Thoughts on all things garden themed from an antique dealer gone amuck! I write, play with the dogs, and fill my house with garden art. There is hardly time to work the dirt!

Copyright 2010-2013 Barbara Barth, Writer With Dogs

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Romantic Hollyhocks For Your Garden

My Love Of Hollyhocks!


My garden grows wild, unkept by me. I finally realized a few years back that my garden grows on its own. The stronger plants survive and visit me each season without any help from me. The large beds have been established for over 25 years. The plants that come back each spring vary and I am always anxious to see what blooms.

My last attempt at planting flowers was a total disaster. The first week my potted plants looked amazingly lovely. Then the drought, taking care of dogs, and writing, distracted me, and I forgot to water. I walked out on my deck to little brown stubs, that once had been pink flowers. Yet looking out into the yard the greenery was growning tall, my rose bush was flourishing, with its long arms extending every which way. I was sad again last summer that my hollyhocks were gone. They bloomed tall and hardy the first years in my house, then they disappeared, strangled out by nearby butterfly bushes. My butterfly bushes have taken over most of the yard. But how bad can that be? I can see butterflies dancing from bush to bush when I visit the yard.

To my surprise and delight I have a new visitor this spring.  Last week I walked the yard with a gardener, who was there to prune back some tree limbs. I noticed a 6 ft tall stalk with buds starting to open. A Hollyhock had found its way back through the other bushes. I am watching it daily in anticipation of full bloom.

I love Hollyhocks as much as I love roses. Both to me are the most romantic of flowers.

Enjoy a few vintage postcards with pictures that will delight you! These are from my collection of antique garden postcards. If only my yard looked like these...!




I like to think this is my in my garden. The gal in the lower corner with her dark hair, my vision of how I would look gardening in Victorian times!


A dream of life in a garden!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques "Secret Garden" and Mother's Day Big Sale

View my secret garden and celebrate Mother's Day with a 30% shop wide sale! This Thurs/Fri/Sat.

The Lady of Lilburn stands between the two shop spaces and keeps watch over Main Street in Old Town, Lilburn.


The back deck at the shop is truly my Secret Garden! The deck is elevated about eight feet off the ground. There are no steps, just a lovely wood guard rail to enclose the 9 x 14 space to make you feel safe and cozy! The only way to enter is through the door off the second room in the shop. On lovely days it is a grand place to sit and watch city hall, folks playing tennis and the comings and goings on Railroad Street.It is truly my room with a view, as I can hide away on it, and watch all that Old Town has to offer on its park side!  My Secret Garden has charming and whimiscal items for sale - you are welcome to come shop in it - or just sit in one of the big cozy wood adirondack chairs and share a cup of coffee or sparkling water and dream with me!


A peek at the garden shop as you look out the back door.
My charming hand painted sign by Becky Kidd, Snellville artist!

The best view of the city park and tennis courts, yet tucked 8 feet high about ground!
Small live plants and garden pots for sale. Live plants until my brown thumb takes over, that is!

A bit of whimsy - my metal garden dogs!
My favorite garden wreath!

 Check the top of my blog for my latest You Tube video on all The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques has to offer! There are charming rooms to rent at The Event Center, 96 Main, at reasonable prices for your special event. It is also where we now hold our book signings and soon, art and writing classes. The shelves are packed with treasures for sale, while the larger pieces are for events, and have to stay put for a short while. Come in and say hello!

Special Mother's Day sale this week (Thurs/Fri/Sat) 30% off on selected items. If you see something you like in the shop, tell me! That item will be one of those "selected" sale items!

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Spring!