Welcome to my
Perfectly Imperfect Life..........

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Work Horse of the Garden

The work horse of the garden...
This can vary just like personalities vary.
What is the work horse of your garden?
Mine is the Rose.

Most of mine started as slips from my parents or
were rescued before heading to the trash pile.

The front of my home.....
We built an arbor to help protect from scorching Summer sun
and planted climbers that were started by my parents.
That was 17 yrs ago.
The strongest have survived and thrived.
At one time "Peace" covered the arbor, but now the hardier wild red has claimed it territory.

It spills down the wall of the garage over the Heavenly Bamboo


On the opposite side of the house is a red climber that I picked up at the end of the bare root season.
It looked pretty bad, but the price was low enough to give it a try.
Seems it's happy now.

 I purchased this ''Abraham Lincoln'' Rose
about 15 yrs ago. It's a hardy one. 

Behind the picket fence is a bush rose I picked up about the same time.

I couldn't resist it's happy stripes

or it's name....
"Rockin' Robin"

It must be about 5 feet tall and almost as wide this year!
A bit bigger than I ever thought it would be.
But I still love it anyway.

This was the loveliest shade of lavender tree rose by oldest son rescued from a friends mother.....she was pulling out and tossing all the roses that came with the home she had just purchased. Unfortunately a couple years ago we had horrid winds that snapped it right off. As you can see it must have broken below the graft.
So another red is added..... 


 If I remember correctly, in front of the Mock Orange is "New Dawn".
Such a feminine pinkish color.

Behind it is a pinkish bush rose I rescued from the farm.

This little bush rose was in a place where it didn't receive much water at my parents. It was a very mature plant and I wasn't sure it would make it if dug up.....but since the sprinklers didn't reach where it was planted (Mom always dragged the hose out to water it) I feared the renters wouldn't take that extra step, I thought it would have at least a chance of survival with me.
Look at it now, several years later and flourishing!

I don't know the name of it (it's been dubbed Mom's Baby Rose) but it has the tightest baby pink flowers that are so sweet. Glad I took the chance.

Behind the garden bench are "Apple Blossom" Carpet roses. When they were planted years ago they were in full sun. Now they get dappled sun and are still happy. Real troopers!
Pink Oxalis carpets the ground under the bench. This is part of the same plant I had in my garden when I was little.


 I love my "Cecil Brunner" but it can get a little rambunctious at times!

It's scent is heavenly

 Wild bush roses my son rescued




 A red climber like on the front arbor.


In the foreground "Lady Banks" finishes up blooming.
Behind toward the top you can see "Joseph's Coat"


 "Joseph's Coat" was a gift from my parents.

Such gorgeous colors!


And we'll finish off with a baby rose my daughter gave me.
It's amazing how those little roses you see in the supermarket can become so big :)

I have more but I'm sure your probably rosed out by now!!

I'm joining these garden parties:

Cottage Flora Thursdays at Fishtail Cottage

Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time

Fresh Cut Friday at Rose Vignettes


Time for Another Mental Vacation












Time's running out to enter my giveaway!!
Hurry over and enter ♥

Monday, April 30, 2012

Some Encouragement


Joining Kimberly and Courtney for
their Monday Pinning Party :) 


I've been on a roller coaster ride regarding my life, as some of you know.
This week I needed some inspiration to help climb out of this low I've been in,
Hoping these help :)














There's still time to enter my giveaway!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Cottage What-Nots

I'm joining the Surprise Esty Cottage Style What-Not party!
Pop over and see everyone's what-nots, doo dads, collections and tzotchkes! 

A friend recently presented me with a few old soda crates.
I knew I wanted to use them for some types of shelves
but wasn't quite sure how or where.

I ended up mounting a couple above an open doorway
that leads to my vanity area.

The Seven-Up crate holds my collection of old postcards/cards from my Grandparents, Parents and other relatives.

This Pepsi crate holds odd and ends.
As you can see I'm not finished with it yet.

Someone painted this sweet blue floral (that I just love!)
on the inside of this Coca Cola crate.
I placed minimal nostalgic pieces in it as not to deter from the painting.

This one is from my parents and is marked Produce of Portugal.
It carries a special place in my heart.
A piece of my ancestry....
did it come from relatives,
did someone bring it back from a visit to Portugal with them,
where did it come from?
I found it as we were cleaning out Dad's shop.
I wish I knew it's story.
 It isn't completed yet either.
I'd like to hang a small photo/picture of Portugal in the center.
I need to go through my postcards and see if I have a picture postcard from Portugal....
that would be perfect.

On the left side of the photo you can see part of my collection of decorative birdhouses made from empty seed packets.

None of these are fancy what-nots, just a few that hold a special place in my heart.

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