This has been a year of creativity in more ways than one.
First off, I’ve created so many new Magic Zoo designs. This has been one heck-of-a-year for me as an artist. Think bears, sharks, angelfish, new opossums, porcupines, doves, new owls and lots more! All over the animal map, really. By the way, this is my beautiful daughter-in-law modeling my new 14K gold shark jewelry.
However…designing jewelry is not all I’ve been up to…As most of you know, when my husband passed in late 2020, my son and his family moved into my big rambling house. It has been lots of fun, and very comforting for me to have them so near.
But I was Ready for a Change!
There came a point when I needed my own private space again. So… we did tons of rearranging and through the magic of my son’s remodeling skills, we created an entire “wing” for me in the back of the house. Here are a couple of photos…
There’s also a galley kitchen along one wall, which is great for me when I feel peckish at midnight, or want to get up super early, do my exercises and make a vegan breakfast just a few steps from my bedroom.
My private wing is full of all my favorite things. Back when Ed and I were traveling to art shows, I did a lot of trading and collecting. Also, my mother, sister and brothers were (or are) artists. So my walls are covered with art that means so much to me, including a gorgeous portrait of my husband by my talented artist brother Alex.
Check out my little brother’s art website. He is remarkable, and worked on Broadway sets before he retired to devote his time to painting and creating gorgeous sculptures a few years back.
It’s Wildflower Season!
So, to top off a lovely year, we’ve had much needed rain, and our property and nearby walks are covered in wildflowers. This little bouquet consists of orange globe mallows, which are REALLY doing their thing this year. Most years we see a few of them here and there, but this year they seem to be dominating the roadsides.
Along with sunflowers, of course. My neck of the woods is famous for sunflowers. We even have a sunflower festival coming up this weekend in my adopted hometown of Mountainair.
I am a wildflower addict from way back in 1976, when I first lived in a rural neighborhood near Flagstaff Arizona. Ed and I lived in a little single wide trailer before (and after) we were married and the national forest was our “backyard.” That’s where I first fell in love with western wildflowers, like Indian Paintbrush, which I still adore.
Just out of curiosity, what are your favorite flowers? And do you garden in the summer? What do you grow, veggies, flowers or both?
Yes, I am just being nosy, but I do love to hear from you!
Your Animal Loving Artist,
Merry
Oh, Merry! I grow my entire garden in large containers. Last summer, I only had 5 tomato plants and they fed me, my neighbors, dog training students and faculty all summer! I live in the middle of the city, but I have almost an acre of land. We are overrun by Eastern Cottontails here, and everything I planted on the ground inevitably got eaten, pooped on or abused by the bunnies.
So I put everything above ground in containers, and the bunnies couldn’t reach into them, so finally my garden was safe. Wish I had a way to attach a photo, because it’s pretty amazing what you can grow in 13 containers. I grew the aforementioned tomato plants (3 varieties, 5 plants total), cucumbers, 19 different types of herbs (I’m a crazy good cook), Brussells sprouts, squash, peppers, both hot, and sweet, onions and carrots, as well as annual & perennial flowers in each pot. I did it all by companion planting, plus I used a HECK of a lot less water this way as well.
My favorite flowers are lilacs, roses ~ sweet & spicy perfumed varieties, not the heavy old fashioned floral scents, daffodils, and petunias for their variety of colors… After living in FL as a transplant for just 7 years, I was glad to return to NH, but I missed some of the flowers that grow as perennials there, and can barely make it thru a summer here. I miss bottle brush, magnolias, & Canna (which I HAVE found a way to grow every year, by digging up the corms and storing them in my cellar all winter). I love hibiscus, I even grafted different colors onto each bush so I had multi colors of blooms on every plant. It was a firework of a plant, a riot of color I was so happy!
I raise Monarch butterflies from egg thru release all summer, so my garden is full of pollinator flower bushes, and I raise my own milkweed (3 varieties) to support them and their migrating wild relatives.
I could keep going, i tend to wax eloquent when it comes to gardening, and wildlife, I love them! I cannot WAIT for spring to start!
hugs
Lynnie
So very sorry for the loss of your handsome husband. I really enjoyed you sharing a window of you and your life.
My husband and I plant tropical palm trees, banana trees and a variety of flowers around our pool area. We have a large greenhouse that houses them in the winter.
You are an inspiring Lady. Your art and creations are incredible. I love my Manatee, its my favorite piece of jewelry.
Thank you Mary,
Your pool area sounds lovely! I lived in Florida for 18 years and appreciate all that tropical beauty. And thank you so much for your kind words, Yolanda! I’m so happy you’re enjoying the manatee. – Merry
I just raise animals – 7 dogs, 2 cats, 4 horses and a bird! I really don’t have time to garden. The last several years we have had an extremely wet spring followed by a drought summer. ;(
Wow! Quite a menagerie! I don’t think I’d be gardening if I had that gang, either! But sounds like fun.-Merry