Cats

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Status symbol

Last week Tara Dillard in her wonderful blog posted this photo and declared it a status symbol!!

All the time I wanted mine  a bit more polished, more details more manicured, more expensive…

Sometime it is benificial to look through the eyes of someone  you trust and admire to realize what you already have

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A GARDEN VISIT

Yesterday I visited with Margaret Moseley. As usual I came home with a list of ‘must have’ plants.

                                                                                            

Margaret  has been an inspiration for many gardeners. Every season her garden is filled beauty wherever one looks.

                                                                                   

Above, a welcoming entrance… the large tree to the right is a Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), straight ahead is a Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume).

Margaret laid those stones when she was in her 70’s!

  Below, a seating area beneath a flowering cherry tree  (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) surrounded by azaleas, camellias and underplanted with a variety of textured  & fragrant groundcovers…                                                                         

                                                                                      

Well thought out focal points….

                                                                                   

Her philosophy…

                                                                                 

Camellias in bloom…. my new plant list…

                                                                                  

                                                                                                             

                                                                                           

                                                                              

Some of these Camellias  are heirlooms, rare in the trade. While they may be a challenge to locate,  don’t give up, they are out there.

                                                                                               

                                                               

One of my personal favorites is Camellia japonica ‘Ava Maria’ (above). When I first saw it in Margret’s garden the hunt to acquire one was on! Her very generous daughter Jane located it for me. It is a  gift I treasure, as is Margaret’s friendship.

Note: plant names are visible if cursor is on photo. To read more on Margaret & her garden visit GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY. She is often featured.

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TAKING IT EASY

It has been  raining, or just plain cold and not pleasant  to be working outside right now, so I’m just taking it easy.

                                                          

That means cuddling with the kitties in front of a fire….

                                                                                   

 Meet Dahlia, above, she is shy and this is her first appearance on the blog.

                                                              

Her pillow, a gift from Margaret Moseley, who, like me, has too much garden and too many cats! (Can one ever have enough of either?)

                                                       

 Catching up on reading & researching camellias.

                                                                                       

There is always room for one more.

Just have some baking to do…. don’t hate me… this is the first time ever I’m ALMOST prepared!!

 

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KITTEN UPDATE

Thanks to all for your concern over the new kitten. I am so please to report she is on the mend, taking her antibiotics out of my hand (wrapped in chicken pate of course) and exploring her new home.

                                                                                     

Her name is  Elizabeth… Liz, after the late, great, Elizabeth Taylor.

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GARDENING TRUMPS BLOG!

Goodness , I have no idea where the time goes. It is already Friday Saturday! This week there was so much to do in the garden. The pruning of ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas & Hydrangea paniculata, along with some Clematis… Still not done with all the ‘Annabelles.’ Every year I have the same lament. When I am pruning I have too many….when they bloom there are not enough!!

                                                                                           

Much weeding in the potager where I am growing salad ….delicious! A few stragglers from last years tulips popping up between the lettuce… and much weeding ….

                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                          

 Spring is going forward at breakneck speed, it seems. Viburnum burkwoodii in bloom. If I could share the fragrance, you would know why it is so cherished among gardeners.

                                                                                           

It does get  large, with a beautiful vase shape. There are several Clematis planted at its feet. Reminders of a lovely day, shared with dear friends, in a beautiful garden.

                                                                                          

The new kitty is at the vets with serious upper respiratory infection…….

© All photos 2011

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ALMOST ROADKILL!

Look who I rescued today.

                                                                                             

There she was…. sauntering across the highway.

                                                                                          

Unaware of the danger, she was almost roadkill!!

 She will live in the ( just being built ) Bothy.

We are converting the old chicken coop………

                                                                                                       

still under construction, but I love it already!

                                                                                               

Shelves need to be added along with a comfortable armchair… tattered of course, and tea making facilities.  To be continued.