Summer's last blooms~

Autumn is in the air.

I can feel it. I can smell it. 

I can sense it on the breeze that blows and scatters the leaves

                              that fall from my summer blooms~

Before the blooms all drop off,

before they scatter in the winds of Fall~

I want to share with you the beautiful
flowers that we have enjoyed 
all summer

long.

Summer has seemed so very short this year!

(I'm SO not ready to give it up yet!)

  

no story to tell here -

just enjoy my beautiful

blooms~

Yeller Feller in his favorite spot!

Yeller Feller and Sissy cat

Our back deck is my little project -- although I can't take all the credit-- (the Gardener helps keep my flowers watered on the days

 I have to work.) How is that my little flowers know that Autumn is just around the corner? Makes me sad~~

Everyday more pink scarves arrive in the mail!  We have officially hit the 300 mark!  I am so very humbled to accept your generous donations and add them to this ever growing collection of gifts from your hearts and hands. Very soon -- I'm off on yet another photo opportunity with your scarves.  (I'm so excited!!)

But -- up next are your scarves photographed against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Biltmore Estate.   Marsha and I had a wonderful time taking the pictures in these amazing locations -- they are truly stunning! 

Remember that you have until October 5 to send your donation if you wish me to photograph your scarf.  Otherwise, I will be accepting donations until the end of October.  For the full updated info on the Pink Scarf Project - click here. 

~~~~~

Thank you for the never ending love and support that you all send my way.  I am so touched by your comments, your emails, and the touching stories that you share with me.  I just want to say this again -- and again---

I love you all.

Vicki

Summer on the Back Deck (and updates on my Grow Your Blog event!!)

This has been a summer of extremes-- record high temperatures,weeks of drought followed by days and days of monsoon rains,and thunderstorms that literally rocked the house!  Somehow through it all, my flowers have managed to thrive.  (I'm really not sure why!!) 

 my favorite new planter this summer--

found this wash tub at the flea market and could not wait

to give it a new life on my back deck!

 we've been enjoying my new deck furniture.

a gift from my sisters for my birthday!

straw flowers are one of my favorites

potted Hydrangea

black- eyed Susan vine

this hot pink impatiens has been gorgeous this year

I can't remember the name of this plant!
any body know?
***
Update --Scaevola
answer provided by my London sweetie -- Paul
(seriously -- you need to visit his blog!!)

Mom and I bought a set of these wrought iron chairs at the flea market
we painted the chairs and turned them into planters
my Verbena loves it here!

gloxinia

black-eyed Susan vine

impatiens

bought this wheel barrow at the flea market this spring
love this bright red geranium here!

white bleeding heart vine
I've had this plant for YEARS- 
my Dad bought this vine for me and it continues to thrive
year after year.

Coneflower
these are planted in a wheel barrow also

purple and white double impatiens

I love my rusty old wheel barrow

purple double impatiens

white double petunia

miniature rose bush
(this rose bush is at least 15 years old !)

every summer my "heirloom" sweet peas bloom so beautifully
the plants belonged to my Mother - who got them from her Grandmother -- 
who got them from her Mother

A legacy of blooming--  

Some notes about care of my flowers this summer--

During periods of drought, I watered twice a day -- early morning and in the early evening.

I fed my flowers every 2 weeks -- using the local KMart brand of plant food  - KGro

 A few weeks ago - I won a contest on my friend Shell's blog, Bungalow Bling.   (Are you kidding me?  I NEVER win!!!)  The main prize was this adorable little decorated bird box -- it is the cutest thing you have ever seen!  When the box arrived in the mail -- I was so surprised to find that sweet Shell had filled the box with amazing gifts - beautiful ribbon, vintage millinery flowers, a gorgeous brooch made with fabric flowers, a  little decorated matchbox filled with miniature pearls and shells, and vintage dictionary cards - one of them spelling out the word "garden"!    Shell is amazingly talented, and her blog is a beautiful testament to her talents.  Thank you Shell for all of these wonderful treasures!!  (Click the photo for an enlarged view of all of the treasures!!)

*********

Some updates on my "Grow Your Blog" event---

We have a date!!! Mark your calenders for January 19, 2013.  Later this year -- in October -- I will share a badge for the event that my friend Karen Valentine is creating.   In the meantime -- keep spreading the word -- the enthusiasm for the blog event is great -- it's going to be an amazing opportunity for all who participate to grow their blog readership and gain new followers.  This event is open to all bloggers -- regardless of  how many followers you have -- we all want  more - right??? While the main premise is to help young and novice bloggers to gain a readership and to inspire them in this blogging adventure -- it can be a great stimulus for everyone -- so plan to be here!!

If you want some help in "spiffing" up the look of your blog -- (getting ready for company in the January event)-- NOW would be a great time to contact sweet Karen for a little "redo"!  Honestly -- it will not cost very much at all to get a new blog header or help in organizing the look of your blog. We all want beautiful blogs -- right?
~~~~~

I hope you are making the most of these last days of summer ---- fall is in the air!  The Harvest nests are coming soon!!  (I have to get them out of the house!!! Imagine 45 nests -- everywhere!! My house looks like "The Invasion of the Harvest nests" sci fi movie!!

xoxo,

Vicki