remodeling this life

Now that we’re firmly entrenched in the growing season, I thought it would be fun to wander around the yard and snap some pics of what we have growing.

I’ll start with these lovlies that surprised me with a second chance after I inadvertently killed them last year.

Happy and thriving now – yay!

Last year’s mother’s day gift was a rose bush from my husband. Swoon. I love them.

My Daughter planted the sweetest little flower garden around our mailbox recently. Hubby was kind enough to run a water line out there for easy watering and the flowers are very happy.

We have 3 raised beds for herbs and  fruits and veggies this year, and as usual mixed in some flowers with them. Everything was started from seed so we are patiently waiting for most things to grow still. Here is a random sampling.

The strawberries have been coming in for a while. The kids love to pick them so I never get a chance to get a photo before they’re gone.

This time of year, I get fistfuls of Mexican Petunias from the kids to fill my vases with. Love.

We have lots and lots of coffee trees. I love when it gets warm enough that they can go back outside. I love the dark shiny leaves.

And last but not least, one of the most recent things we’ve added to our yard is some olive trees. Here, a couple olive branches.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour and don’t mind I had to zoom way in and only do close-ups because I haven’t weeded lately.

Five weeks ago, when we arrived here, the vegetable garden was going well. All summer, we’ve made a fresh salad with dinner after trekking to the garden to pick lettuce. We’ve been able to deliver bags of lettuce to friends on the lake and we’ve had neighbors stop by to take more when they’ve wanted it. The garden has overfloweth.

A shot of the garden when we arrived

And the garden as of last night

As if a home garden was not enough, my parents bought a 375 acre farm nearby the cottage a couple weeks ago. That will surely be a wonderful place to watch things grow over the many years ahead.

If anyone is interested, I can take you on a virtual tour of the fabulous farm, led by my 5 year old soon.

While enjoying being outside today, I made sure to snap some photos of the beautiful gardens. None of it is high maintenance and most of what comes up is a surprise each year.

Like these.

Two summers ago, all of us (my parents, my hubby, my brother and his wife, and my kids) built this tiered rock garden. It is  fun to get here and see how it’s doing. It’s just as beautiful as ever this year.

I love the vintage touches of these things , proving that beautiful doesn’t always mean shiny and new.

Before we arrived, my parents put in a vegetable garden. It’s really growing well and we’ve already enjoyed many salads with the lettuce and spinach.  He made raised beds and surrounded them in hay paths.

My kids are just loving climbing the hay stacks. Watching them play today brought back memories of jumping on hay stacks with my brother as a kid. Realizing that with each passing moment, my kids are creating their own memories feels wonderful and also like a heavy weight all at once. I am also reminded though, that the things my kids will remember and smile back on are simple things.

Today, Kimba is hosting a Garden Party. Head on over and see what is doing in other’s fabulous gardens.

I’m also adding this to Hooked on Fridays and A Beautiful Life Friday.