Ferns and May Garden

Hello everyone, 

Gardening is a journey.
 This year my Fern Grotto has a different look than it had last year.
This spot in my patio is the only place for my cool loving plants to thrive from the extreme heat we have during the summer.
I've added some house plants and more ferns this year.  

The bird cage with my little birds (Frick and Frack) are enjoying their new home outdoors. They are in the house during the winter sharing company with my indoor plants, that are also enjoying a hiatus outdoors too.

 

The big Boston Fern was purchased last year and in the same pot is a young Tree Fern.
The two other  small ferns I bought at the grocery store last month.
The Angel Wing Begonia I started from a leaf over ten years ago. 

The strawberry pot has matured during the past three year and I added white Calibrachoa 

The angels and the pink geranium survived the cold winter. 

My trusty asparagus fern just keeps looking great with minimal attention. The trailing plants add so much texture to the Fern Grotto.

Ivy and a spider plant with another trailing plant.

The peace plant is usually in the dining room, but all the plants were moved out here while we work on a project in the kitchen and dining room. The way we are working on the project now I hope we will have it done before the first frost. LOL

I wanted to share the new look of the patio garden. I removed the confetti Lantana which was hit with  frost this winter. I moved the amaryllis plants and planted a yellow rose. The sunflowers were planted last week and they are already an inch tall.

The pergola area is developing nicely. This is a view looking South. I was happy when Sweetheart mowed the lawn just before I took this photo. I see the garden plot way out there and it looks like its ready to plant.

I will be doing a tablescape later this week under the pergola. 

Wishing you a wonderful week.

I hope you've been inspired today. I'm always amazed at the beauty of nature.
 LINKING TO:
Monday
Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday
The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty
Dwelling-The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday
Tuesday
An Oregon Cottage for Tuesday Garden Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday 
DIY By Design for Spring into Spring
A Southern Day Dreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
Thursday
Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party
Friday
Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday
Thank you for your wonderful comments.
xo
Betty

May Note Cards

Hello Everyone,

The roses come and go. We had a short blooming season due to high winds and a heat wave. I'm so grateful for the  photos I did take.

'White Eden' Climbing rose

Four roses, Four note cards.

 I love joining Vee's Note Card party on the third Wednesday each month.

'Tiffany'

Lavender 'Lagerfeld'

Sweet and Simple
Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner
I'm linking to:
A Haven for Vee for Note Card Party
The Everyday Home for Home(Work) Wednesday
 Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday 

Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

My life so joyous today
xo
Betty 

*How to Plant an Easy Herb Garden*

I'm excited!

 This is my herb garden @ My Cozy Corner.

Easy Tutorial

How to Plant an Herb Garden

 I love my herb garden. It sits right outside my back door. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall I have herbs. I even turn on the porch light in the winter to cut some chives for my baked potato. 

And if I need a little Italian Parsley (1 tablespoon) to garnish a special recipe I grab my kitchen scissors and I out I go to cut just the right amount of parsley any time I desire... 

 I have two Aloe Vera plants in my herb garden. If someone has a bug bite or a little sunburn I cut a piece of Aloe Vera and rub it on the wound. All better!!!  

Tarragon and Thyme are perennials, and I trim them when they look tired. Yes, plants get tired too.

As you can see there are plenty of herbs to use in any recipe.

 I live in a climate that has an occasional freeze each year. I don't cover the herbs in the winter, because most of herbs are perennial. BUT, THIS IS IMPORTANT...I USE PLASTIC POTS. TERRA COTTA POTS CRACK IF THEY FREEZE. 

I love basil, and I  plant fresh basil each year. The first frost turns basil to a dark soft mess.

 I have planted four plants in one pot and I will have enough basil to make pesto and my favorite summer salad.

Fresh garden tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. A very refreshing side dish. 

 I have planted Barbeque Rosemary and oregano in one pot. The barbeque rosemary has straight stems that are sturdy enough to use as skewers for grilling. 

 I love my Italian Parsley. If it starts to go to seed I just snip off the flowers and beautiful new tender stems grow from the bottom of the plant.

 The sage is a wonderful and versatile herb. I love the smell and the beautiful bush. Under the sage plant is mint. The mint  doesn't spread very far contained in this pot with the sage.

 I have just enough mint to put in a pretty glass of iced tea. 

 The chives are so delightful to have on hand. Just a snip or two and those baked potatoes covered with sour cream and chives are to die for. Also delicious on soups.

 This pot has basil, parsley and chives. The basil is small now, but it will be taller and wonderful when the fresh garden tomatoes are ripe in a few months. 

 Now for the secret. Water, Water, Water. These plants are in a small container and they need water everyday. Especially in our hot climate.  A small sprinkler goes into each pot that surround the large planter. The water is on a timer and goes on everyday all summer long.

 My Sweetheart is called the 'Water Man' 

In the center of the planter are five of my most favorite roses.Every rose bush has a sprinkler and  I have 13 pots that surround the planter and each pot has a small sprinkler inside.  

 Well, I think I've given you an idea about how to plant a easy herb garden. If you have a smaller space, smaller pots will work just fine. The plants will need trimming a little more often, but you can bring the herbs into the kitchen and put them into a glass of water and they will be a bouquet garni.

(French for "garnished bouquet")
This is the view from my patio looking East.
It's about nine in the morning, 85 degrees and no humidity.

Hope you enjoyed your tutorial on How to Plant an Easy Herb Garden.

I'm Linking to
Tuesday 
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me
Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop
Wednesday
DIY By Design for Spring into Spring

Thursday 

A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden

Stonegable for Tutorials Tips and Tidbits

Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party 

Friday

Common Ground for Be Inspired 

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Saturday 

Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Sunday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Thank you for your wonderful comments

xo

Betty 

Happy Mother's Day

 Hello Everyone,

Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day!

My daughter and I are going out to breakfast and I'm having my very favorite meal.

Eggs Benedict.
 Later in the day Sweetheart is fixing dinner and I've prepared a simple dessert. Go Here.

I picked more of my pink roses and put them into my new vintage vases I found at the thrift store.

I love old vintage vases with  bouquets of roses.

My Gorham Secret Garden Beautiful Cream and Gold Trimmed vase was a real find. 

 A cupcake in a cloche is so delicate for a Mother's Day gift.  

 I'm enjoying my pink roses, but soon they will be gone. The wind and heat have already shorten the blooming season by two weeks this year.

Yummy! Rich, Triple Chocolate Fudge cupcakes with vanilla frosting a touch of decor.

 Peonies, Fairy rose, Secret, Garden Party, Tiffany, Simplicity, Therese Bugnet and Gene Boerner are some of the roses in these vases.

Wishing you all a very 
Happy Mother's Day 
from 
My Cozy Corner to your
Cozy Corner
Linking To:
How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday
and 
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
xo
Betty 

Easy Mother's Day Dessert

 Hello everyone, 

How's your week going? My week has been busy. With that said! I have a recipe for a quick and easy  and delicious dessert for an exhausted retired wife, mother and grandmother. 

As everyone in the universe knows I love chocolate! 

I saw

  Triple Chocolate Fudge

and knew this was going to be my Mother's Day gift to me.

23 minutes later I had some delicious looking cupcakes. 

They are a little top heavy so I cut the top off and put it in a bowl with Ice Cream and Chocolate pudding for  our evening dessert.

The Vanilla Funfetti frosting is perfect for my dessert. The frosting has the decoration right on the top of can.

Just the right amount of pastel funfetti

I put the tip in the Wilton Pastry bag and fill it half full with frosting. I squeeze the bag to release the air pockets. It's no fun starting on top of a cupcake and a poof of air comes out instead of the frosting. 

I start at the edge where I trimmed the top. It leaves a nice looking trim of cupcake.

This is the magic tip. I love the professional look. Wilton 1M

With this tip and prepared frosting I had the cupcakes decorated in about 15 minutes. Sprinkle the decor on the top and we have an attractive presentation making  any occasion more festive looking. 

The Coral carpet rose is one of my favorite roses.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to My Cozy Corner.

Please enjoy your special day and hopefully you will be treated like a queen in every way.

LINKING TO:
Friday 
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday 
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Simple Living for Foodie Friday 
Saturday 
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Have a great weekend.
xo
Betty