For gardeners, I think this is the moment....this is where the visual payoff comes in.
The gardens at the Jersey Shore are not only a riot of color, appealing to our human eyes, but the birds, bees and other less appreciated animals (deer and bunny rabbits) seem to be enjoying them as well.
The eye takes in all of the flowers in various shades of purple...the hydrangea, globe thistles, rose of sharon and hosta flowers...finally getting a cool break from all of the color by focusing on the whites in the garden.
Our backyard garden has produced some fantastic Spring cabbage, and the Japanese tomato ring has run amok with butternut squash for the second year in a row.
The community garden is a sea of green dotted with technicolor zinnias. It is almost impossible not to cut a few of the flowers and put them together to make a bouquet.
I keep finding those beautiful garden colors in the vintage linens that I brought out to the screened porch. Usually staying in an eye soothing simplicity of shades of white, I went with a bit of a departure in decorating the screened porch this week. Vintage quilts, tablecloths and barkcloth covered pillows are livening things up.
For me, Happiness in summer has a lot to do with family and impromptu get-togethers...fresh Jersey corn and tomatoes, and a lovely keylime tart to celebrate by birthday.
A new (yes different from my others) pair of denim blue Ugg sneakers that need no shoe laces...a gift from my kids, made this celebration cool...that I had all of my kids, and my husband home at the same time, now that is something else to celebrate!!
While taking pictures at the community garden, I came upon this bird, resting on a large Kale leaf. I am not really sure if the leaf is Kale, but more importantly, I wonder what sort of bird this is...if you know, please leave a comment. I will leave you with this chorus-line of zinnias waiting to burst into bright colors...I wonder if they know how beautiful they will be. Linking this post to The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays, Smiling Sally for Blue Monday, Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.
♥, Susan
Happy birthday Susan! Your new sneakers look very stylish and comfortable.
Your garden looks so prolific! Do you freeze or can surplus or give it away? Wish I was you neighbor ...lol!
Could that be a baby peregrine hawk?
Posted by: Pat | July 10, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Hi Susan and a happy birthday to you! Love the looks of those new sneakers. I've never seen any like this. Oh, the gardens looks wonderful and so pretty and green. The little bird is so cute but I don't have a clue as to what kind it is. He looks very comfortable on that leaf! ;)
Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)
Posted by: shelia | July 10, 2011 at 12:18 PM
That red and white quilt has me swooning.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | July 10, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Happy B-Day Susan! The gardens look beautiful and I'm sure you're all eating well from them-enjoy:@)
Posted by: Lynn@HappierThanAPigInMud | July 10, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Happy Birthday, Susan. Your post this week is awesome. I just love the way you gave us lavender, white and mixed groupings along with the others of family and your linens. You definitely get the blue ribbon this week. Your gardens are absolutely gorgeous. Hope you have a week filled with lots of color and happiness. Genie
Posted by: Genie Robinson | July 10, 2011 at 05:19 PM
Happy Birthday, Susan! Love the uggs!
Gorgeous shots, love the flowers, the veggies, pretty gardens!
Posted by: Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook | July 10, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Happy Birthday! I hope your day was truly wonderful. Thank you for sharing your beautiful birthday memories with us!
Best wishes,
Natasha.
Posted by: Natasha | July 10, 2011 at 05:25 PM
Many Happy Birthday Wishes to You! EEYORE would be proud, for sure! Love the garden ... all those wonderful veggies and flowers. Love your linens, too! Have a great week!
Posted by: Snap | July 10, 2011 at 05:27 PM
Hope your birthday was happy, Susan! I have to agree, that summer down the shore is such a beautiful thing, filled with friends and food and beautiful times! xoxo
Posted by: mary | July 10, 2011 at 05:37 PM
Gorgeous flowers!!! Wishing you well and thank you for this beautiful post!
Posted by: Cathy | July 10, 2011 at 05:50 PM
Hope your birthday is wonderful! Love the garden. Not sure what kind of bird that is.
Dropping by from Met Monday. I'll hope you'll come see the nursery I helped create for my first grandchild.
Allison
Atticmag
Posted by: Allison | July 10, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Happy Birthday. So much excitement and lovely photos. V
Posted by: Valerie | July 10, 2011 at 06:18 PM
I'm visiting from Mosaic Monday and love all the veggie garden photos. That's a juvenile American robin on the leaf.
That type of sneakers is new to me but they look pretty cool, I like the colour.
Posted by: Lavender Cottage | July 10, 2011 at 06:31 PM
Happy Birthday! Thanks for stopping by my Mosaic Monday Post and leaving such a sweet comment. I'm adoring that photo of the bird resting, postcard perfect!!!
Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
Posted by: Bohemian Valhalla | July 10, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Hello, Susan
I appreciate that you stopped by my blog and left the thoughtful comments about the roses and Nova Scotia. I'm new to mosaics; you've created many lovely ones. I can imagine how comfortable your screened porch must be. Please save me a seat!
-Karen
Posted by: My Little Home and Garden | July 10, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Love your mosaics! Gorgeous flowers and gorgeous vintage linens too. Sweet!
Posted by: Janelle | July 10, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Happy birthday and thanks for sharing this gardenmoments!
Markus
Posted by: Markus | July 11, 2011 at 01:55 AM
Gorgeous! Amazing garden and porch! You have a green thumb and a great eye for color and design too!
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy at Applestone Cottage | July 11, 2011 at 04:44 AM
Beautiful garden photos!
Posted by: Art of RetroCollage | July 11, 2011 at 07:03 AM
Hi Susan, love all of your mosiacs! And those porch linens, they made my heart skip a beat, luscious!! Never heard of a Japanese tomatoe ring. Wondering what it is. Your little birdie pic is very sweet. Looks like Kale to me, no help on the bird. Happy, Happy Birthday, and love those sneakers. Being with family is the BEST!
Posted by: Jann Olson | July 11, 2011 at 08:03 AM
A very happy birthday to you!
Posted by: jill | July 11, 2011 at 08:18 AM
What a lot of lovely images to enjoy - the quilts and cabbage are my favorites.
A belated Happy Birthday to you - love those shoes!
Posted by: Pondside | July 11, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Susan, Beautiful mosaics! I love how you took garden colors and put together such lovely images.What a creative idea!
I think the little bird is resting on Collard Greens. What a darling picture!
Yvonne
Posted by: Yvonne @ StoneGable | July 11, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Happy Birthday to you, sweet lady! I love your new sneakers! The bird is precious and I see someone has identified it...that's hard to do when it's a baby bird! Lovely mosaics! ♥
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | July 11, 2011 at 08:34 AM
What a nice variety of mosaics - very pretty! Sorry - I am of no help on the bird.
Happy Birthday! :) It is hard to get all my gang together at the same time also.
Thanks for stopping y and nice comment.
Posted by: Glenda/MidSouth | July 11, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Hello from your neighbor at BNOTP. We enjoyed your posting.
Posted by: Janette@the2seasons | July 11, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Happy Birthday! I hope the chorus line of zinnias soon chimes in. Love the imagery of that line.
Posted by: Lorrie | July 11, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Happy Birthday. Love that photo with the bird in the kale leaf.
Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.
- The Tablescaper
Posted by: The Tablescaper | July 11, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Beautiful garden mosaics. Love the flower pictures. Thanks for linking it up to Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Posted by: Sherry | July 11, 2011 at 11:07 PM
The sweet bird in your photo is an immature "teen-age" robin - the state bird of Michigan. Have a great day!
Posted by: Joanie | July 12, 2011 at 07:35 AM
Lovely mosaics. Love your vintage linens! Looks like a great family celebration for your birthday! Hope your week is going well.
Posted by: ellen b | July 12, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.
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