We have a well established patch of Lily of the Valley out front
of The Humble Bungalow.
Its' quite the luxury to be able to walk outside and pick a bunch.
I found these bonsai secateurs at the local garden centre.
What drew me to them was their simple style.
They are super sharp which is great when one cuts flowers for the vase.
Crisp clean cuts make it much easier for the water to be absorbed
which helps keep the flowers happily hydrated.
They last longer!
Muguet des Bois
scenting the Humble Bungalow bathroom...
such an intoxicating fragrance.
Raindrops on the Lewisia Cotyledon
We have several of these charming plants...
a few shades of pink, one white and another in apricot.
They seem to like dappled shade and do well in pots.
Montana Ruebens
a stalwart clematis in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
One of the first things that we planted years ago
after ripping out the thorny blackberry brambles and invasive Morning Glory.
What a lot of work it was taming this garden in the early days...
I get tired now just thinking about it!
Its so rewarding now to see the fruits of our labour.
Our garden has been and is a work in progress...
as are many of the gardens of gardeners that we know.
Changing to suit our tastes and needs...'
One of the first roses to bloom
Joesph's Coat,
a climbing rose near our back door.
One of many Alliums standing tall above the perennials.
One of my morning routines
at this time of year
is to go outside and hand water the potted plants
and anything else that looks like it needs a drink.
I can pick a few weeds and check on the condition of the plants.
See what might need dead heading and perhaps pick a few blooms.
Its quite relaxing slowly walking about in the garden listening to the birdsong.
Our garden has been home to hummingbirds for many years and this year is the first time that we have seen one of the nests.
Its been exciting watching the mom sitting on her nest.
The nest is so tiny and looks like it is made with dryer lint and lichen.
She gets a bit anxious if we get too close so we are trying to weed and trim things quickly and quietly so as not to make her nervous.
My garden apparel is not worthy of a picture...
Unlike
my former neighbour
a lady
who gardened in pearls, a pretty floral print dress and a straw hat.
I wear yoga pants, a tee shirt and a linen apron with pockets in front.
I use the pockets for secateurs, my IPhone and Kleenex...
for some reason when I bend over my nose runs!
Not at all glamorous or worthy of comment.
I tend to be a messy gardener...
smeared with dirt
leaves in my hair
not even remotely
"nymphlike"
perhaps
in my dreams.
Hope that you enjoyed this wee garden tour of The Humble Bungalow Garden.
I have a stack of books to read and am having trouble deciding which one I will read next...
the kettle is about to be boiled,
there will be tea poured and a new chapter awaits.
Which book would you choose?
Have you read any of these books?
~ Be Well and Be Kind ~
51 comments:
I've not read any of those books, but Beautiful Ruins sounds good. I'm reading The Pink Suit, by Nicole May Kelby. So far, so good!
A cup of tea sounds perfect right now...
Pearl in Vancouver
What a lovely post as always ! Your garden must be absolutely beautiful - the pictures are always so amazing. What a great close up of the hummingbird you were able to get - imagine how tiny the babies will be when they hatch ! I enjoy your blog so much !
I did enjoy Beautiful Ruins. It didn’t sound like a book that I would like, but it was lovely and sentimental without being cloying. I always enjoy Kate Atkinson, Life After Life is more challenging than her Case Histories series. I did like it after I finished.
Now you have done it - my envy has turned to jealously. Lily of the Valley, and such a glorious bouquet of them! Oh, how I would love to have them growing in my garden. The fragrance must be wonderful. Everything else looks great too.
Quite a stack of books, they all look good. I probably would read In a Dark Wood first, I have heard very good things about it and all of her other books were super. Enjoy!
Lovely flowers and garden. Those secateurs do look a find. As for the books - I have not read any of them. I'd start at the top of the pile and work my way down!
Your garden is beautiful!
Haven't read any in your stack. However, I have read The Baker's Secret which was very good, and All the Light We Cannot See. I also liked The Alice Network: all are set in WW2 France.
How wonderful to have such a huge bundle of Lily of the Valley! Such a beautiful sweet flower.
I read Beautiful Ruins and Life After Life and I think that you will enjoy both. I find that my apron with the pockets works really well for gardening and housework. I also wear cropped yoga pants (from Reitman's), a t-shirt and some old Joseph Seibel shoes to garden. Not exactly glamorous but... I would really like a lily of the valley scented candle.
Lily of the Valley are one of my favourite flowers, and yours are beautiful. I only ever see them in reality when we go to Canada during Spring - which is not all that often! How wonderful to have a Hummingbird nest, they are so incredible. My first sighting of them was in Ontario in 2015 and I could not catch photos of them, they are so quick.
Your Lily of the Valley bouquet is stunning! I can imagine the fragrance. I'm glad there's someone else who looks less than elegant while gardening. I'm a frightful mess.
I've not read any of your stack of books, but the one that caught my eye is Jessica Fellowes The Mitford Murders. I just finished a good book - The French War Bride by Robin Wells. A WW2 setting.
Beautiful garden! It brings joy to you,as well for us,reading and looking (and now waiting for little birds)
I adore le muguet and their scent-I've even had Annick Goutal's Le Muguet scent last spring
Zusak (have you read The Book Thief?) and Life after Life are beautiful and pretty deep,serious books. The Midford Murders is a sweet,little book and I liked it,too-but in a different way,it depends on the mood-so,it's your call
Dottoressa
I am like you--I save all my rattiest clothes for gardening. I manage to be covered in dirt no matter how little I do. Contrast that with my neighbors, who look as elegant as you would expect any French women to look, color coordinated, scarf at the neck, earrings, hat, matching gloves that don't have holes. I don't know how they do it. Plus, their gardens also look better than mine.
The Alice Network was very good! I read it earlier this year.
I have not read any of those books - but I would probably choose the Kate Atkinson as I've read some of her other books.
I picked up Camilla Lackberg's "The Ice Princess" at the library yesterday morning and finished it at around midnight - could' go to bed without knowing "who did it". A friend has given me a stack of Lackberg books but I was missing the first in the series - hence the library. I really want to move on to book 2 but I need to discipline myself to get a few things done around the apt. first! Your garden is gorgeous - I can just smell those Lilly of the Valley!
Thank you, lovely Hostess, for sharing the beautiful Lily of the Valley photos today. You have truly made my heart sing!! I live in a desert area but grew up in the Midwest and miss having these fragrant fairy bells just outside my back door...sigh. I try to find scented soaps, lotions, and perfumes to replace the glorious fragrance of these little flowers that don't grow well here...with limited success sadly.
I recommend the Mitford Sisters story because the author and I share a last name, though with a slightly different spelling!
Read your blog often, hope to see your part of the world one day-- Thanks again and have a lovely day!
What a beautiful bouquet! Lily of the valley is my favorite flower. I am closing on a house next week after renting for over 2 years. Maybe I will have some blooming next year.
Lily of the Valley is also my favorite scent. As a teenager, I wore Coty's Muguet de Bois. In my young adulthood, Diorissimo was my signature perfume. I stopped wearing perfume when I had children with allergies. For a while last year I was looking for a new fragrance, as Diorissimo has been changed. I'll have to get back to it.
Those Lilies of the Valley in the crystal vase are marvelous! It is one my favourite flowers; my birthday month flower.
Your photos are always very beautiful. I love your blog.
The secateurs are very cute, they look easy to handle and to work with.
Greetings Maria x
Life After Life...definitely...and amazing author
I definitely agree with Keats when he wrote "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." I hope he was also thinking about beautiful flowers, birds and nature when he wrote those lines. I feel a sense joy looking at your beautiful garden, it might not last forever, but definitely all of today. Lovely bouquet of lily of the valley, and imagining its beautiful sweet scent wafting all over your house. I love hummingbirds but don't see them often enough in my garden. And a nesting hummingbird tops my list of spring miracles. The pile of unread books are getting higher and higher. I'm thinking if I don't get to it soon it will start to resemble the Tower of Babel. Ruth Ware's "In a dark, dark wood" is on my radar of books to read. Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden! Amelia
Wendy Holden, her writing is VERY light and fun
Janey
That Lilly of the Valley bundle is amazing! I have to see if it grows in LA - I'm totally enchanted by it. xo
I have read Life After Life, it is a beautiful, heartwarming, delightful story. I loved every minute of it.
Your Lily of the Valley are gorgeous. It’s so exciting watching nesting birds, then seeing the fledglings. I’m a messy gardener too. When I had my allotment I looked a dreadful sight, when the other allotmenteers saw me out dressed nicely they didn’t recognise me!
Your garden is such a treat to visit, even just virtually. . .
Good morning, Hostess! Beautiful lilies! Mine remain unpicked just out my backdoor and the fragrance is so wonderful. I should pluck a few - as well as the lilacs - and bring them in the house. Sure am glad I'm not the only one who really "gets into her gardening"! Interesting stack of books. Beautiful Ruins sounds intriguing. Thank you for sharing and enjoy your day! Candi
Thank you for the book suggestion I will check that title out...
I am hoping to see some wee humminngbirds emerging soon...thank you for all your lovely comments Patricia. I appreciate you taking the time to leave me feedback.
Oh good to hear...I will pick that one up after I read Life After Life.
Oh dear! You may not want to plant too many as they spread like mad...perhaps contain them to a specific area and them you can pick them to your hearts content!
The secatuers are fabulous and they are so pretty you could leave them on display!
Merci beaucoup Susan!
I loved All the Light We Cannot See...a brilliant book!
The more the merrier!!! White flowers that are fragrant are a win win for a bouquet!
Cannot wait for the white roses which should be blooming soon!
I am currently reading Life after Life and am planning to read Beautiful Ruins next.
Good luck finding a lily of the valley scented candle...if you find one please let me know.
The hummingbirds are very fast...they flit about our garden in the sunshine and love the red blooms....one buzzed me the other day when I was hand watering our potted plants! It was almost like it was saying hello!
Ther are so many intriguing books set during wartime...I loved the Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Book Theif was a fabulous novel that is why I was drawn to this other book that he wrote...am hoping it to be as good if not better!
I wonder if Annick Goutal makes a lily of the valley scented candle?
That would be a fun post...French Ladies tending to their gardens and What They Wear!
I usually buy a new pair of gloves each season...I am hard on them but they do help to protect my hands...
happy gardening !
Wow that must have been a riviting read to read so late!
I will have to look into that author and the series....thank you!
I wonder if Yardley's still make their muguet des bois scented products?
You might be able to find some online if they are not available locally.
I read Wait For Me by The Duchess of Devonshire a few years ago...fascinating book!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Ah Coty...I remember that name in perfume....
scents can be triggers for adverse reactions for many people...its getting more challenging wearing perfumes in public places....almost like smokers we have to be mindful of the air around us!
You'd find the secateurs easy to work with Maria...very comfortable in the hands.
Thank you for popping by the blog and taking the time to share your thoughts...hope that you have a lovely weekend.
XO
I love her books...they are well crafted and interesting.
Ruth Ware's the Woman in Cabin 10 was a clever thriller...so I thought that her other book might be worth a read.
I love having choices of books to read...different genres for different moods...I like to mix up what I read. You can probably tell that i love books!
I have read a few of her other books and they are what I consider to be a beach read...perfect for a few days on the summertime...by the pool or lazing on the deck.
Make sure that yo plant it where you can contian it of you may curse me! Ours has gotten slightly out of control!!!
I am into Life After Life already...very interesting the way the plot is moving back and forth...
look forward to seeing the baby birds..not sure when they will fledge yet but it may be soon as she is sitting on the nest quite a lot.
Good to hear that you are able to transform your appearance so cleverly!
:-))
Happy Birthday
The Spring flowers are just heavenly...in the ground or a few hand picked for indoors....such a luxury to have a flower patch to enjoy.
The lilacs here are almost finished...I never had much luck keeping them alive once I picked them and popped them in a vase...I tried smashung the woody stems but they wilted very quickly...any tips?
Your garden is beautiful and the flowers you grow are spectacular. How nice to step outside to such beauty. Even better to pick your own bouquets. Everything is delayed in Boston, MA. Our flowering trees have just transitioned to leaf. Bearded iris are starting to bloom. Everything else is still in bud only. Thank you for sharing your floral pics, reminds me of "eventual" beauty in my garden. Susan
ALL IN ONE BASKET!
I donot know that book and I too MUST READ!
XX
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