Spring on the Front Porch

I was late, too late, for that very important date! Rhondi's Porch Party 2009 which was held on June 1st. You can still stop over for links to some beautiful porches.

Getting settled in again after the trip to England, then being hit by a miserable bronchial infection (hate breathing that recycled cabin air) lasting over two weeks, has put me behind big time. Then, tons of work required around the garden before I dared take new photos of Spring blooms, and the porch in question needed some major cleanup...........as did the entire cottage.

You will agree, I'm sure, that the Endless Summer hydrangeas are blooming with a vengeance again this Spring. These two plants are just amazing. I trimmed them back quite a bit after the last frost, threw down some aluminum sulphate to keep them blue, then some slow release fertilizer, and the blooms are overwhelming. We are now having hot days and because they get afternoon sun they droop and look quite sad, but the following morning sees them perky and refreshed. I look out the dining room window and feel really happy when I see such stunning flowers.
Hope you enjoy a quick visit to the porch.......yes, still trying to 'simplify', still having a bit of a problem with that!

Still have the potting table, a treasure from SuzAnna's Antiques from a few years back, love how the chartreuse paint is chipping and showing the most beautiful blue underneath ~ always changing things around but love the birds and birdhouses displayed, they just seem right for this corner.

Sweet perfumed Jasmine climbs up the porch pillars.

I will have bunches of hydrangeas for drying come Winter - I love the colors when later they change to dusty green, lilac mauve and even taupe.These pics were taken a week ago.

This morning, after drenching rain from a severe thunderstorm last night, the hydrangeas are beaten down, the garden looks bedraggled..................hopefully the sun will shine again soon.