Monday May 9, 2011
I felt ecstatic on Saturday as I planted pots of geraniums and ferns and filled the window boxes with petunias. “I have never been so excited about my flowers,” I said to David who was putting up lattice under the front porch (YEAH for one more finishing the house project off the list). He snickered and I heard him say, “Yeah, you say that every year.”
“Yes, but this year is unprecedented,” I declared.
Today it was me who sort of snickered. I was outside, checking to see what needed water, cutting off tons of lettuce and watching Adam pick a few radishes during his feel better moments (he’s been sick with the flu since Saturday). And as I looked around, I realized that there are virtually 0 flowers on my amazing, exciting, make-me-unbelievably-happy plants. So why am I so excited?
Because I know what is to come. Well, sort of. Every year, I hope that this year my thumb has turned a bit more green. Much as I adore summer with it’s flowers cascading and tumbling out of every container, maybe I love spring because it is filled with hope. Because in early May, there are still no aphids or Japanese beetles on the roses. There are no thrips eating up the geraniums. There is no blight on the tomatoes. I have not yet unwittingly dehydrated the salvia or water-logged the ferns.
In May, I still look like I know what I am doing as a gardener. And like always, I am filled with hope. That maybe, maybe this year will be the best year ever.
“I planted pots of geraniums and ferns and filled the window boxes with petunias”
I literally FELT excitement when I read this line! LOVE IT. 🙂
oh! it’s the pretty pillow you made on the porch!
your home is beautiful~
and i love the hope this season carries too.
even in august – there’s always the hope of NEXT year..
if things didn’t turn out quite so well this. 😉
love ya.
Wow everything looks Amazing:) Spring is just the Best!
Yeah, that’s kind of the story of my life too. Me with a green thumb? Not so much.
But kudos to you for planting anyway, year after year. I’ve sort of given up! How sad is that?? Your pictures are beautiful! And your house is lovely as well.
Planting and growing is a joke for me. I just. don’t. have it! We’re building a front porch right now so there are even less flowers then I normally can not grow. Know the pains!
looks so pretty Michelle!! you’re right, spring is such a hopeful time!
love.love. the bench and oh.my. the pillows! 🙂
your home is beautiful! i love all the green in the pictures and the pillows that you made…
and you can bring that church bench to ffe when you’re done with it. 🙂
in may it is all so hopeful. you’re right! till august i am getting weary in well doing. ha.
sooo beautiful..and the flowers haven’t even started blooming yet. i love all the different shades of green…
love it! your pictures are so pretty!
i’ve almost given up hope of planting stuff this year…it gets almost dry enough, then it rains again.
and my enthusiasm for gardening is like yours–much higher in May than August! 😉
Absolutely gorgeous!! Love your garden!
beautiful Michelle …
how is it possible that you have such beautiful flower beds and gardens already??!! Your home looks so inviting and cozy! the cushions are so delightful on the bench! all that bench needs is someone sitting on it enjoying a book and cup of coffee!!
:).. I thought you lived far enough north that your flowers flourish without trying! i always have HIGH hopes and then comes July and everything gets scorched and I can’t keep up with watering. I love, love flowers, but this year i cut so far back you can barely tell i love them. it just isn’t really fun at a house that isn’t mine and i may have to leave at any given moment. also i have a feeling we won’t actually be here that much this summer…… AND the deck is like a frying pan…. HaPpY SpRiNg!!!!
Michelle your garden has me swooning. I SO badly want to plant but due to moving our garden home and downsizing (yes!) has us way behind even the normal for Ohio. Your place is beautiful, I’d love to sit on your bench and have a good chat with you. Maybe even snap pea’s. 😉
Spring provides healthy plants, summer not so much. It’s kind of like life, it turns hot and dry at times, then refreshing and nourishing. Next it’s freezing and ya want to curl up and die. Plants seem just as thrilled to see spring as we are.
Have a lovely day!
Oh. My. Word. Michelle, your front porch and all the plants are just gorgeous!! I adore all the pillows on the bench, and the bench itself! And I love the “southern” look to your front porch – the wide open, spacious, come-sit-with-a-glass-of-sweet-tea look! And all your green plants! I love green plants almost more than the flowers themselves. There is something so fresh and clean about them. Your ferns just amaze me – absolutely beautiful! And your garden looks like a patchwork quilt! (that’s a compliment :)) Oh, and I get the line about “Yay! Crossing one more thing off the [endless] list of things to do around the house!” Yeah, we have that too. The endless list, that is. the crossing off isn’t going so well. 🙂 Oh, and one more thing – is that your brick sidewalk from the free bricks you worked so hard for last year?? If so, how exciting!!!
I could just gaze at your pictures for hours, it’s so much beauty to behold!
@baileyandme – Ah, a girl after my own heart! Doesn’t the word window boxes make you feel like jetting off to Europe? 🙂
@grace2be – You got it! And that is exactly what I say at the end of August!
@appalolly – It’s not sad to give up if you don’t really enjoy it. I still like it more than not so I keep trying. 🙂
@madisonsmom2 – “less than I can normally not grow” … that cracked me up!
@down_onthefarm – “Uh, it’s a little heavy.” 😉 Although, tell me what you’re bringing and it might make me reconsider. 😉
@bling4all – Because I must live further South than you do. 🙂 Spring is coming. I promise.
@willeywonderings – That’s known as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Virginia … not so much. We have hideous clay soil in Virginia and it takes loads and loads of compost every year.
@seekinHISwisdom – I love your comment. So true about life being like seasons. Lovely day back to you!
@lifeisadance – You can take a girl out of the South, but it’s hard to make her give up a front porch and iced tea. 🙂 I love green, too. In fact, all the green on your front porch inspired me to incorporate more green and white this year than I normally do. I love how restful it looks. But I am WAY eager to see pink spilling out among the green. 🙂 And yes, that is the free brick sidewalk. We’re getting ready to start on the patio soon (hopefully).
@dariusnro – @foreveranoatneygirl_n2Hisown – @beauty_after_rain – @mytoesareblue – @the_schlabachs – @inanorchard – @smuckers4jesus – thanks y’all!
Love your porch….I’m a sucker for porches and decks, they’re so romantic and relaxing. Like having your own little retreat spot, if you ever take the time to retreat ;). Here’s to lots of lush vibrant flowers in Aug and beyond!
I started my planting in my deck containers~ Thought of you!!
your yard/garden looks so pretty. Seems like that’s how it goes for my mom. She’s out there watering every morning but then comes august and she just wants to let the plants die b/c she doesn’t want to do all the work 🙂
Gorgeous pics! I must say I’m quite envious at how neat & perfectly aligned your plants are in your garden. My rows are so crooked & wavy it looks like a child planted them. 🙁 Love all the shades of green around your house. And the bench & pillows are just too neat! I love the ferns, I’ve been thinking I need to get some ferns to plant around here, I have a few spots they would do great in. Thanks for sharing, you’ve inspired me & given me some ideas for my own gardens/flowerbeds.
Your pics. all looks so amazing straight out of Better Homes and Garden magazine. Your front porch is so lovey with all the pretty pillows.