If I Wouldn't Miss the Mountains

Recently my hubby and I vacationed in Wisconsin. Why Wisconsin you ask? Well, because we have a vacation plan that has a resort there. It's in a quaint little town, 'Fish Creek' located in an area called 'Door County'. It was absolutely gorgeous! So much so that we both agreed that we could live there. That is, "If we wouldn't miss the mountains". The whole area is on the Great Lakes. Water so wide that it looks just like it's the ocean. My hubby loves being by the water. As we toured through the numerous quaint little towns he would say, "there's a place for sale." We imagined ouselves in this darling cottage, ( that's what they call them), with the backyard on the Lake. Most of the homes are way back in, down a little lane. This is so they could be on the Lake. In reality, we could never leave our gorgeous mountainous home. We love the mountains way too much. Sure was fun imagining though! I never realized how beautiful Wisconsin was. Glad we went there, and can't wait to return! I think that some of these pics will help you understand why we felt that way.

Birdhouse with a RED roof, how could anyone not love it?

You would drive for a bit heading to the next town and just out in the no wheres you'd find a cute little shop like these two to browse through.

This was a garden shop next to the antique store. So quaint!

They call this a lake?

Egg Harbor was 3 miles from our resort. Darling town-pop. 100 something.

Egg harbor park by the pier.

Fish Creek Marina

We found ourselves in 'Cherryland'. Cherry juice, cherry cheese, cherry salsa, cherry pie, and choclate covered cherries-the best. Needless to say we kept ourselves real regular on this trip. HA-HA!

I loved this Inn. One of the original homes to Fish Creek.

Now it's a Hotel and Restuarant.

Breakfast at the 'White Gull Inn'. None other than their famous, 'Cherry Stuffed French Toast'.

Peninsula National Park located N. of Fish Creek

Lighthouse in Peninsula Park. A family with 7 boys lived there for 35 years. We were able to tour through this one, very interesting history.

These next few pics are among my favorites- chairs, chairs, and more chairs!

Everywhere you went chairs were beaconing to you to "Take a Seat".

I love adriondack chairs. It was so cute how almost everyone had them in groupings.

They seemed to say, "sit, relax, and take in the gorgeous view!"

This resort really knew how to welcome the birds!

LOVE, LOVE, the flag blowing in the wind behind this chair!

Again, more chairs begging you to come sit.

See what I mean, they were everywhere! Don't you love all the different colors and styles of chairs?

We drove clear out in the boonies to find this place in Sturgeon Bay. It came highly recommended by a food critic on the internet. Darn, the fish fry was only on Fri. nites!

Shultz had a perch sandwich and I had a mushroom swiss burger. Didn't dare try the perch.

Tasted his and it was delics. I've got to be more daring! Good burger though.

This lighthouse was closed to the public.

Look at all those geese.

There was a free 9 hole par 3 golf course right on our resort.

Tiger Woods doesn't have anything on this guy!

I've never golfed, so par 3 was more like par 9 or 10 for me. Look at that form, pitiful!

oh well, practice makes perfect.

Hope to return there before too many years. Maybe then my par 9/10 will be a 5/6. Wishful thinking!

My Oh My, July Flew By!

I don't know if it's just because I'm getting older, but the months seem to fly by anymore. Remember as a child summer break seemed so long? Well, I could not believe how quickly July came and went. Fortunately though, before it was over Mother Nature dropped by to deliver a few beautiful blooms to my garden. She is certainly one gal that you can depend on. Sure, you have to do your part, but the majority of it is up to her. Alot of the plants are small because this is their first year. Can't wait to see what next year brings.

Pink coneflower


White coneflower- already getting a few new starts from
this one.


Miniature hollyhocks and Shasta daisy. My daisies never
got this big at my Highland home. My hubby thought it
was a bush because it was so large.


Yarrow


Mallow-almost spent when I snapped this pic.

Belladonna delphinium

Dragons blood sedum

Balloon flower-notice how the bud looks like a balloon?

Lupine

I love the month of July. Could it be because it is my birthday month? I'm sure that has alot to do with it. As a teenager growing up my mother would always let me have outdoor slumber parties for my birthday. Some of my fondest memories are from those parties. Oh, the fun times we had toliet papering, pulling pranks on whoever fell asleep first, and telling scarey stories as we were all sprawled out in our sleeping bags. Sleeping out in my parents beautiful garden what a great time it was!!!

Birthday Month, Birthday Flower = Butterfly

June Blooms

Now that July has arrived I thought I would share what June brought to my garden.
The month of June has a special place in my heart. It was my sweet mothers name, (now two great grandaughters have it as a middle name) and also the month in which she was born. It is the official month of summer, and also when some of my favorte flowers bloom.


I planted pansies last Fall. Can't believe that they still look this pretty!
Normally I would have pulled them out by now. I guess all that Spring
rain helped. I've planted some petunias so there will be color when they
finally are spent. Don't you love that word 'Spent"? Just tells it like it is.
Sometimes we ourselves feel a little 'spent' after working hard and trying
to look good all day.



Sweet Peas-these are among my favorites

Delphiniums- Another favorite

Sweet Williams

Lillies, these were just given to me a few weeks ago, by my

friend, Shelley. Wasn't sure if they'd bloom this year.

Ground cover, Snow in the Summer

carnations

Salvia

Scabiosa

Coral Bells

Spiderwort

Wild Geranium

Penstemon-Husker Red

Jupiters Beard

Most of these are starts that I brought from my Highland home last Fall.
Don't you love that they are so willing to be moved to a new home?
In fact, sometimes they thrive in a new environment.

Creating the "Cottage Garden"-phase 1

Ever since we moved into our new home last July I have been dreaming of creating a new "Cottage Garden". You know, the kind where flowers and vines grow rampant everywhere. And the atmosphere is so inviting that you never want to leave. This will not happen overnite, but the anticipation is delightful! This year will be phase 1. I have a feeling that it will be phase 3 or 4 before it's finished. That's alright though, remember-"Patience is a virtue". I know that it will all be worth it in the long run. I thought that I would share my progress with you for the next few months. Hope you enjoy it. In one of my garden magazines it listed 10 things you need to do to create the 'perfect' cottage garden. Over time I will share them with you as well as a few of my own ideas.


1. Include Vintage Treasures in your landscaping.

As you might well guess, this was an easy one for me. I've been collecting treasures (junk) for many years. This chicken feeder is planted with a purple pincushion flower and a clematis is planted at the base of the small ladder.

I think that this milk crate and dolly saw some working days in their time. I'm sure that they'd much rather be holding plants.

Not sure if this pillar was ever used in a church. It certainly looks like something a preacher would have stood behind. Boy, I bet it could tell some good stories. If it could only talk!


2. Plant in unusual containers

This old mop bucket holds my mint in the herb garden. It's a great way to control the spread of the runners it shoots out. I couldn't have an herb garden without mint. Love the smell when you brush against it.

This vintage stove was given to me by a friend years ago. Originally, I had it in my family room. When I grew tired of it inside I coaxed my hubby to move it outdoors. The beast is SOOO heavy. He vowed to never move it again. I love it and hated the thoughts of leaving it at the old house. When Mothers Day was approaching I told my children that all I wanted was for my sons and son-in-laws to move my old stove up to the new home. Hooray! See, mother does know best. My hubby caved and helped move it. He's a keeper!

3. Provide homes for feathered friends

Still love birdhouses!

4. Plant flowering trees

Golden chain, I had one at my Highland home and I loved it.



5. Plant old fashioned flowers

Iris-one of my favorites because my mother had alot of them in our garden. That is where I developed my love of gardening, home sweet home! Some of my Iris are starts from my mother and sister Dolores.

Peonies-can't wait until they are big and bushy!

Poppies-these are starts given to my by a sweet old man who use to cut wood for a craft shop I ran with my partner, Diana. He and his wife have both passed on. I think of them whenever I see the bright orange blossoms.

Batchelor Buttons-this is the perennial version. I also love the annual ones that just reseed wherever they feel like it.

There are alot more flowers and ideas I hope to share with you over the next few months. Hope you enjoy! Until then, happy gardening!