CQJP July Block

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

"June is Bustin' Out All Over"

So go the words to the song, and so goes my garden. The phlox is dancing on the breezes, the peonies bursting forth into bloom, and the poppy buds are fat.
purple and white
such a vibrant colour
pale, blush peony looks so delicate
subtle hints of pink
 a purple iris?
I like the sparks of blue.
poppies ready to explode into colour
This shot shows just how overgrown the gardens have become. I am slowly digging everything out, section by section and fighting with the bindweed. It's everywhere.... sigh.

I have discovered plants hiding beneath others and some hidden by weeds and grasses
This wee bed was covered in vines that grew over the windows, blocking air and sunlight. While vines look very romantic, they are not good for brick, and so we removed them. Now there is more light and fresh air in the house.

Since this bed is shady for most of the day, I moved some hostas there.
Some of our favourite rocks from the lake house edge the bed.




ah, the lettuce is growing well, and it won't be long now until we're munching mesclun salads.















On the stitching front, I have added more to the wedding piece, although progress is slow.

 There will be more leaves and bullions, as well as flower clusters


I've begun adding another branch to the right side, and it's almost ready for the weaving portion of the casalguidi stitch.

















Sunday night gave a beautiful sunset out my 'studio' window.

Is that a weird moon, or what?


Actually, it's a reflection of the ceiling light in the window, but I think it looks  really interesting.












I turned the light off.
What nice colours!



I hope you've had a week filled with colour and creativity.


Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz

22 comments:

  1. I love the single form of peonies - they always remind me of the old-fashioned roses. The wedding piece is looking spectacular!

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    1. Thank you MA! I like the old-fashioned roses, too. It seems they were more fragrant as well. I plan on having a rose garden, so maybe....... ;-)

      Hugs

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  2. Your garden looks lovely, although hard work. Always interesting what you find in some one else's planting.

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    1. After the first weeks of aches and pains slowing me down, it feels good to get out in the garden with the fork, shovels, and my gloves. It is a lot of work, but I hope my labours will be rewarded by healthier, happier plants next year. Now I just need a mountain or two of mulch and manure...... ;-) Thanks Penny. I found an old shovel, a hand-sized fork, and an old, rusty can in amongst the plants...........Hope your shoulder is feeling better.

      Hugs

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  3. Yourt wedding piece is looking very beautiful.Pretty garden too.

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    1. Judy, I am enjoying both the stitching and the gardening. The latter is very hard on my fingernails, though.
      Hope you're having a nice autumn. Thanks.

      Hugs

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  4. Sue, your wedding piece is just coming along beautifully. I love what you are doing with the casalguidi work. This is an amazing work.

    Your garden has some wonderful flowers. I love those peonies. If you make a mix of olive oil, lemon juice and sugar and rub it into your hands after gardening it gets rid of the grime, and your hands are lovely and soft as well.

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    1. Thank you so much for those lovely words, Shirley! Thanks too for the hand recipe--I just bought some silk thread, so I'll need to have soft hands to use it. I have a nice, soft finger brush for cleaning out the dirt, but softness is one thing my hands haven't been lately....lol!....so I'll be sure to try it.

      Hugs

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  5. the wedding piece is looking wonderful, am surprised you had time to stitch with all that is happening in the garden.It is coming along so well, some lovely things you have. Wonder do you get thousands of slugs with hostas, here they love them so I do not have any in my garden, mind you still have slugs and snails and after rain they seem to be everywhere, afraid I put slug pellets when when they are lots of them

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    1. Margaret, the days are spent in the garden ( weather and appointments permitting) and in the evenings I stitch. I'll have to let you know about the slugs as I've not gardened in this type of soil before. So far I haven't seen many, but we've had a very dry spring and that could make quite a difference. I do have lots of hostas though, and slugs do like them. I'll keep checking and let you know. My last gardens were in sandier soil and I saw few of the little pests. Thanks.

      Hugs

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  6. Hi Suz! What a wonderful garden you've inherited from the previous owner - a bit like the Secret Garden - a lovely tangle, full of surprises and happy to be lovingly tended again :)

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    1. Thanks Starr. You're right about the gardens being a mystery and I have found secrets hiding there. I do hope the plants thrive as I'm being a little bit brutal thinning them all out, and getting rid of a lot that is over run with weeds. Sadly, the roots are too intertwined to salvage some of the plants.......so the gardens may look rather sparse for the next couple of years........

      Hugs

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  7. Your blooms are lovely, your needlework exquisite! I've got so much to learn in needleworking.

    I thought wow, what kind of phenomenon in the sky is that? A ceiling light, LOL.

    Enjoy the rest of your week ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thanks so much, FloweLady! I've barely made a dent in the gardens so far, and today it is finally raining (Yay!) so I am indoors trying to catch up on some chores, and maybe some stitching later.....
      Happy Gardening!
      Hugs

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  8. oh yes, your garden is gorgeous....as for the stitching? Sigh....just beautiful.

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    1. Karen, thank you so much for those lovely words! This piece is very satisfying to work on, though I do miss my wrapping cloth. I need more hours in the day! lol

      Hugs

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  9. Lovely pictures of all your flowers and the stitching on the wedding piece is looking great. All of your casalguidi stitching is really remarkable. You tricked me for a second with the moon photo/ ceiling fan. Neat shot :)

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    1. Thanks JPP! That was some crazy moon shot, eh? lol! It took me by surprise, too, the first time I saw the photo.......
      I am really enjoying discovering just what flowers will appear next. Fun!

      Hugs

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  10. Your garden looks wonderful, woukd love to have a walk around, pity there's a pond between us,
    The wedding piece is looking lovely, can't wait to see it finished.
    Lovely sunset, your light made an interesting picture.
    Margaret

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    1. Yes, Margaret, shame about that pond being there.... ;-) or we might get into a wee spot of trouble with gardening, tatting, and all sorts.
      I have about 6 weeks before the wedding, so I need to get cracking on my embroidery! We'd like to present it to them a bit beforehand, if possible, so I might be having some serious stitch-ins over the next few weeks. Thanks

      Hugs

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  11. Love your peonies Suz! And aren't the sunny evenings great?

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    1. Thanks Janet! So far two of the plants have bloomed, but there are at least 2 more almost ready. I wonder what colour they'll be? I love sunny evenings! A special treat is to sit outside on the patio and sip a glass of wine either as I cook supper on the bar-B or just after supper is finished........Hope your weather is warm and sunny, too.

      Hugs

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