I am constantly amazed by the beauty in nature. I love looking closely at flowers and admiring the lines, colours and textures of each bloom. Of all of the flowers I know, I think pansies remind me the most of watercolours. Don't you think Mother Nature must have her own extra special paintbox?
I have painted a lot of violas and pansies over the years. They are such happy flowers. You can click
here to see a few of my prints featuring them. If you are relatively new to my blog you won't know this special connection. One of my grandmothers was named Viola.
I planted the little beauties in these photos in my front garden this week. The traditional planting date for annuals in our region has been May 24th for many years. I tend to try to plant much earlier if overnight temperatures are forecast above frost. Pansies, however, can handle frost so they can be planted before most any other annual. One neighbour a few houses down never plants anything before May 24th. Often when I'm out planting my first annuals, he will pass by and say "Isn't it a little early to be planting those, Kathleen?" I always assure him that they will be fine. It's like an annual tradition! I was a little disappointed that he didn't walk by this year. ;)
I have been so busy this past week with the spring cleanup in my garden that I haven't had a paintbrush in my hand once! I have so many flower beds that it takes at least five full days to clean everything up. I filled 20 big garbage bags with clippings and garden waste for the municipal green pickup! You should have seen the pile at the curb. I feel like I should have got some sort of Amazon woman award for that! Once the beds are presentable again, I will move my attention to my beloved square-foot vegetable garden.
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| My handsome and kind-hearted garden supervisor |
After the slow, cold beginning to the spring, this week has been remarkably sunny and warm. If you blink, you can miss an important change in the garden. Leaves have opened. Flowers are blooming. We have our first sparrow family too. It's a beautiful time of year.
Thank you so much for sharing your spring garden report (with the photo of the cute assistant !). I live vicarously through my friends who have garden ... sigh. I love how the first pansies look like they've been drawn with color pencils !! Awesome !
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend !
xoxo
You have an amazing connection with nature, even without a garden! :) That's interesting that I think of watercolor paint and you think of colored pencils.
DeleteI am so wanting an English garden in my whole yard. I haven't a clue how to begin and my hands are the kiss of death to anything that grows. It didn't use to be that way and I really don't know what has happened. And I have 4 dogs and I just know they would ruin my yard. I'm in awe of your tenacity and spirit and work ethic when it comes to your garden!!
ReplyDeleteHaving four dogs would be a challenge for a gardener. :) Meeko is now three and has calmed down a great deal. I had to change my attitude about gardening the first year we had him. He ate plants (or tried to at least). He also ate half of my irrigation system. I have put small fences in many places to slow him down so he can't tear through the flower beds. I've surrounded my vegetable garden. I also had to move certain plants that were on the toxic list. I really had to adjust the vision of my garden.
DeleteWhat a delight to read your garden news Kathleen. I love to share this with you (minus the back pain! lol)I wish I knew how to do what you do, it must be such an intense pleasure to see what you so carefully planted blossom and thrive (and then paint it too!);-)
ReplyDeleteI do love being able to tend to my garden and paint what is in it. This time of year though I don't end up with a paintbrush in my hand too often! :)
Deletethis really resonates with me
ReplyDeleteI noticed the pansies on your porch in a recent photo. :)
DeleteI love pansies - they are so cute! :-)
ReplyDeleteThey have sweet faces. :)
DeleteIndeed, I do believe that mother nature has her own special paintbox! Love these photographs and your beautiful paintings which I found on etsy!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting my shop and blog, Sherry! I appreciate your kind words. :)
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