{ in the limelight }

In the limelight this evening we have this stunning {LIMELIGHT} hydrangea.

This amazing beauty is the most spectacular plant in my gardens by far.

They never let me down, and bloom in abundance each and every year.

The limelight has a beautiful conical shaped bloom.

 It blooms a lovely chartreuse to white in summer months,

and then turns a lovely dusty pink in the fall.

This wonderful specimen gives my garden interest through every season.

This hydrangea like most makes an excellent dried flower.

I simply leave them on the bush until they dry out,


then I bring them in for dried arrangements.

I love nothing more than to pile them high in a thrift store basket...

I display them in my home year round they are so lovely.

My shrubs are just now beginning to bloom, and by the time I return from vacation

they will be in full bloom,  a sight to behold... { I'll share when I get back }


I always get comments from neighbors on their beauty.

Unlike other varieties of hydrangeas these are very hardy, and their blooms never wilt.

I also have Nikko Blue which I also love, but they do not stand up as well 

to the intense sun and summer heat here in the south.

The blooms on this shrub range in size, but I've had blooms as large as my head.

{ that might not mean a whole lot... since I kinda have a pea head }

Oh my, I'm getting giddy with the anticipation of bringing 

lots of these lovelies inside for arrangements.

Now, before you run out and by a truck load of these beauties,

let me just say these ladies get really, really big.

I've had mine in the ground for about four years now,

and they've grown so much they were hiding the trees planted behind them.

These shrubs were as tall as the holly behind  

so I gave them a heavy duty pruning a few weeks ago

{ Papa seemed to think they were overwhelming the trees...hmm}.

They were nearly as tall as my magnolia tree on the other corner as well.

So, be sure if you plant these guys, you give them plenty of space to grow...

unless of course like me you plan to prune them back every few years.

Now, I need more to create a border around my backyard...

what a beautiful way to get some privacy.

*peace & love*

Carrie

p.s.  today was the first day this week without evening showers... you should see my weeds { eep }

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{ ominous skies }

I'm starting to feel a little like a weather woman 

seeing as how this is my second post on the subject this week.  

I am however fascinated by storms and the beauty and fear that one can bring.

 Yesterday's storm was no exception and brought along with it a tinge of fear.

 Every afternoon or early evening this week we have had a huge storm, so 

I guess it's the most exciting thing that's been going on around here,

unless you think doing load after load of laundry is exciting.

{ looking out from the front porch 

{ a view from our second story deck }

We live on a ridge which sits at the highest point in our county,

The winds here are incredible,  I've lost more than one umbrella and

nearly a table over the edge of our deck...it can be quite scary during a storm.

I've had my kids in the bathtub in the basement on more than one occasion.

We have been very fortunate that the tornados always seem to miss us,

but we have friends close by that haven't been so lucky, 

as the tornados have hit several times within miles of our home.

  

looking to the left and my right off of my back deck,

these are the kind of skies that scare me.

So I guess you can understand now

why I always keep my

eyes to the skies.

{ images are straight from my camera }

Here's hoping you have sunny and pretty skies where you are

*peace & love*

Carrie

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{ golden gallery }

If you would like more information about Golden Gallery click here.

Hope you are having a wonderful week.  

We are in the processes of doing laundry and packing for our upcoming trips... 

Papa & I are going to Mexico, and the kids are going to the beach with their Nana & Poppy.

Bring on the Vacations : ).

*peace & love*

Carrie




p.s. sorry about the poor quality of my photos, I used my point and shoot for these.

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