Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Kitchen Shelves and New Peonies and Roses





This morning I dusted off my shelves in the kitchen and moved things around a bit.

I've been browsing Etsy for some pieces of brown transferware to tuck between the white serving ware come the Fall, and I have my red transferware for the Winter. I think for the Spring and Summer however, I will keep the shelves simple and white. 

As you can see, I'm clinging to the last of my beautiful Lilacs which are nearly finished. Actually, they are most definitly finished, I just can't quite bring myself to get rid of them just yet. There's the tiniest bit of life still left in them. I will prune them this weekend to promote new growth for next Spring. 

While at the grocery store yesterday, I browsed through the garden center looking for something to fill a bare spot in my front garden. I was so excited to discover they have two varieties of David Austin roses! I've wanted to order some for a couple of years now, but haven't quite dared. As the spot I needed to fill was in full sun, this would be the perfect addition.


I purchased two shrubs called Winchester Cathedral. Their beautiful double blooms are white with hints of pink. They are very fragrant and have a classic rose smell with hints of honey and almond blossom.

This is what they will look like once blooming. It was exciting to see quite a few buds on the shrub already. I haven't kept any roses in the garden so I've been researching how to care for them.



I also purchased another variety of white Peony that I don't have in my garden. It's a double peony called Gigantico. It will look similar to the Duchesse de Nemours (above) and Bowl of Cream varieties.

Our peonies are full of buds and the ants are busy helping them open into beautifully fragrant blooms.

I can't wait for everything to open fully. It's always nice to be able to have clippings from the Peonies and Hydrangeas around the house. I had to laugh because it reminded me of the flower show in Season 1 of Downton Abbey. I thought it was such a quaint idea - an award for Best Bloom in the village.

5 comments:

  1. Have fun with your new roses. I have never tried David Austin but I seem to have luck with other varieties. In the north I tend to loose some due to the cold winter. I have had the most success with fairy shrub roses, they seem to bush out more and more each year. Happy Spring to you. Alaina

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  2. What have you for a lovely blog!
    I have read some of your posts - you have wonderful flea markets and what you find for things on the roadside! Just great!
    Love from your 600 Reader! Carmen from Carinthia / Austria

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  3. Those white/cream peonies have captured my heart! Your shelves of white with the white dishes are lovely as well.

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  4. Hi there...must ask did you go to Christies and if you did what did you think?? I went with a couple of girlfriends and I have to say I was not overly thrilled..just seemed to be a lot of the same thing over and over and I noticed a couple of my favorite vendors were not even there. Kims booth of course was lovely as always..but I was a bit disappointed ..so super curious to see what you thought (and what you bought)

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Thanks for leaving your comments! I always love reading them. - Maria