'Most Efficacious In Every Case'

This week I am planting some luscious lily bulbs and looking forward longingly to their lingering fragrance come late summer. I am growing spotty dotty 'Muscadet', watermelon pink 'Robina' which is described as a tree lily, then last but not least tempted by Patient Gardener I am planting the alluring L.A. 'Eyeliner'.

Leap over to ABC Wednesday now for the lowdown on the letter L.

Do you Tulu?

I Love textiles…the older, the more graphic the better.

I recently brought home a small sweet 90 year old Turkish Tulu rug.

That’s almost 700 years…in Dog years.

Tulu actually means long haired in Turkish…

They were made by mountain nomads

coarsley woven with long goats wool

…often using the natural color.

It is said they were made to be used as mattresses. Oh my back.

this one above via Yarrow155.com

The one below spotted in Elle Decor…

Ours is subtle, and could be used as a rug…or a throw on a chair, bed or sofa…

Not sure where it’s home will be in this casa…

But I most definitely Tulu…

Do you??

End Of Month View - March 2011

Like last year March entered like a lamb and exited in a somewhat leonine manner. Despite the dry month growth is more advanced than last year and there is more colour in the end of month border. It remains a work in progress with plants being extracted and plants being inserted. Hence various pots are lurking with intent.

At the far end I have a tangle of the thuggish lamium galeobodon to sort out, whist at the near end I will need himself's assistance to remove the fatsia japonica which has simply got too big for its boots.  I have added more of the most cheerful little 'Tete-a-Tete' narcissus which are just going over now.  Brunnera 'Jack Frost' which was planted to near the front of the border has been lifted. I was amazed that it had flourished as well as it did as it was planted in almost rubble like conditions. It thoughtfully fell into two clumps as it was lifted - the smallest of which I have replanted, whilst the bigger division is in a pot waiting for a decision on its future. The two hellebores which I planted last year did not flower but they are looking healthy enough. I was delighted to find a few hellebore seedlings on close inspection - maybe they might be the offspring of the beautiful 'Mrs Betty Ranicar' ~ 

Plants waiting to go into the ground include a white flowering pulmonaria and lathyrus vernus. The white pulmonaria was from the local Country Market but was nameless. The lathyrus a recent purchase to make up for the seedlings that I lost during the winter  ~ 

Meanwhile I am mulling over what to plant for interest during the latter part of the year. Hopefully this issue might be resolved by the end of April. This post was inspired by Helen The Patient Gardener's invitation to share our end of month views.

March, On the Move

It's hard to believe that it's April and I'm still wondering what happened to March.  I spent nearly a week in D.C., another in Denver and last week included a quick trip to Charlotte.  March was fast-paced and exciting so I thought it might be fun to share a few of the highlights.  While in D.C. I attended a conference and during a reception attendees were honored to hear a presentation by Justice Ginsburg.

A few days after my trip, disaster struck Japan and I spent a weekend considering what our firm could do to help.   Rather than hold casual days I thought it would be nice if volunteers made paper cranes.  For a donation of a dollar or more, donations would be made to Japanese Red Cross Society with a goal of making 1000 paper cranes.   

 The cranes or Senbadsuru  will be delivered to an elementary school in the next month or so. 

During my trip to Denver I did managed to see snow-capped mountains from my hotel room in the early morning but most of my time was spent in the hotel conference center.  It was inspiring to hear Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.   Zappos provided all of the attendees a copy of Tony's book, Delivering Happiness and I can't wait to read it.  One evening we did step out of the hotel just to walk outside and I loved running into this young man.  

    He wouldn't share his styling secrets but he was kind enough to pose in a picture for me!

This weekend was beautiful and it felt so good to be outside.  We live just minutes from the Georgia State Farmers Market and this weekend seemed like the perfect weekend for fresh produce.   They've already gotten in their first shipment of watermelon!!

This week is Spring Break for most schools so everyone is here. 

I'm going to be happy just to be in my home town with the sun shining! 
It's been about two weeks since I had time to read some of my favorite blogs but I'm hoping to catch up this week.  I miss my blog reading!!!

I am…

Off to the market to find some closet storage…

Like This!

wish me luck...

image:Coastal living

Pretoria Skyline

After an absence of a few weeks I feel I need to post something quickly while I have a few minutes to spare. I have been on the road and generally just too busy to get to the blog and will probably be in the same state of being for a couple of weeks more. Please forgive me and enjoy this pic of my hometown of Pretoria.

Ciao, and see you soon!

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day ~ April 2011

'I come, I come, ye have called me long
I come o'er the mountains, with light and song.
You may trace my step o'er the wakening earth,
By the winds which tell of the violet's birth,
By the primrose - stars in the shadowy grass
By the green leaves opening as I pass'


~ Felicia Hemans, 1749- 1835,  an extract from 'The Voice of Spring'


More April musing can be perused over at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.