Thursday, May 6, 2010

Backyard Interlude & More

I have another tag ready to show you, but today, a brief intermission from our little forest garden out back.
A couple of days ago, it rained and rained all afternoon and stopped just in time for me to get a few pictures in the evening light.
I love how things look after a good soaking - the wood is so dark, the greens lush and the colors have a special vibrancy.
The oak leaf hydrangea freshly washed,
and then again yesterday in the shunshine.
Everything seemed happy, especially all of our different kinds of ferns.



Just look at this window box Daniel planted last weekend. It's already filled out. That's what warmth and humidity will do - I wilt, but the plants love it!
And since we are on the subject of nature, I wanted to show you a few pictures our good friend, Raina, sent us of some of some of the 400 flowering cherry trees in Amsterdam donated to the city in 2000 by the Japan Women's Club.
Raina and I met some 21 years ago when we sat next to each other in a statistics class in San Jose, California. She, Daniel and I have been fast friends ever since.
Thank you for this treat, Raina!!
Last, but definitely not least, head on over to the very talented and generous Theresa of Faerie Moon Creations, who has graciously featured a fellow artisan and myself. While you are there, be certain to check out Theresa's Etsy store - she and her husband design the jewelry they sell. You'll find that it's both whimsical and romantic, like this pretty necklace:
Tomorrow, I'll show you my latest art tag. And maybe another little painting that was giving me such trouble yesterday that I gessoed over it and will start from scratch. We'll see how it goes...

But for now, I wish you a most excellent Thursday!

18 comments:

  1. I was riding in here to give you a huge hug for such an amazingly wise comment on my blog. And I find all this beauty that temporarily distracted me. So first of all, you are amazingly wise and peaceful for someone so young. Thank you for that new perspective on something that's bugged me for my 42 yrs (hee,hee). And your post here is so beautiful; loved the snippets of art within your yard and those cherry trees wow. Now I'll go check on that cool jewelry. Thanks again my friend

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  2. HI Silke..I love a rain-soaked garden too..your plants and garden look so lovely..I love your magical ferns!! I will check out the links..how wonderful she featured you! And wow..your friend and the trees..gorgeous photos..magical!! Have a wonderful day..and looking forward to your newest creations!
    Kiki~

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  3. Love the photos Silke! It is amazing how the plants thrive in hot, humid weather....and I, like you, just want to go find the cool and something with a lot of A/C!!!
    Beautiful, beautiful!!!

    XXOO!!
    Anne

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  4. It does look like I've put another collage together! LOL!!
    I miss half of what is before me; I have observant days, and then days like TODAY.... ;)

    XXOO!!
    Anne

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  5. Lovely pictures of your garden flowers. When they are wet, they make for great photos because everything's so clean and shiny. I love blossoms - any kind. Reminds me of growing up in germany. The propery we lived on had tons of fruit trees and when they bloomed all at once, I thought I was in heaven. Have a wonderful day today, Silke :-)

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  6. Thanks for the peek at what is happening down South. This year, we are having a real spring in Maine so we have lots of flowering trees to enjoy. I took a series of photos of magnolia blossoms on Monday and listed a couple of the pictures in my Etsy shop. I should probably get some up on my blog.

    I'm glad that more people are finding out about wonderful you. I just visited Theresa's blog and thanked her. Have a good Thursday! It is raining here today.

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  7. Dear Silke, here I am to visit with you and you were kind enough to mention me! Your garden photos are so lovely! I love ferns so much - ours are finally starting to bloom. The weather here has been topsy-turvy...one day it's beautiful and the next it's cold and damp. :( Oh, such is springtime! I am happy that you enjoyed your feature...will chat with you again soon. Theresa :)

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  8. Ahhhh - beautiful! There is nothing more beautiful than a rain-soaked garden in late Spring, is there? And I love how Daniel's window box looks, especially under that window!

    How I would love to stroll among those flowering trees in Amsterdam!

    Happy Thursday to you, too, dear friend!

    Love and hugs,
    xoxoxo
    Angela

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  9. I love the window frame hung above the planter. Is that on your fence? OOOoooo the cherry trees are stunning. Do they have a scent to them? Oh my, I am quite nosy today! **blows kisses** Deb

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  10. What a joy to visit your vibrant home.....

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  11. Flowers look so wonderful afer it's rained don't they? Lovely pictures! :) xx

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  12. I check out Theresa's blog from time to time and have a couple of cutle necklaces from her shop. Fun to see you featured over there today! Your gardens are so lovely! Hope you're have a happy day!
    ♥Jenny

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  13. Love your garden - we have had rain for a week, but the temps are way down, about 10° at most. Still, everything is getting lush and green.

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  14. Oh Silke your garden does indeed look so happy and healthy! I love ferns and the planter box looks so pretty, i've got to get busy with mine too. Thank you for the inspiration! oh, and thank you to your friend for sharing the pretty cherry trees!
    have a wonderful thursday,
    xoxo lori

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  15. all so lovely! I think I would wilt too in the warm humid weather...but my hair would enjoy it like your plants...curly, curly, curly!

    the trees are just gorgeous!

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  16. Your garden is gorgeous!! Love all the pics!

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  17. i could look at back yards and flower boxes all spring and summer. the rain adds such a depth of color.

    i have a few dozen extra ferns, silke? why don't you drive by and have some?

    p.s. do you buy that anne is as spacy as she makes herself sound? i don't for one minute! i just think she is so alive she has to juggle sometimes :)

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  18. I love your garden! Everything looks so lush and colorful. I love when trees get dark from the rain, too.

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