Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Time in the Garden


It has been a very wet spring here in my neck of the woods, but has had only positive effects on the garden as plants emerge from the ground, big and lush and loaded with blooms.  The busy season has begun, with two large gardens to tend.  In the past, I would have been up with the birds and gardening until well after dark, but the body now sees it differently, the pace is a slower and gentler one. 

I prefer early morning and evening gardening and staying out of the midday sun.  As I move from garden bed to garden bed, it's out with the unruly, overgrown and poor performers, it is time for a makeover.  It is also time to enjoy the sights and smells of the garden, a place to disappear, if only for a few hours at a time, it is my tranquil haven.


Karen's Flower Garden
continues to grow, with 78 of 95 flowers joined together.

Ideas are still dancing around in my head, for the border, so nothing is for sure just yet.  But, I did find an interesting Micro Dot fabric by Lakehouse Dry Goods to use as the main border fabric.  The colour, though not exact, in the photo, is a perfect match for my flowers, as trace amounts appear in each of the different fabrics. 


As you can see it has a blotchy look, which gives it some texture.  Because my flower garden is a busy one, I think the border needs as much texture as possible.  So, to give it more, turning this fabric into hexagons just may be the answer. 

A big thank you to the Garden Party, for making this such a fun journey.

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen

35 comments:

Marie said...

This is beautiful. I love it.

Crispy said...

Does watching my son dig in his garden count? Somehow I always manage to not bring gardening clothes with me :0)

Crispy

Yvette said...

I love your gardens, the real and the fabric. Beautiful fabrics.

Joan said...

Your flower garden is beautiful

katrien said...

Love your flowersgarden.

Annemieke said...

Your 'fabric garden' looks very cosy and I like the colours very much! I agree, being outside in the garden is very relaxing even if there is a lot of work to do.
Groetjes
Annemieke

Quiltpassion.blogspot.com said...

Your garden looks lovely. The border fabric looks nice also!
Happy quilting, Cisca

Anonymous said...

Very pretty!!!!! WOW!!! Lots of work and so well worth it!

Betsy said...

both your gardens are beautiful.

rosie said...

Great mature attitude to gardening now!! Love the hexies Karen, your garden is looking beautiful..

Pat said...

Very pretty garden!

Michelle Ridgway said...

Beautiful blooms both grown and stitched.

Sue-Anne said...

Such a lovely garden flower photo and I just love your hexagon flowers quilt. Isn't it amazing how all those single hexie flowers have come together so beautifully.

Angelikas quilts and knits said...

All of your flowers are beautiful :-)

Melody said...

Your flower garden is so beautiful. Thank you for organising One Flower Wednesday for us. It is one of the highlights of the week.

Anne-Mettes Oaser said...

Karen, your garden is looking so lovely. I do enjoy the flower garden party although I have been a little lazy for some time. So I have started making a second garden.

Merilyn said...

How lovely to get out in the garden, spring is a season of hope, new life, a breath of fresh air after being cooped up during winter!
Your hexie quilt is coming along nicely, I love the colours!!!

Gerda Hartman said...

Lovely flowers. Love the colours of the fabric.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Your flower garden is growing beautifully. Thanks for hosting this weekly!!

Staci said...

Beautiful garden. Love your border fabric. Lakehouse is one of my favorites!

marion said...

wow almost there, it looks lovely

Paula said...

Your gardens are looking lovely, both of them, I specially love the stitched one, sooooo beautiful and rich of colours.
Thank you Karen for hosting this, it is so nice to see all the others flowers.

Take care

Paula

Birdie said...

Love all the reds in your garden, and your bloom is beautiful. Am I right in thinking it is a crocus? Our wild ones are blue.

Leanne said...

I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your border.

Love Leanne

Karyli said...

Very beautiful! I really like your color combinations. Your border fabric will be great!

sunny said...

What a lovely garden. You're making great progress.

Narelle said...

Your fabric garden is just so lovely ... beautiful colours and I love the touch of blue flowers here and there.
Enjoy both gardens :)

Kate said...

I Karen ,your flower garden is awesome.and you have so many connected...Wow...What size are your hexies? Your colours are fabulous and i like the idea of a hexi border too ..Thank you so much for giving us the pleasure of visiting other gardens each week...Take care

Marieke said...

Wow: I'm speechless: what a wonderful and beautiful garden: great fabric, fatastic flowers. Enjoy!

Renate Bischoff said...

What a beautiful hexiegarden.
Sorry, in my garden is this week no flower growing.
Have a nice day
Renate

PolkaDotClassic said...

I Love your garden!
Such pretty colors and the way they all compliment each other is great :)
Enjoy your day
Marta

Wendy said...

Beautiful flower garden and I think that micro-dot fabric is a great choice!!

LuAnn said...

Beautiful flower garden quilt and flowers, too. I really like your border fabric choice.

Funoldhag said...

It seems as if almost all quilters are gardeners also. Something about the two wonderful activities seems to go together. Both of your flower gardens are gorgeous!!

Quilter Raised in the South said...

ooh, I can't wait to see how you finish this! thank you so much for hosting the garden each week.