It's been a gorgeous spring, as the sun gets stronger and stronger.
Slowly petals droop and fall.
Another season is on the horizon in the desert.
Which includes mad tea party season, so it's exciting too.
I've been working on some drawings to share.
Some for fun, some for a freebie coming up.
I take lots of walks & runs through the garden everyday.
The little cottage sits in the back garden to the west.
So I loop around garden paths, enjoying the sights and sounds.
I planted nothing this year.
The annuals self seeded and the roses are just doing their thing.
It has been a huge luxury.
First year in 14 years that I am not working on something feverishly in the garden.
The wonderful news is that hollyhock season is fully here.
Such a lovely time.
And I'll tell you, I had to work to save all these babies.
You've heard about the gophers digging tunnels and deep caverns under all the hollyhocks.
Eating roots until they would just fall over, all over the garden.
Finally I fought back in the nicest way possible.
Just pushing the dirt back down around my plants and reinforcing them.
Hoping the gophers would get the idea and leave.
And, so far, they have.
Knock on wood.
Alas, they are attacking my plants somewhere else.
We have a true gopher epidemic, so it's just par for the course.
The good thing is, these are saved for now.
It's worth every tissue paper thin petal glowing in the sun.
Today I sat in the garden and watched the light dance through the hollyhocks.
There is a video at my instagram if you'd like to peek.
They grow taller and taller every minute.
While I draw…
In pencil and ink.
Getting some treats ready for you all.
Cozy as can be in my little cottage that hides in the garden.
Sweet little escape.
I'll wrap my drawings up, paint them and be back with some goodies very soon.
How are you out there in your neck of the woods?
Love, Vanessa
ps: On Friday a little storm came in with cold rain and cool winds.
And then the most crazy thing happened.
Not crazy for cold states.
But crrrrazy for the desert.
It snowed on the mountain, at the end of April!
Yep, snow.
Crazy bizarre Arizona.
Don't worry, it was 82' the next day with full sun at my house, hahaha!
Probably still cold on the mountain though, as I spied a little snow lingering up there today.
Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely! Everything about this post is lovely. I’m glad you saved the hollyhocks from the gophers. I have special memories of making hollyhock dolls with my grandmother. Your hollyhocks are so beautiful. I enjoyed seeing them. The drawings are delectable as well. Can’t wait for this year’s tea party. Reading this first thing this morning has given me energy to wake up and make something magical about this day.
Beautiful post. As always. I’m enjoying the spring as well on the Gulf Coast. (Alabama)
It makes me smile to think there might come a time when I can simply maintain and enjoy my new gardens. I’m still deep in the creating them stage and although it’s exciting, it’s also exhausting and pulls me away from other projects. Balance in life is tough. I’m more of a see saw artist than a trapeze artist.
Such a beautiful garden. I just love your posts.
Everything you show us is so lovely. Spring has sprung here in Michigan. Everything is starting to bud, it all makes me smile. No snow here, but being in Michigan, it could. Temp. for today might be 69. That is a good start.
Thank you for all you do.
So much loveliness to behold Vanessa!!! How beautiful to see the snow tipped mountains this time of year. Its been so nice to have a break from our hotter temps! Now lets talk about your hollyhocks, they are amazing and I am jealous!!! I may have to try them again next year. Some bugs that act like rabbits, destroyed what came up last year. Maybe, with no flowers this year coming up, maybe they’ll have taken up residence elsewhere! Does that make sense??? Anyways, I am sorry to hear about your gophers!!! I hope your new trick works!
So, I see your lovely tea pot and cup drawings!!! Has that Mad Hatter been whispering in your ear??? <3
I planted Hollyhocks this year (from seed) and I don’t have much hope that they will sprout. Honestly, I don’t know a darn thing about them but adore their look. Do they come back year after year, or does one plant them each year?
I can’t believe you had snow this late…crazy weather indeed. Florida has a cold snap coming in this weekend and Saturday night we’ll be down to 60 degrees which is weird given that we’ve been in the mid 80’s already. I’m not complaining mind you. I’d like it to stay that way. LOL
Beautiful, beautiful. I love spring. The humidity isn’t tropical yet 🙂 Love your artwork.
Did you drive up to the mountains to play in the snow?
70s here today. 80s everyday next week. We are busy planting veggies and flowers.
Oh divine hollyhock love all over! 🙂 I will try to plant some again in the fall…as you suggested…hope they thrive! Lovely art work dearie, and snow? How divine! We haven’t had snow in our local mountains in I don’t know how long. I spent about 2 months in Tuscon years ago…probably 15? Loved it and thought/think it is so beautiful! xoxoxo Jen
Do you know how to make hollyhock dolls? You would love them. My sister and I grew up making them and playing with them all summer. Of course, if you have a shortage, you might not want to remove the blooms, which make the skirts, and the buds, which create the heads. If you’d like to learn more, let me know.
Love the pink roses with the beautiful, cheery yellow flowers behind them. The gophers sound very cute even though they are very naughty 🙂 Your drawings are wonderful and oooh yes a tea party is on its way x
Sheer loveliness. I love the crepe paper-thin petals, especially with sunlight shining through. And good luck with the gophers — I too hope they got the message in the politest way possible! 😉 Just such a lovely little cottage environment. But yes, bizarro about the snow on the mountains during all that desert heat! A pretty dusting, though. And such sweet drawings — can’t wait to see them finished! 🙂