Category Archives: Arts and Crafts

Displays arts and crafts projects that I love working on.

Our Hummingbird Garden Part 2

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mystic-blue-salviaIn my previous post, Our Hummingbird Garden, I promised to show you the rest of the plants in our new hummingbird garden. This is Mystic Blue Salvia, although it’s more purple than blue. Again you see the tubular shape to the blossoms, which make them perfect for the hummingbird’s long beak. The plants are doing well, and most are forming new buds.

lemon-lightThis Lemon Light Salvia is getting ready to flower. We haven’t seen a flowering Lemon Light, and we are really looking forward to the first blossom.salvia-micropylla-2This is Salvia Microphylla, commonly referred to as ‘baby sage’.  I love the pink and white heart shaped flowers. This variety is called Hot Lips.

Berkely-BarbBerkeley Barb is a Mountain Sage. It’s named for a counterculture newspaper that was published in Berkeley California from 1965 to 1980.

All of these plants with the exception of Berkeley Barb prefer full sun and are growing happily in the center of our back yard, but we may have to move the little Mountain Sage as the summer progresses and the days become warmer.First-hummingbirdThe morning after we started our garden, I was taking long distance photos of the plants, when I realized that a hummingbird was enjoying nectar from the Salvia Gregii. I continued to take photos, hoping I’d caught one of our first visitor. I hope you can see her enjoying some breakfast. As the plants grow and produce more flowers, I’m sure we will see many more of these little birds, and I’ll be posting more and more photographs. I’ll also share any new plants with you as well. I’m sure there will be many more, since there are so many beautiful choices.

 

 

Garden of Surprises.

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swing-time-fuscia Since my return from New Zealand, our weather has been rainy and dull, so I haven’t spent much time in the garden. Yesterday the clouds disappeared and the sun came out. This morning I was outside first thing, ready to work and, to my surprise, I found my fuschia plant in full bloom. It’s gorgeous, as you can see in the photo above.  A few weeks ago I pruned, transplanted, then fertilized my rather neglected plant. I was so happy to see that my efforts paid off. Below you see a second surprise.

100_4723While transplanting the original plant, a small piece of that plant had broken free and I had placed it in a separate pot. When I left for New Zealand the offshoot looked as though it had died. I didn’t discard the dead plant, and I’m so glad that I didn’t because, as you see, the baby fuschia is happily growing. It will be great fun to watch it mature.

The third surprise was a Monarch butterfly caterpillar munching on the milkweed. I took a quick photo, which you see below.

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Healthy looking fellow, isn’t he? In a day or two he’ll climb the wall, take shelter under the ledge, and enter the chrysalis stage. Today I watched a full grown Monarch butterfly laying eggs on one of our milkweed plants, so it looks like we’ll be seeing quite a few of these caterpillars before long. Tomorrow morning I will be out in the garden again, and I’m wondering what new surprises await me.

 

City of Brea Art Gallery Exhibit

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P1020155This gorgeous art piece titled Apricot Champagne Ball was created by the Steven Gandolfo/Jean Salatino studio. It is one of many beautiful pieces being shown in the exhibit by the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California. Martin and I took part in a Saddleback College field trip to this show at the City of Brea Art Gallery. Below are photos of some ceramic pieces we also enjoyed seeing.

P1020173Stars in her eyes by Isolde CortesP1020170Floral Pod 2 by Mark Hendrickson

P1020162Cloudy Day Butter Dome by Rachel Ashman

P1020156One of several amazing hand built pieces by Cheryl Tall

There were so many beautiful glass and clay pieces in the exhibition. I certainly encourage you to go see this exhibition before it ends on March 6.

Coffee With an Author

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100_3963This morning we rode our scooters to meet our friend Norman Page for coffee, and to receive our copies of his latest book, The Park Bench Affair. This is Norm’s tenth book. Here he’s signing our copies.100_3966My husband, Martin, is happy to receive a signed copy.

100_3968-1After coffee and a chat, the three of us went on an enjoyable ride through Laguna Beach and north on Pacific Coast Highway to Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. On our way home, we made a stop at Norm’s welcoming house, where he made us post-ride mocha coffee.

As well as being a published author, Norm is also a talented artist, craftsman, and furniture maker. In the photo below you can see one of the miniature boats he created. Everywhere you look, you spot one of his many paintings or projects.

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A Perfect Valentine’s Day

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P1020087
This is one of the beautiful red roses I discovered when I woke early on Valentine’s Day. I’m an early riser and usually get up and journal first thing in the morning. The roses were placed on the table where I like to sit and write.

P1020098After breakfast we headed off for a ride on Snowy and Big Orange. In this area of Southern California, we’re always either going uphill or down. Here we’re in Newport Coast, which is in fact hilly with a view of the coast. Near the top we pulled over to take a few photos.

P1020097You can see that we were above the roof tops, looking out to the ocean. That is Catalina Island in the distance. It was a spectacular view and we took the time to enjoy and appreciate it, before returning to the lower elevations, and home.