Soooooooo, guess what? Remember when I was trying to figure out what those oodles of giant plants were in my garden? There were so many suggestions, and quite frankly, every photo I would pull up on line, looked like every suggestion, haha! Then I got a note from Nicky in the UK, who said she was "almost 100% sure" that I had lots of Evening Primrose growing in me garden.
Hello Evening Primrose!
Well, she was correct. (Thank you Nicky!)
The secret is finally revealed by the evening primrose itself.
Last week they began blooming. Most have yet to bloom, and just seem to be getting taller. A couple are almost as tall as me, but don't seem near blooming yet.
I can tell that some of the plants will have tons of flowers blooming on the way.
The shorter plants, that are splayed out 3+ feet, are the ones that are blooming…
Now I await the blooming of the super tall ones.
So, now we know.
Evening Primrose it is.
Fun fun fun!
The extra tall ones are behind Miles in the photo above.
Or you can see them here.
I am also finding them growing in 5 parts of the garden not shown (I will take photos as they bloom), exactly where I sprinkled all those seeds last year.
So, that's inspiring isn't it?
You never know what will turn up year after year.
Especially here, where little grows, unless you water every day.
The best news is that, it is that time of year where the days are hot, and the nights are still cool. Which means, we all await the evening with grand anticipation.
The sun hits the west side of the garden, and I know delicious skies will envelope us as the sun sets…
Oh, and something else.
Let me veer for a second.
I was on a hunt for some new floral, pretty garden cushions, for snuggling in my old chaise once the sun sets.
I went everywhere.
I mean everywhere.
And then, I passed a newish shopping plaza with a massive…
Wal-Mart.
I saw letters that said Outdoor Living.
I called my Mom and asked her to look and see if they had any pretty cushions online while I was in Cost Plus World Market. She started sending photos she was taking from her computer to my cell phone. So funny!
I liked them, so…
I went to the Wal-Mart garden section.
It was empty of people, and nice, and BIG.
I almost fainted.
The prices were astronomical.
(in the low sense, compared to other places I had been).
Lots of plants and treats.
I was floored.
It felt like, I was the last one to hear some sort of grand news.
Did I mention the prices?
Well, lo and behold, they had pretty pretty garden chaise cushions.
Nicer than anywhere else I had been, for half the price.
Pinch me?
Where have I been?
Do you all go to Wal-Mart?
Big box stores and malls are my phobia.
What if you can't get out?
But, I am still floored at the good prices.
I had no idea.
Not bad quality on the garden stuff either.
Slap me silly!
I bought a cushion, but told Mister Lovee about other cushions and umbrellas they had.
And then…
He proceeded to come home that evening with a car full of cushions, umbrella etc, on his way home from the office.
What a guy!
My garden is happy.
I feel sorry for my old huge green umbrella that was sent over to the other side of the garden though.
Isn't it silly to feel sorry for inanimate objects?
But I do.
Although this one goes with my 3 big red umbrellas me thinks.
Okay, enough about umbrella nonsense.
What was I saying?
Oh yes…
So, while we wait for the sun to set…
I marvel at how the hues of the landscape change.
They go from yellow to bright pink, to a sort of sepia with glistening sparks of sunshine…
And just as the sun says good evening, all the colors sort of wash away, and everywhere I turn becomes that fabulous shade of twilight blue…
Which makes certain flowers extra blue…
Especially the hydrangea…
And then, everything starts to turn a purple hue, which I adore, just as the sun officially sets…
I am sure you know where I am headed next…
When we have mild beautiful nights…
Yep, you guessed it.
Gypsy nights ensue…
I took everything out of the gypsy wagon, I mean everything, and dusted and vacuumed.
And now it's pure
Yumms.
Another season in the Gypsy Garden begins…
With hopes of grand tales and happenings.
That's where I will be in about 20 minutes.
Gather some reading material, and/or music, and off I go.
Happy Happy Weekending to you!
ps: Something Sweet
Miles is as soft and squishy and lovable and hilarious as could be.
A growing baby boy.
Everyday he gets a little bit bigger.
(already bigger than his big brother)
Yikes!
pss: Let's not forget big brother himself. The family/garden protector, guardian, little brother's best friend, love-boat and all around…
"Quirky muffin cakes, don't mess with me strangers, or else"
Matisse.
Matty.
Your garden is so beautiful. All your hard work has certainly paid off.
I’m very jealous of your weather, It’s pouring rain here.
ahhhh just lovely Vanessa~~glad to see the gypsy wagon is as beautiful as ever!! and is the sealah no sew tape holding up on your interior decor?
Hope so:))
Happy Weekend sweet friend!
xo
Kay Ellen
You popped into my mind today when I saw this in a magazine….
Pretty sure I have to have it.
http://thecommonstudio.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=65
What I would give for my very own Gypsy caravan!!!!! I know all these contractors and I’ve been begging for one for years!
I adore your new cushions and umbrella! (and, of course, your handsome boys!) I was just wondering yesterday if you ever found out what that plant was! Lucky girl! Evening primrose is great for PMS!
yay, Gypsy Garden! =D
Hope you’re having a wonderfully relaxing evening. ^-^
XOXO
Dear Miss V
Your cushions and your umbrella are dreamy…reminds me of the popular colors of 1961…there I go, letting my age show.
And I am happy you are going to have some very special evenings in your gypsy wagon…what a romantic gettaway place in your very romantic garden.
Kiss, Kiss
Miss Teresa
Oh Vanessa, such lovely garden happenings! Just Lovely!!!!!! I love the once mysterious primrose. The yellow is such a pretty delicate shade, can’t wait to see all the others bloom.
Yup, I shop at Wal-Mart! I did not see the adorable umbrella and cushions; I bought hair color, and cleaning products. I wish I was buying Umbrellas, so colorful and pretty! You got a great guy that Mr. Lovee!
Miss V, your lovely garden is a continual metamorphosis and simply magical, morning, noon and night. Now back to more gypsy nights to celebrate, while the AZ nights are still cool! Enjoy your hard work 😉 Breathtaking all your pictures!
Your boys are two scrumptious cuties of fur. <3
Ooooh pretty Evening primrose!! And I can’t wait to come along on some of your gypsy wagon rides this summer 😉 What a sweet pup too…Oh I just want to squeeze ’em.
Jamie 🙂
ohhhh mizz V I soooo love your magical, colorful & enchanting garden..love the set that you purchased from Walmart…I would go and by one but I have all ready four set up in all different sizes & colors and I have a small white picket fenced yard….I love your Gypsy Area…I so would love to one day have a vintage camper to set up like your area ~ need to wish on more stars…well I’m off to settle down…have a honey of a night ~ sweet dreams! Marlene aka mIzZ hONeY bEe ;O)
I would just love to have myself a gypsy wagon in a beautiful garden! Oh yes, I DO shop at Walmart and Target, too! Love those stores. Your cushions and that umbrella are so colorful and cheerful. How sweet of that Mr. Lovee to be sure you were well set up with cushions. Oh, I so do understand your feeling sorry for inanimate objects, dear V. I have felt that way, too! You really endeared yourself to me even more when I read that. Have many dreamy moments in that gypsy wagon . . . .
Love those outdoor evening shots of your gypsy wagon. It makes my brain play Stevie Nicks songs in my head. Oh, I think you need to hang a crescent moon from your tree. With the star. Looks positively delightful! – Kathy
Hello darling Miss Vanessa…so glad I peeked in today…your garden is looking lovely. And that umbrella and cushions – what a find! I always love seeing pics of your gypsy garden…here it is so cold, but I just went for a lovely woodland walk with Pip, the smell of open fires in the air – yum! We spotted some pine cones which I shall collect tomorrow to throw on our little wood fire. Lovely to pop in and say hi x
Oh my gosh your garden is so beautiful!
matty is such a handsome boy. Your garden is looking beautiful-it is fun when a mystery plant appears. I just scattered some poppy seeds the other day and am waiting in great anticipation to see if they come up. I also scattered some out of seed heads I bought dried so am wondering what they will be.
I was hesitating over my stampington magasine addiction this season, then I saw you were in WWC and ordered it straight away! x
You crack me up…can’t believe you’ve never visited Wal-mart. Girl…you can find so many cheap plants there!!!
I really like your stone edgings…are they stones from your property? Your garden sure looks pretty and I would love to sit in one of your pretty chairs.
Happy Gardening,
Sylvia
Could that newish shopping plaza possibly be Oro Valley Marketplace? Because I totally go to that Walmart and the garden section is huge and awesome and nobody is ever there! I love uncrowded stores. Also I love gypsy nights! Yay! I can’t wait for more gypsy night photos, they are some of my favorites.
ps. your hydrangeas are lovely!
Ohh the Gypsy Garden, I cannot wait for your candle lit twinkle nights posts.
I hear ya with the Wal Mart thing, I donot go to the supermarket, ever, Its the whole, I have filled my trolley and now I cant escape once Im in line thing. I go to markets and little health shops, much more breatheable.
And your garden, its getting so exciting, every year you out do yourself Miss Vanessa, its a joy to watch.
Gardening mysteries, new cushions to cosy in, magical nights and growing fur babies…
LOVE
xxx
Sheree
Ah, the Gypsy Wagon..a true sign of summer. Mine seems to have wandered off, so I will have to look at yours and dream…..good dreams.
Hi Vanessa, thank you for sharing the sweet photos of young Miles and sir Matty. Miles is such a big boy now! 🙂 Your garden is truly a masterpiece – I just love it. It has a “wild” field to it. I love the variety you have…those hydrangeas are gorgeous and so are those tea roses. I am excited because our Lily of the Valley finally bloomed…hurray! Enjoy the night in the Gypsy Wagon…xoxo Theresa
*Swoon*…The gypsy garden, all those lovely flowers, Miles and Matty…sooooooo lovely!
At the risk of stepping on toes, I’m going to answer your WalMart question (since you asked, lol!)
I never, ever, ever shop there. In fact, I boycott them, in the firm belief we all vote with our dollars. In most communities, for every minimum wage or part time job they create, they eliminate one and a half decent paying jobs with good benefits. Case in point: after a huge battle in my hometown, the city council voted to allow a WalMart here. A year later, the family owned hardware store which had been a fixture on Main Street for 150 years had closed it’s doors. Ditto several clothing stores and a florist. WalMart is also rabidly anti-union. I could go on and on, but if anyone is interested, check out the documentary “The High Cost of Low Prices”.
OK, stepping down now (with apologies for such a long and strident response to your question, lol)
Hugs,
🖤 Carolee
Sakes alive yes, I shop at Wally world …and aren’t you funny!
I saw the pretty cushions in there…did you see the giraffe print ones??? 🙂
*sqeeeeze Miles!*
Oh!!!
You should paint on canvas…one Miles, one Mattie and make pillows… 🙂 !!!
Hi. Hello. Oh how I have been missing you. School will be out soon. Your blog shall be my summer vacation. **blows kisses** Deb
Confession time . . . WalMart is my favorite store :)) Mostly because the nicest people work there, and I’ve been going for so long that they all recognize me!
I am always just enchanted with your garden, Vanessa, it’s just magical. thank you for sharing it with us!
Carolee, I totally understand where you are coming from. I try to
stay away from any real store really, and try to buy local, support
hereness. Not support big box stores that squish everything around.
I so catch your drift. You know, in my town I grew up in, every mom and
pop shop, and everything that was so small town America, is gone. And all
that stands are empty little shops, and a thriving Wal-Mart and Home Depot on a
hill. It is so sad………..
Hey V, it’s Laura.
On one hand, I totally agree with Carolee, but on the other…..OY!
I live in the middle of nowhere, and shopping there becomes a sort of ugly necessity. I live in a town where almost all the good local shops are GONE. I’d shop there, but they’re not there. And I’m driving 30 minutes just to get to the gross big gox store that IS there.
Anyhoo—-that BH&G floral print is the exact one I bought for our glider this year. I love the colors and the bright splashy flowers. It seemed like a good color palette for year-round, too.
The boys look extremely handsome, by the way.
I’m still so very jealous of your Gypsy Garden…..I will be there in your garden every evening in my dreams!!
Walmart didn’t start out big! Sam Walton had an idea and it turned big…..what’s really sad, is really no matter where you purchase any product, its all Made in China. (its just degrees of price markup)
I do my very best to keep Etsy in business though!!!
p.s. Vanessa, I have primrose oil as a main ingredient in one of my products so its fun to see the flowers in your gorgeous garden (you have the brightest green thumb evah…..)
Just catching up on all the blessings! I am so excited to get the WWC and ahh… the gypsy wagon is clear! What joys abound here. I am sending faery wishes of light! Blessings.
AAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!! Mister Lovee scored big with me!!!! I love LoVe lOvE the umbrella. Now as for me, I don’t shop at Walmart, no siree!!! But I may have to stop in and see if they have any of those umbrellas. Oh me toes are being tickled at the sight of it (she said with a Scottish Brogue) ;-))).
Did you know that that dastardly Walmart goes into towns and buys up blocks of Victorian homes them levels them to the ground and puts up their monstrosity buildings? Oi Vey!!!! That’s my peeve with them, but maybe they got a few points for such lovely umbrellas…tee hee!!!
Morning primrose, who would have thunk it ;-). And to think I’ve been yanking mine out with a vengeance ;-O. Guess I better look a little closer next time.
xoxo cori
Did you notice the angel in your garden? In the 9th photo up from Miles’ pic at the bottom, just after “So while we wait for the sun to set.” I wondered at first if you posted it because it looked like the outline of an angel, but then no one’s mentioed it. I don’t normally see things like that, but that stood out. Your garden is blessed. 🙂