Two Sisters 1930 Cottage Garden Progress

Dear friends,

It's been months since I've posted here.  We've been busy remodeling the "Two Sisters 1930 Cottage" and finally were able to move in about 6 weeks ago.  My garden activities never really slowed down, though.  I just hate to miss the spring season, no matter what else I'm doing.  I thought I'd share some photos of the garden here today since it's such a major difference from when we bought the place last May.  For more pics, visit the Two Sisters Cottage blog.

Eventually, all this grass will become planting beds and walkways.

The side yard is lush, the grass is growing back (unfortunately) and I've managed to plant an assortment of native shrubs and trees such as esperanzas (AKA Yellow Bells), Texas sage, hackberry, Texas pomegranate, fig, etc.

The snails have proliferated, and there are literally thousands of them.  Right now, their favorite food are daylily leaves.  I discovered their hiding place---in and on the hundreds of boxwoods on the property.  I'm in the process of thinning them out and clearing out the leaf mulch from underneath.

 

At the side entrance gate to the garden.  House is to the left.  Cottage/greenhouse is to the right.

 I've decided that the former residents were trying to plant one of each color of rose.  So far, I've had red, pink (dark and light), white, yellow, apricot and green bloom.  Right now, almost every bush on the property (80+ in all) are blooming.

My wooden pallet container garden where I'm growing bell peppers, eggplant and herbs

We had to remove part of the clothesline because it had rusted and was a danger to my taller Husband.  We left one central line at the back, which will be used to grow a grape on.  It's planted at the bottom of the central "T" at the center of the photo.  The remaining poles and line make a great place to hang hummingbird and seed feeders for the birdies that live here.  We have a huge resident population of birds---so far we've seen pileated woodpeckers, finches, mockingbirds, sparrows, Carolina chickadee, two types of doves, cardinals, a female bunting, and others.

I've managed to build three of my "So Easy it's Stupid" garden beds and have filled them with Yard Long Beans, tomatoes and peppers so far.

The bed at the end of the greenhouse is filled with salvias, bat-faced cuphea, culinary sage, etc.

Another rose by the side gate

The side bed at the back of the house with herbs, salvias, blooming ligustrum, irises

In general, I'm concentrating on supporting the plants that are already here and adding in lots of natives, herbs and food plants.  The main goal is always to reduce and eventually eliminate the grass and support wildlife, beneficial insects and grow as much food as possible.

A closer view of the greenhouse garden with sitting area, birdbath, gazing ball and other ornaments.

Yes, the house is still white with dark green shutters and black window screen frames.  As much as I'd love to paint it a jazzy color, it's OK for now.  We have our hands full with finishing the inside of the house and getting the Leander house ready to sell.

So, stay tuned---the old gal's coming along!  LOL.

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Well, we've gone and done it now! 1930's Cottage with Gardens

Dear friends,

In my last post, I mentioned our search for an older home in Taylor, Texas. After looking at homes there, I narrowed it down to three. I didn't go looking for a house this old, and I didn't go looking for a house this size, but this is the house we ended up with.

Cared for by twin sisters (Millie and Albina) their entire lives (AFAIK), I've named this old gal TWIN SISTERS COTTAGE. Built in 1930, with 1500 square foot (larger than I was really looking for), she has long-leaf pine floors throughout the entire house, walls made of a "sandwich" of wallboard, planks, studs, more planks, and more wallboard. There's a detached garage with greenhouse and guest cottage, and the house sits on over 1/4 acre covered with heirloom roses, native plants, flowers such as daylilies (at least two varieties), purple coneflower, Texas sage, iris, mature boxwoods and crepe myrtle---you name it, it's there.

I'm especially thrilled to find the property shaded by two varieties of ancient pecan trees--native Texas pecans, and papershells.



I've always loved the fashions, homes, colors and styles of the 1930's, but never dreamed I'd be able to live in a historical home of this kind. I'm already all in a tizzy about how to decorate her. Here's a start for the bedroom---a quilt made in the 1930's by my great-grandmother. It will be my inspiration for my color choices.


More to come!

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Fall pumpkin fun...

I'm not sure what it is about pumpkins, but I cannot get enough of them. Perhaps it's the colors, the textures, or the fact that they are such a simple thing. I must have hundreds of pumpkin photos here that I've taken over the years.

This one was taken a few years back in Salado, Texas at the pumpkin patch at Fletcher's Bookstore there.

And here's one of the strangest pumpkins I've ever bought. We found it at a wonderful Pumpkin Patch in Grape Creek, Texas, right outside San Angelo a few weeks ago. I need to look this up to find out what variety it is. I just call it the "Nubby Punkin."


Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

Garden Inspiration

Thought I'd post a few of my garden photos. It's finally raining today, and I'm feeling very lazy. Enjoy! :-)



Antique Roses



Antique Rose in a vintage glass vase



Galvanized buckets, my favorite garden tool!



And a honey bee on rosemary!

More later!

Happy trails from my Catnip Cottage gardens...

bobbi c.