Friday, July 27, 2012

Happy Friday

The end of another week and shortly we will welcome a new month. This summer is flying by and soon we will be talking about the changing leaves and that chill in the air.  With so many of you suffering from the heat, I'm sure it can not come too soon.

For now, we are still in summer and I am celebrating two flowers in my yard.  You will probably think nothing of these plants, but if you knew of the failures here at the Little House you would understand my 'happy dance'.





This Nasturtium, which was supposed to be 'blackish', is doing so well even though it isn't black at all...hmm..

The first summer here at the Little House, I would go to the beach down the road and pick up reclaimed wood and interesting shaped driftwood.  Right off, I found this wooden planter box that looks like it may have come off of a houseboat.  It is sturdy and has that perfect bleached out weathered look that fits in with all of the other treasures gifted from the sea.

So it was planted right up with Petunias and looked oh so very pretty.......for awhile.  Soon, it started shriveling up, behaving as if I was not watering it.  No amount of water or Miracle Grow seemed to help and I was left scratching my head.

The same thing happened the next year and the next.  Recently, after finding that thinking cap that always gets lost somewhere, I realized that it must have been the salt water.  Perhaps it had permeated the wood  and led to the death of the plants.

Not wanting that box to get the best of me, I decided that the salt would surely be gone from the wood by now, after all of the soakings I had given it trying to 'save' the plants.  So, I changed out all of the soil and in went new, fresh, organic goodness.  The seeds went in at the beginning of summer, and, as you can see...healthy, happy flowers!! 




This might appear to be a sad looking Hydrangea, but no.  I am jumping up and down and clapping because this is the first time since it has been put in, maybe 5 years ago, that it has had more than 3 deformed blooms.

I was going to move it to the North side of the house as I just found out they don't like direct, southern sun and probably not salty, misty wind either....Anyway, I am happy and had to share it.

This post was a bit longer than I had planned, so I will wish you all a very happy weekend.  I am still working on cleaning things out and packing out boxes to Goodwill so that is where you will find me.

Anything special on your list this weekend?

See you Monday with the report on the Blueberry Scones.   xo


17 comments:

Dorothy said...

Lovely flowers! I understand why you are doing a happy dance!!!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

you do your "happy dance" whenever you wish to. i do mine all the time. ha. ha!! i think, considering i don't have the greatest "green thumb" around ...that when i get something to grow it's totally awesome. so exciting for you & us all as well. yipppeeEE!!! have a great weekend.(:

Lap Dog Knits said...

the yard looks beautiful...
love the blue - they will dry beautifully so you can enjoy them inside too!!
Road trip for me this weekend - new trees!!! Bigger trees!!!
Not the ugly palms I see daily here..have a great weekend!

Vintage Home said...

WEll seems you have gotten the best of the salt ....I believe hydrangeas can exist in many places...think of all those in the pictures of Nantucket?...they have sun there! Ours is in sun?..yours looks beautiful...stunning ...sometimes we just have to wait! & it has payed off!
Loving this weather....Colleen

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

Those nasturtiums are huge, looks like that missing thinking cap did you some good here!:) Hey, we'd love to have you and your beautiful flowers over at Farm Fresh Friday Blog Hop. Come on over and see some freshness!

Lynn Proctor said...

your flowers look amazing and what's this about scones :)

Unknown said...

Such beautiful flowers! I love that wooden planter box, and I'm glad you finally figured out what the problem was. :)


Mmmm, scones!

Lynn said...

Congrats on the flowers! Everything is growing so wonky here that it's nice to see any burst of color! Can't wait to hear about the scones-have fun:@)

lisbonlioness said...

Darling, I celebrate EVERYTHING that blooms in my cement jungle, big or small. Nothing wrong with that. Glad you got some bloom going! :)

Michelle said...

I do love your flower photos! So beautiful!

vintage grey said...

Beautiful flowers, especially the hydrangeas! My favorite!!They deserve a 'happy dance"! Looking forward to hearing all about the blueberry scones!! Have a lovely weekend! xo Heather

Kami said...

I love the reclaimed planter box!! Great idea. My hydrangea is a bit sad looking now, but it had it's moment a couple of weeks ago and I loved looking at it!

Alison said...

I love nasturtiums, and yours are particularly pretty and healthy! Mine always seem to attract hordes of ugly black aphids. Your hydrangeas are lovely too, another favorite.

I was so thrilled when the mail lady came today! I was outside cutting back some ugly shasta daisies, and she drove right into the driveway, which I know means she has a package! WooHoo, it was your wonderful magazines. I haven't read them yet, but I'm really looking forward to a cup of coffee, and a nice sit-down. Thanks so much!

Michelle said...

All your flowers look so beautiful. What a find getting that window box from the beach. I am pleased to hear that it now contains healthy flowers.

Speaking of Goodwill, I too, am cleaning stuff out and packing boxes full of donated items. It feels good to purge some of the clutter.

See you next week when you come in to town!

polkadotpeticoat said...

Love the thought of your happy dance and I want to thank you for the beautiful picture of the hydrangea....so pretty!

Katiebee said...

dance, dance, dance...they are beautiful!

jennai said...

I like the think about the happy dancing and pictures are are awesome