I love this time of the year. The roses are blooming and the yard is a galaxy of flowers!
We haven’t always had a yard that looks beautiful. But we have always tried, no matter how hard times were, to eke out a little bit to get some blossoms going. Flowers spread joy and happiness. They are a gift from God and I think they are therapy for the soul.
We lived in a very small, one-bedroom home for ten years. We had seven children in that home. We tacked on a couple of little make-shift bedrooms for the kids off of our own bedroom.
It took us a few years to build our new home and we moved in when it wasn’t really liveable. But it was all good….an adventure. Maybe some day I will write about it and dig up some old pictures.
Anyway, when we lived in the little house, (which many called “the shack”) we always had flowers, though not an abundance like we do now. I didn’t plant perennials there and I am glad of that so I didn’t have to say good-bye to them. But we managed somehow to have our little annual flower garden.
I am not known for my green thumb….but I have grown into it. When you invest time and money into something, you learn how to make it work. Flowers mean a lot to us, so my thumb has slowly changed color!!
So…if you can, plant some flowers, nurture them, watch them grow and bloom. Maybe each year you can get a perennial or two so you can enjoy them each growing season and one day have an abundance of easy-to-care-for blossoming smile-makers!
And when the winter months come, get yourself some African Violets for the house. They are not expensive and they will bring a smile to your heart. π
This is a picture of our little granddaughter, Sienna, admiring one of our lovely zinnias. Actually, I think she is ready to pick it apart. π
I love this quote from My Prayer Book by Father Lasance:
“I have always noticed that wherever you find flowers, no matter whether in a garret or in a palace, it is a pretty sure sign that there is an inner refinement of which the world is not cognizant. I have seen flowers cultivated and cherished by some of the lowest and poorest of people. Where these emblems of purity are found, you may rest assured that they represent a hope, and speak of a goodness of heart not to be found where they are absent.”
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These photos areΒ about flowers….and other tidbits of our summer…just stopping and smelling the roses! I hope you are doing the same. π Click on the first picture to view gallery.
- I bought these hearty hibiscus as little one foot plants at $1.50 each! They start blooming in June and bloom all summer long! What a show! (They come up every year, too!!)
- Lots of zinnias! We love zinnias and our table is usually adorned with a bouquet of the vibrant colored flowers!
- Just chillin’ at Grandma’s on a beautiful Monday morning.
- Butterfly Bush blooms make great cut flowers!
- Sitting by the garden…
- This fountain with the rock work was a birthday gift this year.
- This wooden contraption (there is a swing on each side) is one of the most used pieces of furniture in the yard. Vincent made it from materials off the railroad when he was working for them. See the glass insulators on the top?
- We are still working on this fountain. Once it is done we will gather here to say the rosary in the evenings.
- Posing by the new fountain. (Some of us are posing, some are wiping their noses…. π )
- Mike and Jeanette and little Baby Agnes…..I call her Essie for short. When I tried Aggie they shut me down pretty fast. π
- Agnes has serious hair issues but we are doing our best to overcome them! π
- Zinnias!
- Welcome! Come and join us any time! π
- Zinnias! The cucumber plant is trying to take over. I will sneak in when Vincent isn’t looking and hack it off. NOTHING messes with the flowers! hehe
- These are dianthus and are beautiful in all their different colorsl! Gemma (our 10 yr. old) took this picture and I was impressed. See the butterfly?
- In a large family, we sometimes have to take refuge in odd places to have some peace and quiet….
- And it doesn’t last long. π
- This rose blooms once a year but it provides quite a show. I bought it many years ago at Aldi’s for $5.00…and it looked like a stick when I planted it (That’s why it was cheap)!
- Strolling on the road in front of the house. π
- Our new pet, Leon. I’m not into water dragons myself, but a dear friend insisted so we have an interesting neon Leon residing with us now. I now have crickets and worms in my fridge….gross.
- Old, rusty pieces of junk (Vincent specializes in those..hehe) make great yard art and planters!
- Grandpa reveling in his grandbabies….
- Just a Happy Sunday!
- Rosie worked on these two new beds this year.
- Other bed.
- The toads are livin’ in the lap of luxury around here! Angelo built this complex for his little happy-hoppy friends!
- All the kids help to keep weeds down and to water but Rosie is our main outside help. She takes a real interest in the beauty of the yard and her sergeant skills come in handy with the other children….haha.
- Take time to smell those flowers!
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Very very nice! π
great picture post!!!