How lovely it has been to spend some time in and out of the potting shed and the garden this weekend, after such a chilly spring so far, and after days and days of rain drenching the garden.......everything looks very green and fresh now when the sun shines.........
........i found a wonderful old plant and seed catalogue in granny's attic last weekend, complete with hand written planting lists in spidery old hand writing.......and i also found this set of flower cards which i just had to photograph too......
..............we found lots of sets of cards with different themes which are games of various kinds...........
.........i have planted up the spring and summer pots for the garden now, and they've had a nice soaking with rain so no need to bother about the watering can or hose here ;) the bottom right picture shows some of the zinnias i potted on and put outside to harden off in the daytime, only i forgot to take them in one night and a sneaky snail had a good time eating the lower leaves....i've been nursing them ever since and now they look much better....
...........no need to fill up the bird baths either......they are brimful with rain water....the bluebells seem to love the damp though the blossom often looks very bedraggled.........my little grandbaby daisy wishes so much she could just pick up those little birdies off the side of the bird bath but they are stuck fast ...........
........lovely lilac, so sweet and such a delicious colour, i always love seeing it with the fresh green leaves too.....
.........and yes, we have a flowery farmer's wife quilt block for today's post...this is called wild rose and square and i liked making it and the effect of the pointed petals...the little vintage bears just had to be in this picture...there were only two of them, pink and green, and i think and they must have been waiting there for me....i found them in a small child's desk which had belonged to mr p once upon a time when he was a small boy :) i have brought the little desk home with me and am going to paint it soon.........
........one more picture of these beautiful peonies........they are my new flower craze for this summer.....i think they look stunning in all the different shades......i hope we have a little more sun and a little less rain in the coming week so the garden flowers have a chance to really bloom...............
.....thank you for popping in here today, it's so lovely to see you.....thank you to everyone who reads my blog, follows me or leaves me sweet comments, i do love them and read them all and always try to visit you in return .......wishing you all a wonderful week with sunny days, sweet flowers and happy times.........back soon xxxxxxxxxxx
51 comments:
What beautiful peonies and I love those flower cards, lucky you! xx
It's 80 degrees here (too hot for me) and I just got done watering outside. It was supposed to rain yesterday but never did so they were thirsty!
I have one peony and no blooms this year. I'm having a tough time gardening in the South as I was used to cooler temps and more rain and better soil in the North. But I keep trying! LOL! Your peonies are gorgeous and I bet they smell wonderful too.
I miss lilacs...love them too. I had several on my little farm up North and now...none.
I've never had bluebells but they're darling.
It's like a treasure hunt with all the wonderful things you found in the attic. Aren't those seed catalogs and cards just wonderful with the vintage graphics.
I'm a fairly new quilter so I've never heard of the Farmer's Wife block but the name alone makes me love it! I have to order more fabric so when it gets too hot to work outside I can start sewing my quilt with the beautiful backing! LOL! That's all I have so far but that fabric makes me swoon! Thank you so much for your blog as it is one of my all-time favorites!
Oh, can you tell me which issue (name and number) that your Jubilee Crosstitch Sampler is in? It looks like Amazon U.S. carries that magazine but the latest one they had was April and I couldn't tell if it was in there. I was looking at The World of Cross Stitch. Thanks!
Another beautiful post, full of loveliness, I am very fond of peonies, and your patchwork is wonderful
Sue :)
Helen your potting shed looks like a wonderful place to potter in. The flower cards are so pretty.
Peonies are one of my favourite flowers. Unfortunately every year my peonies are smothered in ants and I am unable to bring them inside.
I am very excited, I have finished my 'Welcome To Our House' sampler from your book. The colours are gorgeous together and I am pleased with the finished result.
Hope you have a great week.
Lorraine
Hmmmmm, vintage seed catalogues look ripe for chopping!!! (I'll be on ebay any minute now!)
Lovely peonies - mine are faux from Ikea but I still love them. Have a good week - lovely up North today wasn't it? I tidied the workshop so now can't wait to get down there tomorrow for a play!
fee x
What beautiful flowers! I think that quilt block is my favourite to far, so delicate and fresh.
what lovely spring cheerfulness xxx
Every photo you show is always so colorful and beautiful, and today is no exception!
Brenda
Dear Helen, I always love seeing your posts pop up as I always get such a happy feeling reading your words, you must be a positive, pleasant person. Those peonies are faboooOOOoo! Imagine what a pretty watercolor subject they'd be? Thanks for the lookie loo. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Your garden looks lovely - I had the same kind of a day yesterday too :)
Beautiful post Helen....Your flowers are so pretty... and your latest quilt block is lovely...some of my favourite colours here...the pink and green are a perfect combination against the white background...I love it!
Hope you have a happy week...fingers crossed for some sunshine along the way...always a treat to visit you and as inspiring as ever!
Susan x
Your potting shed is beautiful, I do love how you have painted it white. All your flowers are so pretty, the peonies are such a gorgeous colour aren't they? Has been sunny here too today, if a bit cold, but heavy rain is forecast for the morning (sigh... again!) Have a lovely week, Jenny xx
Gorgeous post Helen, those peonies are stunning, such a fabulous sugary colour. I do love lilacs so so delicate! Such pretty vintage cards too!
Victoria xx
Wow! So gorgeous. I want to potter about in a place like yours :)
Wow! So gorgeous. I want to potter about in a place like yours :)
i think your cards and all the flowers, particularly the peonies (such a gorgeous colour) are delightful!
thank you so much for sharing these pretty images, they have given me something nice to dream about :)
So gorgeous Helen!! I love the vintage seed catalogue!! Such a beautiful images!! Have a great day!! xo Heather
Hi Helen! Your flowers are lovely, and I adore the peonies!! I can hardly wait for mine to bloom! And the vintage garden from granny's attic are so pretty! How lucky to find such wonderful treasures! xoxo Debbie
Hi, Helen! Love your pictures! Beautiful peonies! They are my craze too :o) And your vintage flower cards are adorable. Well done on your wild rose & square block. It looks fresh and delicate. Lovely pics of your plants too :o)
Have a sunny week
love
Natasha
It was such a sunny weekend Helen wasn't it. Your garden is looking ready for summer now...just keep an eye on those pesky snails ;0) You have found more lovely treasures from the loft, thanks for sharing them. Have a sunny week, I hope!
Jane x
What a wonderful place granny's attic must be and what lovely memories & family history must lie within.I hope we'll be treated to a look at Mr P's desk when it's painted.
I bought a bunch of supermarket peonies (mine still in very tight bud) and they were a delight for a week then suddenly dropped - and my oh my, did they drop!! The rain has returned here this morning after an excellent gardening weekend.
Thank you for yet another lovely post - always so varied & interesting.
I wish my granny had an attic! You are finding some lovely treasures up there. Your peonies are stunning and such an pretty and unusual colour. My peonies are behind this year but hopefully I will be looking forward to their flowers very soon. Wonderful happy post as always Helen. x
Beautiful flowers
Julie xxxxxxx
Your garden is looking beautiful, I don't know how you find the time! hope you have a happy week sweetie
Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!
Love the old catalogue & the flower cards from your grannie's attic! It's great to start getting things moving in the garden after this cold wet spring we've been having. Lilacs are my absolute favorite scent ever - yours are looking gorgeous & a bit further along than mine what with us being so far north. Your patchwork is lovely too, a pretty block with perfect colors ;) have a great week! Helen
Hi Sweet Helen, Such a beautiful post of flowers and keepsakes galore!! Everything looks so green and lush! Love the color combination of the farmer's wife square and just the perfect name for it! The peonies are so bountiful and I don't see any ants. Mine always have lots of them and I have to shake shake shake to get them all off.
Have a lovely week and I hope you have a more sunshine, xoRobin❤
Such beautiful pictures! Everything looks so soft and springy.
I blogged about one of your cross stitch patterns I made up. Stop by if you have a chance:)
All of it looks so pretty Helen! I can't remember the last time I had to water anything, but we did have a nice dry weekend with a little bit of sun.
have a lovely week xxx
Hello dearest Helen, I am so happy you were able to enjoy time in your lovely potting shed and that the sun is finally shining! Your flowers are beautiful and I love the treasures you continue to find in granny's attic! The book, seed catalog and cards are all very pretty! I love all of the gorgeous flowers you have planted and the darling bird bath with the birdies on the side. Your quilt block is beautiful. I love the colors and the sweet pink and green bears! They were meant for you! I look forward to seeing the little desk painted. I love the color of the peonies. So cheerful and bright! I enjoyed your beautiful and happy post as I always do! Wishing you a wonderful week, sunny days, sweet flowers and happy times in return dearest! Much love, Paula xo
Your garden is looking lovely the rain, oh boy we really have had some the weekend was lovely with the sunshine, warmth and blue skies. Then it was rain again today its crazy really. Those little bears are so sweet and i just adore peonies there beautiful. dee x
I too potted in the garden this weekend, carefully staking my peony against the wind we've been having - I counted lots of lovely buds it's a double colour one. Like you they have long been a favourite. It was lovely to see your lilac in bloom, here in the cold north I'm going to have to wait a bit longer. Love your blog it always uplifts me!
I too potted in the garden this weekend, carefully staking my peony against the wind we've been having - I counted lots of lovely buds it's a double colour one. Like you they have long been a favourite. It was lovely to see your lilac in bloom, here in the cold north I'm going to have to wait a bit longer. Love your blog it always uplifts me!
Hi Helen
that is some potting shed and my favourite is peonies I just love them!
Take care
Denise
Hi Helen
What a lovely post, you are right the weekend brought us weather to enjoy the garden. Peonies are my favourite flower can't wait until they are out in the garden.
Jillx
Hi Helen i do love your blog its always so fresh and colourfullxxx
Granny's attic was a positive treasure trove!
Lovely peonies :D
Waiting for my peonies to pop open...I love them. Yours are so pretty.
We are still waiting waiting waiting for that postman...I am thinking he is sharing the magazine with his wife...and they have decided to bake every recipe in the magazine before popping it back in the mail!!!! I am soooooo sorry. I really don't know what has happened....maybe they don't like the UK address...should I have put England???? Just a thought...oh well. Hugs to you and thanks for being so understanding. xoxoxo
Gorgeous post as ever!
Thnks for sharing all the pretty vintage garden cards and books, and your garden is so full of beautiful colour.
The peonies are a stunning colour - mine are not yet out and are all a dark red, so its lovely to see your lovely pink ones, which almost look like a rose viewed full on.
Sweet farmers wife quilting block too!
Have a lovely week Helen - we too had sun at the weekend and yesterday morning, but now settled back in the wet greyness :(
Gill xx
So much beautiful! Granny's attic was filled with such treasures...what finds! Lovely post :)
Jo x
Your images are so much prettier than what I am able to offer from this side of the world. It is hot and dusty out there today. I can just see your little grandbaby trying to grab one of those birdies. How sweet to find those teddies in mr p's old desk. And those flower cards. Seems like you are finding lots of lovely treasures. Wishing you a sunshiney day! Tammy
I adore old seed catalogues. My favourites are the ones from the 1930s perhaps because I like the style of garden design which was popular then. It always reminds me of a wonderful fantasy world of perfect flowers and fruit, where you can relax on a beautiful green stripy lawn.... ahhh...
helloooo lovely x its so lovely to catch up on your blog and all the creative inspirations and colour- sure cheers my soul xx
Lovely flowers, and all the images are just so full of sunshine, Helen! And I especially love those peonies, simply stunning!
Wonderful week!
Yours,
Mia
You have such a way of living beautifully, Helen. Enjoy the upcoming weekend (it will be the Victoria Day long weekend here).
-Karen
Your potting shed looks good enough to live in...I love the frothiness of peonies, they are. My painting challenge, so hard to capture, funnily enough I have just posted a peony picture too.....
Your granny's attic is still coming up trumps I see. I love this time of year and can never walk past a lilac tree without having a good old sniff. Haven't seen any peonies yet though.
Happy weekend xox
My peonies haven't flowered :(
maybe sometime soon!
Lovely post,
lovely photos
lovely blog.
Fiona
Helen, your posts are always wonderful, full of lovely flowers, plants and crafts- a perfect mix!
Thank you for providing summer colour and light! We're missing out here as we head into winter but its always worthwhile to remember that the other seasons hold! :)
Thank you for providing summer colour and light! We're missing out here as we head into winter but its always worthwhile to remember that the other seasons hold! :)
Dear Helen, how I missed this beautiful post? Your photos are so beautiful and I love your quilt block! I guess those colours are the best summer colours! And peonies - my favourites! x Teje
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