A New Giveaway, An Unwanted Visitor and a Walk Through The Gardens

*** The winner of last weeks giveaway for the brass candlesticks is: Sharlene T. Contact me and I will ship them right out!

This week Teddy is giving away these amber glass fairy lights. They are about 8 inches in height and about 4 inches wide.


The top lifts off so you can sit a candle inside.


There is a hole on top to vent the heat. These are very pretty vintage pressed glass pieces and shimmer when the candles are lighted inside them. They would be wonderful on a harvest table. Halloween is only 6 months away!

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Look who invaded Teddy's territory this morning. And what a morning it was. I chased this guy with a broom and he just looked at me like I was crazy. Teddy was within inches of getting him. Finally Teddy treed him and then we put Teddy on her leash and took her to the park. Then I spent hours trying to get the coon out of the yard. It seems to be gone now and I hope it got the message not to return!


Phlox


This was the phlox yesterday.


A bit of it began to open.


Here it is this morning. Tomorrow might be the day it is in full bloom.


I bought these because I needed some quick color for the patio.


The viburnum are open and smell wonderful!


The peach tree is about to bloom. I will be harvesting peaches around July 10th.


Blueberry buds.


Six future blueberries. I hope I can get to them before the birds this year.


The Japanese Maple is filling in by the day.


If you look very closely in the middle you can see the new brown fern fronds just emerging.


Ferns are my favorites. I love ferns and moss.


A view of the back garden from the porch through the viburnums.



A pachysandra flower.


More ferns.


Hostas



The Fall Flowering Cherry blossoms were all blown off by the winds and this is what remains.


A tulip about to bloom.


Climbing hydrangea bud.


The Salem Witch day lilies.


I have violets planted between my pavers all over my patio and paths.


And of course the dandelions are here. I am learning to live with them. I refuse to use chemicals in my gardens.


The hydrangeas are opening.

It seems to take so long for spring to get here and then suddenly everything is bursting open.

I've received so many questions about Teddy that I thought I would answer some of them here. Teddy does not shed. She has two types of hair. The top coat is long and coarse. Underneath she has a very dense thick layer of down. In about another month the undercoat will be ready to come off. We have Teddy groomed once a week but we brush her daily just because she likes it. When the undercoat comes off, it will come off in huge clumps. She will look like she's had liposuction! She instantly looks half her size. Some people spin chows hair into yarn and knit with it. I don't want to wear Teddy. We leave her undercoat outside and watch all of the birds flying away with it in their beaks using it to build their nests. Teddy is a female. Her full name is Theodora Puddle pup. Don't even ask where that came from. She is 5 years old as of yesterday. Though Teddy looks sweet and lovable, remember that looks can be deceiving. Out on the street or in the park she might allow people to pet her. That all depends on her mood. Chows are very suspicious creatures. They do not trust easily. She would never be friendly to anyone in her gardens. That is her territory and she guards it well. She also does not particularly like other dogs. We socialized her when she was small. We took her to dog parks daily. Chows play to win. They can be a bit rough and Teddy is a bruiser. In general, chows bond with one human and tolerate a few others. In Teddy's case, she bonded with me. Smart girl since I am the food provider. She loves the rest of the family but she bosses them around. If anyone has any other chow questions feel free to ask!