The Color is Coming Back to My Garden

The warm weather is early this year and it's a delight to see the bursts of color in my garden.  My peony is just budding and I believe it will be flowering in a week. I can't wait. I also planted some cosmos last weekend as I like the gorgeous pink and lilacs of the flowers.

We've planted our vegetable garden too as well as some planters and hanging baskets.

How's your garden coming along? Trying anything new this year? Any gardening advice?

 

My Sweet Peas

Several years ago I planted sweet peas in my near my vegetable garden. I assumed they were annuals. However, every year since then, they have come back and thrived. In fact, I have to cut them back or they would completely take over. Sweet peas have always been a favorite. My Granny always had them in her garden and they are a reminder of my childhood holidays spent at her house.

Here are some photos of this year's flowers..

Magnolias In Bloom

After a few weeks of dull, wet weather, the sun has finally decided to make an entrance. Every Spring I look forward to the glorious magnolia in our front yard flowering. I must say I was worried that this year we'd be watching in from inside the house while the rain came down.

But it's in bloom this week and as beautiful as ever!

It's my favorite plant in the garden, followed by my peony.

What's your cherished plant in your garden?

A Tasty Giveaway From The Bear Foot Shaman

For all you gardeners out there, you're going to love this next giveaway. Spring is just around the corner in this part of the world and if you're like me, you're starting to poke around the garden looking for signs of the warmer weather. Of course, with Spring comes the opportunity to start a vegetable garden and reap the delicious rewards of your hard work during the summer.

We've had a vegetable garden each year for about the past 16 years and each year I try a different type of tomato in addition to my favorites. If you don't have a large area of a garden to cultivate your vegetables, you can also grow tomato plants in pots. This year I think I shall purchase some heirloom seeds from The Bear Foot Shaman and give those a try - they look too good to pass up.

YOU have the wonderful opportunity to win some heirloom tomato seeds courtesy of The Bear Foot Shaman. The Bear Foot Shaman specializes in Aromatherapy, Herbal Medicine, and sells Heirloom Seeds.  They hope that everyone can enjoy the wonders and health a garden has to offer. They are kindly putting together a package of the following seeds:

Heirloom Organic Black Krim Tomato Seed Vegetable Garden Seeds

 

Heirloom Organic Yellow Pear Tomato Garden Seeds Vegetable Seed

 

PIF Super Sioux Tomato - Wonderful Organic Heirloom Seeds - Perfect Garden Tomato Seed

 

Organic Heirloom Gypsy Black Tomato Non-GMO Garden Vegetable Seed

The giveaway is easy to enter...

Please leave a comment describing which seeds from The Bear Foot Shaman you would include in your ideal vegetable garden.

You can enter once per day and you must include your first name and etsy username or email address with every entry. If you're worried about spam email, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.

Receive additional entries:
- if you follow or subscribe to my blog
- twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about the giveaway
- become a fan of Jacaranda Designs Facebook Page
- feature any of my items on your blog
- follow me on twitter

Just comment/leave a link letting me know!
Go ahead, have fun and spread the word please!
This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide. Giveaway ends Wednesday April 6th at 5pm.

 

 

 

Flowers, gorgeous flowers.

I recently celebrated a birthday and was given some gorgeous flowers. Naturally, I couldn't resist capturing them. My husband gave me roses in a lovely variety of reds, pinks, yellows and oranges. A very good friend of mine, Johanna, sent me a stunning arrangement - a real work of art. I put both arrangements in my kitchen where I would see them all day. Loved them but sadly they're now starting to fade.

Peony Power

My peony is flowering. It looks stunning in our front garden. Today I shall cut a few and put them in a vase in our kitchen.Here's a poem about this gorgeous flower that I thought you might enjoy.

PEONY

Carman, Bliss, (1861 - 1929)

Arnoldus Villanova
Six hundred years ago
Said Peonies have magic,
And I believe it so.

There stands his learned dictum
Which any boy may read,
But he who learns the secret
Will be made wise indeed.

Astrologer and doctor
In the science of his day,
Have we so far outstripped him?
What more is there to say?
His medieval Latin
Records the truth for us,
Which I translate--virtutem
Habet occultam--thus:

She hath a deep-hid virtue
No other flower hath.
When summer comes rejoicing
A-down my garden path,
In opulence of color,
In robe of satin sheen,
She casts o'er all the hours
Her sorcery serene.

A subtile, heartening fragrance
Comes piercing the warm hush,
And from the greening woodland
I hear the first wild thrush.
They move my heart to pity
For all the vanished years,
With ecstasy of longing
And tenderness of tears.

By many names we call her,--
Pale exquisite Aurore,
Luxuriant Gismonda
Or sunny Couronne d'Or.
What matter,--Grandiflora,
A queen in some proud book,
Or sweet familiar Piny
With her old-fashioned look?

The crowding Apple blossoms
Above the orchard wall;
The Moonflower in August
When eerie nights befall;
Chrysanthemum in autumn,
Whose pageantries appear
With mystery and silence
To deck the dying year;

And many a mystic flower
Of the wildwood I have known,
But Pionia Arnoldi
Hath a transport all her own.
For Peony, my Peony,
Hath strength to make me whole,--
She gives her heart of beauty
For the healing of my soul.

Arnoldus Villanova,
Though earth is growing old,
As long as life has longing
Your guess at truth will hold.
Still works the hidden power
After a thousand springs,--
The medicine for heartache
That lurks in lovely things.

Poem is in the public domain..

Euphorbia!

Euphorbia, that's the name of this incredible annual. I planted mine about 15 years ago and every year it's one of the first flowers to come alive. It just looks like a green perennial to start with and then suddenly the ends change to a lovely yellow and it looks like it's covered in yellow flowers. There's tons of varieties but this is my fave!

My Gorgeous Magnolia

We have a lovely magnolia tree in your front yard. Many people on our street comment on how they know spring is well on it's way when our magnolia blooms. Usually the blossoms last about a week but occassionally, when there's no strong winds, it can last for three weeks, as it did a couple of years ago.

This year I decided I would go out everyday and photograph the magnolia so we could see the progression over a week or so. Of course, yesterday, when I took my first pic, it was a glorious blue sky. Today it's pouring cats and dogs!

So here's my first photo in the series.




With magnolia's in mind, I'd like to post two lovely magnolia- inspired items I found on Etsy.

First, are these really cute Little Magnolia Baby Booties by Frostingcouture. Made with lovely wool felt or denim these booties have an elastic strap, cute contrasting felt insole(insole fabric may change depending on whats in stock), and slip-guard sole.

The second item is Pink Magnolia Handmade Coconut Milk Soap by SoapStore.