Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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...

Grab button for Chantille Fleur


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!



31 comments:

  1. Your new island bed looks fabulous! Love the steps walking through it! They add a bit of fun, and will also help with getting in the bed to weed it. Pretty and practical! I'm amazed at your night gardening! That's some dedication!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love anything lemon, they look so good. Your garden looks beautiful as do your babies! Have a great week lovely! xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. I LOVE lemon anything...this one looks yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not nice to talk about brownies and then lemon bars when I am trying to be good. Lemon bars are one of my downfalls.

    The round reddish pink flower - pin cushion? - is so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Nicole! This looks gorgeous... your garden is a beautiful place to host a tea party! With lemon brownies to boot... yum! Hazel x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum! The brownies look goood. I'd never heard of lemon brownies before. And how cute are your kids?

    Your front garden bed is looking great. I'm interested to see its progress.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love lemon desserts and was actually wanting to make a lemon loaf yesterday for the tea party ... but no lemons :[ I'll have to try your lemon brownie recipe. I love your family's involvement in your baking (that's how my mom taught me too ... lots of sitting on the counter to stir). Your new garden is going to be great when filled in! I too have a redbud in my backyard, and the tiny buds in early spring were so pretty. Happy Wednesday Nicole! Wendy x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lemon brownies look so great, but it is the new redbud that captures my attention. You got a really lovely big specimen. The front bed is going to look so nice all filled in, with that dramatic redbud anchoring it. I would sit on your front porch and admire it while eating home made lemon brownies!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lemon brownies? Be still my heart :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just love your house! So exciting the vision you have for the front bed. I have been walking the neighborhood trying to get ideas for some new flower beds. My grandson has spent many hours sitting in the kitchen where grandma bakes, as my kids did whne they were little. Nothing like a great dessert for a tea party!

    ReplyDelete
  11. How great to have a whole new blank canvas to start with. I'm a wee bit jealous, considering we're bustin' at the seams over here in the plant department. It would be so fun to have an area to start fresh in. Can't wait to see it as it fills in.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh hip hooray, it is tea party time :) Your lemon brownies look delicious! I admire your patience with your kids. My kids take turns helping me in the kitchen. When both try to help out at the same time, I go nutso.

    I am thrilled for you about the redbud!! Seriously, thrilled! Your new garden island and redbud will be a magnificent focal point for your yard! Can you tell that I am dying to get a redbud too??

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey lady! I love the kiddies on the floor playin in your Kitch! And my oh my those lemon brownies look to die!!!
    Such a beautiful home too!
    I wanted to let you know I nominated you for a liebster award on my blog today, so go check that out ;)
    xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your lemon brownies turned out beautiful! I want some to magically appear in my mailbox.. I'm serious though!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. My neighbor a few townhouses down has yellow yarrow. They are SO beautiful... I just LOVE bright yellow flowers! Yours are so pretty as well... Wanna send me some? ;)

    Speaking of yellow... your lemon bars look divine. I love yellow. (Did I say that yet?) And I love lemon. And food. And flowers.

    toddlindsey.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. On vacay, but glad I dropped by to see those darling Beans! And the garden - happy summer, Nicole - XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  17. ah, such sweet pics of the kids in the kitchen! I'm excited for when Abe can sit up long enough to entertain himself in mine for a few minutes--he's working on it! And the island is looking great!

    ReplyDelete
  18. The new island bed is off to a great start. Redbud was a good choice.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lemon desserts are one of my weaknesses and these look delicious! Thanks for the link. The little ones are so precious- I remember those days. It's hard to get anything done.....Your flowers are gorgeous and I love your plans. It will really look nice! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  20. that new bed is looking great! I like the stepping stones :). You're so lucky that your little ones enjoying cooking with you or playing on the floor - Evening always screams bloody murder and clings to my leg - she hates it when I cook!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Mmm...yummy! I tried lemon brownies recently (which I renamed "lemonies, since they certainly weren't brown!)

    Your garden is look lovely! I love yarrow flowers!

    Thanks for linking in and have an awesome day!
    Sarah xox

    ReplyDelete
  22. My mouth is literally watering at the thought of those brownies... I love pretty much anything that has lemon in it.

    The garden looks AWESOME!!! Beautiful job on the island bed!

    ReplyDelete
  23. When I was little, I loved to help my mum
    in the kitchen as well c: These lemon
    brownies sounds/looks great! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ahhh fond memories of baking as a child. You did well to get a finished product as cake ingredients are so tempting! I am really looking forward to seeing your new border develop.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Those lemon brownies look delicious! Love your garden too. Thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. I think we may have to try those lemon brownies, they look YUMMY!! I love your house so beautiful and the island bed looks awesome, I am sure it will look like those inspiration photos in no time! And I really love the stepping stones! We just got back from our vacation today and I have been pulling weeds all afternoon, I thought of you and your beautiful gardens...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your island bed looks great and the Redbud tree is an awesome choice of tree.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lemon anything is my favourite - have pinned these to make this weekend ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Nicole, the lemon dessert looks soo... yummy! The new bed in front of your house comes out great already. Have fun finishing the plantings, I am sure it will turn out fabulous.
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love lemon anything! I make lemon sugar cookies with lavender sugar that I could eat til I pass out. ;o) Your garden looks great and I'm so glad you've started your new bed. You've picked a fab garden for inspiration!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments brighten my day! Thanks for stopping by!