Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts

Friday, June 6, 2025

On the cusp of the Hospice Teeny Tiny Garden Tour....

 Dear Readers....

I have been totally immersed in preparing our Humble Bungalow Garden for the Annual Hospice Teeny Tiny Garden Tour...that is why I have not been posting.

It is for a good cause...

My husband and I have been devoting most of our waking hours to get ready for this upcoming garden tour. This is our first experience with a Garden Tour and we are doing it in memory of my beloved mom. She spent her last days in our local Hospice and the staff were amazing...kind and considerate and so supportive of all of us.

We heard that 650 tickets were sold!!!

I plan to give away one of my "mud pie" paintings...no need to donate but if you are on the tour please feel free to pop in a toonie...and enter the draw.

Good Luck !


I am feeling rather knackered tonight so will just add some photos...


Constance Spry Rose


Climbing Rose Graham Thomas


A struggling Limelight Hydrangea planted in a pot...
fingers crossed it gets better!


Green grass and a huge Hosta!!


Candlestick Primulas...


In the "new bed" last year we dug up and planted a new bed...
10 feet by 4 feet...
I dug it up when I had my broken ankle.

Dedicated gardeners might be able to relate..
NEEDS MUST :-))


Two chairs to sit in which I think we need to sit in soon...
I'd like a cold icy Gin and Tonic...
maybe on Monday
(after the tour?)


Back patio near the basement door...lots happening here...
so much more than meets the eye!


Lewissia


Red Geraniums
the hummingbirds love these.
They have been buzzing by us each day that we have been working in the garden.
Perhaps they are cheering us on?


So many roses here in The Humble Bungalow!
We counted 30 at one time but we recently lost a few so perhaps we have 25 now?


Sunday is the day...


Big green glass Italian bottle...hidden among the plants.
Do you think people will see it?


The potting table...
my "work" area.


Roses growing above the raised beds...


Don't poke your eye out when gardening...
pop a pot on top of the bamboo stake.


Clematis atop of the pride of London ground cover...
coral bells and to the left a day lily.

If you purchased tickets for this worthy event
and are coming to The Humble Bungalow Garden
PLEASE say hello...
I would like to meet you ALL!

My MOM would be so excited if she were still here...
Thank you to all the dedicated nurses and doctors who help us everyday.

Best to all of you and thank you for stopping by to read my post.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Silk scarves ~ a pop of colour and a wander about in several gardens...

 


~ Playfair Park ~

The native Camas is in bloom...
there are shooting stars, buttercups, and chocolate lilies.


Camas 


Prolific Pink Rhododendron 

There are many other azaleas and a perennial garden in the Park.

Many families were enjoying the idyllic space...
children were playing in the playground, a birthday party was underway 
and a family were having a picnic.


My friend Michelle and I had a picnic Friday in the Government House Garden.
The sun shone, the views were spectacular and the birds serenaded us...


The gardens are vast and many flowers are native to the site 
growing in the Garry Oak Meadow.

A large group of volunteers tend these gardens.
If you live in Victoria you most likely know of this gem,
 but if you are visiting our fair city try to include this on your visit.
It is a beautiful greenspace...


Humble Bungalow Front Porch 
our fresh new red geraniums are planted in pots and planters.


Tea break mid afternoon...
grabbed my new book We All Live Here
by acclaimed author JoJo Moyes.

Such an engaging story...


SO GOOD
I read it late into the night :-))



Auriculas are blooming...


These darling plants are so prolific...
I love the varieties and am keen to grow more.


Our garden is getting a big tidy up 
in readiness for the Hospice fundraising Teeny Tiny Garden Tour this June.


Wee corner of the laundry room...



I spend a lot of time doing laundry and love that I have a view 
out to The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I have been wearing silk scarves to add a pop of colour to my basic classic black and white wardrobe...


I gently washed this vintage Hermes silk scarf in my Aveda shampoo...





Vintage Hermes Scarf from my daughter Jennifer.


This scarf was purchased from the Hermes shop in Vancouver many years ago...
I chose the black and white H pattern 
as it was a good choice with my simple black and white wardrobe.

Do you wear scarves?

Many people think that the scarves are difficult to style...
they can be be a versatile and creative accessory.

I once owned a box of scarf tying cards from Hermes...
the clerk gave the cards to me when we bought one of my scarves...


Last August I thrifted a silk scarf in White Rock...
not all scarves are expensive.
They seem to be quite easy to find in second hand
and thrift shops.


Picture from the Archives...
Last August...

(Before the Fringe Trim)

A
Simple Scarf Tie

I've got to close now as I need to prepare dinner....
a stuffed pork tenderloin, lemon orzo and steamed carrots.

Hope that you are keeping well and are embracing Simple Joys.

With so much uncertainty we all must try to keep our spirits up...
Smile, listen to music, read a good book, get out for a walk in Nature
 keep in touch with friends and family.

Do something FUN everyday!

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Summertime ~ Snippets from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 


Greetings...
It has been a while since I posted.

I have been busy trying to keep up with the jobs here in the garden.
The HOT weather has affected our ability to keep the plants watered and healthy.

Thankfully the Hydrangeas are Still Blooming...
despite the intense heat.


This hydrangea is planted out front
We received it from my husband's firm in 2007 when my father passed away...

It has thinned out a bit this year and I am rather concerned that it is not happy.
We had a rather harsh winter, a warm spell, then a really icy cold snap.
Lots of our plants perished.

Mostly grasses and tender perennials 
but despite our best efforts there are still blank spots scattered about the garden.
Lots of work required...and many visits to the garden centres!!


The Lavender is having a riotous growth pattern this season.

Bees buzzing on the flowers all throughout the day.
You can hear them all busily working when you stand close by the plants!

Last summer I made lavender sachets and I plan to make some more soon.
I need to dedicate several hours to remove the buds from the stems then pop them into gauze bags.


We LOVE Poppies!
My husband saves the seeds and plants them early every Spring.
Bees love them too...


The flowers are a work of art...

Thank you Mother Nature :-))


We were invited to an afternoon visit the garden of some new friends.
We "met" each other on Instagram.
Both of us are retired and are passionate gardeners!

We share a love of plants and growing things...
plus we have other people we both know in common.

I wanted to take a big bouquet of roses but the heat has wilted the many rose blooms.
Their petals are dropping as soon as I pick them.

I took a wee posy of lavender and some magazines with us.


The tour of the garden was an amazing experience...
water features gurgling, many areas to sit and enjoy the views.
Covered dining space, vegetable beds, poly tunnels, a greenhouse, a sun filled deck at the back of the home with loungers and tables.

Each space was designed beautifully with an artistic eye focusing on the details.
I found it incredibly inspiring and came away with many ideas!

We sat and chatted...
savoured the glorious space 
sipped cool beverages and nibbled on these delicious treats...
chocolate covered cherries and pistachio bites.

Look at the lovely floral presentation on the plate!


On my beach walk I collected a few shells and a piece of driftwood.
I had a project in mind for the cottage.

I decided to paint the driftwood and glue some shells to it...


Maybe I went a wee bit overboard on the shells but I did have fun!
The results are rather rustic looking and have a folk art air.

In true 
Wabi Sabi 
Style


~ Marigold Tagates ~

Seeds saved from last years flowers.
Lots of these plants popping up around The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Each afternoon we stop work around 3:00 and sip some cool lemonade.
The front porch is a shady spot to sit and read our books.


Fabulous Book!!!

I read it in two days...
Could not put it down...love Paris and this story did not disappoint.

I am going to go and find some of her other books.


Can you see The Annabelle Hydrangeas just starting to bloom in the top left?
These Big Mop Head Blooms make quite a BOLD statement.

The Limelight hydrangeas are almost ready to pop...

Well I must close for now and hope that you are enjoying your day...
Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, April 29, 2024

Rosemarie arrives...fun ensues...and then a few tidbits.

 


Meet Rosemarie!
She lives in Vancouver and we are friends.
On any given week we will email several times and catch up with what we are doing.
Rosemarie is active, has a vibrant personality, is gregarious,
an adventurous traveller, kind and giving.

We have met up in Victoria several times for lunch and teas.
 Both of us love gardens, gardening and enjoy visiting gardens.

I invited Rosemarie to tour our Humble Bungalow Garden.
Then I asked if she wanted to peek inside our home.


We drove around the waterfront and stopped in at The Oak Bay Native Plant Garden.
The garden is tended by volunteers and is an oasis of calm and beauty.


Trilliums blooming...


Several different trilliums were dotted about in the lush space.


Checker Lily a Frittilaria 


The sound of water had us looking for the source
a  brook or a creek was nearby
such a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the natural beauty.

We met up with a couple who were visiting from Oakville Ontario.
Alix Scott and her husband...
Alix knows Ellen...
a woman who went to Oak Bay High School with me...
who I recently met up with at our 50th reunion.
(Hi Alix ~ Hi Ellen)
Apparently they both follow and read my blog!

Rosemarie and I continued on our scenic waterfront drive...
we stopped again at The Esplanade at Willows Beach.


Rosemarie collects cans and bottles and takes them to the depot
 exchanges
 them for cash 
which she sends to her cousin who has an animal shelter up island.
The shelter is called Misfit Meadow Sanctuary in Ladysmith.
You can read all about them on Facebook.

If you want to donate to them I am sure that Rosemarie would be THRILLED!
Tell them you read about it on my blog!!!
Let's see if we can help all those animals like Rosemarie does :-))


She tells me she usually sends about $100 a month.
The shelter needs the money for food to feed the rescued animals.


I bought a chicken on sale and wanted to find a new recipe...
I searched on line and found this one.
The site is Simply Delicious by Alida Ryder


Mr. HB and I love East Indian cuisine so this one caught my eye.
I had all the spices on hand and I got busy mixing up the rub and I marinated the roaster a few hours before cooking.

The results were delicious!


Jeanne on Instagram mentioned this book to me a few months ago.
It has been on my radar ever since,
so when I spied it at the thrift shop I knew I would buy it!

I read it in 2 days...loved it!
Thank you Jeanne 2707


Vintage Mustard Yellow Beret matches the yellow chrysanthemums.

I was washing dishes and gazing out at the gorgeous sea views...
when this combo caught my eye 


~ Cheap and cheerful ~


Weather Report
yesterday was super windy with rain.
This morning we awoke to glorious sunshine!
What a Gift!


Speaking of gifts...
I received this new book for my birthday from my BFF.
I am going to pop the kettle on and brew a pot of tea and start the book.
Thank you Suzanne.
XO


Hope your week is off to a great start...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~