kids, cake and saying goodbye

A couple weeks ago my son Alex left for his semester abroad in Rome so we had a family dinner/going away party before he left. Being the favorite uncle that he is with all the nieces and nephews (they couldn't seem to get enough of him this summer), he will certainly be missed greatly by all of us...

All the kids had a great time swimming, playing and running around the back yard together...

We grilled some meat, I made my favorite salad...

and Christine made this amazing cake. Beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. I think everyone literally licked their plates clean... there was not a spot of frosting to be found as we were doing the dishes...

It was a lovely night, but we sure do miss Al...

Read More

How to Combat Bedbugs

Well, if you don't know about the bedbug explosion - uh, the explosion of bed bugs, you've probably been unconscious for the last year. These small, biting bugs are voracious, very hard to kill and, if you listen to the news reports, almost everywhere. This would include hotels, movie theaters, retail dressing rooms, offices, dorm rooms, airports - you name it.

Eradicated for the most part by

Read More

The Gardener's Cottage

Hello everyone,

We are having record breaking temperatures here on Prince Edward Island. Yesterday it was 30 degrees Celsius and 38 with the humidity factored in. A little too hot for me but in another day or two and it will be cooler so I will be lazy and sip lemonade and read in a shady spot today.

Last night was pretty warm as well so we decided to sleep out in our little garden cottage(above).

It has lots of windows and doors so there was a lovely breeze coming in all night.

I love waking up to the sun shining in-I do miss all the bird sounds of early spring and summer but I did hear the odd crow! The cottage has electricity so I listened to quiet background music.

It is very peaceful .

Delicate lace nightgown and bed jacket

A good place to read(opposite side)

I was treated to breakfast in bed this morning- a lovely way to start the day! I think we should just move out here in the summertime!

A lovely rose to adorn my breakfast tray.

I made some biscuits yesterday and peach preserves a few weeks ago. Homemade peach preserves are my favorite.

The bed reflected in the vanity mirror(yard sale find).

Angels to guard you as you sleep.

I love to see the lace curtains moving in the breeze.

I think this angel fell asleep on the job!

Well, I hope you enjoyed the sleepover in" the gardener's cottage" and it looks so romantic by candlelight I think I will have to share that with you soon too!

Today is Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch so I am joining in.

Thank you for visiting me and hope you enjoy the other lovely tablescapes at Susan's.

Carolyn

Read More

around the shop

Come and see us!

Read More

Garden Tea

Hello everyone,

With all the lovely weather we are having I am enjoying tea in the garden again today. I hope you can join me! As you can see I have picked a beautiful bouquet from the garden for our table.

The theme is red and cream today.

Many of you know that I love red and white(cream) transferware dishes so we will use them today.

While we are sipping our tea we can enjoy the garden.

This is the hillside garden behind us-it has a lot of different coneflowers in bloom now.

This is the garden from the opposite side of our table.

I am so glad you could join me for tea today! Now I would like to share the good news that my Mom has had her tubes removed and is able to join in the tea party today also. Mom is still very weak but I think now that she can eat again she will get stronger each day. Thank you again for all your compassion and prayers- I am very grateful to you all! I am off to visit her now.

Take care,

Carolyn

Read More

Basic Basil Pesto Recipe

I've encouraged you to try a flavorful and wonderfully aromatic pesto, so here is my recipe entry. It's basic but delicious. You can find all the ingredients at your local market with the possible exception of the pine nuts. They're more popular than they used to be, so try the gourmet section or the baking aisle where they keep the other nuts.

Pesto is best fresh, but you can freeze it in a

Read More

Variegated Obedient Plant

Variegated obedient plant
(physotegia virginiana)

Obedient plant is one of those perennials that has a reputation for spreading aggressively in a garden. I wish!

For three years, I have waited and waited for variegated obedient plant (physotegia virginiana) to create a mass planting. I have three blooms on one clump and one bloom on another clump; no blooms on a third clump.

The variegated foliage is much appreciated in the deer resistant garden, though the deer will definitely eat this plant if they are hungry enough.  At least they allowed me the opportunity to see the beautiful blooms this year, which only makes me want more obedient plant!

According to my research, obedient plant can be grown in zones 2-9, which makes it sound very hardy. The seeds on this variegated variety are sterile, so it does not self-sow.

Last fall, I moved the plants to the part shade of butterfly bushes. That seems to have helped with the blooms, but it probably does well in full sun in cooler zones.

I've not had to stake the 36" high plants. They are narrow enough to fit in among my amsonia hubrichtii with perennial ageratum at the base. Good combinations as the amsonia foliage provides a lovely lush green backdrop until autumn, when it turns a brilliant gold. The buttons of lavender-blue ageratum bloom in late summer and blend well with these spires of lavender.

Do you grow any varieties of obedient plant? Is it behaving or misbehaving in your garden?

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Read More