The Cottage Garden ~ May 2012

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope you all have had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating all the men and women who have done so much for us and our country in the line of duty.  And to any of you reading this who have served our county, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do or have done.  You are truly selfless human beings and are courageous beyond belief.

We have been lucky enough to have my dad visiting with us in from Italy this weekend.  I think I've mentioned that he lives over in Tuscany, but in case I haven't, he lives about half way in between Florence and Rome.  It's been about a year and a half since we've seen him and this was his very first time meeting Mr. Caspian Finn.

My dad has the ultimate green thumb.  I'd say he's probably the best gardener I know, so he has been helping us get the cottage garden back into tip-top shape.  We have been so busy traveling as well as with work and the kids, that we really hadn't gotten a chance to get out in the yard much.

You might say my dad has a mild obsession with gardening.  I can remember many, many weekends as a child spent in our local garden centers.  He always took such loving care of our plants and yard and I was very proud to have my friends come over to our house and spend time outside.  I don't consider myself to have a green thumb quite like him, but I love being able to have him here sharing a little bit of the knowledge he has gathered over the years.

Memorial Day seems to mark the beginning of new growth here in Chicago and it's when we can rest assured that we probably won't get another freeze.  Here are some pictures of a few of the wonderful things that are happening around the cottage garden........

Peonies are blooming.

'Savannah', our peach tree, is showing signs of producing lots of fruit this year.

My absolute favorite flowers, the hydrangeas, are starting to bloom.  Slowly, but surely.

New little apples on our apple trees.

Hops growing up the side of the coach house.

The blackberries changing over from flowers to berries.

Grapes are starting to grow on our grape vines.

I just love this time of year.  There are so many magical things happening all over our property.  We have had a wonderful time with my dad and are so thankful he could be here to meet our new little guy.  And a BIG thank you to him for all he has done for us in the yard.  It really feels so great to have our yard nice and cleaned up and ready for summer! 

Savannah is done with her first year of preschool (which flew by way too fast) and we will be traveling to Florida in the coming weeks for a much needed long vacation.  It will be my kids very first time at a real beach.  I can't wait to see their reactions......I'm quite certain they are just going to love it!

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  

Did you spend any time out in your garden?