Bugle-Weed Becomes Us ~

The front walk-way to our home has been a true gardening challenge.When we first built our home it was shaded by towering firs, cedars, and hemlocks. We loved the trees surrounding our home and by choice planted shade-loving flora & fauna, and just as we felt our landscaping plans were finished, needing only maintenance, a windstorm knocked our trees down and 3 of them fell on and through our roof crushing it, requiring major repair.We had the few remaining trees surrounding our home cut down and then had to re-think our shade garden landscaping, because now most of our flower beds were in the sun.

What surprised us was many of the plants we had already planted for shade, were thriving in full sunshine now.The blooming plant here is Ajuga, or commonly called 'Bugle-Weed'. Along with the a fore-mentioned violets, and Lady's Mantle,the Bugle-weed not only thrives, but prospers. The blue color appeals to us, but even better, my husband & I sit on the porch and watch the bees and hummingbirds constantly humming and buzzing to and fro. Butterflies too are attracted to the flowers.

 The Bugle-weed has popped up in other places around our property, just as the violet and Lady's Mantle have, showing an ability to withstand the extremes the weather dishes out. From very hot and dry, to very wet, cold, and dark. These plants all have withstood my dogs urinating and defecating on them regularly, my ducks digging through them and squashing them, and slugs galore!Here they are, my Ajuga, violets, and Lady's Mantle, blooming again to please the bees and hummingbirds, make our entrance pretty, and this pleases us. I need to mention, they are growing on rocks,with sidewalk on one side, and the house foundation on the other, so when I say the growing conditions can be very hot and dry, believe me, this is true!

I should also mention the Bleeding Hearts too. They grow up along our porch and they have seeded themselves in many other places on our property. Oh boy do the hummingbirds love these!

Look at the Ajuga and Bleeding Hearts ,what abundance, especially for nectar gatherers.

I do miss our shady porches and the towering trees,but a sun-shiny front porch with such hardy and prolific flowers has proven to be just as much of a respite from the days work, and I have to admit, seeing hummingbirds flying around the porches and enjoying the blooms, and realizing although we had planted for shade,the plants have done even better in the sun ,has more than made up for what we considered loss.Besides, now when the windstorms rage, I don't worry about our roof giving way to trees, and that counts for a LOT! "Ajuga :about 50 species of low-growing annuals ( they grow all year round here *) and perennials make up this genus, which ranges through Europe, Asia,Africa, and Australia, mainly in cooler regions....the plants spread by runners or underground rhizomes, some forming extensive carpets.They make attractive ground covers, especially for shady places, such as corners of courtyards." 'The Plant Book' The Plant Book (Mynah)

 

Sweet Violets ~Tenacious & Persistant

Violets prosper in my gardens.They have almost become as weeds, choking out plants and flowers we deliberately planted...

...so much so that last year I worked very hard to eradicate them.It did not work, they have sprung up in greater numbers this spring.

This year I am appreciating their hardiness. Look at these violets springing up in my herb garden. They have survived the storms, the onslaught of slugs, crushing branches, and even peek out from under weeds that can choke a tree.

The violets in the picture above are a bit different than the previous picture, they are a different variety. You can see the tiny, dark purple plant in the foreground. The violets are holding their own amidst the bugle-weed and Lady's Mantle, both vigorous and aggressive plants themselves. I did not deliberately plant violets here on our property, they snuck in by hiding themselves in pots of newly purchased herbs.The good thing about weeding violets out of the garden is that my chickens love to eat them, so do my sheep.Even as weeds violets are useful.

 

 

I have been reading about this little plant that is beginning to claim my heart. For one thing, it is blooming at a time when there are not a lot of flowers in my gardens, thanks to the weather. The violets bloom in the hot summers, in the shade. They thrive in rocky and dry soil, wet and sloppy soil.

Violets are used in medicines, cosmetics, perfumes, teas, in cooking.Some ancients used violets to "moderate anger".I am going to try crystallizing some violet flowers to decorate desserts, and may even try some of the herbal remedies ,with such an abundant crop, why not?

I am not going to be quite so hard on the violets anymore. They can have a little space here and there.

On reading about flower symbolism I see the violet is associated with modesty, virtue, humility, calmness. I think the violet should symbolize tenacity, persistence, survival,determination. And beauty. Delicate beauty that belies is hardiness. "Winds wander, and dews drip earthward; Rains fall, suns rise and set; Earth whirls, and all but to prosper a poor little violet." James R. Lowell

Herding Cats Might Be Easier ~ Group Picture

"We're ready for you to take our picture!" O.K., but where are the rest of you?

"We're coming..."

Oops, gained another grandchild, lost one. Hey, where is she going? I need a few more kids here...herding cats might be easier than this.

"We're ready!"

A little help here please?

Oldest granddaughter helps her youngest cousin.

Almost ready, still missing some grand-kids though.

Hang on...

All right!

However, the picture we took here, facing the other way, is my favorite. This is what I've been doing this past month instead of blogging, spinning wool, weaving, weeding or having tea parties. Playing with my grandchildren. April is almost over, and what a glorious month it has been. God is good, Praise Him!  ~"Behold,children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Grace Freely Bestowed

"Grace : Favor, kindness, mercy, etc.," Webster's Dictionary

"..to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ( Jesus) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us ." Ephesians 1:6-8

I was moved by a blog-post from Cora* on grace and thought to quote some of it but decided you could read it for yourself in it's entirety.You'll be blessed and encouraged.I hope you're able to appreciate the grace freely given to us if we know Him as our personal Savior!

Tea-Time Tuesday, But Where's the Tea?

It is again 'Tea-Time Tuesday ', and also the time of year around here for daffodils.

This lovely daffodil teacup was obtained by me for the price of some frizzled chickens. Daffodils are a popular flower around here in Western Washington. There are fields and fields of them. We have an annual Daffodil Parade with Daffodil Princesses. This teacup says "MARCH DAFFODIL ", probably assuming the daffodils bloom somewhere, sometime, in March. In our gardens the daffodils did not open their sunny faces until the first week of April. The saucer is so pretty. The lady who traded the teacup for chickens received this teacup from her mother's estate I believe about 20 years ago. There are no other markings on this teacup or saucer, but it appears to my untrained eye to be Lustreware.

Daffodils, teacups, a sunny day ~ delights of the heart & eyes. But this teacup looks so empty and is just calling for...

...CHICKS ! Doesn't everyone put chicks in their teacup?

Cute, little, yellow, fluffy, chicks!

The chicks seem to be looking for something though.

Tea! Hey,where's the tea?

I am sure if you visit the ladies listed below they are showing you their beautiful teacups and probably serving up something delicious along with inspiration. Please be sure to leave them a comment after you've had your tea !

• Terri at 'Artful Affirmations' *
• Martha at 'Martha's favorites' *
• Sandi at 'Rose Chintz Cottage' *

True Love

"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

He Was Born To Die

This picture was taken a little more than 3 years ago of our youngest grandson being held just after his birth by one of his big sisters. She could not take her eyes off him, and when she did.. ...she could not help smiling with joy.She positively beamed every time she was near him.The whole family was joyful and this little boy is very happy & healthy. We have hopes for him, he already has goals & dreams of what he will do when he grows up. (something to do with cars and trucks I am sure) Have you ever considered the birth and future of the precious baby Jesus, who's birth we celebrate at Christmas by marveling at His miraculous birth ? His mother and family were every bit as happy at His birth, yet Mary knew His future. I must say, I used to try to forget His future when reading through the Bible,for it was a terrible death on a cross. Yet without the cross there would be no reason to celebrate His birth. He was born to die. "Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted, but He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4,5 "Jesus was born to die...so that I could be born again to new life. It is the miracle of a violent grace; God securing for us the priceless treasure of His grace -" 'A Violent Grace' by Michael Card * I will be playing with my grandchildren this week during their spring break, and have decided to not go near a computer until after Easter. May you all have a glorious celebration of His resurrection, which gives us the hope of eternal life in Him! John 3:16