WHEN IRISES BLOOM for "Tea In The Garden"

 I wanted to get out and take some photos

of the Irises before they are gone.  It

happens so quickly when it gets hot.

  Last year I did buy 2 unusual new kinds

 of Irises to plant but I don't see blooms yet.

  I think it may take another year for those

to develop.

We have just enough time

for a cup of tea before it

gets too hot.  Today it is

supposed to be in the 90's.

I brought out a picnic basket I

decoupaged years back.  I love

the artwork of Edith Holden

who lived from 1871-1920.

She wrote The Country Diary of 

an Edwardian Lady.

I decided I best not waste this opportunity

to set up another tea in the garden.

I am so happy and blessed to see warm

weather.  For some reason, I was cold

all winter.  I wore many layers to keep

warm.  Today it was fun to make a big

bouquet to display.

I heard a familiar sound out of the

window today and knew it was a

beloved House Wren.  I have been

anxiously hoping one would show 

up soon singing his beautiful tune.

I looked out and saw he is building

a nest in that little birdhouse on top

of the arbor over the gate.

A fun owl in the garden:

 We will enjoy every stage of the

garden this year.  

Toile is so pretty in all colors

 but this

purple is thrilling:

I hope you enjoyed this visit

to my garden.

MAKING YOUR OWN SPECIAL GARDEN SEED ENVELOPES

 This winter is definitely colder

for a longer period.  We have

lived in Missouri 5 years and this

winter we are having the longest

stretch of cold weather. 

 It is around zero today.

This week while it was especially cold,

I sat at my kitchen table and made

some seed envelopes.  You might

like to make some too this winter while

you are stuck indoors.

I love the artwork of Edith Holden which
 is in these 2 books: The Country Diary 
of an Edwardian Lady and also
 The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady.

  If you have Windows on your computer these are easy to make each requiring 1 sheet of regular paper.  I used Pic Monkey to put the border around the photo but that may have been possible in Windows also

                          - not sure.

       This picture above shows you that after I copied the photo I then pasted it in the center toward the top of the sheet of paper in Windows. You can see where I folded the paper after it was printed to form an envelope for seeds.  You can add your

own additional wording to your
photos - I used Pic Monkey for that.

You can find these books on all the

discount and used book sites.  They

came out originally in 70's and then

were popular with the

 restyled

 Victorian of the 90's.

Last summer I had so many seeds to share with a few friends, some strangers and I sent a huge box full over to share with our local garden club (I am not a member) and they

loved them.  If you have Hollyhocks - you will

have tons of seeds!  I just used small plastic sandwich bags for my sharing - very plain indeed. These seed envelope would be used for more of a gift presentation.  You

could easily include one in a birthday card. 

As you can see, 

I made quite

a few:

I hope your winter is going well and of course one must not run out of bird seed.

 That would be terrible!

More posts about Edith Holden Here

Those of you on Facebook might also enjoy

this group by Patty Cone that I participate in called

"Charming Country Gardens"

and she is on MeWe at

"Charming Country Gardens".

MY BITTERSWEET TEASET for "Tea In The Garden"

The garden is almost deplete of flowers this

week.  I pulled up the zinnias and cosmos and

many other annuals.  I could have enjoyed

them yet for a few weeks but somehow

 that work would still be looming.

It seemed like a lovely day to take a

break and enjoy a cup of tea after

making one last bouquet.

No matter where you live - summers are

always different.  We didn't have enough

rain in Missouri.  I felt sorry for the

farmers who needed rain for their corn.

Even last evening I still saw some 

hummingbirds zipping about.

Last year they were all gone by

this time.

You see some of the remaining flowers 

 from

 my garden by looking at this bouquet.

I have enjoyed this bittersweet teaset

now for quite a few years....

When a new month starts I love to

see the artwork for that month

done by Edith

Holden:

Please pour yourself a cup

of Cinnamon Spice tea.

 

This summer we got accustomed to

being hot so now that the weather

is a little cooler - we know, we will

be colder this winter.

FORGET ME NOTS for "Tea In The Garden"

It has been exciting seeing what can

happen to a garden in just one week!

I certainly have

 "Forget Me Nots".

I spent 2 days just moving things

around in my yard and dividing

some of the plants.  Our spring

has come very late this year - late

for Missouri anyway.

I think I planted my tulip bulbs last
fall on a cold day because I have
 no idea why I put some where
 I did.  (I must of been in a hurry

so I will be moving some into groups)

Welcome to my blog link party
known as "Tea In The Garden"!

I have set up a little table for us and

I hope you can enjoy a cup of tea.

I managed to squeeze one bouquet 

out of the garden already.

Most of the daffodils are gone but
the tulips are still coming.

I have been enjoying all the birds

coming and going to each of our

three bird feeders.  The "squirrel

resistant part" is working now 

since we just have them hanging.

My least favorite birds are

those Grackles!

There have been many lovely 

gold finches to watch.

I will be looking forward to each
 week's blog party on Wednesdays
 and I hope you can join in by
 linking any tea related
post from your blog!