My Grama's Soul

For those of you living in colder parts of our country, I wanted to share pics of what it is like in Arizona right now.  Flowers are blooming like crazy as it has not turned so hot yet. The jasmine has bloomed and the fragrance is truly heavenly...but it doesn't last for long.  So we do enjoy it while we have it. The lavender and dianthus are taking off as are the bottle brush bushes.  The bees are especially fond of the lavender and the hummingbirds LOVE the bottle brush. We have a resident humming bird who lives in a tree nearby and often vacations in our little courtyard.  He loves the Buddha fountain I have hidden under the bamboo. Most evenings he comes here for water and to take a little bath while Skyler and I are in our TV room watching a movie.  We can see him through the window as he often comes to show us how lovely he is by putting on a display in front of the window. I always like to think th...

My beautiful friend, Mary, sent me  this picture of lilacs for Easter.  Aren't they beautiful....you NEVER see lilacs in Arizona. Wanted to share. Jo

It has been just a little over one year since we downsized into this little spot of ours.  A year of both sadness and multiple blessings.  We have made a few changes to the inside of the house and the yard.  Wanted to show some of the changes we came up with by using old stuff in a new way. I believe the most difficult aspect of moving is how you will use your existing things since we certainly could not afford to go out and buy all new.    As I indicated in a previous post, I only kept what I LOVE and that in itself was a huge undertaking.  Using old things in new ways to bring back memories and smiles.  In the photo above I hung all my Chinese Lanterns and umbrellas from my porch ceiling.  It is a fairly high ceiling for a porch and I figured they could be installed there with little effort.   That way they can be put to use instead of being stored away;  reminding me of the many trips we have made around our country ...

My friend, Lainey, is one heck of a gardner!!!  She had to leave town unexpectedly this week to drive to Wyoming; before she left she told me to go pick tomatoes as she didn't want the birds to get all of them.  So......I did!! The lemons are ours from our tree out back.  We have been harvesting them for months.  LOL LOL Anyway, I make tons of homemade salsa so these tomatoes are going to be used for this as well as some homemade spaghetti sauce. I'm only growing a few herbs and some easy veggies in our garden out back...since I seem to be a little intimidated to grow REAL VEGETABLES as I call them.   Mint, basil and oregano But.....visiting her garden today inspired me to buy one tomato plant and some cilantro.  I don't know if it is too late to plant the tomato but I'm going to plop it in with my flowers and see what happens. I'll keep you posted! (O: Jo

OH My......are their some geraniums amongst that lobelia?  It is springtime here....and everything is blooming like crazy.  We don't have a very long spring so I always revel in all the flowers and greenery that just explode. These flowers are from the side yard and are so very pretty I wanted to bring them inside. I always pick flowers from my garden when I can as I love to have fresh flowers inside my home.  It also saves a ton of money when you don't have to buy them at the store. Unfortunately the geraniums will not be long lived here as they are really a winter flower in AZ.  They can't stand the tremendous heat of our summers.  The roses, on the other hand, will bloom during April and May....they actually like our AZ heat if they are planted in the right spot in your yard. I've been fortunate to meet a Master Gardner at one of our local nurseries here.  Sheri, works for Sunset Nurseries here in Phoenix and is alwa...

TOO CUTE  NOT TO SHARE......... xoxo Jo

Anyone who know me realizes that I use unusual things in my decorating and design.  I went to my local Trader Joe's yesterday and was looking at the wonderful pine boughs that were shaped into Christmas sprays.  They were really inexpensive and I almost brought one home...but I resisted. So this morning when I woke up I decided to make my own from whatever was growing and blooming in my garden at the moment. We don't really have any pine trees when I live...but I do have lots and lots of lavender and rosemary growing in my yard and gardens.   Went out and cut a bunch and tied it together with some very old Christmas pinecones I had on hand.  Put a pretty bow on the thing and attached it to my garden gate.   Today the wind is blowing here in AZ so you really cannot get the full effect of all the "sparkle" but it is sort of sparkly.  (O:   The aroma is really heavenly as you open and close the gate and I read somewhere that you shoul...

Who says you can't have a rainforest in Arizona? I am out to prove them wrong.  These are pics of my front court yard this summer.  Full of palms, trees, shrubs and flowers..... The spider plants you see in the foreground....are mostly volunteers.  I started with one plant about three inches tall....and they just keep multiplying over the years. The huge ferns in back I have had for over 20 years. What always amazes me is how with ll5 degree summers and freezing winters these things just thrive and multiply. Another peek through my palms....painted the chairs this summer...fun...fun colors. This little sign is always on my porch.  It hangs about my fountain that runs 24/7....maybe it helps...who knows?  LOL LOL I hope everyone is having fun with their summer gardens this year....you know what they say...."more is more". hugs, Jo