Once the harvest is over I will be moving the herb bed to another location (hopefully with a knot layout) and preparing the current area for a new dining/entertaining spot under a small gazebo and new taller planting beds for easier access along the sunnier west side. We plan also to replace the bark paths with red sandstone. I am trying to save a spot for a cut-flower garden as well. So it’s a massive overhaul to add to our list of  to-dos. Rick is taking a welding class that should come in handy when it’s time to make the gazebo. (I’m getting away with taking an oil and watercolor painting class- lucky me!)

Here is a little pictorial tour…

Under the arbour is a lovely for place for sitting with a glass of wine or dining with friends

The zucchini plants that take over the earth The red sandstone beds will be recycled into pathways

Ripening Blackberries amongst the violet leaves

A bowl of Blackberries- what should I make now?

Blossoming Garlic Chives

Merlot grapes are ripe over the arbour

Close up of Merlots on the trellis – a little behind the ones on the arbour as far as ripening goes.

A “Johann Straus” rosebud

“Johann Strauss Floribunda Rose in bloom”

The never ending zucchinis

Lovely jewels of tomatoes- BLT anyone?

St. Francis watches peacefully over the flower garden

Did I mention that we just tore out our master bathroom to remodel it? We are committed now - or maybe we should be!  haha 

Scary isn’t it? The pink thing is half of the remains of the cast iron tub that had to be broken out with a sledgehammer and the lathe and plaster has now come out too.

This was the world’s ugliest bathroom- we can’t wait to make it pretty

Out of the hole where the window used to be and to a much lovelier view right now-the grape arbour. 

Well that’s how things are around our snug little house and garden for now. Wishing you a lovely Autumn.

“Autumn

Autumn has come too fast she said

Her great green crown turning softly red

As slowly sets the Summer sun

My days of rest are now begun

I sadly watch the birds take wing

Who cradled in my arms last Spring

Now I turn to Winter’s sleep

My Season of solitude to keep

When once more the world turns round

My roots will stir within the ground

I’ll embrace with stretching limbs

The tiny ones whose songs seem hymns

They weave their ribbons in my hair

 Sheltered nests high in the air

We live with joy while days are long

Every morning rich with song

But far too soon there comes the call

When each Summer turns to Fall”

Rick is teaching me to wood-turn on a lathe. I’ve wanted to learn for several years now. We took a pottery class together last year and I loved that. This  has a similar “organic” feel. What I mean by organic is that the process feeds itself, you start out with one idea and things happen along the way that may lead you in another direction.

So far I have made 4 small french rolling pins for pastry. I made two of Cocobolo Wood, one of Olive Wood and one of East Indian Rosewood. I have given two away in blogging related gifts. The first one I made went to April at Cookworm, my Blogging by Mail partner. The next went to my friend Vali of Lama School for A Creative way to Pay it Forward . It is not easy to part with the first tiny creations of this new passion but I can’t think of better reason to do so.

I have two more Pay it Forward recipients to go and some other friends have made requests- so on I will turn. I am never happier than when I am learning and practising an art that creates something both beautiful and useful. Plus combine that with making tools for the kitchen and I am all over it!

Thank you, thank you my dear sweet for teaching me something so fun!

I bought some new wood yesterday to make several more. I can’t wait to get the gauges out and get going. Oh yes! And one of these days there will be a salad bowl in my future…

xoxo

This is our xeric (low water demand) mow-strip -a little past prime but still beautiful in my humble opinion.

If I had posted this blog two weeks ago, it would have been more beautiful. But oh well.

We put this in a few years ago. As you can see California poppies are trying to take over in an orange crush of blossom. The tall purple flowers are Penstemon and the silver is an Artemesia. We also have Wormwood, Rue, St. John’s Wort, several varieties of  Lavender and Rock Rose, Catmint, Curry, variegated Iris, Santolina, Sedum, tri-color Sage, a limelight variety of Artemisia, Ice-plant, Hens and Chicks and Euphorbia also.  And while everything might not be in the xeric handbook of plants all are doing well and slugging it out for dominance in the contained space, thank you very much.

We water about every 7-10 days when in bloom and a little less when not.

Today there are six rose plants blooming in my garden along with peonies, poppies and evening primrose. Cranesbill geranium, bleeding heart and trillium (spiderwort) continue to show and the large hellebore I planted several years ago has been blooming since February- which is amazing since we live in Zone 4 or 5 -depending on who you ask.

We are overhauling the garden this year. We’ll be adding a gazebo and reconfiguring the raised beds and walkways. I am planning on adding a knot garden if it all works out. Hopefully I’ll be posting lots of pictures soon. This picture is one we took at last year’s visit to Young Living Farms in Mona, Utah.