Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Olde Pink House - it's for the birds!

A few weeks ago my husband announced that he was re-building a dilapidated, three story birdhouse that was falling apart in our shed garden. The existing birdhouse had seen it's day and needed to come down. He decided that he was going to build the new one all out of scrap wood. 'Works for me', I thought. And then later he mentioned that he was going to use up some pink paint we had in the basement. 'Sounds good', I responded.

Now, even though hubby says he's not an artist, and does a reasonable attempt at drawing stick figures, I think he is quite the creative guy. And, this birdhouse project is a perfect example.

You see, the The Olde Pink House restaurant in Savannah, Georgia is one of my hubby's and my favorite restaurants. The exterior is a pink stucco facade. On the first floor is fine dining, but we enjoy the tavern dining on the ground floor - it's so very charming, the menu is divine, and it's where the locals go. We cannot wait to go back and spend date night there.

So, when he brought the finished birdhouse up from his wood shop, it was painted a beautiful coral pink. Sweetly written in the top peak - "The Olde Pink House". Then above each of the three birdhouse holes:
  • Ground floor hole: "Locals"

  • Center floor hole: "Jacket and Tie Required"

  • Loft floor hole: "Private Residence"

Pretty creative, eh?!

It will be interesting to see what birds decide to rent out the house over the summer. One thing is for sure, we can enjoy our own 'pink house' until we can get back to Savannah again.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Not Your Typical Daffodil

Isn't this a unique daffodil bloom? I remember I ordered the bulbs out of a gardening catalog several years ago. Can't remember which one, and cannot even recall the exact name of the flower, but I DO remember that it was called a double-bloom. Now that these bulbs have been in the ground a few years, they are starting to multiply.

I couldn't help but share a pic on my blog of them, because, at least for me, I think they are a very unusual daffodil bulb. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do!

Monday, April 20, 2009

88 Year Old Woman Mayor is Inspiring!

Geez, this 88 year old woman mayor is spunky. Quite inspiring for a Monday morning~

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Alexandria's Spring Blooms a Few Weeks Before Central PA

Yesterday was the Alexandria Home & Garden Tour and the blossoming trees were in full bloom. Alexandria is about 2 hours south of home, so I feel like I was treated to a sneak peak of Spring a few weeks ahead of Central PA's schedule. I learned a few more plants myself...have now fallen in love with Camellia's and Quince. Here are a few pics for those in Zone 5 that will hopefully tide you over until the end of April. Although we were not permitted to take photos of the private homes and gardens, we did stop at Green Spring Garden in Fairfax, VA enroute. See my previous post of the Nature Lady made of tree bark, magnolia leaves, pinecones and Spanish moss from the same garden. Enjoy!



A gorgeous, 7 ft Camellia - a Zone 6 plant that I sure wish grew in PA



Quince - first time I have ever seen this beautiful shrub and am already in love with it. What an incredibly beautiful salmon color



Interesting texture in the rock garden



the bees were a buzzin' in the Flowering Pear



Sunshine filters through a Flowering Cherry

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Nature Lady in the Garden

I was tickled to come across this Nature Lady at Green Spring Garden in Fairfax, Virginia. Composed of tree bark, browned magnolia leaves, pine cones and Spanish Moss, she stands about 4 feet tall. A gardner there must have had a lot of fun figuring out how she should look. What a great example of a creative gardner.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Dad's Easter Eggs




Ahhh, a little Easter fun. I just had to dig out some old photos of my Dad holding Easter eggs that I painted for him one year. Notice any resemblence?