Flower Power Friday......Buttercup

Beautifully bright Buttercup...these small yellow flowers are found in meadows and along country roads.  On a sunny day hold the flower under your chin and the bright yellow petals will bath your chin in yellow.

Last weekend I was at the Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival.  It was my first show of the season and the rain had threatened this event, but the sun ended up shining on everyone all day.  The crowds were good and sales even better.  It was great fun!  I had added new images to my collection which sold well and got great reviews.  I make it a habit to have something new every year for returning customers.  Slowly but surely I am finding my niche and I am loving it!  I will definitely do this festival next year.

Now I am preparing for the Belfast Arts in the Park show for July 7th & 8th.  I had done this show before, but was not accepted a few years ago and decided to try it again this year.  I am curious to see how well I will do.  It is one of the few shows that is kinda close to home.  If your in the area stop on in.

Have a safe and wonderful

4th of July!!!!!



Flower Power Friday....Beautiful Peonies

It has been a very very busy week.  I have been hard at work preparing for the Saco Sidewalk Art Festival this Saturday 9am-4pm.  The weather is looking a little questionable with rain.  Last year was my first year there and when I arrived it was pouring down rain and was cloudy and light shower most of the day.  This year we have had a heat wave with the so call 3 HHH's (hazy,hot and humid).  A cold front is approaching ever so slowly and my be around through Saturday which means possible thunderstorms.  BUMMER!  You know for the most part I accept what ever weather comes by way when I do these festivals.  It is just part of the job.  But you know it wouldn't hurt to have some nice weather for my first show of the season.  You know what I mean!  Saco is celebrating 250th Anniversary so I hope the people will come rain or shine.

The Peony is absolutely my most favorite flower I have ever grown!  The Peonies here are single bloom, but they come in a gorgeous double blooms and many other types of blooms too.  Some are very fragrant too!  Colors are mostly pinks and whites.  Some rich dark pinks almost burgundy color.   There are yellows and coral colors which are beautiful and expensive to have.

These flowers are in a shrub form and are great alone or as a border.  They bloom in the late Spring.  Transplanting them should be done in the fall.  They do very well in cool climates.  So they may not do so well in the South unless shaded.  They do prefer full sun.  Very hardy and deer resistant!  Once the flowers have bloomed they should be deadheaded.  The Peony shrub will stay green all season.  In the fall they should be cut back to make way for the new growth in the Spring.

Just a note...in the Spring before the Peonies get too big you should get a peony hoop support for them.  The flowers makes the shrub very top heavy and the peony hoop support will keep them off the ground.  You can get these supports at almost any garden center.

Here is a link where you can get alot more information and where to buy some of these beauties.  www.songsparrow.com They also have a great selection of hostas and daylilies.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Flower Power Friday......Lupine

This week's flower is the Lupine.  These Lupines are growing in my backyard, but are very common throughout Maine.

Last year I planted 3 colors of Lupine, white, purple and pink in the meadow out back.  The goal is to let the lupines fill in the meadow.  Last year they all bloomed well and the white were especially abundent.  This year no signs of the white, the purple only 1 stalk and the pink are doing very well.  Not sure what went wrong.  Maybe next year they will all be blooming.  I will say the plants came back, just not all the blooms.  Bummer! 

My peaches are getting bigger every day.  I am seeing more of them too.

I have planted tomatoes, peppers, cukes, basil and sunflowers.  All of which are doing well.  I thought for a bit there that I had to replant my sunflowers due to all the rain we had last week, but after some drying out I saw them starting to pop up.  I have tried to grow peppers in the past, but with little luck.  I am hoping this year will be better. 

Have a fabulous weekend! 

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads

I Love You Dad!

Blueberries!!!!!!

Blueberry season is coming soon.  The blueberries in my garden are sizing up just fine.  And plenty of them too! Can't wait to have yummy blueberry pancakes with blueberry sauce or maybe blueberry lemon bread no no how about blueberry muffins no wait blueberry smoothie, ooooh how about blueberry pie yum!  I guess I had better have alot of blueberries.  How many different ways can you think of eating blueberries?

Here is my "Blueberries" treasury more ways to enjoy blueberries

See you on Friday for Flower Power Friday

Ben 2000-2012

This past week has been tough for me.  I have had to say goodbye to one of the best canine companions a person could have.  Ben had been diagnosed with a brain tumor back in March of this year.  He had lived longer than the Vets had anticipated.  The past month or so we noticed he was getting gradually worse and we (Mom and I) were giving him all the TLC we could to keep him happy.  He fought a long battle and didn't give in until the last few days he was with us.   To watch him slowly fade was heart wrenching to say the least! 

He was a very happy dog and protective.  He was a Gentle Ben, because he was just that gentle, could never hurt a thing.  Very obedient.  I never had to train him.  He was always willing to do anything for me or Mom.  There will never be another like him.  I will always remember him.

This dog is a true "Free Spirit".

Thank you for letting me go on about Ben.

I've Been Found!!!!

Wow!  I've heard of Gray Squirrels being a nuisance at bird feeders, but these Brown Squirrels top the cake.  I started with one and it was cute.  Then 2 and I was still okay with it, but now there is 3 and a Chipmunk!!!!  Someone is spreading the word.............The first Brown Squirrel that started coming around we suspect is a female who perhaps has a litter of babies.  The other 2 not really sure.  One I wonder if it's from her litter since she doesn't seem to mind him/her around.  Either way I now have to figure out how to deter them.

This little guy along with his cohorts finished birdseed in the house feeder and now he is working the finch feeder as the Finches and Sparrows and Cowbirds watch and wait!!!

I will say my cat Dexter keeps a very close eye on all 3 of the squirrels and the chipmunk.  He would love to go get em, but brown squirrels are mean and I'm afraid Dexter wouldn't have a chance!  Not that I would let him do it even if he did have a chance.

In case you missed them here are my Treasuries for the week

I was feelin groovy when I made this treasury

Some great artists on Etsy

Finally Nothin tastes better than Maine Lobstah!!

Have a Awesome Weekend!!!