The Charmed Life of Neighbors: Our Major Sources of Fun

Last week it became official, my husband and I sold our house and moved from the street where we have lived for 19 years. We are not retiring, far from it. In fact, the possibilities seem endless in our new turf on the east side of Seattle.

Yet having to pack up and move away from our next door neighbors has been hard on everyone. They are the family that we have watched grow from ages 5, 3, 0 to 18, 16, 12.  They welcomed me into their lives and invited me to attend everything from school plays and art shows, to the new school year Open House (You should have seen the principal's puzzled face when I introduced myself as "the neighbor," as if all neighbors come to meet the children's teachers.) 

We baked apple pies on Halloween (Trick or Pie) and one year I taught a jewelry making badge for the Girl Scouts. We invented an annual one-house Garden Walk and I helped with early morning French Braids and craft projects whenever I could. We had fun together every chance we got and they were always curious to come in the house and see what new art project I was working on. Their mother felt like a sister to me, sharing honest moments and coming to my rescue when I needed it most. Their father was always willing to stand on the street and chat. No hurry, no rush; offering help as I methodically packed up our entire life.

We have spent a lot of time together over the years and they gave me the incredibly thoughtful gift of a charm bracelet to represent our major sources of fun. A cupcake for all of the baking, a flower pot for the Garden Walk and time spent in the garden, a pumpkin for spending so many Halloweens together, a slice of pie for our Trick or Pie tradition and a teapot for the impromptu parties we held.

I told them that we will see each other again and for now, their job is to teach the new neighbors moving in (with children ages 7, 10 and 12) what I taught them. I said, "Show them just how much fun it is to live on Roseglen Court." 

And then I hugged them too many times and cried a little too. Because even though it is not goodbye, I will miss the little moments that you can only have when you are a neighbor. 

Seattle: Dahlias in Volunteer Park

Next September, when your garden has faded and you can't believe summer is over, find yourself a dahlia garden and rejoice in the bounty of colorful blooms.

A friend told me that I had "visit Volunteer Park in September to see the dahlias" and I kept the reminder in my travel notes for months. Finally, on my third trip to Seattle, it was dahlia season.

The Puget Sound Dahlia Association maintains the large dahlia garden in Seattle's Volunteer Park. It is spectacular. The garden is very tidy and the large well-staked plants tower over the enthusiastic visitors to the park. Every person has a camera or phone in hand capturing the various colors, shapes and sizes. Once you give in and start taking pictures, it's hard to stop. Each one is prettier than the next. And when the sunlight hits them just so...

If you fall in love with a particular shape, order some for your garden! Read about my wonderful visit to The Dahlia Barn, an online source for dahlia tubers.

The joy of gardening is far from over this time of year. You just need to switch gears and invest in some delightful dahlias.

Tiny Rooms

I am using this photo (from my visit to the National Museum of Modern History) to represent the idea of tiny rooms.

I have always loved dollhouses and making things, so when I get the chance to work on something small and sweet, I jump at the chance. 

Last night, one of the Garden Club Girls called and asked to borrow some fabric for a school project.  "Project?" - I said with my ears perked up.  She was working on the fifth-grade assignment called "Dream Room," which represents their ideal bedroom built from everyday objects inside of a shoe box.  Needless to say, it took all of my will power not to build a room myself!

We had so much fun sorting through the fabrics choices to find just the right sheets and pillow for her tiny bed.  And I found a strip of "cotton jewelry box cushion" that she could use to give the pillow she was making some puff.  

*sigh*  I love this stuff and it is so much fun to work with a serious decorator.  This little girl weighed her decisions carefully and was a dream to work with.  Ha! 

Thank you for letting me share my supplies with you, Garden Club Girl.  My fabric is your fabric. 

Garden of Delight

I am home after 10 days in England (glorious!) and I am happy to say that my garden is fine. I left a senior member of the Roseglen Garden Club in charge (she's 13) and I returned to find the patio in full bloom.

In fact, we got home as a storm was about to hit, so I cut all of these to keep them from getting batted around in the wind. I placed them in the nearest container of water and I think I will keep the arrangement as is - what could be prettier than this?

I want you to know that I will be starting my "Private Tour of England" blog series in early July. I just need to get my bearings, organize my photos, collect my thoughts and write! I can't wait to show you. It seemed that every moment was a delight.

Nasturtiums

This year I am growing 5 pots of nasturtiums! I planted the seeds yesterday (a mix of color and height) and I am looking forward to a bountiful crop.

Remember when my Mom did a "Study in Nasturtiums" last year? Well I've caught nasturtium fever and I can't wait to make some bright bouquets.

I usually grow a few nasturtium seedlings in a pot on the patio and get about 6 blooms at a time. This year I should have scores of blooms - wait till the Garden Club Girls hear.

Long ago, our youngest gardener claimed the "eat-able" flowers as her favorite. I hope she's hungry!

Something Dog

For years I have reminded (and then quizzed) the Garden Club Girls on the names of the flowering trees in our neighborhood. It is my favorite time of year on our street and it only lasts about three weeks. I think it's adorable that they always get stumped on the magnificent tree in front of my house.

"Umm...umm...something dog!"

No matter how long or short the Winter, the name "Dogwood" just doesn't stick with them. So here it is, my "Something Dog" tree in full bloom. I originally planted two Dogwood trees by the front walk in the hopes of have twin Dogwoods growing and draping majestically. The first year they were short, pruned in an oval-shape and it looked like I had stuck two Q-tips (cotton swabs) in the lawn! Then one of the trees died and I was worried that nothing would be able to thrive in this space. But the other tree made it and has been growing beautifully all on her own ever since.

Do you ever call trees by a different name?

A Restorative Cup of Tea

I love having a cup of tea in the afternoon. I've read many Rosemunde Pilcher novels (The Shell Seekers is my favorite) so I always think of having a "restorative cup of tea." I don't know anyone who wouldn't appreciate being restored at 3 o'clock.

The moment of delight you see above is from a lovely hotel in town. The mother of the "Garden Club Girls" and I went to lunch with the girls after a field trip to see a giant gingerbread house. We used cloth napkins, drank from tea cups and were very grown-up in this fancy dining room.

We thought that the tiny jar of Bonne Maman Honey was darling and all had fun dipping our spoons in. Believe me, I was restored.

2009 Garden Walk

Can you believe that this was the Roseglen Garden Club's 5th Annual Garden Walk?

We started this wonderful tradition when the neighbor girls were just 5, 7 and 7-years old. One afternoon, I was teaching the girls some plant names (Snapdragon was a favorite) and having them touch and smell all the flowers, when one of the girls looked at me seriously and said, "Mrs. Reeves, I think people would pay for this."

So cute! I explained the idea of a Garden Walk and how communities often offer free events in the name of education. "We" had a berry garden, herbs, roses and flowers..."we" could teach people all about them.

I told them that we could host a Garden Walk if they made and handed out tickets to the neighbors. I would pick a date with their mothers and provide the brownies and lemonade.

Fast-forward 5 years and imagine our seasoned garden club members (age 10, 12, 12) pointing out the nasturtiums, identifying a few roses by name and "asking after" the Bleeding Heart. That is success, my friends. These girls will love gardens forever.

Paul McCartney Rose

It is time to get out our calenders and pick a date for the Roseglen Garden Club's Annual Garden Walk.

There is a mental checklist we go through to know when the time is right.

• Are there many rosebuds about to open?
• Are the hydrangeas blooming?
• Is the herb pot thriving?
• Are the nasturtiums ready?

The answer to those questions is: Yes Yes Yes!

(This beauty is the The McCartney rose!)

Garden Center

I do love a garden center! I can't resist all of the color. It is a lot like going to a fabric store for me. I find that I have a hard time keeping up my end of the conversation when I am in a place like this...my thoughts are simply too loud. This year my list includes "Green Envy" zinnias, "Heavenly Blue" morning glories, snapdragons, foxglove, delphinium and more lavender.
I'm going to need another cart!

Anne of Green Gables

Want to know what is making me really happy? Introducing the book, Anne of Green Gables, to one of the Garden Club girls. You see, although she is 12 and I am not, we often recommend books to each other. In our chat this week, I realized that she had not read the book or seen the spectacular Anne of Green Gables video series starring Megan Fellows (which, yes, I have on VHS). So we made a plan: she'll read the book and then we'll have a family movie night at my house and watch it all together. What fun.

How do I know it will happen? Her mother told me yesterday that her daughter walked up to her in the library, held up Anne of Green Gables and said, "I've got to read this." So it is going on vacation with them and life is good. What are you reading?

Bunny Lovey

Are you planning on having a beautiful Easter basket this year?

I wanted to show you a new item that is beautiful and interesting.
Edible Easter grass.

I found it at Walmart in a magnificent display of color-coded candy. A section of candy that is all pink. All peach. All blue. It is just gorgeous. Among the choices is edible Easter grass from Germany. I bought a bag of pink (strawberry) and took this photograph before gifting the Garden Club girls an Easter basket of treats.

Edible Easter grass...now who could resist nibbling this sweet treat?

Sunlight & Fertilizer

The other day I asked my friend about her community's Garden Club. She talked of casual meetings held monthly in member's backyards. Glasses of iced tea and conversation surrounding sunlight and fertilizer.

She went on to say that they still meet in the Winter - mostly to look at pictures in garden catalogs. "It helps," she said simply. And I was reminded of the kinship between all gardeners off season.

So today I am featuring a photo of my David Austin English rose, Abraham Darby. I have loved this variety for years and can't wait to see it "in person" again.

I hope it helps.

Hansel and Gretel

If you have been searching for Hansel and Gretel, look no further. I have found their gingerbread cottage in the lobby of the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan. My lovely neighbor and her Garden Club girls (age 9 & 11) invited me on a "field trip" to see this giant masterpiece in person. The gingerbread boy nearby boasts the recipe: 220 pounds of sugar, 300 pounds of gingerbread mix, 90 gallons of water, 240 eggs...wow.
We took pictures of ourselves with this luscious cottage and I asked the girls what part of the house tempted them the most. One wanted to taste each candy cane along the roofline, the other wanted to bite a gumdrop off the wall and I confessed that I would lick across the lollipop flowers and announce each flavor as I passed.

Thanks, Phyllis, for a delightful afternoon!

Jewelry Making

The Garden Club Girls asked me to teach a badge at their Girl Scout meeting this month! What fun. I have been pouring through my baubles and have come up with the perfect project for 12-year-old girls. A charm necklace! I am going to submit the design for publication and when it gets published I will link you to it. I think the girls will love it. As I was shopping for the supplies, the ladies at Micheals saw what I was up to and were all a-buzz. That's my specialty, you know, making accessories that "drive girls crazy."

Pencils

In honor of school being in full swing, I wanted to show you a simple wall decoration that literally made me gasp. When I was in Chicago with my neighbor, Phyllis (and her Garden Club girls), her sister Maggie took us to a favorite Sunday morning breakfast spot called Flo's. As we made our way through the crowd to our table, we passed this amazing pencil display on the wall. I stopped in my tracks (paying no mind to the waiters and coat racks and patrons, oh my) and took this photograph. It was so simple, but so interesting I had to capture it.

Once we were settled, I was encouraged to order the egg sandwich (scrambled eggs, roasted red peppers and spinach basil dressing on brioche). When it arrived, it was so delicious I had a hard time keeping up my end of the conversation as I devoured my breakfast. Yum. What's your favorite breakfast spot?