My Lilies Are In Bloom!

     I planted lily bulbs back in late March not knowing if they would sprout into full plants.  I'm not one to start plants from seeds or bulbs .  .  .  .  I don't have what you would call a "green thumb" and I usually want to actually see what I'm getting, but I couldn't resist buying the bulbs while shopping at BJ's.  Lilies are suppose to be "easy care, showy flowers that add beauty and color to any landscape".  Now how could I resist that? Anyway, the bulbs did sprout - I would check on them almost everyday.  What's that saying .  .  a watched pot doesn't boil?  First, (I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of their growth)  the plants sprouted long, slender leaves along the length of the stem, and next large pods formed from which flamboyant flowers appeared:

                                 These plants were so successful!!!

Aren't these lovely?  The lily is certainly a "best pick" for someone just starting out in their garden and a proven winner for those who have been gardening for some time.    ENJOY!   

Keepsakes

     You know how it is when relatives come to visit and you sit around eating and drinking and bringing up things you didn't know about. On a recent visit, my niece, Patricia, and her mother, Maria, told me about a picture my sister-in-law had made of a ponytail lock from her daughter as a child.  They told me how my niece's husband found it "creepy" that a piece of her hair was mounted and put on display and wanted it removed from the wall of their home. I was intrigued as to what the picture actually looked like so I asked my niece to send me a copy.

When I saw it, it immediately stirred something in my heart. My niece has always been an important part of my life. From the time she was a baby, until now, our lives have intertwined.  I have so many fond memories  .  .   . 

This picture is a keepsake that makes me smile.  As a child, Patricia always had thick, long hair. My mother, who often took care of her grand-daughter,  had a time combing and brushing her hair. It would often tangle and I would get a kick out of the expressions on Patricia's face when grandma struggled with the knots she created. The ribbons in the picture also made me think of the ribbons my mother loved tying around Patricia's hair.

                    And this fabric looks like a   

              handmade eyelet dress

                 Patricia wore as a child.

My niece's husband needs to understand that there are items in everyone's home that have sentimental value and most would be disappointed to lose them. We take care in choosing the right spot . . . the right shelf or wall space . . . to display them. And once these keepsakes are in place, the house feels more like home!

                                                                                                                                






                                              

PINCUSHIONS

Sterling Silver Pincushion, Needle and Spoon Holder

 My sister-in-law, Maria, is from Brazil, and a few years ago, she went back for a visit. While there, she watched a cousin make adorable pincushions out of 2 liter Coke bottles. Back home,  Maria decided to try her hand at making the pincushions. Once she made one, she couldn't stop.  As I looked at how cute and unique her pincushions turned out, I couldn't help but wonder how the original "pincushion" came about?  I  discovered that as early as the 1300's, metal pins were very costly, precious items ad hard to find.  They were kept in small cases made of bone, ivory, or silver.  These  cases were often called pin keeper, pin case, pin poppet or tuffet.

Pink Antique Pincushion - Handmade American Shaker 1800's-1900's

At the beginning of the 1700's, simple stuffed shapes started to be used instead of the cases and were called pin-pillows.  They were made of colorful and elaborately decorated silks, linens, canvas, or satin.  The parlor room became the perfect place to display the novelty pincushions of that time.  






The pin-pillow evolved into mounted cushions. Silver or wooden stands were topped with these pin-pillows.

Large Antique Sewing Companion with Spool Holders & Pincushion Top

Many of the  pincushions were made in the shape of baskets, shoes, dolls, teacups, eggcups, fans, fruits, and vegetables.  Often, the pincushion was actually used more as a home decor item than as a sewing tool. They were hung on the walls or placed on tables.

Antique Victorian Sewing Bird Thread Holder Pincushion Quilt Clamp

During the 1900's, pincushions became more useful as sewing aids.  Clamp pincushions were decorative and functional.  They would be screwed onto a table edge while holding the fabric in place.

Victorian Mauchline Ware Treen Pin Cushion Sewing Haddon Hall c1890

Today, pincushions play an important part of our sewing history and a collectible that comes in many, many designs.

  








 Typically, it is a small cushion that is used in sewing to store pins or needles with their heads protruding so as to take hold of them easily, collect them, and keep them organized.  Pincushions are usually filled tightly with stuffing, so as to hold pins rigidly when placed.



Not many people actually have time to sit down and whip up their own

homemade pincushions.   For all the people out there who might want a pincushion, for whatever reason .  .  .  . Sewing, Gift-Giving, or Decor, here are some totally cute and gorgeous PINCUSHIONS by Maria.   

ENJOY!

Gardenias

When I got married over forty years ago, I carried a bouquet of gardenias. At the time, I was drawn to the gardenia  because of it's fragrant, delicate white flower that seemed intoxicating. I've tried growing gardenia plants through the years with no success. On numerous occasions, my niece has brought me transplanted gardenias from her and her mother's yard in North Carolina. Recently, we moved to Millersville, Maryland, and once again, my niece has given me several gardenia plants for my new home.

 This time I decided to do some research on basic care and growth requirements in hopes of maintaining a lasting and rewarding relationship with my gardenia plants. I discovered that gardenias are tricky plants that are very particular about their growing conditions. They also require some consistent maintenance in order to keep them happy and beautiful. Many people, and I hope not to become one of them, give up on gardenias because of their finicky nature.  However, once I understand what a gardenia needs to survive, growing them will be very rewarding with their glossy green foliage and fragrant white blossoms.

 Gardenia Requirements are Very Exact:       

• It demands bright (not direct) light - some shading in the summer (in the hottest areas)
• It flourishes in acidic soils with good drainage
• Keep the soil with plenty of organic matter, moist, but not soggy
• It demands high humidity, or daily misting
• Heavy feeding
• Cool night temperatures

 I also discovered that gardenias are cold sensitive and may die during severe winters - something that can and has happened in my area.

For now, my gardenia plants are thriving.












Just this morning, I discovered a beautiful blossom on one of the plants. This, in itself, is a success story  .   .   . .   .   I've never had a gardenia plant to bloom!






See the morning dew? Oh, how pretty
 it is!!!

My Home Made Garden Fountain

The sound of running water is both soothing and relaxing. Having a garden fountain or water pond is something I've always wanted but never got around to actually having.  Years ago I even visited a "lily pond" with hopes of building one in my massive backyard. My husband and son never took to the idea of digging a hole, and manually performing all the strenuous tasks of creating a water feature, no matter how many hints I made. We've moved to a place with a much smaller backyard.  Recently, I came across a display of a garden fountain at a local nursery. It was basically a large ceramic bowl with a bamboo spout inserted in water. The sound was simply serene and I found it very relaxing.  The kit was relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of most water fountains. I thought, "I could do this"!  I bought the kit, which stated:

 "Turn Any Container Into A Fountain!"

• Easy to Set Up
• 100% Natural Bamboo
• Split Resistant Bamboo
• Long Lasting Craftsmanship
• Relaxing Sound & Motion

I had a very large plastic container (25" diameter) I got at Costco for $19.99. The color matched everything on my patio so I was thrilled about that!       

 The Bamboo Water Spout & Pump Fountain Kit was an easy 3-Step Setup.  Since the diameter of the barrel was 25 inches, I bought an 18" adjustable height spout kit which would fit on any 15"-30" diameter bowl.
Step One  Loosen the black string on the bamboo by sliding it sideways.  Adjust the support arms to the desired position on the rim of the barrel, then tighten.

Step Two  Attach the pump to the end of the plastic tube.  Submerge pump into water. The pump cord goes over the rim of the water container.

  For decorative purposes, I placed rocks resting on top of the bamboo support arms and in the bottom of the barrel. You can also see a "North Carolina Jasmine" plant behind the barrel. I also added submersible led lights to the bottom of the container.

 Step Three  Plug in the pump and adjust the flow on the front of the pump.  I had fun decorating with plants, and rocks.  I think I might add a "frog" I saw floating in the water at the nursery.

                                                                              




  Bamboo fountains add a beautiful mix of sound and motion to any environment.  Bamboo is said to bring good luck and provide Feng Shui to a space.

We are definitely enjoying the simplicity and serenity of this natural bamboo water feature!

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Container Flower Arrangement

 I made the flower arrangement yesterday for my front door area and now I'm not so sure if I want to put it there. After I took the time to plant each flower I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of the process.  Dummy me - I just wasn't thinking. I just wanted to hurry up and plant the flowers.  I can tell you what kind I planted, where I got them and how much they cost.

 These are IMPATIENS in white, deep pink and       salmon colors. I found them at Walmart for 

98 cents.

Plum with white edges PETUNIAS also came from Walmart. 98 cents, too.

 SALVIA (Purple) was found at the same place, same price   .  .  .  .

I added trailing VINCA VINES ($2.29 at Home Depot) in the corners and a CORDYLINE (Red Star) plant ($9.99 at Home Depot) in the center to give the arrangement some height.

I previously got the planter late winter, at Marshals for $19.99.

And, this is how it turned out!

Still don't know where to put it  .  .   .


                              but, in the meantime  .  .   .



                                             I can't wait to see the plants grow!

                                                            

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