Bud and Soft Petals

Wearing her many faces from bud to soft petals..
that's my ~Kathy Wade~ hybrid tea rose!

~Babie and Paisley~
the girls and I are doing much better
~~
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other but..
in looking together in the same direction"
*antoine de Saint Exupery

Bumblebee

Buzzing...
she danced around in circles and paused
in this sweet place of beauty
*hosta blossom

I hold my breath as I get an intimate look..
a special spiritual communion that
awes and inspires me!
*a must to ENLARGE photo

I was truly overwhelmed with your response to my
last post!
You came from everywhere and opened up your hearts
with words of comfort..
for that I am deeply grateful.
~
"A friend is someone who dances with you in the sunlight and
walks beside you in the shadows."
*author unknown
quote from my Australian Woman's Diary

Goodbye Freddi

The harsh reality of losing our beloved Freddi has caused me great pain and sorrow

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge
When an animal dies that has been especially close to
someone here that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends
so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food water and
sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.
~
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and
vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and
strong again..just as we remember them in our dreams of
days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content..
except for one small thing..
they each miss someone very special to them
who had to be left behind.
~
They all run and play together but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes
are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to
run from the group flying over the green grass..his legs
carrying him faster and faster.
~
You have been spotted and when you and your special friend
finally meet you cling together in joyous reunion..
never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your
face..your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet..so long gone from
your life but never absent from your heart."
*author unknown
~
*a rainbow was in the sky the night before Freddi passed away

I had planned on posting this photo while Freddi was
with me..
~The trusting eyes of my sweet feline family~
*Paisley. Babie. ~Freddi~ and Babie again
Our eyes are now filled with tears

Freddi will be planted in the memory garden
with Casper and Halo and covered with forget-me-nots.
~Peace be to you sweet Freddi~

Vintage Pretty

In yesterdays post I expressed my feelings on how
I have been impacted getting to know ~you~
within our blogging community.
Today I post examples of ~your sharing and caring spirits!~

Carol a dear cyber friend from ~Boxwood Cottage~
who resides in Germany sent me two magazines
filled with exquisite images of home and garden!
Her garden is a haven of beauty and tranquillity and worthy of being
featured in a magazine!
~Danke schoen liebste Carola! ~
*she is also teaching me a bit of German

Heather of ~Present Past Collections~ a designer and stylist
hosted a giveaway and I won!
Her style of packaging is an art unto itself..
wrapped in an elegant pink ribbon... a vintage linen towel and
the vintage card on *left!
~
Tara of ~Paris Parfait~ a journalist and author in Paris
sent a handwritten vintage postcard a welcome change from
to-days hurry-up world of cyberspace correspondence!
*Tara's card is on the *right of photo above
~Thank you ladies Merci!~

Ally of ~Simply Nice~ a talented artist who believes
"life is about bubbles and giggles"
paints butterflies on children's faces !
She hosted a giveaway of baby bonnets...
and I won!
She gives new life to vintage hankies I'm sure you will agree!
She also enclosed the journal shown above with the pages filled
with images of ~potting shed angels!~
Ally you are an inspiration..I thank you!
~
*the baby bonnet is being mailed to my closest friend
~Gardengirl~
for her recently newborn granddaughter...

The above ~Love~ poem
was also enclosed with the baby bonnet...
it will be mailed with the bonnet and after reading it
you will know why
~
*certainly a MUST to ENLARGE the above photo as all images to see the equisite details!
~
So in closing you can see that there are Angels among us who
come from everywhere who open up their hearts with
their caring and sharing spirits!
If you have not had the pleasure of visiting
their inspiring and delightful blogs..
treat yourself and tell them I sent you!

Lady in the Garden

I am a lady in the garden
whose feelings about nature resonates in the images
I share with you

Jennie @ ~Blog in a Cyber Bottle~ nominated me for
a Blogger Reflections Award
~Thank you so much!~

In accepting this award I am to name 5 Bloggers who
have been an encouragement and a source of love...
When you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and Joy..
Knowing them and being blessed by them.
~~~
I cannot possibly choose only 5 of you!
When you come by and comment here I am instantly connected..
through your blogs you allow me to embrace your
passions your dreams and your sharing and caring spirits!
Your individual blogs are filled with
beauty creativity inspiration and meaning!
I feel that we have impacted one another with our style of
writing and with the images we choose to share!

I ~reflect~ on your words in comments left here and when
I visit your individual blogs
For this reason I give this award to...
~ YOU~

Finding Beauty

"dreams come in a size too big so we grow into them"

"there's so much beauty in this world..
just look around and find it!"

"for many times our dreams come true..
so never ever doubt it."
*quotes are from my personal journal sorry the authors
I do not know
~~~
I am in awe of finding beauty in the intricate details
of nature...
a leaf an insect or the centre of a flower!
*ENLARGE these photos to see natures details!

Natures Painting

"nature is painting for us day after day..

..pictures of infinite beauty!"
James R. Lowell

above is lavender and a *Cabbage White butterfly..
in 1st photo: Annabelle hydrangea and Echinacea
*ENLARGE ABOVE PHOTO TO SEE BLUE EYES!

What Lies Ahead

Peek into my private oasis for a glimpse of what lies ahead

~my memory garden~
A quiet peaceful place to sit and reflect on loved ones who have passed on..
planted beneath the cherry tree under the forget-me-nots are
several beloved pets and a few of Natures fallen angels
I had a vision of creating a ~fairy cottage~
this is the only location suitable so..

a new addition to my garden a potting shed I call
~the flower fairy cottage~ we had to move shrubs and trees along the back fence and trim back a few branches from both cherry and maple tree..
I wanted to make this cottage uniquely my own with
character!
Ignoring the traditional looking shed I decided to play..

with lots of bright paint I am turning my potting shed into a cosy ~flower fairy cottage~
taking my cue from my secret garden filled with fairies!

relying on my imagination I shall embellish this
~flower fairy cottage~ by adding details both outside and inside that delight me! for now my visiting grandchildren are using it as their playhouse filling it with giggles laughter secrets and memories perfect and fitting this special place should be located in my ~memory garden~
*WHEN ALL EMBELLISHMENT IS COMPLETED ON THE COTTAGE I SHALL SHOW YOU MORE!
ENLARGE PHOTOS
~~~

Beyond the Garden Gate

Walk through the formal entry to my garden and I'll show you
a few plants that surround my home.
In the last few posts you have seen plants and
color that reflect my sense of style.
I'll take you through the different areas of my garden in the
next few posts but today...
~glance beyond the garden gate~

Pink ~cosmos and portulaca~
layer the ground to the left of the arbor in 1st photo

Walk through the gate fragrance greets you...
~roses lilies and lavender~ used as edging
gives this entry the sweetest scent!
on fence ~White Dawn climbing rose~ and on the left
along the house pink~ Fairy Patio bush roses~
Almost fully crowning the arbor ~Clematis Henry~
*click here to see
~pink impatiens~ used as ground cover on right shaded side
*I have to admit I cannot remember planting the yellow Asiatic lily seen above
* featured in last post! Perhaps the faeries or birds did..
planted are Casablanca and Stargazer that have yet to bloom!
*ENLARGE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER LOOK.. TAKEN FROM A SECOND FLOOR WINDOW

~Tea Roses~
the fabric that brings color comfort and luxury
to this garden space!
I have cut back all roses as seen in previous photo
and now the second burst is about to bloom!

~pink double impatiens~
low maintenance and resemble mini roses bloom as long
as the days are warm!
Carefully chosen objects underpin the many moods and feelings
of the different parts of my garden.
This bunny begins the ~bunny trail~ a whimsical walk
through the garden loved by visiting children and of course me!

~comos and portulaca~ at the garden gate
My grandchildren from Arizona are visiting me escaping from
temperatures of 117F!!
We have also been experiencing exceptionally high temperatures..
the month of June was the driest on record in over 15 years!
It has been a challenge keeping the garden watered..we've only had
a slight rainfall last week.
Temperature today expected 35C that would be over 90F!!
With 30SPF lotion we will be hopping up and down the bunny trail
and hiding amongst the secret garden!
*Next post a peek at a NEW addition to the garden!
~~~
In recent posts there have been many NEW visitors commenting and I'd like to
extend a warm welcome to you!
Some have admitted that you have been visiting here
for some time so I thank you for taking the time to place a comment.
You have given me the opportunity to meet you and greet and visit your blogs!
In doing so we inspire and motivate each other!
To my regular visitors. buddies. star sisters. kindred spirits. friends..
I truly appreciate your stopping by and supporting me and inspiring me
with your kind words and wisdom!
Hugging you all naturegirl

Gleeful Yellow

Yellow lights up the garden!

~Asiatic lily Connecticut king~
gives an exotic feel with its vibrant yellow!

Bursts of ephemeral color are provided by
~day lilies ~

~potentilla cinquefoil~
yellow can stand the competition of
the full noon sun light

The golden color of sunshine
lifts my spirit!
~~~
"There's hope amongst the flowers...
a ray of sunshine in every petal"
*author unknown

Love Nature

~chipper~
"study nature love nature stay close to nature..
it will never fail you."
*author unknown