Happy Thursday sweet friends. By the middle of February I find myself thinking of springtime and gardening. I try not to rush the seasons and actually find pleasure in all of them. Last week I received my first box of seeds…zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, and pumpkin. I must admit it made me want to hurry up spring. It has been exciting to see the daffodils that were planted in November break through the soil in our cottage garden.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105
I keep an unorganized garden journal from year to year, but one way of photo journaling is through the blog. Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I take a look through my garden notebook.
To view the original post, click on the highlighted link.
“The lesson that I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.”
~Gertrude Jekyll
One of our earliest blooming shrubs are snowball viburnums. I can’t remember when we purchased them, but they have put on a beautiful show for many years. They are not a part of the garden, but stand next to our driveway. As they start to bloom, their blossom clusters begin green in hue and turn snowy white as they mature.
The bronze statue is the central feature in our garden. In its former life it was a fountain in our front yard landscape. Candytuft is a beautiful blooming perennial that surrounds the statue in early spring!
This photo was taken from the garden looking toward the snowball viburnums. Our flag in the foreground made for the perfect photo opportunity!
The “stairway to heaven” iris bloomed for the first time last spring. A sweet blogging friend, Sandra from Maison De Jardin sent it to me a few years ago. I had never given up hope of eventually seeing these magnificent blooms!
Planted in 2019, Festiva Maxima peony, bloomed for the first time last year. The blooms have a lovely fragrance!
The first flush of apricot drift roses in the background provide a heavenly scent in the garden!
Also planted in 2019 were two Karl Rosenfield peonies in the raised bed by our driveway. Their blooms are a dramatic fuchsia-red!
The Sarah Bernhardt peony was happy in the large barrel and produced large showy blooms for the first time last spring!
A Late Spring Garden & Something New
I was excited to add a kinetic garden spinner. The girls are fascinated by it!
“Bold Awakening” is the first daylily to bloom each year!
This is my favorite spot for tablescaping in spring, summer, and fall with “vanilla strawberry “ hydrangeas in the foreground and the Sunshine Cottage in the background!
I have given up on dahlias, but this one still produced blooms last year. “Dahlia Avignon” with its burgundy-red stripes and speckles is a definite beauty!
The Cardinal Red hydrangea was new to the garden in 2021. A Macrophylla that produces large blooms in a rich shade of red or mauve depending on the soil type. This bloom had dried to a lovely shade of mauve!
Immature “vanilla strawberry” blooms in the foreground and “little lambs” blooming profusely in the background!
RM and I both love sunflowers and have planted them yearly since 2015. Some years produce a better crop than others! The “Firecracker” displays beautiful bi-colored blooms of gold and reddish orange. It is a lower growing sunflower reaching three to four feet in height. Our pollinator friends love sunflowers!
“Who knows what may lie around the next corner? There may be a window somewhere ahead. It may look out on a field of sunflowers.”
~Joe Hill
Zinnias: From Seeds To Flowers
Zinnias are a mainstay of the summer garden. We plant them within the garden and also in the raised bed next to the driveway.
Zinnias love full sun and can withstand our Alabama heat. They are an annual plant best grown from seed that we plant directly into the ground.
Blushing Hydrangeas + August Garden
Vanilla-strawberry hydrangeas begin blushing in mid August. With our hot climate they never take on a true strawberry color!
We had a wet spring and summer last year…it was impossible to keep up the weeding. My creative RM placed an old broken pot at the base of the large hydrangea. It adds a bit of whimsy!
Limelights are in the foreground with a vanilla strawberry as the background while a Sioux crape myrtle stands tall with its beautiful blooms!
“Autumn Fire” sedum was beautiful!
A drone shot of our garden space was taken by RM (another hobby of his). On the left is Sunshine Cottage. The cottage garden has progressed a little since last year, but there is still work to be completed. Hopefully daffodils will be showing out soon!
Pumpkin Carving + Chasing Monarchs
The monarchs were late visitors last year! I had almost given up hope. RM had cut down the zinnias and all that remained in the raised bed was lantana. This is a male, distinguished by the highly noticeable black spots on its hind wings. Their veining is thinner than the female monarch!
I hope you have enjoyed the garden therapy while winter is still in session! Thank you for your visits and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Thank you for the flower therapy and garden stroll this morning Pam! We were doing some garden clean up and small repairs and painting around the Potting Shed earlier this week. It’s warm and muggy this morning here, with temps reaching 70 by the afternoon. Things will be budding and blooming before we know it. ♥
Thank you, Mary. It was 70 here today with heavy rain and wind. No tornadoes here, but there were some in AL. Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Pam, I’m glad you didn’t need your “helmet”!☺️❤️
Thankfully, lots of rain and wind. The helmets weren’t needed and stored for the next time ♥️
Absolutely gorgeous! Today we are anticipating 6+ inches of snow over a layer of ice so seeing this is like seeing a promise!
Thank you, Jeanie. Stay safe and warm!
Your garden is so beautiful. When I lived in NC I always had seed catalogs to look at during February looking forward to spring. Now I feel very lucky to live in Florida when there is something blooming all year round!
Thank you, Penny. I can’t imagine living where there are flowers always in bloom!
Oh, Pam. Words can’t describe how beautiful your garden is. You and your RM have created a little slice of heaven on earth. The drone shot just took my breath away as I encompassed the grandeur of your cottage garden and its proximity to your beautiful Sunshine Cottage. I loved the little touch of whimsy with the broken pot placement too. That iris ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is really sweet.
We had a beautiful Spring-like day yesterday with temps flirting with 50 degrees. Today we won’t even break 20 degrees. We’ve not had much snow cover this winter, so I’m a little concerned about how little insulation and protection my perennials and bulbs have had…but I’m sure looking forward to seeing whatever survives do its thing.
Your garden journal post reminded me that I wanted to be sure to plant more zinnias and sunflowers this year, and that I’d like to figure out where I can add a few snowball viburnum bushes and ‘Little Lambs’ hydrangeas.
As always, I enjoyed this little virtual stroll through your lovely garden. Have a blessed day!
Cindie, I am so glad you could take a virtual stroll with me this morning. Our weather was stormy today with lots of wind. Tomorrow will be colder. Zinnias and sunflowers just say summer. Do plant more if you can.
Stay safe and warm!
Dear friend, this garden therapy was just what I needed this morning. You know I adore flowers. I remember the one you shared with the snowball bush and Old Glory. It is one of my favorites. Thank you so much for brightening my day with these gorgeous snapshots of your stunning gardens. Enjoy your day, sweet friend!
Shannon, thank you and I am so glad you enjoyed. Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friend!
What glorious photos on a dark and foggy morning here! I got an order from Johnny’s Seeds last week, so I’m starting to think ahead. I really do enjoy the winter though…no garden chores, lots of birds at the feeders, snuggly fires. I am excited for our Afghan families to see Spring burst forth here in Clemson!
How wonderful that the Afghan families will see and enjoy South Carolina Spring in all its finery.
Won’t that be amazing for them?!
My order was from Johnny’s Seeds. I had great success last year with their seeds, hoping for the same
this year. How exciting that your Afghan families can see SC springtime’
Good morning Pam. Oh we are in line for lots of snow and freezing rain so to see your post this morning made my heart smile. Bring on Spring I am ready. Have a great day.
Thank you, Kris. Stay warm and safe!
With a new covering of snow this post set my heart to singing. Our Spring and Summer are very short so when Spring finally arrives, we have to wait until May 15th to plant, I’m out the door to bask in all of Springs glory. Until then I’ll live through your posts. I also have the stairway to heaven iris but never knew it’s name. Also we have my mil’s Sarah Bernhardt peonies that are at least 100 years old. Love all flowering things especially if they have that heavenly scent.
Alice, how wonderful that you have your MIL’s Sarah Bernhardt peonies. That is amazing they are 100 years old. I was reading today that had long life spans. Stay warm!
Pam, what a treat to scroll through your garden notebook! The recent ice storm left our garden a big mess, so clean up is ongoing. I hope to mulch next week, get some spring wildflower seeds planted, etc. My bluebonnet plants are already coming up! Happy Thursday!
Thank you, Sarah. As gardeners we face obstacles such as ice, wind, and tornadoes. Hopefully, cleanup will be completed and seeds planted in plenty of time.
The irises, zinnias, and sunflowers speak to me for special reasons! You always add beauty to my day, Pam. Sending love, hugs, and prayers for continued good health and blessings. I’m so thankful for you!
Karla, I am so thankful for you, dear one. Irises and zinnias remind me of my grandmother’s garden when I was a child. She could grow anything.
Blessings,
Pam
That is so kind, Pam. I’m so thankful for you too. I have similar memories and a huge sunflower field not far from where I grew up. I’d grow sunflowers with the school kids. Blessings to you and Butch. 💛💛🙏🏻
That was soooo much fun! I enjoyed reminiscing right along with you. You always bring joy to my heart and a smile to my face. Your Garden Journal is quite stunning. My favorite photo is your table in front of Sunshine Cottage. That is where you make your magic happen.
Happy Thursday and thank you for my Thursday morning Stroll!
Thank you, Nancy. I look forward to setting garden tables. Have a wonderful and adventurous weekend!
So beautiful, it must bring you great peace.
It is a lot of work, but it is worth it when I start seeing blooms!
I so enjoyed looking through your garden notebook Pam! I know your fingers are itching to start planting seeds and have fresh Spring blooms abounding in your garden! It is always so beautiful, no matter what the season! I love love love the drone shot, wonderful! Fingers crossed the weather won’t be too severe…
Jenna
Jenna, I am anxious to see the garden come to life. Thank you!
pam, i do love old statues in a garden setting. combined with the vividness of the flowers around them, they certainly give cause for pause.
and i’m intrigued by your garden notebook. fabulous!
Thank you, Linda. Enjoy your weekend!
Loved seeing your Garden notebook. Can’t wait for my first blooms to emerge. I loved seeing all the blooms. I am going to plant zinnia and sunflower seed again also. I love going through my photos and knowing that around March 1st my hellebores will bloom. The drone shot is wonderful!
Thank you, Dianne. Sunflowers and zinnias say summer!
How beautiful! Thank you for the timing info on the different hydrangeas. Do you know what type of candytuft is in your garden? It does not look like mine at all! I’m inspired by your garden plan!
I love your garden tour and it brought forth green with garden envy as well as inspiration…. although our very hot Florida weather does not lend itself to much except tropical plants, which are also pretty…. if not as showy as your beautiful blooms. I planted early lilac plants in planters and fingers crossed they might just bloom. Again, they are not conducive to zone 9. Neither are my favorite peonys. 🙁 But I will live vicariously through your beautiful gardens. The drone pic is amazing. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing dear friend.
Thank you, Kari. Every zone has something unique to enjoy. I always enjoy seeing tropical plants.
Love your journal recap, Pam. I am so excited for irises, peonies and drift roses this year, I can’t wait. I have one lilac also, and I think it’s a rebloomer, I shall see. The rest may either be surprise leftovers and/or tossing out some annual seeds while I try to plan perennials for long-term effect. I know you’ll have fun seeing the fruits of last fall’s planting labors when those daffodils are full-blown in bloom, and you continue plans for the Sunshine cottage. Have a great weekend.
Thank you, Rita. I can’t wait to see what you discover in your garden. I am glad you can enjoy gardening again even on a smaller scale that is more manageable.
Glory, glory, what a sight, especially the drone capture….so neat and balanced. We will be replacing some oakleaf hydrangia with the vanilla strawberry this year. Blossoms from the Iris Society will blanket the front of the house…. wish they lasted longer. Adding more quince and peonies… still not able to locate and replace the Audrey Hepburn rose. Your gardens are – it bears repeating – Paradiso.
Thank you, dear one. I need a photo of the irises in bloom. You will love the vanilla strawberry hydrangeas…
Such a lovely delightful cuppa together in your garden today Pam ❤️
Blessings sweet friend,
Jennifer
Thank you my friend ♥️
Pam, your gardens are magical. Love all of the blooms. It is a great way to start my day viewing your beautiful gardens.
Thanks so much, Linda. As you know, there is much work to do, but rewards when we see results.
There is so much beauty in this post! I can only imagine how wonderful it is to live in your home and see these amazing views on a daily basis in the spring and summertime! It was so nice to see the aerial view of your grounds and garden, too. It was such a blessing to visit with you tonight! God bless you all.
Cheryl, I am so glad you enjoyed. Happy Sunday to you and your family!
What a breath of fresh air viewing your garden notebook. I can’t wait for spring and summer flowers.
Your blooms are so huge. I wish you would elaborate on fertilizing and pruning tips. Your magnificent sun really helps I know.
I studied peonies for a garden club program recently so the Festiva Maxima was familiar. P. Allen Smith recommended it for the south.I bet they will do well this year since it seems like we had colder weather for a longer period this year.
I look forward to seeing your daffodils.
The Festiva Maxima has the most delicious scent. My head gardener needs to share about pruning and fertilizing, I will ask him to do that. Have a wonderful week, Bonnie!
I adore peonies! Yours is absolutely gorgeous. When I’m buying faux flowers I almost always end up with them lol. My husband has tried to buy me peonies when he buys me flowers but can’t ever find them where we live on the Gulf Coast. Your garden notebook is beautiful. It definitely matches the temperatures we’re having here! Hope to have you come& share on Crafty Creators & Happiness is Homemade at LifeasaLEOWife.com!
XOXO,
Niki ~ Life as a LEO (law enforcement officer) Wife
Thanks so much, Niki! Peonies are hard to buy, I rarely see them at Trader Joe’s. They like a cold winter.