gardener's art festival

We attended an art festival at our local nursery and WOW, were there some amazing artists!  Unique birdhouses, hand painted watering cans, and old windows converted into paintings for the garden!  I was so overwhelmed with all of the beauty that I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked! 

I must say that I was bummed to miss seeing garden designer Amanda Thomsen present and discuss her new book....
Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide 
to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You

 

But honestly, I couldn't make a 3 year old sit for the discussion!  One day I hope to have time to go to workshops and presentations such as these but for now we will simply enjoy our cupcakes!

 {Stay tuned for the giveaway}

orange

We wrapped up construction from the flood and have begun getting everything in from the garage.  With chaos comes the opportunity for change and with change a freshness emerges.  As I've been attempting to organize (you know the old saying...trying to clean with kids is like trying to shovel when it's still snowing!) I started to notice a little theme throughout our home. 

Orange!

 As I age, I'm really understanding what I'm drawn to in life and design.  Orange is turning out to be one of those accent colors that makes me happy!  

What colors do you use in your space?  I hope the week is off to a wonderful beginning for everyone!  Check back later this week for a fun giveaway!!!

tea party in the garden

I whipped up some lemon brownies for a party and they were YUMmmmmmmy! 

  Working in the kitchen brings me great joy, though, this is what it looks like 99 percent of the time...

Kids playing on the floor if they're not helping me or eating the batter like this guy!

And some how toys always end up in the mix! 

If you have a weakness for lemon desserts you must give this recipe from Bakergirl a go! 

Linking up with Sarah at...

So with dessert wrapped up it's time to take a walk around the garden!

Yarrow is a blooming with pink Salvia

Knautia macedonica "Mars Midget" or pincushion plant and Platycodon grandiflorus "Fairy Snow" or Dwarf Ballon Flower

Thanks to my night gardening hobby I was able to create my island bed up front for my redbud, and in time, more plants!  

Here is some inspiration from the current issue of Garden Making of where I would like to take this area.  The grasses paired with evergreen shrubs in the foreground make for a lovely design in June McCutcheon's garden. 

And just some plain old pretty color!  Simple combinations like Coreopsis and Salvia make for a stunning show at the Morton Arboretum.

A big thanks to Sher from Momcaster 

for featuring my palette path in her garden craft round-up!

butterfly wings

Through the garden we fly

The blooms come and go as do the moments of joy

The sparkling rays of light dance on their happy faces

Wishes are made 

That one day they'll fly into those rays and spread their joyous beauty over the Earth....

on the wings of a butterfly