gardening – Page 3 – M. Sullivan Photography

May 14, 2013 M. Sullivan Photography Family, Flowers, Garden, Photos

Mother’s Day

It was quiet a Mother’s Day at our house. I woke up before Mike and the kids, grabbed the newspaper and some coffee and enjoyed the calm, peaceful house. Soon after, Mike got up and so did Sophia. They got dressed and ran out to pick up a few of my favorite things – a mocha from Caribou Coffee, bagels & cream cheese and fresh flowers. Purple tulips to be exact. Here is one of the tulips from the beautiful bouquet.

When Sebastian ~~finally~~ got up, long after my mocha was gone, we looked at the kids’ homemade cards, Mike’s card and my Mother’s Day gift. A new Nook HD. Way cool! It was past noon before we were done setting up my new Nook and messing around with apps, games and settings. We went outside to enjoy a cool, but sunny walk with Daphne. The kids opted to ride their bikes while I walked. Mike was out on a run and met up with us to walk back home. We spent most of the afternoon outside doing yard work. There is still a LOT more to do, but we made some progress. Our plants, shrubs and trees are about a month behind where they were at this time last year. However, I’m just glad that things are growing and the snow is gone…well, mostly gone.

Mike and Sebastian had a baseball practice scheduled at 6pm, so we grilled bratwurst and hot dogs, cut up fresh fruit and enjoyed an early dinner before they left. Sophia and I spent some time together painting her nails and getting things ready for school the next day while the boys were gone. Once Sebastian was home and both kids were showered and ready for bed, I realized that I hadn’t taken pictures of the them the whole day. I had them go outside and took a few photos even though they were in their pj’s. Mike made me get in a couple of the pictures because it was Mother’s Day after all. I was reluctant since I hadn’t showered until late in the day and decided to skip putting on make-up and fixing my hair. In the end, I’m glad that he insisted I get into the frame with them.

Thank you for a quiet, but special Mother’s Day Mike, Sebastian and Sophia. I love my new Nook, but most of all, I enjoyed spending the day with my family. THANK YOU!

May 5, 2013 M. Sullivan Photography Flowers, Garden, Landscapes, Photos, Weather

Green

At long last the snow has melted (most of it anyway) and things are beginning to green up.

My in-law’s bought me this bougainvillea plant as an early Mother’s Day present. I can’t wait for weather warm enough to hang it outside our front door.

I took these next photos just before sunset tonight.

Hoping for a beautiful week ahead.

September 21, 2012 M. Sullivan Photography Flowers, Garden, Photos, Weather

Signs Of Autumn

Although not quite officially fall, the signs are evident that it is close at hand.

The final garden flowers.

We picked the grapes from our Concord grape vine earlier this month. We had enough juice to make three batches of grape jelly (12 pints). My brother generously offered the grapes from his vine and even picked them for me and delivered them to our house. In total, I made six batches (24 pints) of jelly, froze 10 cups of juice (equivalent to 8 more pints of jelly) and made a quart of grape juice that we drank. I’m quite certain that I don’t want to look at another grape for a very long time. We are stocked with grape jelly for the entire school year of lunch boxes filled with PB&J’s.

Sophia’s school had a “Harvest Festival” this week. Students were asked to bring in something from their garden to show during the festival. We still have carrots, peppers, tomatoes and apples, but Sophia decided a bouquet is what she wanted to share with her fellow schoolmates.

She won 1st prize for her bouquet.

We were fortunate that the festival was early in the week. We had a hail storm come through on Wednesday which shredded the leaves on our few remaining garden plants, our grape vine and took many leaves and small branches off the trees. A few hours after the storm had passed, this was what still remaining on the top of our rain barrel.

The decks were littered with pieces of foliage and sticks.

We are planning to get outside tomorrow to take care of sweeping the decks and cleaning up the yard. A little bit of nice weather would be nice so that we can also enjoy my nephew’s soccer game Saturday and Sebastian’s last day of baseball camp on Sunday.