Kaseys Korner

It's never a good idea

to go shopping while plunged in the depths of winter blues. Know what I'm sayin'???

Everything was frosted (again) this morning ~ witness the vintage shears:

So the remedy (of course) was to hop in the car and hit the flea market.  While away the blues...

Such a good job was done that two items made the trip back home.   Doesn't sound like a lot but check 'em out ~ one very cool piano stool:

An awesome fit with my burgundy chair, don't you think??  (I'll probably recover the top in new green velvet)

But sit yourself right down for the second item ~ a magnificent vintage iron birdcage:

Look at all that swirly goodness & the iron flower on top.  ♥♥♥ 

I think there's even 50 year old bird poo in the bottom!  Ha ~ why doesn't that gross me out in the least???!!!!

It wasn't good for the checkbook, but it sure was good for the soul.  I can't wait to see the birdcage in the garden overflowing with blooms.  There's my happy girl again!   :-)

 

 

after the snow

Last week I was so busy knocking snow off tree branches I never took the time to take any photos.  Our snow last night came with wind meaning there was less accumulation on the trees.   Feeling a sense of relief about that, I took my camera out (instead of the broom) this morning.  Most of you know (all too well) that I'm not a fan of snow, but even I couldn't help but appreciate these snowy scenes from the garden.  

Rose Pillar:

Rooster post topper:

Topiary Tree:

Birdcage:

Vintage watering can:

Birdhouse tuteur:

Armillary sphere:

and another vintage watering can:

Okay, now MELT already!!! 

decision time

The threat of frost last weekend (that fortunately never happened) has spurred me into a greater appreciation of the garden.  I've been making concerted efforts to get outdoors as much as possible before the season truly is over (not that it's difficult, just a matter of time management!) 

I've noticed that Verbena bonariensis is the "go to" bloom for October.  Thank goodness it seeded itself all over the garden because the bees and bumbles (the latter a rare sighting this summer) are really using it.

Probably because (even tho I've been trying to add more) I still feel like there's a deficit of fall bloomers in my garden.  Something to keep working on...

Strangely enough, the foliage of most trees & shrubs have only the barest hint of fall color?  I need to look back thru photos from previous Octobers but I'm pretty sure the garden was starting to be "decked out" in autumn brilliance by this time in years past...  For now, a sea of green is still what greets the eye ~ note the antique birdhouse which is barely visible thru all the rose foliage:

That splotch of pink is a cluster of roses, blooming for the third and final time.  Elsewhere in the garden, other plants, with the luxury of extra time this mild fall, are also re-blooming.  Check out the Canterbury bells basking in afternoon sunlight:

It looks like the Brugmansia buds just might make it to blooming as well.

Ever so close....  

It's impossible to forget the month with dwindling daylight hours & fall touches like a pumpkin that replaced 'Adonis Blue' Buddleia in front of the birdhouse tuteur:

and of course the black mum-filled urns:

This is the time (instead of waiting until the last minute) to decide which plants to overwinter.  Two Colocasias are on my "maybe" list ~ 'Mojito:'

and 'Blue Hawaii:'

What to do, what to do....  I LOVE the foliage but haven't had much luck storing them in my basement.  Maybe the garage??

Then there's this vibrant lantana that I'm toying with turning into a topiary:

I've never shaped any of my tenders or annuals into topiary form before but I love the effect.  I saw my 'Powder Puff' Hibiscus as a topiary TREE (!!) last weekend and fell in love all over again.  That's what got me thinking about trying it.  I wonder how long it takes to get a nice height & shape??

I have a boat load of bulbs to plant too.  I believe I was over zealous when ordering back in June ~ I remember thinking I had lots of new planting areas in my back garden.  Now that they've arrived tho, I am wondering if I'll get them all in the ground.  If you don't hear from me for a few days, you'll know what I'm doing!

p.s.  I joined a neighborhood book club this fall and had my second meeting last night.  So fun. We met around a fire pit (I came home feeling like I'd gone camping).  Our book this month was "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit."  I'm mentioning this because we also all brought ingredients to create a "smores bar" ~ it was my first time thinking outside the box of a "regular smore."  My contribution was pumpkin marshmallows, cream cheese & cinnamon.  I'm wondering if anyone else has experimented with this favorite summer treat?? 

 

 

One li'l Rufous Hummingbird

at LONG last in the garden.  LoOooong last.  (Did I emphasize that enough??!!)  In fact, I'd waited so long to no avail, I'd pretty much given up.  I pulled all the feeders last weekend ~ whining the entire time about how they'd bypassed our garden this year. 

Thank goodness no feeders are required ~ a container of 'Black & Blue' Salvia will do just as well.  It's one of the hottest hummingbird magnets around:

Oh, I bet you'd like some proof??? 

No worries, I anticipated your skepticism and covered it:

Convinced??  I thought so.

For me, the summer is now officially complete ~ it always ends with hummingbirds.  I had a dreadful feeling this one was going to be different.  Salvaged in the nick of time....

How sweet it is.

Backtrack to the first photo tho ~ did you happen to notice the vintage clippers??  I scored those in one of my previously mentioned flea market runs.   Don't they look just awesome next to Hopflower Oregano (Origanum libanoticum):

Like they were made to perch there....

Wishing everyone a restful & relaxing Labor Day weekend.  The purpose of the holiday is fitting for all the hard working gardeners in the world too!  :-)

back to blogging

I almost think I need a "refresher" as I sit at my computer today ~ it feels that long since I last posted.  What can I say?  Life got in the way this month.  The garden is still going but definitely waning.  Stressed from heat and lack of rainfall not to mention the small issue of me being focused on other things ~ like flea marketing.  The watering can on the far right was purchased on a recent venture:

Anytime I find one for less than $15.00 I consider it a "deal" ~ this one was $14.00!  Finding it prompted me to pull out a few others from my collection for a little photo shoot.  My favorite of the session is pictured below:

Isn't it comforting to see that blooms, like people, can still look spectacular when a bit past their peak?!  (I had a birthday while I was absent too ~ can you tell I'm feeling a little "old?!")

What else have I been up to (besides not blogging)?  Oh ~ the Fair ~ where my daughter and I had two very different agendas.  Hers focused on fun:

mine on chickens!

I can't remember the name of this breed but I loved the feathers covering their feet.  We visited on the last day and found many of the chickens (even some grand champions) were for sale.  Good thing I didn't have a coop or a few might have found their way home with me!

A surprise in the early August garden was finding 'Naked Lady' buds (Lycoris squamigera) when I'd forgotten ever planting them:

The buds turned to blooms:

and were all over before I ever got around to sharing.  Same with the lilies.  Below 'Black Beauty:' 

Also totally over. 

Occurring several summers now, Amaryllis bulbs blooming out of season.  This year 'Novella' decided she couldn't wait until winter:

 At least she's still in bloom so I don't feel like a complete garden dropout. 

One other (sorta major) thing that kept me from blogging ~ a week long visit from my niece.  We covered a lot of ground and kept so busy, I'm surprised I remembered to water my containers.  She's gone now too so hopefully life will return to "normal" and you'll see more of me here & on your own blogs!  It's been a great break but funny how it feels like I've missed some friends.  :-)

Visions of loveliness

Double Mandevilla 'Rita Marie Green' blooming on the armillary sphere:

First bloom from Siberian Iris 'Sky Wings':

First David Austin rose of the year ~ 'Crown Princess Margareta:'

Allium bulgaricum swaying in the breeze:

"Laurens Grape' breadseed poppies (papaver somniferum) spread throughout the garden this year ~ no complaints here!

The poppy, photographed in morning light, looks like it could be a painting? 

One more...  the illusion of a double blossom, two Clematis 'Multi Blue' buds just happened to open back to back:

 How is that for lovely??

 

Remember this?

The birthday present I gave to myself?!!!

I knew I could find all sorts of wonderful uses for it the moment I laid eyes on it ~ look how it's been put to use for the holidays:

Two PINK poinsettias and a few bling spikes later, it's totally dressing up a little corner of my house. 

When the afternoon sun hits the glittered spikes, it creates a lighting effect better than any I could ever hope to acheive ~ making the top of the arrangement almost look like it's on "fire:"

Now that's a purchase worth every penny! 

Christmas decorating

I've been occupying myself since Thanksgiving doing just that very thing.  Ifeel slow this year tho.  Normally I put up four to five trees (all artificial) but this year, I only have two decorated.  Maybe it will stay that way?  A smaller, scaled down version of our normal effusive style. 

The mantel received only a few alterations ~ some greenery, the paperwhites (in those ridiculously cheap urns) on the hearth and the twig wreath above the mirror:

The black and white theme tree, that has held center stage on our coffee table the last few years, has been retired.  Replaced by a tea light lantern:

The effect of the staggered twinkling candles at night really makes me happy ~ that means the change was a good one!  Oh, that's Amaryllis 'Zombie' next to the tea light lantern (in case you were wondering!)

As I move on to the next photo, I realize I misspoke ~ the black & white decorations have been retired, not the little 4' white tree.  The white tree is still in use, but with different ornaments:

A lot of crystal & silver with touches of green & blue.  This tree sits on my buffet and also on top of a mirror ~ which adds to the sparkle.  Knowing how I like to switch things up, we'll see how long this theme stays in rotation...

The 6' urn tree was also completely redone.  For the past several years it's been my "garden" tree accented with pink ornaments but now it's red, green & white themed:

It looks really pretty at night with both white and green mini lights adding to the theme.

That pretty much sums up all I've gotten accomplished so far.  There's still so much to do.  Baking, cards, the cookie party, etc., let alone whether another tree or two will be added.

How are you all doing on your holiday preparations???  Done?  Started?

 

frost garden

that's what I woke up to this morning.  A magical frosted fairyland.  It beckoned even me (who abhors the cold ~ as you well know) to come outside and capture the sugar coated scenes.  Since I can never hoard them for myself, I share with you the images from that most unusual foray.

The antique bird feeder shimmering in the early morning light:

Glistening rose hips touched by the first rays of sun:

One of two obelisks that begged to be photographed:

followed by the second:

With a very chilled dragonfly sundial on their heels:

An irresistible combo ~ crystallized fern & hellebore leaves:

and finally the Fleur-de-lis gate:

There was more, of course, but for hardier souls than I. No second chances with frost either.  The window of opportunity is fleeting and once I warmed again, the moment had already passed.

The clouds lifted, the skies cleared and the frost began to melt.   

The magic recedes and the garden returns to its familiar cloak of browns & greens.