Monday, August 27, 2012

Limelights in the House

Limelight hydrangea, 1940s Strahan wallpaper,
antique French milk pitcher and vintage French alarm clock. 

I had a great week last week.  The weather was perfect and I took three days off to do nothing.
I slept in (which means 7:00), walked a lot; in fact, took a six-mile walk to get some Farrow & Ball paint samples, sanded my bedroom floor, visited some antique shops to look for bathroom vanity possibilities, cooked some really healthy meals and did a little gardening. 

I could get used to that.


I'm really impressed with the Limelight hydrangeas I put in last summer.
They've held up really well to the heat and drought and should look great well into October.
I took out a bunch of things in an adjacent area of the garden and just added a big mass
of Russian sage that I think will look great next to these white and green flowers.

I couldn't help but bring a big bunch of them in the house for Jane's party.

I hope you have a great week!

47 comments:

  1. You must be related to Janet at The Gardener's Cottage.
    She does things like this, so pure, so simple and so getting used to....on a daily basis.
    pve

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  2. Sounds like you had some nice days off. I agree, I could get used to not working! But of course that just means not working at a job but probably working even harder at home. :)
    Lovely hydrangeas and I'm sure the Russian Sage will complement it well.
    I'm thinking you need some CatMint though. :)

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  3. Very pretty . . . Like the white pitcher, clock and table too!

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  4. I love the flowers. Where's that wallpaper???

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  5. Steve this is just lovely.
    Limelights are my fav this time of year.

    I love a few days off at home. I took next Saturday off so like the rest of America I shall have a 3 day weekend.

    Now if I can capture some of your energy.

    xo Jane

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  6. Mr Limelight:

    I want three days off. .

    Love the flora.

    signed,
    worker bee

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  7. A little staycation does the mind and body good!

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  8. I want hydrangeas because I grew up with them in a colder place than this. Do you think they would grow in a sub-tropical climate? Pretty wallpaper!

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  9. Steve, The limelights are beautiful! My favorite colors. It sounds like a fabulous way to spend a few days off. Have a wonderful week.

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  10. A perfect vignette. The hydrangeas are lovely--I don't have that shade of green on mine. Those shades of white and green would make a beautiful room--cool and serene.

    I love using pitchers for flowers (in fact I wrote that in my post today) and yours is a beauty.

    Great wallpaper. Is it new?

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  11. What a wonderful week you had! Your hydrangeas are so pretty, and I love that clock.
    Claudia

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  12. Hi, Steve - You're such a tease — can you show us more of the wallpaper and tell us about it?

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  13. I'm loving the limelights we planted last year too. And their smaller version "little lambs" are amazing- I couldn't be more pleased with their performance. If you have a spot consider planting some! Love the wallpaper!
    joan

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  14. Love the hydrangeas. Sounds like the perfect weekend for me too. Yes, I'd love not to have to work. I am never every bored. I can't imagine people who are bored in retirement. I always have a huge list of things to do.

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  15. A truly beautiful setting! Do the limelights take a hot drying wind? Ours seem to burn no matter the water and shade.

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  16. Looking good Steve!

    I have crush on that wallpaper. Very retro Scandinavian chic (so back in Vouge)!

    Hugs from Seattle,

    Mon

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  17. I just planted some limelights this summer and they look beautiful. I really like them, too.

    My blog has moved to wordpress - same URL. Just wanted to let you know in case you're following through google friend connect, which will no longer work on my blog.

    xo
    Claudia

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  18. I think everyone should have at least one Limelight hydrangea shrub! They bloom for so long....and quite easy to grow. Pretty and simple arrangement....love it!!

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  19. I just stole a precious petiolaris cutting and it has taken, fingers crossed. And maybe I need to grow one limelight, just for the flowers (although I am firmly in the lacecap camp otherwise!)

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  20. How beautiful! I have off white hydrangeas that I thought were Limelight maybe, but maybe Limelights are green? So lovely. Your days off sound so nice. I have had brutal headaches, so no joy at all these days. Ugh! I am so jealous of anyone who can have a normal day, even just to go to work and feel normal. So your busy days sound perfect to me!

    xo Terri

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  21. beautiful wallpaper and flowers too!

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  22. I love the limelights. Not only are they gorgeous, but they really stand up to the weather well. No flopping around. They look lovely on your table.

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  23. What a lovely counterpoint the spiky Russian sage will to with the fluffy green Limelights...
    Gorgeous wallpaper.

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  24. I have "Little Lime" hydrangeas which looked great all summer - they are a pale green that makes for a nice great contrast with other colors. And now they're turning rosy pink for fall. Highly recommended if you don't have a big enough space for Limelight.

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  25. I love the wallpaper too. And I've never seen that kind of hydrangea here (Australia) - wow!

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  26. What a beautiful shade of green, chartreusy, my favorite color. The sage should look really beautiful with it.

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  27. I don't usually care for wallpaper, but love yours, especially behind the hydrangeas. I am so jealous, because they absolutely will not grown here in New Mexico.

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  28. I love the wallpaper and the simple display of hydrangeas looks perfect against it!
    Penny x

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  29. Sometimes those short breaks are just the ticket for inspiration and a little rejuvenating - just having the time to do your own thing. Your hydrangeas look so beautiful. That colour is amazing!

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  30. I had limelight hydrangeas when I lived in the Hudson Valley. They grew like wild fire and were trouble free. They will not grow in SW Florida and seeing your lovely arrangement, I realized how much I miss them.
    Here's to more days off to have such a lovely time.
    Best...Victoria

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  31. Seriously beautiful wallpaper there! xCathy

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  32. So simple. Pour me some hydrangeas, please.

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  33. Sounds great - may be an idea for me as well! Love those hydrangeas - the color is awesome! Christa

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  34. I also want to know where that wallpaper is in the urban cottage!

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  35. Yes, the hydrangeas are so pretty. But HELLO?!! Where did the gorgeous paper and new (?) table come from? Do tell? I'm in love.

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  36. OK, so now I think I need to find a way to squeeze one in the border next summer - especially since they also dry so well and I had no luck drying the Endless Summers!

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  37. Steve,
    Your hydrangeas look gorgeous in the white pitcher against your vintage wallpaper. I need to plant some of these in front of my porch.
    annie

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  38. The flowers are gorg - and the wallpaper...love it!

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  39. Love Limelights, tho they don't do as well as the PeeGees and the French types in my climate (or maybe it's just me??) Also - quite impressive what you can get done in a few days. I'd like to light a fire under the bf to get him to move like that!

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  40. Love limelights!! thanks for showing yours as it reminded me that I also want to plant some in our yard.

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  41. I am wracking my brain trying to think of what is prettier than hydrangeas in a white pitcher against some vintage wallpaper...when I think of something I will let you know. Don't hold breath.

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  42. My limelight hydrangea flowers are the size of my head. Love how pretty they look in front of your stunning vintage wallpaper. Sounds like you had a few perfect days off. I hope you're enjoying this long weekend!

    XX
    Debra~

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  43. I'm tardy in responding but glad you had a great week! Love the photo.

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  44. Love that wallpaper, but after scraping off four rooms worth in my last abode, I don't care how pretty/trendy/etc it becomes, I will not be hanging any anytime soon !

    The hydrangeas are pretty, but water hogs/no scent make me pass them by. Pretty, though, for sure.

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  45. The hydrangeas are absolutely lovely and the wallpaper is a perfect backdrop for it. Thanks Steve!

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  46. Um, I want to be able to walk to a store to buy Farrow and Ball paint. jealous. I want to know more about those samples. Gorgeous photos, as always. Oh, and hey, I finally signed up for the photography class.
    Camille

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