Garden Photo Art Prints

Dear friends,

I recently took part in a local art show here in Taylor in conjunction with the Art Guild Photo Club.  I thought I'd post a few of my original photographic prints here that I had for sale at the show.   Enjoy!

Reflections in a Garden, Blue Gazing Ball

Texas Bluebonnet Collage Print, Copyright 2013 by Bobbi A. Chukran

Texas Coneflower Collage print, Copyright 2013 by Bobbi A. Chukran

Gargoyle in the Birdbath, Copyright 2013 by Bobbi A. Chukran

If you look closely into the next photo, you can see two reflections of wine bottles in the grapes.  And no, believe it or not, I did not plan that. :-)

Reflections in the Grapes, Copyright 2013 by Bobbi A. Chukran

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By the way,  these are all available as limited edition, signed and matted 8x10" prints, ready to frame.  Just e-mail me if you're interested in purchasing.  Each print is $25 plus postage.

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

Is it really spring?

Dear friends,

Almost overnight, the temperatures went from the high 80's to the low 40's here in central Texas.  I fear for the new hummingbirds we spotted in the garden last weekend.  Not to mention the new tomato and pepper plants I finally put out a few days ago!

Oh, I also wanted to mention that it's pouring down rain!  (No complaints there.)

Which brings me to the question--is it REALLY spring? :-)

I WAS going to go out into the garden and take more photos of the lovely antique roses that cover this property, but now they are drenched, bedraggled and bewildered.  LOL.  And to think that most of them are blooming right now, too. Tsk tsk.

In the meantime, I thought I'd regale you with photos from times past.  Some of these were turned into fine art prints and note cards (which hopefully, will appear for sale here before long).  

Hope you enjoy them!

Hens and chicks

Antique rose

Caladiums and Mexican Bush Sage in my former Leander, TX garden

Yellow mum close-up

More hens and chicks--love these things!

Until next time,

happy trails, and happy gardening!

bobbi c.

Signs of spring!

Some signs of spring here in the cottage garden---enjoy!

Happy gardening!

bobbi c.

Patio privacy screen/trellis progress

Dear friends,

To follow up on the last post, here's the finished trellis. 

Concrete blocks hold the upright posts without digging.  We did add a piece of rebar inside the block and the post is set into concrete inside the hole.

We were able to build this without buying much at all----a section of  grid reinforcement wire, a few concrete blocks.  The wood was recycled from the greenhouse we tore down.  We sandwiched two 2x4's together to make a more-or-less 4x4' post.  The concrete patio was the greenhouse floor.

You can't see them very well in the photos, but I bought three wooden finials, painted them the green color of the garage door, and screwed them into the tops of the poles.  Just a little decorative doo-dah!

Two light fixtures will go on the wall where you can see the two dots, and a freestanding pergola will be built over it all eventually.  Once the vines I planted grow up and over the trellis, it will be a nice private sitting space.

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

Progress on Patio, Kitchen and More!

Just some random miscellaneous photos of the patio privacy panel project, cottage paint job and garden.

A mock-up of the future cement block wall topped with bricks (found on the property) along one side of patio.  I'll have two rows of blocks, though.

The garage wall painted, the door and trim painted.  You can see the first upright post at the far right end of the patio.

We'll do almost anything to keep from having to dig holes.  This is my invention for building fences and such in rocky soil.  We previously used it for a short picket decorative fence. We'll have three of these along the end of the patio, then will attach some metal wire grid reinforcement mesh or a cattle panel to it for vines.  The blocks will be covered eventually with mulch or hidden with plants in pots.

Birdbath, lavender in galvanized tub on cement blocks.  In the distance, you can see the first post sticking up at the end of the patio.  And once again, Rudy's rear end.  LOL!

The boxwood hedge behind the patio will be trimmed and vines planted in front of it to grow up the wire grid.

The privacy panel will serve as a visual barrier between the end of the patio and the side street and driveway. 

The view of the garden across the sidewalk to the side of the patio. The vine has covered the metal trellis nicely at the end, in front of the chain link fence.

The kitchen garden, happy in these cooler days.  Just steps away from the back door and kitchen.  Lettuce and scallions are growing happily in an old wheelbarrow.

It must be fall, the yellow mums are blooming!  I planted these just last spring.  They make a nice companion to the white salvias. An old kitchen pan is a much used bird watering feature.

 

Inside, my little collection of Halloween figurines sits in the old pine cabinet my father built when I was a baby.  Tulip decals my mother added when I was a kid are still bright and colorful.

And an inside update!  The red glass brick tile backsplash has been done.  The upper cabinets used for displaying my collection of colorful ceramics and a few vintage goodies are getting orange backs made of beadboard pieces.  The orange matches the wall behind the stove on the other side.

It's a very tropical citrusy kitchen!

More photos coming of the finished cabinet display space, and an update of the patio.

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

Cultivate Contentment

Watch this amazingly inspiring video of a small family who lives in a very tiny home, works next door and is "cultivating contentment."  I know from experience how freeing living mortgage free can be!

Happy trails!  bobbi c.

Pam Warhurst on How we can eat our landscapes

An amazing, inspiring video about how a small group of people can make a huge change in their local area.



Now, go plant something!

bobbi c.

Cut down dead trees? No!

I'm glad I've been adamant (and downright witchy!) about not letting folks cut down my not-dead-yet pecan tree.  Over the last month, I've seen at least six different birds use it, including a pair of red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Is the tree pretty?  Not really.  But I don't care.  As I recently told An Insulting Person, my garden and yard is all about the wildlife it supports---that's my main focus.  And I'm sticking to it.  As long as the dead tree is safe for humans and in no danger of falling over, then we'll be leaving it alone.

This short article from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service explains the reason why leaving those trees alone is a good idea.

"Wildlife need dead, hollow or fallen trees for food and family homes. Nearly all wildlife species benefit from "animal inns" for food, nesting or shelter. The forest neighborhood changes, yet the way animals, plants and people depend on each other remains the same. Even as a tree dies, it continues to help sustain life to animal families and eventually to new plants and trees, and the cycle begins again. Please don't cut trees with: paint marks, wildlife signs, broken tops, trunk holes or visible nests, and any other trees prohibited by permit." 

Happy trails!

bobbi c.