Thursday, June 10, 2010

New Garden Photos and Refreshing Simple Punch


There are a lot of flowers blooming in our garden. I am going to show you but I cannot name most of them.

I finally got "My Secret Garden" sign! I have looked all over for one but all I could find are small ones so I had Paula custom make one for me. She even painted a bird on it as I requested. Do you see it?

I have this fountain hanging on the brick wall right outside the kitchen breakfast nook. Do you see the fruits of the kumquat plant?


Iron boxed planters are hanging on the iron fence by the driveway.
We have 2 big bushes or more like small trees of these roses of Sharon.

Fuschia



Various plants...the butterfly likes the lantana.


a bicycle planter in the front porch.


Front porch plants and flowers.


Grapes, peppers and tomatoes


These small fragrant flowers are our national flowers in the Philippines. We call them sampaguita and they belong to the Jasmine family. They really smell so sweet!



Below are flowers hanging on the porch and gazebo.


Various types of Hibiscus


Jacobina



The magnolia trees are also blooming. The flowers are so pretty but short lived. They usually just bloom for one day and then they turn brown.


Potted plants on concrete pedestals.



Even the orchids are blooming.








Whew! It is a lot of work gardening, isn't it? We better get a refreshment.

This is my contribution for Foodie Friday. My daughter called me once from Florida after coming from a party telling me about this. She said the punch was so good and so pretty and then she found out how simple it is to prepare it.


That's right, it really is so simple, just 7 Up and Vanilla ice cream. Scoop up some vanilla ice cream in a bowl and add 7 Up and that's it! It comes out all white and it fizzles and it looks and tastes wonderful. In fact, I just mixed some today straight into a glass and had it. So refreshing!! You can add Malibu coconut in it if you want.



I am linking with the following:

Gollum for Foodie Friday at http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/



Fertilizer Friday at
http://www.tootsietime.com/



Claudia for Finding Beauty at
http://www.dipityroad.com/


http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com


Summer means a lot of planting for me and seeing beautiful gardens and gorgeous flowers.



Thanks to these gracious hostesses for these fun memes. You should go visit them to see some great recipes, gardens and beautiful posts. And thank you all for coming for a visit.

43 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

Your pictures are beautiful, Christine. I love all of the close ups! The butterfly is awesome. I don't remember seeing your front porch, but I love the bicycle planter. You have done so much work, it is amazing to look at. And once everything is planted...all the taking care of it!! ;-D

I am slowly getting my plantings done. Al made a nice little garden plot for me at the lake and I planted beans. peas, tomatoes and basil last weekend. Not much but I am not always there to weed and water so I can't go much bigger. I will take pics after some of the seeds sprout. It really is a cute garden that he decorated with big stones. It was a surprise! Now I hope to get my big bum out there to take care of it!

Have a great weekend! :-)

xoxo
Jane

Sue said...

Christine, You are such a wonderful gardener and your pictures reflect that! What pretties you grow...
I truly wish I didn't have a brown thumb and could grow beautiful flowers and plants. Instead, I enjoy seeing everyone else's gardens, yours included.....
hugs, Sue

Sue said...

You have such beautiful flowers and so many! How do you take care of them when you are gone so much? The punch does sound very refreshing and so easy!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Congrats on the sign! It's beautiful! Almost as beautiful as you lovely garden itself! It's all so gorgeous! I could spend all day in your yard! It's gorgeous!

Sarah said...

Christine, these photos are all so beautiful. You have a colorful garden. And yes, gardening is definitely a lot of work. You must be one busy lady! Thanks for the punch. I've enjoyed catching up on your previous posts that I've recently missed while away from my computer. ~ Sarah

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Christine, I just love looking at all your flowers. I have the same rose of Sharons and they are exploding with blooms. I love your fountain and your sign turned out fantastically.

Beth said...

Hi Christine, What beautiful flowers you have - I really enjoyed seeing them. I love the photo mosaics you've made, too. You truly are creative and artistic. You have such a way of putting things together in a way that is very pleasing to the eye! I love your gardens, and the sign is just beautiful. The punch sounds good too. I remember seeing it in the punch bowl when you hosted the Mississippi Belles.
Beth

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Christine, these mosaics and your flowers and outdoor accessories are gorgeous! Is that a new wall fountain? It's so pretty. You have really been working hard. I bet it's nice to have the pool to jump into after you've been doing all of that gardening. laurie

Dolores said...

Wow.... Christine... your flowers and yard are so beautiful!!!
The 7 up and ice cream looks delicious, I must try it.

Donna said...

Hi, Christine,
Those flowers are gorgeous. My favs are still those planters on the fence. :)
D

Anonymous said...

Our Mum would love this garden Christine! She always wanted an area she could call her Secret Garden for her grand kids.

Your garden is just beautiful!

Best wishes,
The 3 Sisters.

Kimberly said...

What a lovely garden. I want to take a vacation just visiting you. Thanks!

Warm wishes.

I had no time to do Foodie Friday this week.

susan said...

Christine-W0W-You have been working! You have so many beautiful flowers. I love the sampaguita. Any kind of jasmine smells divine! Love the fountain. The 7up foat sounds refreshing!

Jay said...

Your flowers are gorgeous - I love the fuchsia bud, and the sampaguita! Your fountain is also very lovely. Oh, and I have two phalaenopsis orchids of exactly the same colour as yours. :)

Ice cream and 7-up sounds just so delicious that I'd better not try it!!

Darla said...

You put a lot of work into your garden and making the collages to share them. It's all beautiful. Your Althea, Rose of Sharon is a double, nice! The vinca in the little container is cute, you know it will get rather large right?

A Garden of Threads said...

A beautiful garden, they all look happy. Have a wonderful weekend.

Darla said...

The vinca is on the deck in the two terra cotta containers with the candles around it.

Darla said...

Last collage: First frame Canna Lily, third frame Snapdragon, Large purple frame Homestead Verbena, bottom right the silver/white is Dusty Miller.

Next Collage up: Red is Begonia the feathery light pink plumes Celosia the yellow is a Dark Angel Dahlia.

Hibicus Collage: Looks like some Penta in the bottom right.

Flowers hanging on the porch collage; Peutnias and impatiens. Maybe another begoina.

Bicycle planter looks like a Cordyline with petunias.

Collage with the butterfly: Looks like Golden Dewdrop in the bottom middle, when the purpl blooms fall off does it make little golden berries? If so, it's very poisonous.

Hope this helped, probably named all the ones ou already knew, lol.

Unknown said...

Your gardens are GORGEOUS!! WOw, you surely do deserve a ice cream & 7up float after all it takes to care for such lovely gardens :)

Blessings!
Gail

Glenda/MidSouth said...

What a beautiful garden - love all the flowers. The 7up float sounds good.
Enjoy your weekend.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

The pictures are beautiful and your garden is filled with such wonderful colors. It's perfect.

Sir and Miss said...

Your garden looks amazing! It must have taken you a long time to get it looking so swish:)

Thanks for stopping by 3 Sisters, 365. The boy with the fountain is my 4 year old - he would have so much fun exploring in your secret haven.

Holly
x

siteseer said...

your gardens are beautiful. do you get enough rain in your parts or do you do a lot of dragging the hose? I have to drag a hose and I'm just about at time capacity with my small gardens. You know the old saying.... if you want something done look for the busiest person you know to help. You must be the busiest person.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

How pretty, Christine! Your flowers are gorgeous! My favorite...the magnolias! They smell fantastic and are so beautiful!Your punch sounds refreshing! Happy weekend!...hugs...Debbie

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

What beautiful flowers...and I love the pool I saw in the background. That punch drink sounds awesome! I would love some right now, while sitting by your pool and enjoying the flowers! Linda

Avalon's Garden and Mewsings of Garden Cottage Cats said...

Your Garden is very Pretty,the flowers are beautiful! Love the Mosaics of them :) The punch sounds great! Really must try it:)Thanks for sharing, Enjoy your weekend!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Christine,
Your gardens are the best! You really do have a very green thumb my friend!
I love, love the fountain on the wall and all your amazing plants!
Happy Weekend,
Cindy

Suesue said...

Christine, I love, love, love your flower gardens! I really like those concrete pedestals and I want to do that in my own yard. The trailing variegated vine is so pretty in the container on top.
Thanks for sharing such gorgeous pics!
Sue

Claudia said...

This little bit of heaven is just the spot one could day dream the day away.

What a haven. Thanks oh so much for joining in with us.

Im in awe...and cant wait to see the continuing process of summer and what more heat and water do for you :)

HAve the best weekend!

Claudia

Larry said...

Wow- that wicker chair looks like just the spot to enjoy your beautiful flowers! Larry

Unknown said...

Your yard looks beautiful! And I"m so surprised to see your secret garden behind your slide! Wow... you have an amazing yard!

~Rainey~

Kat said...

Oh, I love this sign Christine! It really is perfect. Thanks for pointing this post out to me, I missed it somehow. Your yard and gardens are so beautiful, and like I said before, this really is like your own secret garden. Just lovely! Kat

BECKY said...

What a beautiful place and what a lovely garden, Christine!! You sure have a way of surrounding yourself with beauty!

I looked back at your blog gathering and wow! Do you ever have the gift of hospitality!! You made everything so lovely!! I know those ladies were blessed!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!!
HUGS!!
Becky

The Tablescaper said...

Chritine:

Thank you so much for joining in "Summer Sundays".

You have such a gorgeous home and a wonderful garden, or should I say gardens. I love all of your plantings.

I think you're so right, nothing says summer like beautiful flowers.

Thanks again and looking forward to seeing you at future Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Shirley said...

You have beautiful plants and gardens. I have an idea for a secret garden but it involves an old door so I don't know if it will ever happen!

Dianne said...

your garden is amazing, stunning!
the sign fits so perfectly

Kathleen said...

Christine! If you you show everyone your SECRET garden, it is not a secret anymore!!!LOL
Your flowers are beautiful, and you must get a workout everyday watering them! Your sign is very pretty!
Lovely mosaics too!
I will try to find out about the flower you asked about.

Lulu said...

Wow, I'm going to get to work in my garden right now. It is stunning and so are your photos. Enjoy every fragrant moment.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Wonderful pics, Christine! I have toured this house before, and I love it. You got some great shots of all the treasures. We were there a few summers ago, and I love the view from the porch to the river. This is a marvelous preservation effort on the part of the state and the DAR. Thanks for sharing...

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Christine, I just realized I posted for the post above on this one. I love your secret garden! It is amazing. You've done super work on this!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Jeanne Henriques said...

Wonderful summer moments. Beautiful pictures too!

Jeanne:)

Tootsie said...

lookin good girl!!!
thank you for linking in this week!!! see you again soon I hope!

Lisa Montsion said...

I just wanted to let you know that you have a beautiful garden.

lisa

Popular Posts

Blog Archive


Mary's Masterpiece Monday

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday

Tea Cup Tuesday

Tablescape Thursday

Fertilizer Friday

Pink Saturday