Monday musings including a weekend recap and time in the garden.
Good Monday morning friends, today it is gray and rain and cold are on their way. The coming weather is the antithesis of the beautiful sunny, warm days that we enjoyed Saturday and Sunday. The 70 plus temperatures are typically not seen here until June and while I am enjoying them I was hoping to enjoy a little more cool weather before I have to turn on my air conditioner.
As I mentioned last week, the garden centers are bursting with early plants and people. Much like the crocus and daffodils that are slowly emerging after a long winter, we are slowly making our way out of our cosy, warm houses and into what promises to be a beautiful Spring.

Serene spot for tea in an English garden
Our weekend was spent in the back yard. while not a jungle it is a miss mash of plants, bushes and more all set in beds of pine straw. In fact our entire yard is pine straw, at some point parts of the landscaping had grass but it has been covered by the previous owners.
Over the years each family has put their stamp on the house and the yard, some choices were practical and beautiful and others questionable and frankly hideous. I find myself both anxious to create my vision, while exercising patience while I learn about the plants, the soil, and the property, and a bit overwhelmed the scope of the project.

Garden Quote
All of this is to say that I am covered in scratches, my hands are blisters and full of splinters and the back yard is j-u-s-t starting to take shape. Literally, because our first task has been to tame and trim a ring of boxwood and holly that surround the property. I have not counted them but there are about 90 boxwoods, apparently the idea was to create a “fence” to keep a previous owners pets in the property and off the golf course. They have not been trimmed or cleaned in years and are filled with pinecones and pine straw.
We are making progress and are about half way around the ring hopefully by next weekend that task will be completed and then it is on to the next task.
Now that I am a novice gardener I think I may need this t-shirt.
I ordered a few books to help as well, Herb Gardening for Beginners (free on KindleUnlimited), How Not to Kill a Peony and English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners.
I am also watching several garden shows that you have suggested, thank you for the tips, keep them coming. I love learning and appreciate any and all suggestions.
If you missed my Saturday Meanderings post and love gardening I shared some “fun finds” you might enjoy adding to your Spring table(I love the plates).
Ukraine has not been out of my mind and I am praying for a miracle as I am sure that you are as well. I am not sure what we can do except to donate whatever we can, pray, and offer our time to organizations to who are assisting with food, clothing and more. Please feel free to share any organization that you have made a donation or that you know needs assistance.
I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and that you a great week ahead.
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I really enjoy your posts ! Do you know the variety of the striped camelia shown at the top of this post and in Saturday musings ?
Thanks!
Hello Mari, all of the camelia were here when we moved in. I am not sure of the name but when I looked online it said that they were variegated and could possible be April Dawn. I hope that helps.
SPRING IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR!
XXX
Elizabeth Fall is my favorite! I? cannot wait to see what you are up to in your garden.
Elizabeth, your garden is filled with beauty, and it will be wonderful for you this Spring. I want to plant a BIG pink rose bush in the front yard, hopefully that will happen. I forgot how beautiful the quotes are that you share on your blog. They really speak to me. I love the last quote, as we live in a time where everything is rushed and hurried. It tells me that it’s Ok to sometimes do nothing at all, and often those are the best days of all. : )
Happy March days, Elizabeth.
~Sheri
Sheri, I think that the last two years have a bit of a silver lining and that is that it is ok to SLOW DOWN. We do not always have to be running hither and yon. Please come back and let us know if you planted the rose bush! I would love to see photos.
The words by Jeff Foster really struck a chord in me. Lately I’ve been tearful because of the pain. I’m finding it’s even painful to drive with the cam boot on, and I don’t know where to go from there. I’ve been down in the dumps because spring will soon be here and I’m nowhere near ready to tackle a garden in my predicament. So thanks for those words. I can do nothing, and hope my readers can hold on until I can do more.
Brenda
Brenda, a friend posted that and it “spoke to me” so I thought I would share it. You need to rest, and relax, your new place and garden will come along when in its time. Make sure that first and foremost you are resting and taking care of yourself. There are so many things you can post about Brenda, you can post about all of the books you read, post about the adoption of a pet(2) as an older person, the cost, and what it has done for your life. Post resources and experiences that you have had with your life, abuse, single mom, adoptions, etc. So many thins that people are interested in and most especially we are in treated in YOU! Take care my friend, you are in my prayers.
Have a great week.
Thank you William! I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Oh, my goodness! 90 boxwoods and holly. It will be gorgeous when you get it all in control and with your stamp on it. Can’t wait to see it finished!
Actually I went out to count them and there are 117! I am sure that in a few years after the cleanup, some fertilizer, lots of love and a few additions it will look great. For now were are enjoying the beauty of what is here and the process of putting our stamp on it. Thank you Leslie.
Your gardening plans sound exciting!
Elizabeth, I just want to say how much I enjoy your posts! There is always something interesting, something beautiful, something delicious and new things to learn and read! You bring such joy in your posts! Thank you!
Besty, thank you for the compliment. I feel the same way about your blog.