How to Reseed Your Sunflowers!

This is how my sunflowers keep coming back each year. As I clip the spent flowers, I place them at the base. The bees are still happy and my flowers keep growing:

Summer Lovin'

This summer has been hot and this summer has been long. Oh, wait. It's only half over so far and this is a good thing because I have a ton of knitting to do.

The last week has been perfect as far as figuring out which gifts I'll be knitting for my loved ones and I've been lucky enough to be keeping busy with custom orders too. It's also been perfect for designing some new and exciting pieces for the fall shows and we're starting to get those set up. I'll be posting dates soon on the facebook page and the site.

My garden has been growing in leaps and bounds and at this point, it's hardly containable. Turns out the cucumber seeds ordered from burpee were packaged incorrectly and where I planned cucumbers, there is the most beautiful pumpkin vine curlicue-ing around almost everything. In the morning, there are gorgeous huge yellow star-shaped flowers blanketing the large leaves.

If all of these bloom, everyone I know will receive pumpkins this year!  It's the first time I've ever grown pumpkins. My garden is not very large and I usually plant bush cucumbers and bush beans to consolidate my space. These may even choke out my peppers and it's grown out of the garden and across the lawn too. 

The tomatoes are doing well! These are from this morning and I have to go back out later to finish picking. I used some last night to make a fresh bruschetta-style salad to toss into cheese tortellini. Is there anything better than fresh tomatoes? Yes, possibly the fresh basil. Mixing the two together is delicious!

Hollyhocks!

Each year the hollyhocks multiply and multiply in the garden outside my bedroom window. I find them so lovely and beautiful in the way they open one by one. Early in the Spring, I staggered the way they're planted to space them nicely and give them enough space to delight me for years to come. Maybe I should find another color to mix within? Any suggestions?

Poppied

I nurture my poppy plant all year long. It's growing larger and larger each year and blooms more and more too. The flowers now reach my waist and though I've tried unsuccessfully to start another from this beauty, I've not had luck. I'm still happy with this one Jurassic sized specimen. 

 

I find the poppy to be stunning and showy. I hope to make some progress this weekend with the gathering of old things for a yard sale I've been procrastinating with, but I wanted to share these photos with you and wish you a lovely weekend. What are you doing for fun today? What are your wishes for the upcoming summer?

Vintage Find

A fabulously worn and organic looking raffia fedora is new in the shop today. This piece has great character. I bought it from the UK. Perfect for summer days in the sun.

All Of A Sudden

all of a sudden, he was looking back at me with the same level of curiosity

Fireflies and Watermelon

I've been taking time to enjoy the little things. Slowing down enough to absorb the beauties this new summer season has brought along but not slowing down too much to keep it all moving. So far, it's been so warm and full of fireflies and watermelon, afternoon bicycle rides, celebrations, new creations, music, family and friends. It's only just begun.