sheppard girls

Outdoor starburst mirror

After my success with the DIY birdbath last year,

I decided to take on another yard decoration. I saw a verison of the instructions on two different blogs, including The Lettered Cottage (on which I could spend a day or two just getting ideas.)

I used: two wreath frames from Michaels and two packages of door shims from Home Depot.

I actually used three packages of shims since I glued the shims on thick-side pointing out the first time, which made the middle of the wreath too large and really messy looking. So I started over with the thin-side pointing out.

Then I painted it the same color as our outdoor trim.

Far from perfect.  But I kind of like it that way. 

Peony stand

The gardener who uses this beautiful peony support

 

would probably be horrified to see mine.

 
The peonies are blooming right on schedule. 

 
I ran outside in the rain the other night to save these pink ones that were in full bloom.  I would have cut more, but I ran into one of the racoons that likes to hang out on our deck each evening.  Soon they will need names.

 
These new little favorite vases (also picked up on the failed deck table trip) from IKEA are perfect too.

Thinking ahead

 

Last year I picked up these cute white pots on a whim (seen here tucked behind the blue box.)  They are about two feet high and look modern in a not too modern way.  They turned out to be really great and apparently really popular, because when I went back to find more they were sold out - everywhere.  Yesterday they were setting out the gardening stuff at Target and there they were.  Two big white ones, two little white ones and a rectangle.  I did not make the same mistake twice.

I have had a similar problem with the super cute turkish inspired towels that I bought for our kitchen from West Elm.  I went back three days later and they were sold out.  On-line they were back-ordered until June.   I am totally blaming Nicole from Making it Lovely, who has amazing taste and picked out the same towels for her basement bathroom.  It takes all my will power not to tell the dad not to wipe his hands on them because even though I know how great they look and how hard they are to find, they are supposed to be hand towels.

Birdbaths

We were on a garden tour Sunday.  The hawks prohibited us from accomplishing nearly as much as we had hoped.  In early May before they arrived, I was spending 2-3 hours each morning in the yard and remember thinking, 'no problem, if I can keep this up, our yard will be amazing'.  Ah, sweet innocent me.  Now I can't get the paper without being clawed.

About couple of weeks ago the girls and I went looking for a birdbath.  They kept pointing out fountains.  Our yard is not fancy and there is no electricity at the back of the yard.  I wanted a birdbath.  We didn't have much luck at the local garden centers.  My favorite vintage store sold the one I had seen earlier in the summer.  Lucky for me everyone else seems to be thinking about them too.  Apartment Therapy did a roundup of fountains, and Design Sponge featured these handmade birdbaths.  So after a quick trip to Ikea and Home Depot, and the big one holding the golf umbrella over my head while installed it, we have one of our own. 

Strawberries

Last year, this was our crop, but our neglectful tolerance of the strawberries has finally paid off.

The spring garden

 

Our garden is going to be on a local garden tour this summer.  There are large chunks of our garden that need a lot of work.  And several which are completely empty - except for the weeds, roots and very hard clay soil.  I thought about leaving the whole stretch of side yard empty, so people could understand how very far we have come, with a big sign that says "Do you see people?  This is what we started with."   Instead, if you happen to live near us and have some hosta you would like to divide and share, let me know!   P.S. this picture is not the ugly part and is from May last year.  Do you see what the bunnies did to my columbine?!

Signs of summer

First garden strawberries.  After two years of struggling with birds, bunnies and deer, we were so proud that our patched together security system of fencing and bird wire had kept out everyone until we had at least 30 strawberries nearly ready to pick.  Then something smarter than us managed to get in and eat them all.

Limited edition bouquets

 

Peony season is very short around here,

 

and all it takes is one rainstorm to knock all the flowers into a soggy mess, so each time it might rain, I hurry out to cut a few more. 

 

This has been going on for at least two weeks and I am starting to feel like a grandma,

 

when you go over to her house and think "enough with the gladiolas".

Rhubarb

 

Why the picture of the printer in a post titled rhubarb?  The dad got me a new printer/scanner/copier for my birthday, promted, I am sure, after a frustrating, teary hour (mine not his) trying to print the text for these shower invitations for my neighbor's cousin.

    

Based on ones I saw on Anna Maria Horner's blog a few months ago.  So I have a new printer, but I haven't figured out the photo software, so I can't show you pictures of the rhubarb crisp the little one and I made.  The best Rhubarb Crisp Recipe EVER, titled Sarah's Rhubarb Crisp in my recipe book, which may have come from a college friend and roommate who recently discovered my blog.  Sarah, is this yours?  And the Rhubarb Chutney from a really old Bon Appetit.

Rhubarb Chutney

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 4 cups 1/2-inch cubes fresh rhubarb (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1/2 cup (generous) chopped red onion
• 1/3 cup dried tart cherries or golden raisins (about 2 ounces)

Heat first eight ingredients in a dutch oven until sugar dissolves.  Add onions, rhubarb and cherries and simmer 5 minutes.  Let cool.

I love rhubarb and it is precious around here.  We planted rhubarb last year and it has grown huge, but gardening lore tells me that we can't harvest it until next year.  Our CSA box started last week too, but so far only, lettuce, herbs, and six stalks of asparagus.  Six.

Making do

There isn't much blooming around here yet, but since I've spent my entire May and June "home" budget on gardening, I am trying not to buy my usual flowers for the house.  Here we have epimedium, thalactrum, bridal veil, nearly not-blooming bleeding hearts and chive blossoms