Mind Your Own Business

I recently was introduced to this fascinating little plant that packs  a powerful punch! Also called Baby Tears, but here in Ireland it’s known by this sassy name. In fact, I  had an exchange with a woman on a gardening page who thought I was being cheeky  when I answered the question, “What is a plant you’re currently growing that is hard to find?”  I commented with, “Mind Your Own Business”, and she called me rude. When I tried to clarify, this was the conversation that followed -

Me:  It’s a plant - Mind Your Own Business 

Her:  It is my business. We are both on this page. 

Me:  But do you understand that the name of this plant is actually “Mind Your Own Business“?

Her:  I did not. My apologies. 

I  had read that it makes a good ground cover, so I purchased a single plant and divided into 16 small plugs. We shall see if this troublemaker is a good alternative lawn for the roadside grass. More photos

 to follow!

No Fake Flowers - Ever?

There’s an unspoken rule among gardeners that says NO ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS EVER. 

And as a gardener, I have extreme disdain for fake flowers, vines or greenery of any kind. You will never find a single artificial arrangement in my home. I use fresh and dried flowers only, and when there’s a lack of either of these, I wait. 

The whole botanical experience for me is so much more than visual. I’m as addicted to the smells and feel of all I grow as I am to the look of them. For me, anything that’s not real just drastically cheapens the effect. 

That being said, I’ve broken my own rule with THIS. 

I have a pair of these that I put out each summer in front of the cottage. They are so OBVIOUSLY artificial that they make my head spin. And yet, here they are. 

First, let me explain. I intended to hang lush baskets here, filled with petunias, trailing lobelia, and geraniums. In fact, that is what I did. But I soon learned that those baskets, when wet, get so heavy that they threatened to pull the brackets AND the cladding off the wall. So somewhere in the search for a quick replacement, I found these totally fake purple orbs. 

Maybe I’m being too hard on myself, but I feel like such a hypocrite, yet not enough to take them down. And I hate myself for liking them!

I keep waiting for someone to drive by and shout, “Those aren’t REAL!!!”

Where Shamrock Grows Wild

I love growing shamrocks inside the cottage.  Always fleeting, but certainly cheerful! 

I especially love how they grow wild and like this when you put them in a less sunny spot. Those lovely long stems twisting and flailing toward the light are one of my favourite things!

No wonder these little plants are so beloved - easy and inexpensive to grow, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

New Beginnings

This is always an exciting time of the year here at the cottage. Seeds have been sown , ground has been tilled, fertilised and weeded. 

This for me is exciting stuff. My Boston Ivy is getting an early start this year. I’m looking forward to seeing our front wall completely covered in it. This stuff grows really fast once it takes off!

And let’s not forget the Bluebells! It’s the first big wave of colour for the season, and here you can see the buds just starting to peek out -

And finally, look who’s back at work??

It’s my beloved Summer Hubby! This and the clocks changing tonight tell me that springtime is really here.

Happy planting, everyone!

Crafty like a Fox

It’s no secret that I love my garden. But during these bleak months when I can’t be outside, I must bring nature indoors. This is how my passion for crafting was born. 

Once I had filled the cottage with my painted furniture, I started my small crafting business ,Lovely Things by Luna Claire. 

 Working in my garage studio can be a chilling experience this time of year, so to keep busy I’ve added papercraft to my creations, handmade in the warmth of my cosy country kitchen!

                                                       

Taking my inspiration from my feathered and furry friends, I call this line Moonlight Cottage Cards & Papercraft, and it’s officially my new obsession —   

 

“Painter of Light” Revisited

This is the time of year that my posts tend to go dormant. The garden is sleeping, and we visit family in the States. But today I am inspired to share with you an incredible chance encounter that happened a few days ago.

I was enjoying a visit and stroll through downtown Fort Worth with my dear friend, Anna.  On our way to a nearby restaurant, we passed an art gallery with many lovely, familiar paintings in the window that confirmed it was a Thomas Kinkade gallery!

For those who remember my original  Painter of Light posting, my obsession with cottages began many years ago with Thomas Kinkade’s beautiful paintings. Imagine my surprise to stumble upon this gallery and to actually meet the late artist’s sister-in-law, Laura Kinkade!  We had a lovely chat, and I told her how we named our cottage after one of his paintings!

It was such a thrill for me, and I’m so grateful to Anna for suggesting that we go in. Here’s
Thomas’s beautiful “Moonlight Cottage” -

Click here to read my original post!

Hydrangea Hype

 

I have slowly become obsessed with hydrangeas. They seem to grow themselves here in Co. Cork. In fact, there was an enormous Lacecap growing here when we bought the Cottage. It was overgrown to the point of being unmanageable, so I let my hubby talk me into cutting it to the ground. I fully intended to replace it with a rose hedge, but it came back flowerless but very healthy the following year. And THIS year, we got this -

Over 6 feet tall now!

This next one is a mophead that I got as a Mother’s Day gift 3 years ago. It was an indoor plant, but is thriving outside on a large pot -

I recently added these pink Annabelle shrubs put by the road. 

This is a miniature Curly Wurly that I keep on our porch -

I love the cupped petals on this one. 

I added 2 large Curly Wurly shrubs in pots to our patio.

The obsession is still growing, so next season we may add some white varieties to the collection!