Live and Learn....

Another trip to Lowe's this moring to buy more mulch and a much needed edging material to separate the plants from the path. It all looked so BLAH so I am hoping the edging helps. I really was not to impressed with what Lowe's carried but I did finally agree on a recycled black composite edging....$17.70 a 20ft roll. This is a two person job because it is hard to manuever the edging....so my hubby came to the rescue.   I did buy 6 more bags of eucalyptus mulch but as you can see I need to buy more! 

I still need to add more cow manure on the other side, by the a/c. I previously added 1 bag but the soil is still too sandy...the water runs off and the plants are looking a bit wilted. Once that is done I will edge and mulch.

Did you notice that I painted the 4x4 posts? And I think I have the perfect finials for the top but I have to figure out how to attach them. More on that later.

What I learned today was that edging should be placed BEFORE the mulch...live and learn!  

Hugs...Sylvia

Easter Blog Party

Happy Vintage Easter Blog Party.....I don't have much this time since I have been spending most of my time outdoors but I did want to wish you a very Happy Easter blog party. For more Easter goodies please check out Joan at Anything Goes Here...there is lots more to see there.

The last picture is a Cascaron...an Easter tradition celebrated in my family.

Hugs...Sylvia

Secret garden mulch...

I've been working on the secret garden since early this morning...as you can see I tore up some cardboard and placed it by the edge of the fence to prevent weeds from invading. I didn't want to put weed block there because weed block tends to compact the soil making it harder to plant. And I know I will always be adding plants to this part of the garden.....you can also see lots of oak leaves which will help the soil...this is common in my yard since I have large oak trees.  I spread the eucalyptus shredding mulch along the plant area and at the entrance of the gate. I have to say that I am not happy with the mulch....I feel like I am in a giant hamster or rabbit litter box...hahahaha. Butttttttt...that's what I went with and I will stick with it until it's time to replace the mulch. I do need to run to Lowe's and get more bags though....boy will my hubby be happy about that...hahahaha   What do you think of that rusty looking container? It used to look better but with it being Florida....everything turns like that eventually.  The plants are doing well, some have even opened up and are blooming nicely.  I also wanted to show you this silver post that's beside the house....behind the Grand Duke jasmine. I believe there was a fence there at one time. I really don't want to bother my hubby to remove it so I am trying to figure out what to do with it...any suggestions???  I am STILL working on the stepping stones...hoping to get a few more done this week, beings we are on Spring Break. 

Chick out my blog...hehe

Happy Spring....check out this adorable baby chick on a sugar egg inside a decorated champagne glass...love it!!!.....my friend Amy got the Spring Easter bug and designed her own Easter decorations. I was lucky enought to get one of her creations.....Love the baby chicks...hahahaha  Thanks Amy...

A big sigh of relief...it's Spring Break....Yeaaaaaaa...my kids and I are excited. Them for not going to school and me for not having to make lunches everyday and driving them to school 20 minutes away....we will be staying up late, sleeping in late, wearing pj's all day, gardening.....sweet huh?

Have a great weekend...Sylvia

P.S...check out this great giveaway...from Jenny Doh at Crescendoh.....Rejuvenated Jewels by Amy Hanna. For those of you that don't know of Amy Hanna, she creates some amazing jewelry...I drool over her jewelry everytime I visit her blog. Check it out.

Mushrooms...Fertilizer Friday...

Ok...my post is a little different...I am flaunting my mushrooms that appeared along side a wooden stump. I think they are pretty interesting to look at and wish I could have gotten a closer shot of the underside. I am off to see Tootsies Flaunt Your Flowers Fertilizer Friday....her greenhouse is to die for.  

Hugs...Sylvia

Silk tie dyed Easter eggs

Over coffee this morning, the conversation of coloring Easter eggs with silk ties came up. Of course we were all intrigued and had to try this weird technique.

 I bought 100% silk ties at my thrift store. And used room temperature eggs.

I took apart the ties...insides and all... and wrapped the silk material around the egg...with the pattern touching the egg.

Carefully tie the end of the material with a rubber band.

I had water boiling in a pot and placed the eggs in the pot and let them cook for about 15 minutes.

I removed the pot from the heat and let them cool for another 15  minutes.

I carefully removed the rubberband and silk material and was amazed by the patterns the tie created.

I shredded vintage sheet music and used it as Easter grass.

This was so easy and fun...I think I will let my kids help next time...hahahaha


Enjoy...Sylvia

Blog Party & Giveaways...

Ohhh Myyyy...my mouth waters just looking at this SWEET giveaway....sitting by the pool on a hot summer humid evening eating ice cream out of this yummy looking bowls! I have my fingers and toes crossed for sure....Wish ME luck. You can find out more by going to Julie's  The Little Red Shop.  I think I will have ice cream for dinner....Another great give away is from Laura from Sahm I am, lots of Spring in her giveaway...check it out.  Do you love paintings? You are going to love Aries Gypsy's Springtime Giveaway

BTW....did you know that Joan from Anything Goes Here is hosting an Easter blog Party? I will be there with my bunny ears on...

Hugs...Sylvia

Red

Happy Monday....a stroll through the garden finds a pageantry of red blooms...a rose, madevilla and a gerbera daisy.

The secret garden is coming along nicely, I have added a couple more plants next to the A/C and some garden junk at the entry. Some of the mulch is still in bags but that's ok since I am still adding plants. I am on stepping stone number 4 with 4 more left to go I think. There has been much movement over by the gate but I have yet to see who or what it is. 

Gotta get the peanut butter cookies out of the oven so I must run....

Flea market....

It turned out to be a beautiful but tiring day at Rennigers yesterday. The day was perfect for picking through linen boxes, glassware and admiring the old cottages with their cute little garden theme. There was all kinds of goodies but I did not find any garden junk for my secret garden. I did come home with lots of linens, porcelain oil funnel, vintage round eye glasses, vintage spoons, seashell buttons, some rusty iron junk and a very cute rusty watering can. I think we are going again next month too. I can't wait!   I did work on my gardens but it was mostly cleaning up the plants after the cold snaps we had, dividing the mondo grass and some spring fertilizing.  Have a great Sunday....

Hugs...Sylvia