A Velvia 50 Sunset!

Nikon f801s, Junky Quantarray 35-80 zoom, Fuji Velvia 50, scanned with a CanoScan 5600F, edited in the GIMP.

My Son the Pyrotechnician

My son's hobby is fireworks.  During the year he works part-time for a pyrotech company so to celebrate today, I'm sharing his fireworks show from Thursday night. 

Happy 4th to all!

Enjoying My New Deck!

When our house was built a standard deck was added and the wood was sealed and truthfully, I enjoyed sitting on my back deck more than our front porch.  It felt "safe" and less exposed and I've always thought it to be a wonderful space.  Recently we had some work done on the house and the guy doing the work suggested we paint the deck.  At first I wasn't so excited about the idea but I had been wanting some sort of a screen or trellis added to block the western sun.  I had also dreamed of a pergola though it wasn't at the top of my "list."

Well here we are a couple weeks later and I have a few pictures to share.  This was the look of our old deck-slightly weathered, functional, but not too attractive really.

Here is the deck now.

So many little details have been added like the trellis.  It's going to add some shade and privacy once the jasmine fills in. 

I also love these beautiful wrought iron plant holders that my girlfriend's brother-in-law made.  

And it was so exciting to have a ceiling fan added. 

And we added the coolest solar lighting.

Here's the evening view.

Another one of Christine Sibley's sculptures. 

 

So now we're working on the under deck area.  Check out the painted concrete!

So tonight we will be eating on the deck, looking at the Atlanta skyline (barely visible but still), looking for fireworks.  Hope you are having a great 4th holiday weekend!!!

Garden Bloggers Muse Day ~ July 2010

'Sudden Shower'

'Black grows the southern sky, betokening rain,
And humming hive-bees homeward hurry bye:
They feel the change; so let us shun the grain,
And take the broad road while our feet are dry.
Ay, there some dropples moistened on my face,
And pattered on my hat--tis coming nigh!
Let's look about, and find a sheltering place.
The little things around, like you and I,
Are hurrying through the grass to shun the shower.
Here stoops an ash-tree--hark! the wind gets high,
But never mind; this ivy, for an hour,
Rain as it may, will keep us dryly here:
That little wren knows well his sheltering bower,
Nor leaves his dry house though we come so near'.

~ John Clare,1793 -1864

More monthly musing is to be found at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago kindly hosted by Carolyn Choi.

Summer Gardens - Giverny ou Parc de Bagatelle

A few years ago I was blessed to be able to visit Paris in June. 

 

We normally plan our international trips in spring or fall to take advantage of travel sales but we really lucked out for this one - I won an all-expense paid trip!   In planning this Paris visit I wanted to take full advantage of seeing some of the gardens in full bloom so of course one of my first stops (after Musée Rodin) was Giverny.   I just couldn't wait to see the garden so we hopped the train and headed north.   We stood in line and waded through the crowds to see the house and the garden.  

 After seeing it all and spending the day, I decided the poppies were the one thing I enjoyed the most.  They were everywhere.   On the inside I felt a bit disappointed and I could hear Peggy Lee singing, "Is That All There Is?"   

The next day a good friend who lived in Paris suggested we take a half a day to enjoy his favorite park, Parc de Bagatelle and I was so glad we did.  If you are going to Paris during the blooming season and you haven't visited before, you might like visiting Parc de Bagatelle.  Here are some photos to inspire you (by the way, there won't be a crowd, unless you count the peacocks-they seemed to be everywhere). I developed the film into slides so apologies in advance for the tint in the scans.  The first rose competition that was ever held, was held at PB and the international competition for new roses is still held here each year in June.   The history of this garden (or should I say gardens because it's huge) is fascinating so you might want to click here to learn more http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Parks_Gardens/Bagatelle.shtml

Natures Patterns

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, Ilford XP2 Super 400 C41 process B&W film. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Slowly Drowning In A Sea Of Red Berrries

X IS FOR?


EXTRAORDINARY!

Yes I know that I am cheating again when it comes to x but try as I might I could not come up with the genuine article.

Last year I diligently planted some innocuous little strawberry runners kindly given to me by my allotment neighbours. This month we have been eating these delicious berries until they are coming out of our ears ~ what an extraordinary harvest it has been. They have been eaten at almost every meal it seems and passed along to neighbours and friends. Still they keep coming and coming, although I think that production and therefore consumption have now peaked. I have been scouring my cookery books and the internet for recipe suggestions other than the inevitable strawberry jam and strawberry ice cream. I am particularly tempted by Patient Gardener's post featuring a most delicious looking strawberry pavlova - oh get thee behind me temptation!

You will find more on the letter X over at ABC Wednesday kindly hosted each week by Denise Nesbitt.