Where Does The Time Go?

I am always short of it, so it seems. Three jobs, three kids, two grandkids and a garden that calls to be tended all summer long. That's where the time goes! I've cut back my schedule at the gallery, so I'll make a concerted effort to post here once a week now. No promises but I'll certainly try! Meanwhile, here I am, on yet another deadline so I'm off again till next time. Leaving you with a little bit of beauty from my garden - the bearded iris in full bloom, wild roses creeping up the wall in front of my bedroom and columbines taking off where the poppies are now tired from their spring show!

Outside My Door

My front door opens onto a little more than a quarter acre that I am turning into a wild meadow garden. Only native plants, grasses and trees allowed! I mow it twice a year - spring and fall - and only keep a cresent of grass around the driveway, cut. The raised beds in front of the house are coming to life, now that spring has finally arrived!Poppies and Iris in their full glory. A few more shots and tomorrow I'll take you back inside!

Blooming In The Garden

Most mornings and evenings I'm in the garden, weeding, mulching and watching the birds, bees and butterflies that are so much a part of why I am committed to wild gardens. I am a rather lazy gardener; letting Nature balance the land rather than attempting to control it. In addition to several fruit trees and shrubs, I have planted aspens, now in their third summer, and blue flax has sprouted among the grasses. In the raised beds in front of the cottage, I have iris, poppies, daisies, roses, lilies, columbine, cinquefoil, Russian sage, woodruff, sweet william and a berry patch, with strawberries, black berries and raspberries. The berry patch - which is in an odd corner - is cluttered with all sorts of stuff - heart shaped rocks and stones, broken or cracked, terra cotta pots and angels reconstructed into vignettes. Baskets with berries inside them, driftwood and other bits and pieces I find pretty or interesting. I planted the berries last year and now they are coming back to life. I also grow a lot of stuff in pots like the geraniums which provide me with flowers year long, inside my south facing windows, and colour my deck in summer. Cherry tomatoes, baby greens and herbs are all easy to do in pots.That's lavender beside the front doormat. We have a short season here at this elevation - 7000ft - but right now, in late spring, it couldn't be sweeter

Summer Of Love

It has been insanely busy in my world. Taos is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Easy Rider with a Summer Of Love Extravaganza which kicked off last weekend with a show at the Harwood Museum curated by Dennis Hopper. (See link in May Post above for more upcoming events) Parties and more parties have followed, and as I write for a couple of local papers/magazines, I've been running around from one thing to another. At home, I'm just happy to relax outside, where everything is blooming and the air is scented with lilacs which have turned the town every shade of purple! Those on my table (beneath my new painting by Stacey Huddleston) are from my garden. The deck is where I spend all my free time lately, though that's not saying much! Hope your days are as sunny and bright!