Tuesday, May 5, 2015

MAY

This is the time of year when the inside of the house becomes neglected.  When you live in a region that gives you less than 6 "good" months in the garden you can't mess around.  My hands and shoulders are sore and my garden boots are muddy.  After the beans go down for the night I retreat to the work room to get to work on several garden designs I have been working on for some folks.


I've been delivering plans in metal buckets for my clients with a bag of organic Bio-Tone Starter for their new plants.



Lungwort and Dwarf Solomon's Seal





Creeping Jenny along my newly lined beds. Things popping in this bed include Lady's Mantle, Catmint, False Indigo, Anise Hyssop, Dark Towers Penstemon, Autumn Joy, Joe-Pye Weed and I sowed some Poppies in this area for a splash of red.   


I recently bought three wired lanterns to hang above the deck...they add a bit of whimsy for those summer nights to come.




Blooms that I cut from my new David Austin Rose bush.  After I planted my rose I noticed that it was floppy perhaps from shock so I cut it back in hopes that it would lighten the load as it settled in. 




And some more blooms from my bleeding heart.
other blooms around the garden include.....

Foam Flowers
Geums
Lungwort
Hellebores
Anemone Sylvestris 




May is also the wind down of school.  We are really looking forward to some slower days ahead like this one we had a few days ago when we released our painted lady butterflies that the beans raised.


With the wind down I also hope to get kicking with my posts to show you all some projects that I've been plugging away at!  Until then......Happy MAY!!!!



57 comments:

  1. so lovely... i am a student.. wish i had a garden already
    http://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/

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  2. Nicole, your spring garden looks amazing!! Everything looks so green and fresh and your blooms are so pretty. I love your lungwort! And a David Austin Rose, don't they smell and look divine?!? Oh man i wish you could come design my weed patch, I am a totally ad hoc gardener, as you an see by my bales, ha! I love your wired lanterns, that is such a great idea. And your beans with the butterflies,awesome!! You HAVE to tell us more about your garden design business, that is so cool and so interesting!! You are such an amazingly talented girl!!!! Have a great week in the garden! Chris

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  3. Your garden is looking fabulous. I love the David Austen rose - I've just planted 3 which are only just starting to grow; I'll be thrilled if they end up half as lovely as yours. Those lanterns are gorgeous and could double as mini bird baths! I love that the beans raised the butterflies; what a great activity for little people. Have a good week. xx

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  4. May is a busy time here for us too...and the house is looking quite neglected! I intend to give it a quick tidy this evening though :-)
    Bleeding Heart is so beautiful, although I've never seen them over here, perhaps they are a Northern Hemisphere plant?
    Happy gardening!
    Sarah x

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  5. Spring is busy time for gardeners:) Beautiful photos and I love those lanterns!

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  6. I think you will be getting quite a few referrals with your design plans arriving in the metal buckets. That is good business!! Your garden is looking gorgeous and I like your new lantern too. We have painted lady butterflies all over the place here!! I now have a bit of experience with Austin roses. Which one is it? I can tell you some of his roses take a while to grow their legs. I have a couple roses that are blooming on the ground right now :( but I'm going to just let them be.

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  7. It is soo true!we also dont miss the chance to sit in the garden when the weather is good since also here the good months are not enough!have a nice shinny day!kisses

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  8. The garden is looking lovely. The Solomon's Seal is one of my fav plants and I've only just learned that it is a wild plant :-) I bought a starter plant a few years ago and enjoy it when it comes up each year. I also love the way you deliver your designs to your clients. That is most delightful way to deliver.

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  9. Your garden looks great - love those bleeding hearts. May is such a great month, although a little hot for May. We had it the week before and now this week it's cool and they predicting rain, oh I do hope so. I am afraid that the water restrictions are going to be very strict.
    Have a terrific weekend.
    Mary

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  10. Beautiful photos of your garden, but the last wins my heart. What precious memories you and The Beans are creating.

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  11. Recently I have stopped designing gardens for other people, I´m getting older (haha), parents to care for which are in their nineties and making trips and gardening with grandchildren in their holidays or in the weekend. I still do the organisation of our monthly garden visits with our gardening club. Then I have Snarf, who needs lots of attention, my garden and not the least my husband.
    But what I want to tell you, you are bursting of great ideas. How thoughtful to deliver your design in a gardenbucket with a bag of organic starter for their plants. I'm sure your business will grow rapidly in this way. Wish you lots of success!
    By the way your Beans raised a beautiful butterfly and look at these little bleeding hearts flowers in his hands......
    Wish you a sunny and pleasant week together!

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  12. Love those lanterns. What is the name of that David Austin rose - his roses all have the most divine scents. Enjoy your time in the garden.

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  13. Gorgeous Nicole, I love seeing your garden and I love the way you deliver plans to your clients in buckets! Your David Austin rose is stunning, I bet it smells divine. You can't waste too much time in the house when the weather is good, plenty of time for that when the weather is less friendly! Have a lovely week with your beans! X

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  14. What a gorgeous rose. And such a lovely way to present your clients with their garden designs, no doubt they are thrilled. It sounds like you've been wonderfully busy, it's good when it's growing season again isn't it. Enjoy! CJ xx

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  15. What a lovely photos, I love the one with the rose so beautiful. I am sure your garden must be a good place to enjoy looking at.

    Lluisa xoxo

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  16. nicole, your garden looks amazing. love roses, too and the david austin roses have a wonderful smell.
    thanks for the beautiful photos!!!
    have a nice time,
    love and hugs,
    regina

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  17. Hi Nicole, May is a magical month, isn't it? It's a time of promise of what's to come!a You've done a wonderful job on your gardens! I can't wait to see all the blooms! Your beans must have had so much fun watching the butterflies form! Great idea. Happy gardening!

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  18. You're so creative in all your ways:) The bucket idea is great! Tis the season for gardening and no better time than to enjoy being out there as much as possible. Happy May to you and your family too:)

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  19. That is a very impressive way to deliver garden plans. I love the bucket! My bleeding heart is blooming too. The rain has stopped, so we are back outside again today.

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  20. Yay for making the most of gardening time. Love the buckets for your clients and the lanterns are lovely! Enjoy the summer days and wind down! xx

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  21. I love that you are designing gardens for people and those metal buckets are such a great idea! i love it when people use their passion and share with others. you're amazing nicole!!

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  22. Your garden is already looking lovely. I am itching to get in mine but just had surgery so have to force myself to sit and contently watch the sprouts grown. Yesterday I did sit on the ground and pull a few weeds(don't tell anyone). Here's to many more gardening days ahead. Cheers

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  23. I can totally relate to the neglected household chores! I had book club last night and about freaked when I realized how dusty the dining room was about an hour before they came! (Who goes in there, anyway?!) I was able to gussied it up ok.

    Your clients are so lucky to have you sharing your gardening expertise!! I know their gardens will be as beautiful as yours!

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  24. so lovely. i love your lanterns! i can imagine all the colours that's blooming in your garder. Happy May, Nicole!

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  25. That rose is GORGEOUS. I can't believe you're doing jobs for other people on top of everything else. Busy bee, for sure!

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  26. Never a dull moment here - the garden is already gorgeous...and your little Beans raising butterflies! You never cease to amaze, girlfriend! Happy May - XOXO

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  27. Your garden is looking fantastic, very fresh! I love your idea for delivering your clients garden plans, it's wonderful! x

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  28. Hi Nicole - looks like wonderful things happening there in your beautiful gardens! I also scrolled down to see more - so many lovely flowers. I love that you do garden plans and deliver them in the sweet bucket! Your lanterns are great and I know you are going to enjoy this summer with your new outdoor eating space! That is a really great idea to let the beans release the butterflies. Have fun playing in the dirt, my friend! Hugs xo K

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  29. I love this time of year, although I am really looking forward to all the plays, recitals, parties, etc., being behind us. It's just a bit too much at once, but I'm sure it will be fun too. I love seeing your plants! The beds look wonderful. I think you have a great eye for color. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your recent projects. Hope you're having a good week.

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  30. Hi Nicole, Your photos are amazing. I love the varieties of plants in your yard and the butterflies were so colorful! I remember how pretty the water droplets are on the Lady's Mantle! Autumn Joy is one of my favorites...I have a blog friend whose daughter is AJ! Your lanterns are very sweet and I know you will enjoy those over the summer. xoxo

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  31. So pretty! I just love all the color. I wish house work felt more like gardening. For some reason, its not as rewarding!

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  32. Sounds like you're keeping really busy these days Nicole! That is such a fun way to deliver your plans to your clients and i bet they must love it :) And how lovely is your garden starting to look. If I were your neighbor, I'd totally be constantly sneaking over to take pics of it :) Happy Wednesday sweet lady!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  33. Gorgeous butterfly you and the beans have raised! Oh my, your bleeding hearts are absolutely beautiful! If only I could grow those! I've missed your blog dearie. I have been absolutely buried in dirt digging out a LOT of grass due to water restrictions because of our drought. :( So glad the school year is almost done...yeeehaaww! ;) xoxoxo Jen

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  34. Your gardens already look so beautiful! I've got a lot of cleaning up to do, and the only thing in bloom is my forsythia. I cut my lilacs way back last fall, so they are smaller (of course) but with some lovely buds. Bunnies ate the tulips this year. Sigh. I wish I had even a bit of the joy and enthusiasm you have for gardening. You do inspire me, though. Thank you for that, friend :) Blessings on you all--

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  35. Your garden is starting to fill out nicely - I love the new shoots of the Soloman's Seal I get troubled by saw fly caterpillars which eat all mine. A lovely idea to deliver your plans in a gardening bucket etc. I am sure your clients appreciate that little kindness. Don't work too hard my friend - take some time for yourself too.

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  36. It's always such a pleasure to visit your blog Nicole! You've been in my thoughts lately as I work on my garden plans and put them in place. I appreciate how you share your plant choices here! And the bucket idea for your clients is great! I just recently began using Biotone Starter Plus in part because of the supposed "wonder ingredient" michorrhizae in it. And I just learned about that from the DA roses site, having just planted my first. I hope I have as much success with mine as you have!

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  37. your gardens are always sooo lovely. Love your bucket with goodies and garden plans for your clients-

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  38. Your garden is lush and lovely, and your David Austen is breathtaking. It looks like my pink peonies which are in full bloom just now. You are growing and releasing butterflies and we are catching them! such a sweet photo of your little bean with the butterfly :)

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  39. Oh my goodness! My house has been neglected too! I totally get that! Your gardens look so beautiful. The lanterns are a wonderful, magical addition. And how lucky your clients are to receive their plans in such a thoughtful way!

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  40. Everything's looking so great and springy :). And I love those buckets--so fun!

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  41. Oh how I love visiting your sweet blog, Nicole :) Your posts are so warm, welcoming, and beautiful.

    Your gardens are simply lovely and like Starr said, very lush! Have fun playing, sweet friend :) Hugs to you!

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  42. I like the border you used in your bed. Looks great and easy to use a lawn mower close by.

    But mostly, I enjoyed how you started the post. So, super gardeners get sore too from yard work? There is still hope for us brown-thumbers.
    I am sorry you are sore but, I can SO relate because of the digging and shoveling I did last weekend.

    This is a shout out for the kids: Great job with the butterflies!

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  43. Your gardens and yard are gorgeous, Nicole! You have been really busy out there and it shows.

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    Replies
    1. Just read your last post Lynn! Congrats on all of the wonderful celebrations with your family and a very happy birthday to both of your grandsons!!! I still can't comment because of the google plus comment box but I read all of your posts!

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  44. Oh that David Austin rose is divine! I bet it smells heavenly. Yah for spring! Such a fantastic time in the garden. Those aches and pains are oh-so-satisfying though aren't they? The satisfaction after a long day in the garden is a great feeling indeed!

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  45. You are amazing. The bucket s are a fabulous idea. The rose is gorgeous and of course so are those beans of yours, letting go of the butterflies, how sweet.
    Meredith

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  46. Nicole, this post was so inspiring! Your garden is just beautiful and you are indeed having a Happy May! I'm hoping to get a little bit of gardening started by May 15.

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  47. Nice series ! I really love the beautiful rose !

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  48. Isn't it the truth we start to forget about the home inside as the Garden starts to shine with the sun.. love your pretty rose and bleeding heart. I just bought one last year and only a few leaves have appeared now it's in a large pot. I need to do some reading on it I never had one before and not sure where it should be in my Garden.. Happy Mother day with love Janice

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  49. Happy May to you, too! I love those lanterns. Everything looks so fresh and healthy. That rose is just gorgeous. :o)

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  50. Your garden looks so beautiful with colorful flowers..! Hope you have a lovely time with your beans this may.. Have a wonderful day.. Cheers :)

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  51. Hi Nicole,

    Spring looks amazing at your place and love the gorgeous shade of the David Austin Rose - aren't they the best.
    Love all the green in the plants you have growing and to see the red poppies with the lanterns will be great.
    I just bought some red poppies to plant out too - love them.
    Happy Mothers day dear friend
    Sending hugs
    Carolyn

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  52. Ciao Nicole! Quanto è bello quel copri terreno con le foglie gialle!! Anche quei Polygonatum mi sembrano molto molto promettenti :)

    Aspetto i tuoi aggiornamenti :) Un saluto :)

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  53. Stopping back in to wish you a blessed Mother's Day. xo

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  54. Nicole, everything is lovely and I very much like the style of those new lanterns.

    Happy May to you, too! :)

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  55. The painted metal bucket is a great idea for clients Nicole. Your garden is looking great! Hope that rose settles in. I love David Austin roses although they don't do well this far north.

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  56. I know what you mean about less than six good months! The growing season here is short too. Your garden is looking lovely though, I love those bleeding hearts. What a great idea to deliver your garden plans in metal buckets, I'd be very happy with that! xx

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