How to Create Lamb's Ear Roses

 

Happy Holidays, all!  I had the most beautiful lamb's ears this year in my garden and I decided to use them as ornaments for a simple pine wreath combined with sea holly and wild dark blue berries gathered from the farm.

 

 

As centers I used the fuzzy pods from my Star Magnolia tree.

 

 

I used three lamb's ear roses and one unopened blossom at the top.

 

 

Simple and fun to put together.

 

How to make lamb's ear roses for your home.

 

Gather lamb's ear leaves in all sizes.  You will use the smaller leaves for the centers and the larger leaves for the outside petals.

 

Begin with a stem cutting from your garden.  Look for unopened buds or seed pods on your shrubs and trees.  You will need a stem approximately three inches in length.

 

Fold a small lamb's ear leaf in half and wire the leaf at the ends onto the stalk of the woody stem you selected earlier from your garden.  Continue folding small leaves in half and wiring onto the stem.  Once you have petals all around the stem select a larger leaf and fold in half and add as the next layer of petals on your rose.

 

You will continue working in the round adding petals until your rose has reached the desired size.

 

I used thin floral wire to wire the petals in place onto the woody stem.

 

For the unopened blossom you will just add a round of small petals - no need to fold in half.  Use your smallest petals.

 

You can use this same method using any plant material that will hold together once folded in half.  Corn husks, leaves, etc.

 

Blessings,

 

Julie

How To Plant Vintage Glassware

Potting up vintage glassware like retro cups from the 70s, vintage stemware and sherbert dishes in vibrant blues is so special in your kitchen windowsill, on a table in your screened in porch or at your desk in your office.  They brighten up any space...like a hall bathroom.

But, first things first.  You have to gather your supplies.

Cactus Potting Soil

Containers

Plants - succulent varieties

How easy was that?  Simple.simple.simple.

The fun part is going to your favorite antique mall, thrift store or junk shop and selecting your containers.

The second fun stop is going to your favorite nursery to select succulents.  Any variety will do so go wild.  One variety in a container is great, two is even better.

I like to pot up containers at my potting bench outside so that I can be messy and not worry about soil going everywhere as I always manage to fling it here and there.  I don't even know how I do it, but it always happens so I pot outside whenever possible.  

Here are my sweet euchervia and rose moss or portulaca ready to go into these sweet vintage cups.

I adore this pattern on this cup.  I really think I would buy the set of dishes if I found them.  I already own three sets, but I just don't think I could resist them.

Back to potting up the containers.  Chose your favorite container, be sure that it is clean - no junk store debris allowed - if it is dishwasher safe - run it through - that would be best.  Why?  You will be providing a warm, damp container -  the perfect environment for pesky bacteria to grow.  This can wreak havoc for your sweet little plant's roots.  Healthy soil equals a super happy healthy plant.

Remove your plant from it's plastic container by pushing up from the bottom.  Now you have to spread the roots so that your little plant will fit inside your container.  You need to keep as many roots as possible so gently push your finger up into the root ball and spread it apart or in half.

Put a bit of soil in the bottom of the cup, place your little sweetie in the cup next and then add soil around the sides as needed to bring the soil level up on all sides.

Now give your little plant a drink, just 2 tablespoons - I repeat 2 tablespoons only.  Too much water will drown your plant.  Plants need moisture and air to grow at the root level.  Too much water removes any air pockets from the soil and the plant will drown.

If you are potting an euchervia or hen and chick, remove soil from the plant on all sides and bottom so that it will fit in your container.  Use a deeper container for these guys.

Who could resist such a sweet little plant in a vintage glass sherbert dish?

 That's all there is to it.

Except, if your plant will be living inside place it in a sunny window - south or west exposure.  If your little guy is going to the office with you, place under a lamp and it will be happy.  Office lighting will not be sufficient - you need a small lamp.  If you are placing your plant outside - it has to be in a shady area as the container is so small that it will dry out in the sun super quick and will bake in the sun.

So, gather you containers and have some fun.  The containers are just darling at place settings, great gifts for teachers, Mom's love them, Nana's too, they are great for a fund raiser - kid's can do them, too. 

Happy Gardening - Julie

Green Opal Bracelet

As a gardener, I really dislike garlic chives.....they are invasive and spread by root system and by seed. I made the mistake of planting them in my garden over seven years ago and I am still battling them today. Warning: Garlic Chives Are Invasive

I snapped the shot above at my husband's grandparent's farm in Waterville, Kansas. The farm has been abandoned for years and the flower beds are only tended a few times each year by visiting family members. The photo above is the garlic chives gone to seed at the farm.

They are really lovely with their black seeds against the straw colored stems. These little garlic chives have been growing in the flower beds and flourishing without any care, weeding, or water - AND they are thriving. This is where the invasive part comes in yet, again.... Caution: Garlic Chives Are Invasive

I have been busy filling custom orders for the Holidays - thank you all so much! I managed to squeeze in a little time to put this bracelet together made with faceted green opals. I added gold rondelles and beads for interest and a teardrop shaped natural pearl charm.

Those of you familiar with my work know that I like to throw in elements of "toughness" to my jewelry. It's my expression of the feminine - beautiful yet, tough - think Steel Magnolias... or Iron Jawed Angels...

To express this "toughness" I added a leather element to the closure, making a clasp of rawhide cord attached to the gold heart shaped clasp.

My last bouquet of cabbage roses from my garden. I adore them, they are a delicate pink - an old fashioned variety. I was so delighted to find one last group of blossoms in the month of November which is really rare for this time of year. Now these blossoms are dried and in my windowsill to remind me of Spring blossoms.

The Christmas tree is up, filled with silver and white balls and tiny mirrors in the shape of little birds, my favorite Christmas ornaments for my tree each year. A capiz shell star at the tip top of the tree and simple white lights seem perfect this year. My tree is contained in the Chrismas Tree corral my sweet husband made for me years ago. I'll try to take a few shots for you... it's really something special. It's of Czechoslavian design and provides the perfect place for presents under the tree.

We had our first snowfall last night that covered the pine tree branches with lovely white snow....it's beginning to look alot like Christmas in the prairie lands.... xo Julie

Zinnias My Favorite Flower

Each year I plant zinnias at the farm and agonize over whether they will survive in the country without nurturing.  I planted zinnias in record numbers this year from all of the seed I collected at Summer's end last year.  I had one half of a five gallon bucket full of seeds to plant!  And I did.

After weeks of worry and wishes... here are my zinnias now almost three feet tall providing me with all the cut flowers I could ever wish for.  As always I gather a bouquet for my Mom, carrying them to her as I did when I was a little girl.  She loved them.  

This year I have loads of bright red zinnias and they are amazing.  Huge blossoms on sturdy long stems, perfect for floral arrangements fresh and dried.  They just scream look at me!

Angus follows me along as I try to capture how incredibly beautiful the zinnias are this year for you, but he is camera shy.  He always looks away at just the moment the shutter snaps open.  

Zinnias are beautiful even before they open with brilliant green foliage and tiny blossoms beginning to form everywhere - it's soon to be a zinnia explosion at the farm.

There are singles, doubles, variegated varieties in lemon yellow, pink, peach, white, cream, orange and russet.
Hah!  Gotcha, it takes quick timing and trickery to get Angus to look into the camera for a shot of his sweet face.  Isn't he cute with his large ears and soulful eyes?  We call him our   "buddy boy" around our house.  He is such a sweet spirited little guy.  He loves everyone, dogs, cats - but draws the line with chipmunks and squirrels his sworn enemies.  He gets so excited when he sees them and makes such a racket that they are usually long gone before he gets there.  Silly buddy boy.

Truck Garden in the Country

Our little garden in the country at the farm is referred to as a truck garden by the local farmers.  I think that this means a small garden.  The weeds have not taken over the garden yet, we are keeping pace with them so far....however we are one week away from loosing the battle.  If we do not weed the garden once every two weeks then all bets are off and the weeds will take dominion over the garden.

We have planted green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, radish, beets, red onion, and three varieties of potatoes.  

Last year we lost the battle with the weeds which reduced the amount of produce we were able to harvest.  We were happy to pick what veggies that managed to survive in spite of their weedy neighbors.
The beets are doing well with bright red stems and leafy greens, not quite large enough for pulling out of the ground just yet.
Lovely carrots that are so sweet and delicious.  Caleb and Tasha loved them over the weekend.  It is one of my happiest moments when the little ones come over pick veggies out of the garden, and then happily eat them after they have been washed and peeled.
Tiny green bean blossoms and the beginnings of beans on the vines.  Tiny little green beans not a half of an inch long will soon grow to 5 inches in length in a little over a week.
Royal Burgundy green beans that have purple stems and dark green foliage.  The blossoms are deep pink compared to the lighter pink of the bush green beans.  The Royal Burgundy beans will be a dark purple in color but will turn green when cooked.
Sweet potato vines with perfectly heart shaped leaves will be ready for harvest in late Summer or early Fall.

At the beginning of every garden season we are filled with hope and delight of planting the seeds, watching them sprout and grow.  Every visit to the garden is so rewarding.  As the growing season progresses and the Summer heat and wind takes it toll the plants loose their lush green leaves due to pests, wind damage and the hot blazing sun.  However, the produce is usually at it's peak during this time.

This reminds me of my life as well, I may not be as young as I once was - but, I am definitely becoming more productive as I get older through the years.  

Rose Alice's Iris

An Iris Blessing

May your blooms be floriferous and in good form,

Distinctive, with good substance, flare, and airborne,

With standards and falls that endure, never torn.

May you display many buds and blooms sublime,

In graceful proportion on strong stalks each day,

Gently floating above the fans and the fray.

May you too reach toward the moon and stars,

Bloom after bloom, many seasons in the sun,

Enjoying your life, health, and each loved one,

Until your 'living days are artfully done.

By Georgia Gudykunst

As I drive along in an afternoon jaunt, going no where in a hurry, just enjoying the day and the countryside. I slow down and really look around at the fields as they pass by and I see the green pastures with the cattle quietly grazing in the afternoon sun. It always causes a tiny place in my chest of open up and I feel the joy released into my soul. It never fails to heal a broken part of me.

I always say a quiet "thanks" for this moment and the gift of small things. I wonder if anyone else does this? Am I strange? Why do we not talk about these moments of wonder and gratitude.

When my son was little I would ask him to look at the cow in the pasture and remark on what a lucky cow to live in such a beautiful place with sweet grass to eat. When he was little and before he became jaded he would remark on how the cow was indeed lucky - like how the cow must be happy to hear those birds singing in the trees while she eats her lunch.

Later when age had opened his eyes, he would comment on the fate of the cow being turned into hamburgers. Then we would have a discussion about ignorance is truly bliss.

One enduring pleasure each Spring is the appearance of Iris blossoms that seem to survive in seemingly impossible places like roadside ditches, in weedy yards of abandoned houses and in fields. Waste areas brightened by these tough, resilient and long living flowers.

My great grandmother's house has been gone for years - almost 30 years but her Iris still bloom where her house used to be and the ditch along the road that passes by the now empty place where she raised her children and her grandchildren played. I remember staying with her and how long her hair was when she removed the pins at night preparing for bed. I remember her kitchen where we shared meals and her piano in the living room. I remember the tapestry she had hanging on the wall and how odd I thought that was. I remember her removing the little leather coin purse from her handbag and giving each of her great grandchildren a coin for candy. I remember her robin's egg blue gloves, hat and matching handbag.

I remember how surprised I was the first time I was shown photos of her as a child, teenager, young woman and her wedding photo. She was so young, and I could see the family resemblance - she looked alot like me. But, she was old that day with sagging, wrinlked skin, and watery eyes that looked at me in adoration. She loved her great grandchildren with their tiny hands and boundless energy. She would laugh at our antics and pat us gently as we rushed past her chair before my mother would send us outside to run among the Iris.

My great grandmother's name was Rose Alice and I think of her each time I see an Iris in a roadside ditch.

What's Blooming In My Garden This Morning

I felt the need to grab my camera and go into my garden this morning to see what was blooming and to capture the moment.  Spring blossoms fade so quickly and then they are gone until next Spring.

I was really excited to see the Clemantis in bloom, even more beautiful this year.  Gardeners say that the third year is the miracle year when adding perennials to the garden - in my experience that is true....so I can't wait until next Spring, my third year after planting. 

"I notice that it is only when my mother is working in her flowers that she is radiant; almost to the point of being invisible - except as Creator:  hand and eye.  She is involved in work her Soul must have.  Ordering the Universe in the image of her personal conception of Beauty." - Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mother's Gardens, 1983  

I planted his Peony last year and this will be the first year for blossoms.  I am so anxious to see this one bloom in a deep cherry red.   Peonies remind me of elementary school when it was okay to bring your teachers flowers from the family garden.  I would select each blossom with care, wrap the stems in a wet paper towel and hold the blossoms in my hands on my lap as we bumped along the country roads on the way to school in the old yellow bus.  

The smile on my teacher's face as she brought the blossoms to her noise to inhale the signature scent of the Peony was my reward.  It made me so happy to see the blossoms on her desk in a make shift vase throughout the school day.  I only wish we could have had blossoms at our desks as well.  

"Flowers...have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike strains of music.  They relax the tenseness of the mind.  They dissolve its vigor."  - Henry Ward Belcher, American clergyman, (1813-1887)

Snowball Hydrangea in it's fifth year of growth standing at 9 feet in height.  I love the chartreuse blossoms that fade into creamy white before blowing away in the breeze like snow flakes.  
Scourge of the lawn and garden - the dandelion.  Aren't they exquisite in design?  Brilliant yellow blossoms, edible salad greens loaded with antioxidants and magical snow white lacy heads that burst into the air when a child blows on the snowy orb.   Magic.

Another dreadful plant the creeping buttercup that threads runners just beneath the soil sprouting its' progeny prolifically.  My Grandmother always used this plant as a ground cover for waste areas of her garden.  My sister in law, Laurie recently purchased an older home that she is renovating - it's beautiful by the way - and she has an area that she would like to put groundcover.  This may be the old fashioned plant for her!  

Pink Dogwood is so beautiful in the Spring.  I was so happy that we did not have the late freeze this year that stole the joy of blossoms from us last year.

"The sun shone for nearly a week on the secret garden.  The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it.  She like the name, and she liked the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was.  It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place." - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911

A Little Bit of Spring

Dogwood Blossom from my tree.

It's rumored by our local meterologists that we will receive snowfall tomorrow - up to six inches of snow in Kansas. The tulips are in bloom, the jonquils, crocus, grape hyacinth, daffodils, narcissis......sigh.

We have been having balmy days at times in the 70's and everyone has Spring Fever. We are so ready to be in our gardens digging in the dirt planting our seedlings. So full of hope for the upcoming growing season where we will harvest our wonderful flowers in a few months time.
Molly and Angus love to sit at this window in the living room where they keep watch over the garden. From this vantage point they can see all the "goings on" in the garden. The birds, bees and butterflies are welcome, but the dreaded chipmunk and squirrel are NOT ALLOWED. Angus and Molly race for the door to be released into the garden to chase away all four legged visitors. However, they make such a racket going down the stairs into the garden that any critters that were there have a big head start.
This is my tiny vegetable garden in the city that is located in my backyard. I plant herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, asparagus, green peppers, sunflowers, and green beans. We harvest lots of tomatoes in the Summer and my very favorite tomato of all is the Sungold cherry tomato. Molly loves them as well and will delicately grasp one in her teeth and gently pull it from the vine, run into the yard, lie down and munch away. She just loves them.
Herbs gone wild in the garden - basil, oregano, chives, and thyme. The euchinaca or coneflowers are there for color and honey bees.
This little spot is tucked away by my potting table and I fill it with low growers like alyssium, sedum, iris, lady's mantle, forget me nots, and petunias. I also plant morning glories to grow up the trellis and a lovely tea rose.
This is my potting table in the garden my hubby made me from a repurposed cast iron sink with a functioning faucet. I love it. The sink was in a house that we renovated and was going to be thrown away - Oh No, don't throw that away, I can use that! How many times has by hubby heard me say that? Countless....
Another section of the flower garden for the tall growers like cleome. Molly is always in search of chippies (chipmunks) when she is in the garden. She is certain that they are hiding everywhere underneath the flowers. They are fat little things as they feed on the bird seed that I fill the feeders with year around.

I love my various little gardens that I fill with flowers, herbs, and - well, anything I like. I have a lounger that I sit in at the end of the day under a flowering plum tree with a glass of wine listening to the bees hum, and watch the butterflies flutter from blossom to blossom. It's my favorite end to a day.

I can endure the upcoming snow flurry knowing that in only a few short months I will be in the garden enjoying another lovely sunset.

Planting Potatoes at the Farm

Here's my little buddy, Angus, my Rat Terrier mix.  Angus loves gardening season.  He is my little garden shadow following me around, napping nearby, watching with interest as I dig and bury things in the soil.   When you think about it, gardening is something a dog would totally get - digging and burying.

We had the most lovely day for planting, it was sunny and warm - the perfect day.  It was also Dan's birthday and the first year he has planted potatoes on his birthday.  It is a little risky to plant potatoes before mid March, but the day was too beautiful not to be outside gardening.

Early Spring planting is limited to white and red potatoes, red onions, radish, carrots, and beets.  We plant the non fussy crops at the farm and the more high maintenance crops in the city where we spend most of our time so that we can watch over them like lettuce, spinach, peas and broccoli.

We also planted four grapevines, adding them to the arbor and planning for a second arbor on the next visit.  We will also be transplanting black raspberries this Spring and planting more fruit trees.

The existing fruit trees are in poor condition.  They have borers and haven't been pruned in years.  I gave them a severe pruning, opening up the middle of the trees and lopping off cross branches and vertical branches.  I will sacrifice fruit production this year for better yields next year.  

We picked rock again, the freeze and thaw of Winter heaves the rocks to the surface of the soil and picking rock is part of the garden preparation process each year.  We filled 12 five gallon buckets with rock which I am using for a rock garden.  

After all that work , Molly, my Jack Russell, is ready for a break - stretching out in the warm and soft soil - I think it's time for a little nap.  

Life with dogs or cats - what a blessing.  Except when Molly drops her ball on the seeds you are planting so that you will have to pick it up and toss it out of the way - again and again.  She doesn't care how much you fuss at her or yell at her to knock it off.  She just wags her tail and waits for the ball to be tossed away.

Sweet Angus, he is the sweetest dog EVER.  He loves everyone, especially other bubber hounds.  He knows no strangers and is always eager to make new friends.  He's the calmer of the two, more friendly than Molly and a brilliant little dog.  He is so easy to train - I highly recommend Rat and Fox Terriers.  They are great pets.  I always caution against, Jack Russells like Molly - they are a hand full, willful, and tenacious - they require a firm hand and loads of exercise.  Otherwise, they will destroy your house and garden.

Red onion sets for the garden - my favorite.  I use them alot in cooking adding them to salads, chili, cheese steaks, italian dishes and they are especially good on cheeseburgers.  Is it lunchtime?

The little white shed in the background is my future chicken house.  We will rennovate it this Spring it needs a new roof, paint, new windows, door, etc.  We are considering adding a red roof in honor of Dan's grandparents who had white buildings and red roofs when he was growing up.  

We love organic brown eggs and purchase them from local suppliers when available.  The shells are thick and the yolks the brightest orange - they taste buttery - delicious.  I am so anxious to have a ready supply of eggs and pest control in the garden.  Chickens are great at keeping the garden free of bugs.

Seed potatoes ready to be quartered leaving several eyes per wedge.  We planted the three varieties of potatoes this year and will have loads of potatoes to share with family and friends.

It was a glorious day, spent in the sunshine with a gentle breeze, birds singing, tiny frogs creaking and cows mooing in the distance.  I wish you could have been there with me...