On my Walk Today…Stump Planters

This is how to turn an old tree stump into a planter!

Gorgeous!

My Top 5 Favorite Flower Garden Seed Catalogs

Do you like to grow your own flowering plants? If you are thrifty or have a lot of space to grow in, then growing your own is the way to go!

I love to grow my own plants from seed but I only have one south facing window and it is usually full of heat-seeking kitties.

Some seeds can be scattered on the ground, like sunflower seeds, and they will grow without all the fuss of seed starting equipment. Those are my favorite lazy-gardener kind of seeds.

Below are my top 5 favorite flower seed catalogs. Now is the time to request these catalogs for dreaming of summers flowers.

#5

Thompson & Morgan Quality English Seeds

Thomson and Morgan is an English flower seed catalog that has the most extensive collection of seeds I have ever seen in a catalog! Who knew you could grow lantana or lemon grass by seed? All the seed in this catalog comes from England so if you are planning a proper English cottage garden, this is the catalog to order.

#4

Renee's Garden Seeds

I think what I like best about Renee’s is the lovely collections she has. Who can resist an Irresistible Scented Sweet Peas Garden or An Old Fashioned Fragrance Garden or the Heirloom Cottage Garden? Yeah, me either!

#3

Whatcom Seed Company

Whatcom specializes in unique seeds, all kinds of unique seeds! If you have never heard of it, they will have it. Where else could you find Snake's Head Fritillary Checkered Lily (truly lovely despite the name!) or Black Tacca Bat Flower (very unique!) or the Carnivorous Whitetop Pitcher Plant (ewww…)? Their online catalog is worth a couple of hours spent looking at their unique plants!

#2

Eden Brothers

What I love about Eden Bros. is the breath of different seeds per type of flower. I never realized there were 16 varieties of cosmos or 19 varieties of zinnia’s or 22 of poppies. When grouped like this, it is easier to do a whole garden or section committed to only lupines or yarrow or sunflowers. Don’t miss their Rare & Unusual flower seeds sections with such unique wildflowers as Autumn Sneezeweed, Illinois Bundleflower Seeds, Tidy-Tips Seeds or Toadflax.

#1

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Baker Creek has a beautiful catalog! The owners are preserving our heritage, our heirloom seeds, by collecting the seeds, growing the plants and offering the results via their lovely catalog. Not only do I love all the heirloom flowers in it, but the vegetables are just as easy on the eyes. This catalog is as precious as a book and is one of only two catalogs I save every year. Get yours while you can!

What are your favorite flower seed catalogs?

This week I am linking to:

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/



Things we love...

Things we love...vintage 50's tablecloth with pastel border print!

Perfect for a picnic!

Find it here!

Yellow Flowers - The Floozies in the Garden!

Yellow flowers are the brightest, most cheerful, most happy-go-lucky color in the garden. Total floozies! Showy, a bit brash, but always so bright, so cheerful, so welcome! Here’s some new takes on old favorites.

'Banana Cream' Shasta Daisy

'Yellow Doodle Dandy' Peony

'Mesa Yellow' Gaillardia

'Heronswood Yellow Bonnet' Lysimachia

'Maui Sunshine' Coneflower

Happy Gardening!

New Flowers for your White Cottage Garden

Take a look at these lovely white flowers for your cottage garden!

'Crystal Peak White' Obedient Plant

'Pam's Split' Foxglove

'Halo White' Hollyhock

Happy Gardening!

Plant Summer Flowering Bulbs Now!

Do you dream of a summer garden filled with lovely gladiolus, freesia, lilies and alliums? Why not plant the bulbs now and enjoy their blooms this summer. It's easy! Just follow these simple steps for a lovely summer garden!

1) Dig the soil to the proper depth as listed on the bag of bulbs. If you are planting them all in one small area, use a shovel. If you are planting them individually, scattered through out the garden, use a bulb planter to plant your bulbs.

2) Sprinkle bonemeal fertilizer into the hole where you are planting the bulbs.

3) Place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end up and cover with soil.

4) No need to water, let Mother nature take care of that. Just wait for the flowers to come up for beautiful summer blooms! Then enjoy!

Happy Gardening!

New Coral Bells Flowers for 2010

Coral bells are almost full proof as a flower to grow in your garden. They are hardy for zones 4-9, even lasting through winter in my zone 5, some what protected flower boxes! They are already making a come back from winters stress. Low growing, they can be tucked into borders or in front of shrubs. In the summer they have tiny blooms to enjoy up close. And they now come in a large variety of colors including these new ones for 2010.

'midnight bayou' coralbells

One of the best dark-leaf coralbells for hot, humid summer gardens, 'Midnight Bayou' presents purplefoliage marked with nearly black veins. It takes on more reddish tones in autumn.

'mint julep' corabells

If you've had bad luck with hostas because of deer and rabbits, try 'Mint Julep' coralbells as a replacement. This mounding plant offers fresh green foliage overlaid in silver for a hosta effect -- but pests pass it by.

'autumn leaves' coralbells

We love coralbells for their lovely foliage, and this three-season variety has us particularly excited. The leaves are reddish in spring, take on cappuccino tones in summer, and become glowing red in fall. Plus, 'Autumn Leaves' has been bred to take heat and humidity, so it's a better pick for Southern gardeners.

Happy gardening!

Things We Love...

Things We Love... Teeny, Tiny, Lemon Covered Cream and Sugar, Personal Size!

So cute!

Find them here.

Early Signs of Spring... Really Early!

Finally, finally, FINALLY early signs of spring here at Lavender Garden Cottage! Look....

....the crocus have pushed their little flowers to the surface!

And there are signs of other bulbs thinking about spring...

 

I'll know it's definitely spring when I see this...

Can't wait...

Almost time for Sweet Peas!

Start the season early with this vintage Homer Laughlin oval plate with delicate pink sweet peas...

It's always Sweet Pea season here.

Where for art thou Spring?

So, here it is the end of February and no sign of Spring. Instead of this...

 I see this.....

It's so colorless. My eyes are craving that first flush of spring color but due to weather (and calendar) constraints I must settle for a black and white color scene. Okay, maybe I do occasionally see a tiny flash of color....

amongst the monochromatic backdrop of winter.

Welcome to our blog!

We live in a small town in a lovely old home built in 1890 surrounded by beautiful flowers. And, yes, some of them are our favorite, lavender! We also grow organic vegetables and herbs to enjoy year round. We spend some of our free time going to flea markets, country auctions and the occasional yard sale to decorate our home and to bring you the best in cottage chic decor for your home!

Visit our auctions:

Lavender Garden Cottage Market