You know how sometimes in life, you do things and you don't really know why, but you just have to do them?
Until one day, sometimes years later, the reason is revealed?
And you say to your self, wow, it's because I did a plus b, that now I am here at wonderful c.
That is how I feel outside in the garden these days.
All that hard work.
Swollen feet and ankles, and fractured foot that took 1.5 years to heal, and hives and swollen wrist, and splinters and sunburns, and aching feet and digging all the live long days.
Plus, toil toil toil.
Now…
Now I have a sanctuary to hide in, when days get busy and overwhelming.
So many flowers pouring over.
And all that hard work, so truly paid off.
And, it's the garden that has been such a wonderful place to take breaks in, during this last week that I have been so busy.
Finishing up art, sending it off.
A small handful of deadlines, being wrapped up.
Some in photos, some written, some in art.
Making art to ship off, that I shall see again in the fall…
Hunkering down to get it all done in time.
Glue not drying fast enough, me wanting to deep clean the office in the middle of all of it.
Scrubbing floors, washing curtains.
Mica flakes strewn about like fairy dust.
And then finally, I allow myself the time to clip roses.
One by one…
Slowly, meticulously, cutting the thorns off.
So happy rose season is here.
So sad it goes by so fast.
Holding on to each morsel.
Celebrating 12 April's ago, when I went on my first weekend of mystery and heart palpitations, with Mister Lovee.
Busy busy bee.
And then I take a stroll.
The arbor out front is bursting as well.
Where white climbing roses, meet pink ones, oh my!
Please last, please last.
The crazy wind knocks them about.
I stand under the fragrant arbor.
Just stand, for a long time.
Never wanting to move.
Wanting to bottle up the moment.
In that place where pink meets white.
Feeling full of heart as I stroll about.
And a bit drained too.
But only in that very wonderful way, when you are so pleased to have finished some good projects.
Here's one more shot of the climbing roses around the gallery.
I think this might be as many as will be open at one time?
Although I do see more buds out there.
My mom commented on how wonderfully they climbed about – but I forgot to say that I did help them out. It was easy, and you can do it too.
Last year I spent lots of time on a ladder trimming, and tying branches up with twine, to guide them on their climb.
It was quite simple.
Oh yes, and in case you were wondering, I planted those rose vines 3 years ago.
They were really pretty last year too, but exploded this year.
So, 3 short years will bring you good love in the garden.
Plant now, plant now 😉
Also, the grape vine is doing beautifully, so I nabbed some leaves and made dolmades last night.
A quick blanching, some stuffing, roll up – yumm.
There is a lot going on in the veggie garden out back too.
However, I took these photos a handful of days ago, and in that time things have flourished ever so much more.
The arugula flowered, and will do its wonderful good job at self seeding.
Such a good plant, if you love eating arugula, I recommend it.
I love a plant that lushly self seeds.
There has been a mad world of bees out there in the arugula blossoms.
Ever so many.
Love those bees.
Also, the strawberry roots I got from my neighbor man last year exploded this year.
Sooooo many strawberries on the way.
At least 300.
But a really really plump mouse lives out there, so here's hoping he doesn't get them before me.
Wish I could send some of these petals over the waves…
I am back, and ready for some mischief.
What about you?
(I am still doodling, I hope you are too)
Love, V
I want a rose garden and climbing roses. Love roses. Yours are so beautiful. I’m trying to convince my hubby to make a rose garden for me.
I’ve been crocheting a lot. I have others things I want to do but keep getting sidetracked by other things. (Like dentist appts). I want to sew and clean my horribly messy craft room and work on scrapbooks and journals.
Tomorrow I get to see the new grand again 🙂 More pictures to scrapbook.
Those roses are just sooo pretty! I love the arbor! You have quite a variety of colors.
I’m excited that my spring flowers are finally starting to bloom!
We’ve been getting plenty of rain, now we just need some sun to make the flowers (and people) happy.
I absolutely love the fairy-like atmosphere in your garden…
Great job…
🖤_🖤
Oh Miss Vanessa, Such beautiful gardens you have and wondrous photos. Women’s work is never ending, there is always something for us to do. I am glad that you take time for yourself. I am still working on my doodles. Always time for that.
Please check out my blog, I know that you will like what you see. Hope you have a great day
Vanessa i KNOW you have heard the little saying about vines haven’t you?? I think its also meant for many perenials too.
The first year they sleep,
The second year they creep,
The third year they LEAP!
That little saying has kept me patient many times with my garden…….So happy your having the third year leap!! Hugs! deb
Deb, I didnt know that!! OH I LOVE that…. so precious, and true
🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/16/2013 7:43:30 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
OMGoodness, the arbor with pink meets white roses is just stunning. I love the added lantern. Your garden is truly a labor of love and you inspire me to believe I can do it too.
Wishing you happy memories, friendship and much fun and laughter (it’s the best!) as you and Mr Lovee celebrate twelve years together…Ce-le-bra-tion and have a good time 🙂
You know, a little mischief DOES sound in order…yes 🙂
Oh My Magical Muse, how kind of you to share your garden…oh to be standing there, under the arbor…so peace-filled. It’s like a confetti explosion!!! DeLovely, just like you. **blows kisses** Deb
OH MY! It looks positively like the Secret Garden…..I’ve always wanted to have a towering garden that wraps all around you like a blanket of leaves and insects and moss and ferns and flowers and smells and memories all at once!! You’ve done it!! It’s a wonderful place to visit…even in a virtual sense….I can feel the sunshine and smell the roses from here!! : )
Wowie-Zowie! What glorious roses V! Thank you ever-so-very-much for creating such a wondrous fantasyland for us to peek into … wheee!
I can only imagine that your place smells heavenly with all the beautiful roses.
Ooo…your comment about the fat, little mouse in your strawberry patch made me think about the book that I read to my girls when they were small – “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear” by Don & Audrey Wood. I have a huge strawberry bed that I put in when our friends moved and told me to dig out their berries – I planted around 600 plants! Several years on & I’m thinning them – planting the extras around the blueberries and other places as a living mulch. It is amazing how things can take off after a few years – I’m still at the stage of adding new trees and shrubs – no real plans, just a feeling that I’m trying to create – just this space needs something more and then finding what suits at the nursery. It’s a work in progress and I doubt that I’ll ever be finished.
Same with me on the strawberries. I got hundreds ofdry little
roots from my neighbor, and now the bed is overflowing and bulging. In
fact,he killed is strawberry patch, so I gave him some of mine that I grew
from his, go figure, haha!
I have been working on the garden for about 10 years, but the climbing
roses I only put in 3 years ago, and they are just making me so happy. You
see, I lost lots of plants to gophers over and over and over again. Until
finally, I planted roses and they didnt eat and kill rose roots the way they
did to passion fruit, rose of sharonand other vines.
And of course, I do my annual seeds ever November, and they are getting so
huge right now…
Garden is bliss, and the rewards are so huge. Plus you get good sun
and a little work out too, so I tae those as bonuses 😉 I am nota
sun shunner. I am sure I will be sad about that years from now 🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/16/2013 12:45:46 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Huzzah for growing things! I planted the seeds you gave me and it is so funny, out in the front planter box, despite my efforts to spread them evenly half the box has a few sprouts here and there and half is so covered it looks like clover or something! I should thin it out right? I feel like they might not grow so well all crammed in like that….
Yep, thin away, keep stronger looking ones. I think I threw in some
wildflower seeds too which have crimson clover…..
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/16/2013 4:16:59 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Ooo sneaky sneak peeks of beautiful art work.
I can almost smell those roses through the computer screen, your garden looks so lovely.
Okay dear Vanessa…you’re going to have to tell us the recipe for making dolmades. I have tons of grape leaves on our grape vines this year. I know there are Greek recipes that use grape leaves. I like anything unusual to attempt to cook.
Your arch or roses is so beautiful! A fairy tale arch indeed~
Oh! I hope we all get to see more of what you have been creating if it is artwork for a magazine! Gosh! Just the tiny glimpses of the photos look scrumptious.
Especially the dark haired girls! They are the ones who touch my heart the most!
May stars, magic, and fairy dust be ever your guide!
Miss Twinkle-toes
Teresa
Beautiful, beautiful art and roses!
And I am so ready for mischief! (This may or may not have to do with my book recommendation).
Mischief, here we come!! 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/18/2013 3:38:24 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
very nice site good looking your site i read it i enjoy this blog.
hi good looking your site thanks for sharing information i like this blog.
Oh my! How ROMANTIC your garden looks. I should so love to walk through there. 🙂 Strawberries are my absolute favorite – I love them anytime of year. But I most enjoy them fresh from the picking! 🙂 And I do love stuffed grape leaves…haven’t had them in quite some time. Now I have a hankering for them!
Love your white climbing rose garden!!!
What kind of climbing rose vine it is?
I dont know what kind it is, or the name? I got all 4 of them 3
years ago at home depot. I wish I had saved the tags…. 🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/22/2013 9:27:18 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Happy 12th year with your sweetie! I love Love… ^-^
Speaking of love… I’m in love, absolutely smitten, in fact, with your roses… especially the climbers. And the colors… oh my. Just so brilliant and vibrant and gorgeous!!! Fill my heart to bursting. ^-^
XOXO
Annaleee, the roses are totally captivating me this year as well. I
am so blown away at how well they are doing… thank you, you lovely!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/23/2013 8:45:45 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,