A Fuchsia Sunset...

The last few hours before the sun sets are my absolute favorite.

This is the view when I'm sitting on the patio down in the backyard...

I usually sit on the settee in the center because it's easy to see both of my hummingbird feeders from there, and the hours before sunset are the most active for these little jeweled birds!

I can see the feeder that hangs from the mulberry tree...

(being visited by the female hummer here)...

.. and the one that hangs from the swingset deck sitting area next to the honeysuckle vine

(being visited by the male hummer here).

The patio becomes an almost magical place to sit and unwind as the sun starts to set...

The fuchsia plants that hang from the tent over the patio are brilliant as the sun streams through the blossoms.

I'm always amazed that the hummingbirds pay little attention to the fuchsias. They occasionally visit them, but definitely seem to prefer the feeders and the honeysuckle vine.

I tried planting cardinal climber from seed last year, but they hadn't even flowered by the time the hummingbirds left in September...

... so this year I bought well-established plants to climb the small twig obelisk we made last year. I certainly hope these flower long before the hummers leave in September!

My beautiful irises put on a spectacular show this year.

These photos were taken at the very end of May, when they were at their peak.

Their bloom time has now come to an end. I desperately need to plant more perennials that bloom later in the season. Other than some annuals and my honeysuckle vine that give summer-long color, it seems that most of the perennials I've planted are early bloomers. But all in good time...

After all, it was only 5 to 6 years ago that the backyard looked like this. We were left with a large crater after taking down our old above ground pool.

So rather than focus on how much still needs to be done, I think I'd rather reflect on how much we've accomplished over the past several years, transforming the "Roswell crater" into a little garden oasis that attracts a wide variety of birds and little critters (my beloved "Sammy" Squirrels and "Chip"munks!). The fact that they all make their homes in our garden and/or visit us on a regular basis makes me oh-so-happy!

Wishing you all a beautiful week...

I'm joining Claudia, Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing Saturday,

Brenda, Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday.

Tracie, Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party
and Cindy, My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna

Hummingbirds and honeysuckle vines....

Honeysuckle is my way of thanking the hummingbirds who visit our little backyard.

 They provide so much entertainment for us that back in May, I bought three more Major Wheeler honeysuckle vines for them.

We planted one at the base of the arbor by our backyard gate.

With any luck it will climb over the arbor and I'll be able to watch the hummingbirds who visit it from the deck or the dining room window.

We planted the other two on the front posts of our swingset deck sitting area.

One of the vines was planted on a post right next to the honeysuckle vine that is already growing on our homemade obelisk.

We're hoping that in a few years' time, the honeysuckle vines will grow up the front posts and then start traveling across the old monkey bars!

 While the hummingbirds do visit the hanging fuchsias on the patio, they definitely seem to prefer the honeysuckle.

Of course they also love their feeders, so I always make sure we have fresh sugar water for them. This single feeder hangs from the swingset.

A larger feeder hangs from our mulberry tree. The arrow is pointing to the female hummer resting on one of the branches...

... right before she visited the feeder (how I'd love to have a telescopic camera lens!)

The third feeder hangs from our deck...

... and, as you can see, Mrs. Hummingbird was enjoying her sugar water when I took this photo last week.

 

Photos of our honeysuckle vine on April 28th (left), May 2nd (right)...

... and then a photo taken this evening.

Our oppressive (hot AND muggy) weather has broken and it's been glorious - mid 70's and dry, so I really enjoyed my time in the back yard after supper tonight. And while sitting on the swingset deck I was able to catch videos of both the male and female hummers at the honeysuckle vine (within minutes of each other)...

The male stopped by first...

...  and then the female paid a visit.

One more that I shot of the male.
(You can really see his ruby red throat at the 32 second mark!)

I know I've shared this in the past, but here's a quick way to make sugar water for your hummingbird feeders. It cools down in a fraction of the time that it takes the normal recipe to cool off!

Quick Hummer Solution: Put 1 cup water in saucepan. Put 1 cup sugar in saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring regularly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. As soon as it starts to boil turn off the burner. Add 3 cups very cold water to the sugar solution and stir. And that's it!  Now it will still need to cool down before you fill your feeders (I always check it with my finger to make sure it has cooled enough), but it's just ready so much quicker than boiling the entire 4 parts of water and then having to wait for all 4 parts of water to cool!

I'm linking to Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home this week.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Donna

A focal point for the fence...

 Last fall we replaced our ancient 25 year-old, damaged rustic stockade fence with new panels. The old window box that was mounted on the old fence also needed to be replaced...

So a few weeks ago we got busy... The above is an "after" photo showing the old window, new window box, and my hanging cherub birdbath once again attached to the fence.

The fence panel next to the back yard gate is where the 'grouping' hangs, and it looked so naked before everything was hung!

I painted the flower boxes (three of them - one for the front fence, one for the tree house in the background, and one for the deck).

Then the window....

... and flower box were attached to the fence panel.

And then it was time to plant. I can't believe I forgot the vinca vine!

Now that's better!

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago, right after we hung everything...

...and at that time, the bleeding heart was in full bloom.

As with all perennials, its bloom time has passed, but it was sure pretty while it was flowering!

I'm linking to Claudia's Favorite Thing Saturday at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

and Cindy at My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday this week.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Donna

A cherry blossom snowfall...

The bulk of our cherry blossoms fell softly to the ground last weekend...

... resulting in a beautiful carpet of pale pink spread across the yard.

Days before, there was just a smattering of blossoms on the ground.

I love this rustic old bench that sits below the branches of the cherry tree. 

It was built by hubby many years ago.

There used to be an arbor over the bench, but our New England winters ravaged that years ago. The bench is still flanked, however, by the gnarly trunks & branches of the trumpet vine that once weaved their way through the lattice sides of the arbor.

(Here's a photo of our handsome Mr. O'Malley sitting on the bench back in March of 2000. 

What a wonderful dog he was.)

Many of the blossoms landed in the 'secret garden' birdbath during their descent.

I'm so happy I took photos while the tree was still in full bloom since the blossoms are now but a memory.

The following little videos were taken on May 11th, when it looked like it was raining cherry blossoms:

My prayers and thoughts are with the people of Oklahoma tonight. I've put a link to The American Red Cross at the top of my sidebar, and have also earmarked certain prints in my Etsy art shop as fundraiser prints for Oklahoma if anyone is interested (100% of the purchase price will be donated to the Red Cross).

This week I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna

Mother Mary and Mother's Day...

 Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

Mother's Day seemed like a fitting time to share the Blessed Mother Mary garden statue that graces our little backyard. I've shared her many times before, so I hope you will bear with me.

This vintage concrete statuary is probably my all-time favorite thrift store find, 

found five years ago in a New Hampshire antique store.

Her quiet presence adds a sense of serenity, grace, protection, and peace to our little garden.

When I look at her, I'm often reminded of a quote from a favorite movie of mine,
Under the Tuscan Sun.

"Signor Martini wants me to have faith. Something I've never been good at, and now I'm even worse at. Not that I don't want faith. I'm jealous of the believers. But as a fallen-away Methodist, I do not expect to emerge from all of this a Catholic, although I admit some interior juggling is going on. To my surprise, I have become friendly with Mary. It started the night she stood by me through the storm, knowing full well I'm not a Catholic. Yet, somehow, she seems more like Mary, my favorite aunt, than Santa Maria. Aunt Mary is everywhere here, her calm presence assuring us that all things will go on as they have before."
Frances (Diane Lane)

Unlike Diane Lane's character from that movie, I did grow up Catholic so Mary has always been a part of my life. And I do find such comfort in her, so you can understand why this piece is such a treasure to me, and such a welcome addition to our little yard.

These photos were taken last weekend when the cherry tree was in full bloom.

The pale pink of the ruffled cherry blossoms were breathtaking.

The simplest of settings look exquisite when framed by the blossomed branches.

The newly repainted and repaired birdhouse is holding up well and vinca vines have been placed in the birdhouse windows. By summer's end they will cascade to the ground below.

The hoppa crab trees in the front yard, which were in full bloom last week when this photo was taken, are now but a memory. But, oh, what a show they put on this year!

And last, but certainly not least, a Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mom, who would have turned 87 a couple of days ago. You are missed every day, Mom, and you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Have a beautiful week, everyone,

Donna