An Icy Day

Posted on 11/29/2015 by Laurie

With the freezing rain that we have had over the last 24 hours, it is a good day to stay inside, have a warm drink and read a book … or go outside and take pictures in the garden for a wee bit first if you are someone like me! These are quite a contrast from the photos that I took just 12 days ago. It is so dreary out today that I had to use a flash to get a few of the shots, something that I almost never do outside.

Wishing you a warm and lovely day … and safe travels to anyone out on the road in this area today!

Late Autumn Garden

Posted on 11/17/2015 by Laurie

So far this year, it has been a very mild autumn here in Manhattan, Kansas, allowing for an extended period of color in the garden. The weather, the last few days, has been grey and damp, with rain on and off. So the colors are really showing up in bright contrast to the skies. Here are a few pictures that I took this morning. I hope that you enjoy them!

JapaneseMapleNov2015-2

RoseMagentaNov2015

RoseMarilynMonroeNov2015

Pumpkin&Geranium

ChrysanthemumNov2015

DaisyNov2015

BeautyBerryNov2015

JapaneseMapleArtisticNov2015

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Rainy Day People/Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Way

Posted on 06/04/2015 by Laurie

Rainy Day People

More on this week’s Photo Challenge: On the Way.

Shade Garden Glimpse

Posted on 05/21/2015 by Laurie

Our shade garden has been loving the cool spring weather!

Have a great afternoon!

May Showers, May Flowers!

Posted on 05/09/2015 by Laurie

Both despite, and because of, all of the rain that we have had lately, the garden is looking quite lush. I couldn’t help but go out in the drizzle this afternoon to take some pictures. The garden should be gorgeous for Mother’s Day.

… And to my mother, who taught me to garden, “I hope that you have a great day out amongst the flowers, Mom! Love ya.”

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!

Getting Started

Posted on 04/29/2015 by Laurie

After a coolish and rainy April, the garden is full of buds are about ready to burst open with color. Here are a few photos from this morning of our early bloomers.

… Viburnums in the shade

… last of the Sand Cherry Blossoms

… colorful Creeping Phlox

… fragrant Lily of the Valley

… tall, pink Tulips

The garden is just barely getting started for the season. I am looking forward to having more photos to share in the coming months.

Have a great week!

Still Winter

Posted on 02/28/2015 by Laurie

We’ve gotten a wee bit more than the less-than-1-inch of snow predicted for today.

It’s cold and gray and snowy today … all day. The perfect kind of day for staying in, snuggling with the dogs, and drinking hot cocoa! Here’s hoping that yours is a lovely one!

In case you missed these recipes before, here are a few cocoa posts:

Chocolat Chaud

Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (I actually still have a few of those marshmallow snowmen! Big grin!)

A Beautiful Start to the Weekend

Posted on 01/17/2015 by Laurie

Sunset last night …

Sunrise this morning …

Warm sunlight bathing Seven Dolors …

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Photography Challenge: Shadowed (Beauty Berries)

Posted on 01/14/2015 by Laurie

The garden was mostly in shadow the other morning, except for some warm sunlight on my Beauty Berries just after sunrise. From winter’s weather, the berries are a bit faded from how they looked a few months ago, but I am happy to still have even a little color in the garden.

View my post on Shadowed Roses.

More on the Shadowed Photography Challenge.

First Snow of the Season

Posted on 11/15/2014 by Laurie

Here are a few photos that I took in our front garden earlier today during our first snowfall of the season. I was glad that the snow did not amount to much, but it was fun to get out and get a few pictures before the colors in the garden had entirely faded. But, brrrr …. it was cold.