The Lavender Garden

"Here's your sweet lavender, sixteen sprigs a penny. That you will find my ladies will smell as sweet as any London lavender seller's cry. circa 1900"

So reads the the plaque to the entrance of this garden in Vauxhall Gardens. It goes on to say the garden was created in partnership with Vauxhall Motors to celebrate its centenary in 2003.

Weekend in the Garden

I'm tired after a really busy weekend. Spring weather and the call to be outdoors getting dirt under my fingernails kept us busy, busy, busy.

Here are a few images to share a few glimpses into our weekend.


Our resident squirrel in the birdfeeder. I love his tail.



Harvesting the radishes and the first round of onions.



Blueberries growing so round and plump.



Lavender that is alive with bees.


The first round of weeding around the garden boxes is complete thanks to Mr. A. He and I have been working diligently at getting the weeds under control before the warm weather sets in for good. The boxes are all ready for the seedlings we have been nursing upstairs.


We found this guy when we were working in the roses. It was perfect timing since I am working on a cricket challenge for the Summer Series ebook. We were able to do some up close observations before we left him comfortably back on the rose bush.
Edit to add: K left me a comment saying that there is an ovipositor so my he is really a she. Thanks K.



No one says that hard work in the garden does not have its rewards. Yummy first strawberries were picked and eaten. The best ever end to a long weekend outdoors, except for maybe the grilled burgers my dear husband made us for dinner which we ate outside on our deck.

Hope you all had some time to get outdoors and enjoy whatever your world offered this weekend. I know that some of you have written to say that you don't have an apple tree to study but you could just as well study any tree you find in the Handbook of Nature Study as a substitute or you could do a general apple study using some apples you have on hand. If all else fails, spend fifteen minutes outdoors with your children and enjoy whatever comes your way.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Nature Study Interrupted

The sun was out again today and what started out as a very frosty morning, turned into a *warm in the sun* sort of day. We decided to go out and look around the yard for moss since it is going to be the focus of this week's Outdoor Hour Challenge.....more on that Friday.

We were successful in finding moss in all the usual places but what captured our attention this morning is the lavender along the front driveway. This lavender is blooming again and this is even after I cut it back several months ago. This little habitat was buzzing with bees and if you could smell the fragrance, you would think it was mid-summer.

Bees buzzing


Cat hiding and peeking

What a great interruption to our nature study this morning.

I am more than ever determined to get outdoors each day that I can squeeze it in now that I have a growing appreciation for our temperate climate. I sit inside and think that it is "too cold" to go outdoors but then I think of the families dealing with snow and ice already and I know I have *no excuse*.

Look what we had the chance to enjoy this morning! I should not be surprised to find something interesting but I always am.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Winter Photo Walk: Insects, Trees, and Sky

(click to make photos larger)

Today was such a sunny day in our area and I needed a little "photo therapy". I went out in the garden and took about 50 photos. This little winged insect was sitting so still on the lavender blossom. There were actually a few blossoms with such beautiful colors in the brilliant sunshine.

I don't know what kind of insect this is but I will keep on trying to identify who he is. I think it is okay to not actually identify each and every insect we find but keep it as a work in progress.

How about this sky?

From page 624 in the Handbook of Nature Study regarding tree study, winter work:
"1. Make a sketch of the tree in your notebook, showing its shape as it stands bare." or "3. Take a twig of a tree in February and look carefully at the buds. What is their color? Are they shiny, rough, sticky, or downy?" or "4. What birds do you find visiting your tree during winter."

Check out all the ideas in your copy of the book.

Look at this silhouette!

One last photo.
Could that be my bulbs sprouting already?

Have a great afternoon,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom