Your CartEvery gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle…..a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the aniticipation nurtures our dream. Barbara Winkler
I never claim to be a great gardener…or any sort of gardener at all, really. Â My husband is the gardener, as was his father before him. Â My grandfather was a wonderful gardener. Â Even though he hired one of those old fashioned gardeners who “stop by” every day to clip, trim or water something, he still went to his garden first thing in the morning, and just before entering the house at the workday’s end himself to adjust something, or maybe talk to his plants. Â Most of my best best friends are great gardeners, and love to dig in the soil.
Me?  I love to dream of the garden.  Make plans.  Buy plants. Water. And sit in the sunshine and soak up the beauty. Listen to the birds sing.  A garden can teach us so many things.  I put together a few photographs I took in our garden this month.  Everything is just starting to bloom, and it  truly is our own little heaven on earth.
From the time IÂ was a little girl, I learned about patience, timing and planning ahead. Â Here are a few things we all need to know, and can learn in the garden.
Begin early. But it’s never too late to start. If it doesn’t work, just go ahead and try something else.
Dream BIG. But try not to let your over ambition turn the joy of gardening, the joy of the garden, into becoming a slave to perfection. Â Sometimes the tiniest flower smell the sweetest.
Life is a daily thing. It needs watering. It needs weeding. And it needs pruning on occasion. Pruning hurts, but pruning helps you grow. Â Life is enduring. Trust it.
Growth takes time. Be patient. Grow what you love. Your love with keep it growing.
You reap what you sow. Sometimes, though, there is a real surprise! Enjoy those.
Of all the places to be, I love being in the garden most. Â We are in Southern California, so we are lucky that 2/3’ds of the year we can be outside most days. Â The photo above shows Mr. FrenchGardenHouse’s pride and joy, one of his orchids in bloom. Â The picture next to that is our little new Labrador Bentley’s new snacking station. Â Before he came, I thought it was my own herb basket, and strawberry plants to use in my culinary adventures. Â Now? Â Since Bentley has made his home with us, he’s discovered the pleasures of the garden already. Â Not only does he love romping through the grass and chasing the ball there, he’s discovered the joys of a little ripe strawberry with a chaser of marjoram! Â Happy gardening to you. xo
If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.
Gosh, your garden is so lovely! You’re blessed to have a hub to garden with you. I didn’t have one til I was 40. I just love it. Even when my feet hurt! lol Thanks for sharing your slice of Heaven. t
I bet your garden is just beautiful, Thea! I’d love to see the pictures.
When I see your garden, Lidy, it never, ever ceases to amaze me! That is especially so at this time of year, when my PNW garden is just getting underway. My lettuce is two inches tall, my peony still showing but tight, tiny buds. So lovely to see your flowers.
I laughed at Bentley’s snacking on the strawberries. Millie will soon enjoy plucking any raspberries that ripen at her vertically challenged level!
We are just a little ahead of your garden, Dori. But I am beyond jealous that you can grow Peonies! I love them so much, but it’s too warm here for them.
Not a berry left, btw. Now he’s running around the berry pot with a bewildered look on his face, wondering what happened to the free snack tree?
Your garden is glorious! Love the foxgloves. But have to watch the pets around them, as they are poisonous. I just bought a hydrangea on the clearance table at Lowes. I hope it someday looks half as good as yours!
Brenda
Thank you Brenda…you are right about the foxgloves, but ours are far enough in the border that our little Bentley can’t reach them. I am sure that your garden will be blooming beautifully any time soon, you have a seriously wonderful green thumb!
Truly, a slice of heaven, Lidy! Thank you for sharing. Your photos are an inspiration.
Thank you Joyce…wish I could take credit, but that really belongs to Mr. FgH. 🙂
Heaven on earth indeed! Oh I so love your beautiful garden dear Lidy!
Can’t wait for mine now to be back in full bloom. The early clematis montana and the lilacs are about to burst open very soon 🙂
Sending you happy Spring wishes from Germany
Carola
Thanks so much, Carola, you own garden always makes me long to visit. Your clematis especially is so beautiful. Hope that spring is there in Germany and not the colder weather of Easter by now. xo
What a beautiful garden. The kind of place I love to kick off my shoes and sit with a cold glass of Ice tea…sigh…beautiful…
Debbie
Anytime you are in this area, the iced tea will be ready, Debbie!! xo Lidy
Your garden is just lovely.
We are just starting to mulch in New Jersey and I am starting to get my deck ready to plant in a few weeks. I can’t wait!!
Cynthia
I know, sometimes I think the planning is as good as the actual gardening…Cynthia! I bet you are so looking forward…..
Dear Lidy ~ such beauty and wisdom all in one post! I’m not a good gardener at all. I know what I want, but I am afraid to try for fear of failing. Your post has given me the courage to try and if I fail, try, try again! Perhaps I’m thinking of other things besides gardening, too…
I’m not a good gardener either. But I do love plants, flowers and the garden. And you are so right, it applies to life in general!
Hi Lidy!
Thank you for your sweet comment! I am so glad I came over for a visit. Your garden (and your blog) are lovely. I am so envious of all the beautiful things you can grow in your garden. Living in the Az desert restricts what I can have in my garden, but I try to achieve a similar look with what I have to work with. I love my garden as it is, and enjoy many, peaceful days and nights out there. I loved your post and the message attached. 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
xo,Karen
Karen,
I think that desert gardens can be beautiful, there are so many drought loving plants, and then those gorgeous blooming cacti! Can’t wait to see you again, heard you might come to The Vintage Marketplace…see you there.xoxoLidy
Absolutely breathtaking! Your blog is wonderful and I love your garden.
Thanks so much for the visit Angela. Off to visit your blog now.
Beautiful garden – so full of life and colour! The photographs are great as well! I wish I was a skilled gardener, unfortunately I am not blessed in this area!
I’m not really either, John. That’s why it’s a double blessing to be married to Mr. FgH!
Oh, I just love your beautiful garden [sigh]. We just moved into an old ranch house last June and spent last summer unpacking and building a barn for our horses. Now that it is Spring here in Alaska (well, barely) I am doing a lot of dreaming about what I will begin to plant. Gardens take so many years to develop, so most of my planning is about what foundation beds and plants to put in this year. I just hope that I end up with something as lovely as your garden is.
Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star’s Fault
It’s always exciting to plan out a new garden, isn’t it Eileen? I am sure that your Alaskan garden will be just gorgeous. xo