.
These will have to be my "before" pictures, and as the garden gets more full, I will take the "after" pictures.
A child's wheelbarrow, broken on one side, becomes a planter.
Iron buggy and old cracked boots also make interesting planters.
The broken teapot will look good with a geranium in it, and the chair, also too broken to sit on, is relegated to the garden. This part of the garden has a ground cover called Sweet Woodruff that thrives even if neglected, so I am looking forward to it covering the area. I also have a geranium here called a Martha Washington.
The cup and saucer, glued together, was a bird feeder.
Ground cover on this rock arrangement is going to resemble a waterfall when it fills out and the little white blossoms cascade down the rock formation.
Since I have been in the same house for over 20 years, I have encouraged contentment by changing and improving parts of it when I am able. The garden is something that can look different every year.
Working in a garden can also be very therapeutic for ladies who are trying to develop contentment.
To my regret, I have not always understood the importance of contentment, but can see how it prevents sudden, drastic changes in life that are not beneficial. Life presents enough changes and sorrows to adjust to, without the homemaker adding to the upheaval by wishing she were somewhere else.
We had a ladies Bible class recently, with a study of the life of Abraham, in Genesis. One of the ladies brought up the fact that he was content, even when he was told to move somewhere else. We can be content to stay where we are, but it is just as important to have contentment when you are away from home, in transit, or re-locating.
Abraham was happy to go or stay, and unconcerned about the adjustments he had to make. He allowed his nephew to choose the part of the country he wanted to have, while he, Abraham, took the other part. He did not even make his own choice. He just took what was left and trusted that God had something in mind for him.
If it is not raining next week, we are going to have an afternoon tea inside the big tent, so I will try to remember to take pictures.
Painting by Robert Payton Reid, 1859-1945, Scotland
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8 comments:
I think your window is beautiful! It is often surprising that a small change can make such a difference. Your garden is coming along so nicely. By the way, we have very nice Hollyhocks coming up for the first time in our back garden : )
Thank you for dropping by, Lesley. My hollyhocks are not up yet.
Dear Lydia, I wanted to tell you how kind it was of the person to get the big clunks of grass out of your flowerbed area! My son sprayed the outline of my flower beds!
Those large clumps of grass are so hard to get out.
I think everything is looking so pretty! I enjoy putting pretty things for decorations in my garden where the flowers are.
Blessings, Miss Roxy
Gardens bring such joy and a certain type of continuity. I find contentment in watching the plants as the grow, I especially enjoy surprise volunteer plants that sprout from the year before. The roses here around St. Louis were breathtakingly beautiful this year before we had so much rain.
My zinnia seeds have sprouted and are growing quickly. I am looking forward to them blooming because they send up a huge invitation that every hummingbird should stop by and have some sips.
I'm experimenting with growing 4 potatoes that went to sprout last February in our pantry. I just read that I am supposed to be hilling them. Now I have to figure out how to make their container taller for more hilling. Right now they are such healthy looking plants and getting taller by the day. So "a hilling" I shall go. I can't wait to see if I get at least one potato from them. I believe that any gardening, large or small, is a bit of an act of faith.
Gardens bring such joy and a certain type of continuity. I find contentment in watching the plants as the grow, I especially enjoy surprise volunteer plants that sprout from the year before. The roses here around St. Louis were breathtakingly beautiful this year before we had so much rain.
My zinnia seeds have sprouted and are growing quickly. I am looking forward to them blooming because they send up a huge invitation that every hummingbird should stop by and have some sips.
I'm experimenting with growing 4 potatoes that went to sprout last February in our pantry. I just read that I am supposed to be hilling them. Now I have to figure out how to make their container taller for more hilling. Right now they are such healthy looking plants and getting taller by the day. So "a hilling" I shall go. I can't wait to see if I get at least one potato from them. I believe that any gardening, large or small, is a bit of an act of faith.
So beautiful..the post and the pictures, and the lovely lady who took them!
God Bless you dear friend!
Thank you for always encouraging us women to keep growing in our faith. I have struggled long in the contentment area. I'm now in my 60s and while I am much more content than I used to be, I am always looking for areas in which to grow. Gardening and being outside is one of those areas. Thanks for your encouragement to let gardening help me in my quest to be content in all things. Your blog is a real blessing to me. Thank you.
Thank you Lydia for posting photos of your new flowerbeds. They are really sweet and so refreshing to see. Am looking forward to seeing your flowers bloom which will add more beauty to the garden decor.
My husband found a vintage child's iron crib for me to use in my garden. My daughter gave me a few shepherd's hooks also. I plan on using them in my cottage flower beds.
I find that "garden hardware" or decor adds interest and looks lovely even after the flowers have bloomed and are gone.
A flowerbed tidied up is evidence of my hard work. Seeing the results of that work is delightful, adds to the feeling of serenity, calm and contentment of a job well done.
That must be how the Lord feels when he sees his children following his teachings, focusing on and loving him.
Mrs. J.
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