Smelling the heavens...

Trachelospermum jasminoides,

otherwise known as Confederate Jasmine,

has a heady though heavenly fragrance.

This wonderful jasmine will bloom best

in sun to partially shaded areas.

The flowers are sweetly fragrant,

about 1" in diameter, 5-petaled,

cream-white in some blooms. 

Evergreen Confederate Jasmine prefers moist, well drained soil.

This blooming niche...



...needs a wonderful fountain to complete it

Isn't this the cutest little blue cottage?

(I'm not sure where I got this pic, but if it's yours email me and I'll give you credit)

As a vine, Confederate Jasmine can be utilized to cover

fences, arbors, trellises, fences, mailboxes, or posts.

It can also be grown as a spreading shrub or groundcover,

1½ to 2 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.

Be sure you put it where it receive the most foot-traffic.

Its fragrance and appearance must be frequently appreciated...

...why would you want to waste smelling heaven?

Be warned though, the bees do love them!

Passion for Peonies

Madame Claude Tain

Late to Midseason Lactiflora, double, rosy white flowers, 

full cabbage rose shape, especially attractive, dark green foliage,

good cutflower,  belongs on the "good" list of peony cutflowers

Shirley Temple



Early Midseason lactiflora, white-blush, double petaled,

fragrant, dark green foliage, strong bush, good grower.

The Fawn

Midseason Lactiflora, double pink, an extremely well shaped,

large double with nary a petal out of place.

Mid pink and flecked with little pin dots of a deeper shade of pink,

Quite unusual

Pink Hawaiian Coral

Early Midseason Hybrid, semi-double, light salmon-toned pink,

fast grower, many thick strong stems,

it belongs on the “exclusive” list of well paid cut flowers,

American Peony Society Gold Medal 2000,

Award of Landscape Merit 2009

Many Happy Returns

Early Midseason Hybrid,

anemone to bomb double, rich, warm red hue flowers,

good grower, many thick strong stems, 

American Peony Society Gold Medal 2007,

Award of Landscape Merit 2009

So many options available with limited planting space

Which ones will you choose?

Linked up with:
http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
for Cottage Flora Thursdays

Sandra Bernhardt Peony

One of my favs...

Linked up with:

http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/

for Cottage Flora Thursdays

More Eye Candy

 Yesterday I shared some favorite images from

Marie Antoinette by Sofia Copolla.

Perusing them takes you back in time

Things may change but they also stay the same

We all have our responsibilities and expectations

We all dream of contentment and happiness 

Sometimes situations seem to be better...

...than they actually are...

...and sometimes we all wish to escape.

Sometimes we all feel dispare...

...and overwhelmed by life

...and sometimes we all just want to stay in bed,

forget it all,

cuddle with someone we love,

and skip the day

No one understands my ills,

nor the terror that fills my breast,

who does not know the heart of a mother.

~Marie Antoinette

 We all feel these things...even a queen.

She was such a beauty and so very young.

Her life was a fascinating 

point in history 

I was a queen,

and you took away my crown;

a wife,

and you killed my husband;

a mother,

and you deprived me of my children.

My blood alone remains:

take it,

but do not make me suffer long. 

~Marie Antoinette 

Eye Candy

Marie Antoinette

You've got to love a good period movie...

Hair piled high and falling in curls...

Beautiful fabrics playing with light... 

Palest of skin...perfect, without flaw

Captivating the mystery of history

Enticing the media with it's eye candy

Fans, feathers, feminity...woohoo

Girl time. Girl talk.

Let's not forget those shoes...

Lots and lots of shoes.

Gorgeous, one-of-a kind shoes.. 

Did anyone else see these converse sneakers under the table?

I thought I was seeing things at first...

and then I found this image...

Sofia is toying with us girls.

I covet the fans.

They are gorgeous!

Can't you just see me chasing the toddlers

around the house with my fan to cool off?

It could work...

I might as well have a few petticoats

 too to go with them...

I'll skip the table of sweets,

but a maid would be a sweet treat occasionally

Enough said.

Love the blue ribbons

Blue room

Dripping gold

Crystal chandeliers

Yards and yards of fabulous fabrics

I love this movie for the images

and all the thoughts and feelings they

conjure up within me

A magical time in history in many ways

What do you think?