Classic Impressions Needlepoint -Another Update

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I’ve finally finished the rose in the middle of my Classic Impressions Needlepoint project. I’m glad to have it done. I can now work on the last of the borders.
I’ve discovered that if I ever get this project finished and washed, I’m going to have to block it, to try and get it squared up. As you can see, it’s edges are crooked. I guess my stitching tension has varied a bit too much over the years. :/
Anyway, I’m happy to have it this much finished.

Here’s wishing everyone a pleasant rest of the week.

 

 

My Yellow Peony

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April 30, 2021, we ventured out shopping for shrubs and flowers. I saw this yellow peony, I thought it was the one of the prettiest peonies that I’d ever seen. I’d wanted a yellow peony for at least 4 decades. I’ve spoke of it to my husband oodles of times over the years. Unfortunately, it was more expensive than I’m comfortable paying for a flower and it saddened me. I turned to walk away.
My husband watched me admiring the peony and said with a huge smile, “Happy Early Mother’s Day!”
I was over-the-moon with joy.
It’s been a beautiful addition to my small flowerbed ever since.

Bartzella Itoh Peony
It’s a hybrid herbaceous and tree peony cross.
It has a wonderful fragrance.
The blooms are about 8 inches across
It’s deer and rabbit resistant.
It doesn’t need ants, insects or bugs, to feed on it, to bloom.

Wishing you all a beautiful rest of the week!

Cameo Spider

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For me, one of the enjoyments of peonies is taking photos of the bugs, insects, ants, bees or arachnids feeding on their bloom-buds. I will refer to them as ‘feeders’ for the purpose of this post.
So, as I was taking photos of the ‘feeders’ I noticed a white spider. I took some photos of it and moved on. I didn’t think anything about it.
I loaded the photos on the computer, I view the photos large size so I can see the feeders in detail. I got a chuckle when I saw a slightly unsettling surprise on the spiders back; a sort of cameo face.
Then I noticed that sadly the poor little thing seems to have only 4 legs.

I was hesitant to share it here on my blog. I realize it could be a trigger for folks that have arachnophobia. I apologize in advance. I mean no harm. I’ve tried to make links instead of posting the photos in full view.  (Hopefully, I did the links right.  )

If you click on the link or the photo and don’t see the face on the spider’s back in the photos, it’s okay. Not everyone enjoys pareidolia as much as I do. 🙂

If you would like to see a large photo crop to see the face better, click here

Below is the peony photo. You can click on it to view a larger size.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

*By-the-way, I don’t care what the experts say about not needing feeders on peonies for them to bloom. In my experience, peony bloom buds without feeders shrivel and die.
One more thought: I do have one variety of yellow peony that never has feeders on it’s buds, and it blooms beautifully.

Greenhouse – Boxwood Cuttings – Cover Flowers

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One of the reasons I enjoy my greenhouse is that we can buy our plants for the yard and garden and not have to plant them right away.
I’m thankful we have the new plants in the greenhouse because we’re in the midst of one of our little winters. I’m not sure which little winter, we have so many between Spring and Summer.
We’ve been covering my Asiatic lilies and peonies the past few nights to protect them from frost.
My peonies are full of bloom buds and my lilies are lush and green. I would hate for them to get frost bite.
I’m happy that it’s possible that one or more of my boxwood cuttings from my bouquet might root actual grow into a bush. I transplanted all of them in the flower bed and so far, only a couple has died. The others look like their trying to grow.

Wishing you all a Happy Tuesday!