WREATHMAKER

Just a quickly assembled tea...inspired by spring green flowers... It's all in a light green tray...easily portable... The china pattern is Foley Devonshire, and the teacup has the same floral pattern, and is marked EB. The little china accessory is a flower with a butterfly perched atop. I am participating in Sandi's tea party. ..thanks, Sandi, for hostessing this weekly fun time!

This week's blooms have been brought in to the house, for autumn bouquets... The flowers included are: Mandevilla vine, pinky-winky hydrangea, limelight hydrangeas, incrediball hydranges, dahlias, solomon seal foliage, coleus foliage, chrysanthemum,dusty miller, buddleia. ..and some johnny-jump-ups in an old lustre cream jug... ..and Rosemary and sage, ready to dry... ...a pleasant sight as I walk through the kitchen... Let us join our lovely hostess, Tootsie , for her weekly gathering of gardeners. Thank you, Tootsie.

Happy Fall, Everyone! It is hard to believe we are into cooler weather now. I am trying to enjoy the remaining flowers in the garden as much as possible, and bringing some blooms indoors to cheer up some gloomy days.    Love the Granny Smith apple green of the hydrangeas...   Buddleia is pretty in the blue vase.. My supermarket mums are coming into full bloom...   Let's join Tootsie for Friday Flower Flaunting

Last night we had a slight frost, but only the dahlias were affected by it....tonight there are frost warnings again... I had so hoped we would have a longer frost free period this year, but soon all our gardening will be a memory...thankfully it is somewhat preserved in photos and of course, our memories. Yesterday I went out and picked lots of flowers and plunked them in various containers: My hubby was up on the roof today, cleaning the skylight, and took a shot of the yard from up there: A few more photos... I am joining Tootsie for her regular weekly flower flaunting. Tootsie is keeping her chin up in a time of adversity..kudos to her...

This week I am using Martha Stewart Living magazine - January 2009, as inspiration for a floral bouquet. The magazine includes floral arrangements for each month of the year. This is September: I used my silver - brushed urn and picked leaves and branches from our garden. This is what I came up with: Debbiedoos is having a magazine copycat event this week so I'm taking part. I hope you will visit her blog and see all the lovely copycats over there!

Today I made a cherry-nectarine clafouti for our tea break. I used the basic recipe from MGCC, but since I had some cherries and nectarines which were ripe and needed using up, I substituted them for the peaches. I often use recipes from MGCC, and I am looking forward to their book signing on Wednesday, just a few blocks from our house... My hubby and I had a slice of this dessert a few minutes after the photos were taken, while it was still warm....and yummm...was it tasty! My hubby said it was one of the best desserts he has ever tasted, and he's eaten quite a few over the years!!! For our beverage, I brewed the Earl Grey tea in a Martha Stewart teapot. Hubby used the new Denby mug he received from his sis for his birthday and I drank mine out of my favorite Denby breakfast cup which came back from Scotland in my carry-on (sadly, it's twin got broken on the trip!) Plates were purchased a Macy's a while ago. My dahlias are finally blooming so they are included in the ...

While preparing this post I am reminded of the hail which befell Tootsie's garden this week...how sad that must have been! We have had lots of sunshine this year, and we will have a huge water bill, but the plants are coming along nicely. This morning I picked a few flowers for a bouquet: These are the flowers I have included... Limelight hydrangea, Endless Summer hydrangea (blue and pink), Incrediball hydrangea, David Austin pink rose, dahlias, buddleia (butterfly bush), and hosta buds Out in the garden the gloriosa daisies are glorious! The mandevilla vine is stretching up to 6 feet tall and still twining... The pink plant I showed you before is more full...that thing just never stops! We have been enjoying our tomatoes...this photo has no ripe ones, ...because we've eaten them! Now head over to Tootsie's and see what other folks are growing...

We have been enjoying the deck this year, more than ever...there have been no mosqitoes, and the weather has been fine. While having that morning cup of coffee, my eyes wander over the yard, and I see many areas which need weeding, watering,or pruning, so that determines my activity for the next hour or so. Sometimes I head back into the house for my camera, to capture a bloom or two, to enjoy when we face the long winter months when there is only an all-white vista from our window. This week the hydrangeas are pretty...my favorite flower. Last week we stopped at Homesense, and the anticipated summer garden clearance was happening. I quickly snapped up this garden urn, about 1 minute before someone else asked to purchase it! It is about 4 feet tall, and heavy!  With our son's help, we placed it in a temporary location along our garden path. Next spring we'll decide on a permanent spot. I hope you are enjoying YOUR summer.

Last weekend we attended a garden tour at Carman, Manitoba. The lilies and roses were spectacular. I am sharing some photos of the lilies…enjoy! The orange lily below looked smashing against the dark green of the outbuilding These are from my own garden: