I feel sorry for Mary. Don’t you? I mean, what’d she do to get labeled for all time? No fair, that’s what I say. No fair for Quite Contrary Mary.

Mary Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells and marigolds all in a row.

Don’t know what Mary did, but I’ve always wondered about her garden. Never heard the answer to the question in the nursery rhyme. Hopefully her garden cheered her from the contrariness, just as mine cheers me from the crazy winter we endured. Snowy, icy, interminably long, frigid, crazy New Hampshire winter. Maybe I was just a smidge contrary. Yes, leaving those things behind. Looking ahead!

Thought I’d take you on a little field trip today. All the way out my front door, down the steps to my yard. You coming? Hope you enjoy this little peek at some of my favorite blooms this season, that they bring you joy too.

These peonies are definitely my favorite. The color is exquisite, the camera doesn’t do justice. They were a gift from my brother and sister-in-law after Hudson’s birth and surprise diagnosis with Down syndrome five years ago. Each spring these gorgeous blooms remind me of God’s faithfulness, how He got us through a very difficult time.

I love these bright, old-fashioned yellow flowers. I knew the name once. Now I’ve forgotten. (That and a few other things.) Anyone out there know what these are?

Check out my little friend sunning himself on a cheerful petal!

I was once told these are wild geraniums. Are they?

So I hung this colander planter on the dogwood tree by my side door to welcome guests. I received it as a wonderful surprise a few weeks ago. If you’d like to make one, directions are here: DIY Colander Flower Planter

Beautiful irises…

Every day for the last week or so we’ve picked a big bowlful of strawberries from our patch under the limelight hydrangea tree. These are wild strawberries, the sweetest thing you ever popped in your mouth! You’d think think my boys would jump up and down with delight when I ask them to pick our strawberries for the day. (But they don’t.)

These petunias hangs outside my front door. Really needing to replant in a bigger basket soon or they’ll die. I can tell it’s root bound, needs more room. (Hummingbirds love petunias!)

Here’s a fun little story about these primroses. My friend Brielle, one of Hudson’s babysitters, was working at her greenhouse nursery job a few weeks ago. Her eagle eye spied a crate of forty-eight primrose plants in a pile by the dumpster. They needed a little TLC, but looked salvageable, so she rescued them. Clever. Brought ’em home. She and her mother nursed them to health. And then, they shared some with me. (I know, I know. Lucky me!)

So how does your garden grow? Hope noone out there is contrary today. Would love to hear what you’ve got growing/blooming in your veggie and flower gardens. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

(P.S. The carrots are just sprouting!)

“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.”

~William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” 1804

Related post: Buried or Planted?

The post Quite Contrary Mary appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends! Hope you have some fun plans for the long weekend ahead, looks to be beautiful weather-wise in New Hampshire. YAY!!! (And it’s about time.) I’m hoping to get some veggies planted in my front beds, pot some plants. This past winter was interminable. Ready to get my hands dirty, soak in some rays. How ’bout you?

This past week was actually a tough one around here. Many extra school activities and Charlie and Hudson were sick all week, making a long week for all. That’s why it was such fun to go to the mailbox, and discover a little “angel” had visited….quietly left surprises on my porch this morning.

Two dozen farm fresh eggs. And, (drumroll please…..) this adorable DIY Colander Flower Planter, just to cheer my day. Wow, did it ever. After being cooped up all week, this pretty and whimsical planter was like a breath of fresh air. Inhale. Exhale. I enjoyed this DIY Colander Flower Planter all afternoon, meanwhile thinking what a great little project this would be for any of you who might like to get your hands dirty with a quick, rewarding project this weekend.

I rang up my little angel and she assured me it was quick and easy. Here’s what you’ll need.

Materials:

• Soil
• Flowers
• bright colored colander (Walmart or Target)
• small stones
• Moss (the kind that comes in a flat sheet from a craft store like A.C. Moore)
• Glue gun
• Optional: rope/twine if you want to hang the colander or wrap the handles with twine.
• Optional: American flag

Directions:

• Using a plastic cup as a guide, trace circles of moss, large enough to cover the sets of holes on the insides of the colander. Cut them out.
• Hot glue the large moss circles around the inside walls of the colander, covering up all the little holes.
• (But don’t cover the holes on the bottom.)
• Place a handful of small stones in the bottom of the colander. (for drainage)
• Fill with dirt and plant flowers.
• Water throughly.
• Use a saucer underneath if your DIY Colander Flower Planter will be used indoors.

• Optional: Wrap colander handles tightly with twine and tie off.
• Optional: Attach twine for hanging.

Hope you enjoy this project!!!

I was reminded of a recent project my friend Karla at Small Town Rambler did, up-cycling her grandaddy’s old ladder into a lovely herb garden. Love what she did, thought it might inspire you too, especially if you have an old ladder hanging around in your shed.  Tune in here to learn more: DIY Ladder Herb Garden

So what are you up to this weekend? Got plans? Among all the projects, picnics, barbecues and parades, hope you squeeze in a nap on the hammock. (That’s my dream anyway.) Have a great weekend!!!

You may also enjoy: DIY Monogram Wreath

The post DIY Colander Flower Planter appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.