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Sunday, August 21, 2011

Front-yard Landscaping and Wins

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. The weather has been beautiful in this neck of the woods for the last few days with very pleasant evenings. Summer is almost over for us and I can almost smell the crisp autumn air. On that note, today I would like to share with you my front-yard landscaping and all my summer container gardening before they all wither away!

But, first I would like to thank  Chie @ CHUBBY AND CHIEQUE and Marty, hostess of Table Top Tuesday @ A STROLL THRU LIFE  for my recent win of the Summer Cloche Party giveaway. Chie sent me this cute silver toothpick holder all the way from Sweden! This is my first win and I'm so excited. Thank you Marty and Chie! I'm looking forward to using it in future tablescapes.

 
Also, I would like to thank sweet Mary @ Boogieboard Cottage 
for featuring my Gifts from the Garden at her Masterpiece Monday party.Mary has a beautiful blog where she shares with you her love of the ocean and beach! Thank you so much, Mary!
Click HERE to view my Gifts from the Garden post.


Thank you, ladies! Your generosity humbles me! Please, do stop by if you get a chance and visit their wonderful blogs and walk away with so much inspirations!

I love container gardening! Using various plant-stands, potteries and other creative containers for the summer annuals and watching them grow throughout the summer is so rewarding!
I like using glazed pottery to plant pink and white summer annuals:
 I saw this blue pot at Michael's and fell in love with it instantly!

 Using a plant-stand is a wonderful way to display gorgeous summer blooms:

 
These plant-stands on either side of my front door make a charming and pretty display:



 I love the color blue and the cobalt blue of the front door compliments so beautifully with the shades of pink of the impatiens.

 
Dappled Willow or Variegated Japanese Willow makes a beautiful landscaping tree:
 In the afternoon sun:
  At dusk:
Close-up on the stamped concrete of our front patio:
 All lit-up in the evening:
 Pathway leading to the backyard:

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Gifts from the Garden

There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own vegetable garden and harvesting. It is late summer now and my tomato, cucumber, zucchini and bean plants are finally loaded with fresh produce  to enjoy.
 
Baby Eggplant: 
 Okra:
 Tomato and Cucumber Salsa,cheese and shredded lettuce served in colored peppers for a Taco party:
 Ceramic Taco Holders for the corn tortillas:
Taco Meat filling in a lemon-shaped platter:

 Aguas Frescas, a popular Mexican fruit drink served in Mason jars. Click HERE to view the recipe for Aguas Frescas
 Fresh Tomato-Cucumber Salsa Recipe:
 
One and a half cup of chopped, seeded tomato
One cup of chopped, seeded cucumber
One third cup of thinly sliced green onions
A quarter cup of fresh chopped cilantro 
3Tbsp. of Lime juice
1/4 tsp of salt
In a bowl combine all the above ingredients.
Serve the salsa in peppers,decorated with party picks:
 Grilled Corn served with green and red tomato relish:
 Peel back the corn husks and remove the corn silk. Boil and grill the corn. Spread butter on the corns. In a separate bowl combine chopped green tomato,red tomato, pinch of salt and a dash of black pepper. Top the corn with the tomato mixture,fresh basil leaves and feta cheese (optional). Recipe from: 

It has been a beautiful summer and I hope everyone is having a wonderful one. It is Back to School for us in a few short weeks with a whole different routine. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my summer garden and for your loving comments. Have a great week!
Click the links below for wonderful inspiring ideas:
~POPPY~

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