MAY FLOWERS

Although the weather has not been the greatest, and Spring has been late in coming, it’s been worth waiting for. I have never had more beautiful flowers. I really don’t think I need to say anything, just enjoy.

Echinacea

Purple Cone Flowers excite me almost as much as Poppies. Maybe I’m just a flower nut. The latest issue of the Missouri Conservationist has an article stating that there are five species of cone flowers. Which are these?? There is no answer at the bottom ’cause I don’t know! This  big cluster is over by the State Park.

 

 

 

It May Not Be Beautiful, But….

I think it’s going to work. This is the old strawberry bed; slightly raised in old railroad ties. A PVC frame already existed for anti-bird netting when there were strawberries but there are only two plants. Now it’s for an early bed of greens – spinach, chard, Oriental mustards, etc. I may have to nail the north and west sides, windward, down. Tomorrow will tell. It’s very windy today.

Here’s a beautiful harbinger of Spring. New growth on the Tree Peony.

And the first Dandelion

First Flower

I know I photographed some daffodils a few weeks ago that were blooming about 70 miles south of here, but yesterday, I discovered that my annual first bloomers are up and blooming. Unbelievable to be blooming this early. They’ve always bloomed in March. This is an Iris reticulata. It’s only about five inches tall and the blossom only lasts one or two days. Gotta be on your toes to catch it!

Merry Christmas 2011

May your Holidays be merry and bright.

Scrap Quilt With Flowers

Yikes! I’ve been away, but busy.

Another scrap quilt is started, this time with a friend. We’re using photo images of flowers, butterflies, or whatever as the focus of each block and building around each image, log cabin style, strips of scrap fabrics. There will probably be a total of 30 blocks with a border around them for some fancy quilting. Here are my first four blocks:

Am working on getting the color of the flowers a little stronger. Printing on fabric is not always totally successful.

New Chair/Old Chair

The slipcover is done. Note, I changed my mind for the stripe fabric. I saw this one on sale and loved the colors. The lighter one might have been better, but considering how fast the fabric deteriorates on furniture around here it won’t be on there for more than a couple of years. The chair sits by an east slider/window so it get all the morning sun and the dog and three cats love sitting on new fabric. If I could find a market for cat fur, I’d be a millionair!

Do you see the front door in the upper left side? I etched the glass pattern. One of my better accomplishments. And do you see a corner of the couch on the extreme left side? That’s also a slip cover I made fairly recently. Now, I should make a new dress for myself. Probably red.

Adventures on the Buffalo

We’ve been on another trip to the Buffalo River, this time taking our little camping trailer, “Scamp.” Although the weather was in the high 80’s and VERY humid we had good hikes and a great float on the river. There were still plenty of wild flowers.

If I may brag for a minute, Mandy was the best little camper. She even sat on my kayak for three and half hours while we floated. Well, after all, she is a Cockapoo. Aren’t Cocker Spaniels and Poodles water dogs?

Buffalo River

This week we joined friends to kayak on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. If you’ve never been there, it’s well worth the trip. We’re lucky enough to live in the general area and can visit fairly frequently. Although the weather was mostly chilly and damp we managed to do a little kayaking and some hiking. The wild flowers were beautiful.

National Buffalo River

Triple Falls

Shooting Star

Jack in the Pulpit

First Signs of Spring

Besides the robins returning, this little Reticulata Iris is always the first to bloom.