Seeds....

New Typography Digital Downloads in The Garden Shed!

I'm excited! All images are my own original photography with inspiring, motivational and literary quotes.

Come see!



Last Night's Sunset...

 ...was a beauty!

xo

New Spring Flowers at The Garden Shed

 

NEW Spring Flower digital download images just listed at

The Garden Shed!

 

A few holiday images from The Garden Shed

...instant downloads that are lovely for do-it-yourself gift tags, Christmas photo cards and holiday memories~ come see!

 

The Garden Shed ReOpens!

I'm excited to announce that after a long hiatus (almost three years!), I've reopened my Etsy photography shop, The Garden Shed! A facelift, lots of new nature, flower and travel images being listed over the next couple of weeks and a new focus have me very energized!



 

All images are available using Etsy's new Instant Download feature which allows you to directly print your new art and save the wait and cost of shipping.

 

Peonies ~ Cottage Chic

 Perfect for the Do It Yourself-er, you can incorporate the images to create your own Wall Décor, Greeting Cards, Prints, Digital Backgrounds, Scrapbooking, Nursery Art, Note Cards, Gift Tags, T-shirts, Pillows, Gifts and so much more!! Photos may be printed as many times as you wish for personal use!

Emergence ~ Pink Chives

Pink and Yellow Gerbera Daisies

Soar

Be Yourself

Paradise

Cotton Candy Clouds

Timeless

Sailing

~ I hope you'll drop by and check it out!



The Garden Path...

A quiet spot in a wee woodsy corner of the garden~

I've neglected almost all my 'normal' online activities for a few weeks now (including my poor blog) and been up to my nose in the garden...have a look!

views of the main garden and shed...I love seeing the lake in the distance!
We had an huge oak tree that had to be cut down a couple of years ago (we counted 122 rings in the trunk!) which left a huge spot in the yard that got full sun~ well of course I couldn't resist and a new garden was born. Most of the plants were moved from several older beds that were all overgrown...lots of them needed to be divided and honestly, I had just walked right on by for more summers than I care to remember. They've established themselves and filled in nicely in just it's second year! And the flower boxes are overflowing~ I love it!

What's blooming today?

Mary Mary quite contrary

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

*****

It's great to be back in my garden! With the building of our new cottage and plans for changes in the yard, it suffered from much neglect last summer. Overgrown and wildly out of control, I was not that motivated to do anything~ now, with the trucks and equipment pretty much gone, I've been right into it for more than a week. After hours of raking, weeding, cutting, tying up, edging beds, adding compost, moving and rescuing, digging and planting
(and worth every ounce of effort), my garden is beautiful and ready for summer!

A few years ago, I went to an auction in a village close to town~ it was at an old farmhouse on a winding country road. Alongside the barn was a huge patch of solomon's seal that I fell instantly in love with...I started my own patch under the flower boxes on our garage wall. They are blooming today!

Sweet forget-me-nots...enough this year to be considered a 'wave' of little blue and yellow flowers!

My lilacs are about 12 years old and are finally what I'd call a hedge! I remember a beautiful row of lilacs dripping over the fence from our neighbor's yard when I was a child...I'd cut some for a sweet smelling bouquet. This bouquet from my bushes is sitting in the morning sunshine on my kitchen counter. I'll be planting some more along the wall of the new cottage along with an old fashioned hydrangea vine as soon as the bed is dug~ can't wait!

A friend and I visit a beautiful garden early each summer~ it's owner is an amazingly inspiring gardener. She told me about a plant called sweet cicely, with little seedpods that taste like licorice. Last year I got a piece of her huge plant. It survived the winter and has spouted fern like leaves and wee feathery white flowers~ so pretty!

sweet cicely

...and last but not least, bleeding hearts in pink and white~ just gorgeous!

*****

The weekend forecast is sunny and warm so today, I'll be planting some of my flower boxes...heading for the garden shed NOW!

thanks for stopping by...karon

New in The Garden Shed ~ w h i s p e r

'None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.'

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

.........

A cloud of soft pink filipendula whispers in the light summer breeze ... w h i s p e r is a short photographic series of these gorgeous, delicate flowers and the first two are now available in my photography shop,

The Garden Shed.

w h i s p e r, 5 x 7 Photograph

Etsy Fresh Shop Voter

Wooooohooooooo! My new shop, The Garden Shed, is in this week's Etsy Voter!!!!!! Please drop by and check out all these fabulous new shops http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=60. I'd LOVE your vote!

karon

What's Blooming Today? Lilies

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily."

~ Chinese Proverb

I'm a bit of a garden 'slug' by this point in the summer. After a spring of colorful blooms and careful attention to the weeds, by mid-July, I mostly want to sit on the beach! There is a definite lull in the sequence of blossoms and the plants are so large, I feel overwhelmed by what will be required to bring them back under control (the beach is sounding more inviting with every passing moment!).

The lilies are showstoppers this week, however, and here are a few of my favorites...this soft pink just makes me blissful! Last summer, the deer sauntered down the path into what they considered their personal salad bar and ate EVERY delicious one. Outsmarted this season, these lilies are in full glorious bloom and are simply gorgeous!

A pretty spotted Asiatic Lily in bright pink and yellow lanquishes in the light of the setting sun.

simply white with rusty freckles

Wednesday Wonders ~ Six Spectacular Bags!

I'll admit it (and anyone who knows me will attest to it!), I have an absolute love of bags...totes, purses, clutches, book bags, computer bags, grocery bags...it's a sickness, really. I attribute it partly to my love of color and texture and partly to my urge to organize things. And why not slip all your bits in the perfect pocket in a pretty bag?

While we were in Bar Harbor, I came across this wonderful tote made from recycled boat sails by Sea Bags in Portland, Maine. The crisp, nautical blue and white is a classic ~ this one found its way home with me!

In celebration of summer beach days, market shopping and everyday 'lugging', this week's Wednesday Wonders features some of my favorite totebag finds on Etsy...please toss in your 'carry alongs', sling one over your shoulders and enjoy these beautiful totes!

Sailor tote XLarge..... in red by bayanhippo

Big City Linen Bag by tortillagirl

The Everyday Tote by fray

Large Hobo Slouch Bag with adjustable Strap by fromnancy

X-Large Orange and Red Retro Pattern Cotton Fabric Tote by jenniferburkin

Bar Harbor, Maine

One of our most anticipated summer pleasures is our holiday along the coast of Maine. Bar Harbor is a charming seaside town chock full of nautical history, delightful shops and an array of restaurants offering everything from the expected seafood to an authentic Cuban menu (delicious, by the way!). Our favorite hotel, The Bar Harbor Inn, is situated on Frenchman's Bay and offers amazing panoramic sunset and seaviews. There is a ton of activity in the harbor itself~ lobster boats, whale watching tours, sunset sails...we love to wander and enjoy the sights and sounds of this busy little town!

One of my favorite shops, window panes offers a selection of unique items for your home and garden and some beautiful fine crafts! There is a vintage inspired antique white wicker loveseat, chair and tables on their second floor that I've been drooling over for two years...it may be required for our new cottage!

This charming antique shop is one of my 'must visits' ! The porch is a cacophony of color, dishes and garden 'junk' that just make my little heart go pitter-pat! I always find some little treasure to add to my collection :)

Colorful yellow and green cups and saucers reminded me of my vintage seller friends on Esty ~ so adorable! (the friends too!)

I took several shots of this pretty blue bench tucked among the flower pots and boxes ~ it's such a cheery blue!

.....

The weather was a bit gray and wet but we had a lovely time! Til next summer!