V is for Vines

I love arches. Arched doorways. Arched gates in the garden. Curving arbors with vines spilling over them. Flowers ranking upward, like roses and clematis and sweet peas. There is something so romantic and European about this idea.

Alas, I can't seem to grow the flowers that embellish an arched trellis, though I've tried for years. My clematis languishes. The roses die back by mid-season. Sweet peas hate the heat and don't even try. I've almost given up too.

But last year we tried some grapes. It appears they may actually come back this year, and if they climb, we might even get enough leaves to brine for stuffed grape leaves at our annual Greek feast. The heck with actual grapes - we're easy to please. Just a few dozen nice-sized leaves to put up. Is that too much to ask?

Okay, I confess. I harbor fantasies of a grape-covered patio like this. With big, ripe clumps hanging down just waiting to be plucked. A person can dream, right?

What's your elusive gardening dream?

F is for Flowers

F is for flowers, which I adore! There is rarely a time, winter or summer, that flowers do not adorn my home. Here's what is gracing my dining room table now:

I've even thought of creating a series of paintings using my favorite blue vase, because I've taken so many photos of it over the years with different arrangements:

My garden is a riot of color every year too - well as much color as you can expect on a prairie:

My favorite place to write when it's cool and not too windy:

How about you - what's your favorite flower? Leave me a comment!