{White Waterlily Nymphaea odorata in our Pond}

Mid August, our pond looks so tranquil... yielding the beauty of the white waterlily; Nymphaea odorata.

The bench under the huge oak tree is a pick-nick bench. The back converts into a table. That's a favorite spot for having our afternoon tea; provided it's not too hot and humid outside! Observing the fish in the pond or the baby turtles for whom Pieter build an island from planks; for perching on. Those babies are out there in April when the pond is full of pollen and blossoms from the trees.

To the left is that plank... but you cannot come near, or they dive into the pond!

Zooming in, from the greenhouse area... you can see them now.

From the other side, facing the greenhouse with its patio.
That's where we put all our pot plants  for the three months period in winter.

A couple of years ago in August we had a tame 'wild' duck on our pond with her ducklings. Such a joy! The little ones can walk on those waterlily leaves! This was maybe her third brood for that year...

Not many ducklings survive. Big turtles do pull them down for a snack; hawks prey on them and the bull frog does not spare them either...

And the big mama turtle depositing her eggs in June so in April we again can observe those baby turtles... Nature coming full circle!

{Giovanni Raspini 925/000 Silver Frame with Acrobat Angels from Italy}

This is the last item with angels, well... mischievous angels! These are the acrobat angels from Giovanni Raspini Frames with their vast silver frame collection. This is item # 1823 and for more info please visit my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

As usual, this unique piece of silver comes in a beautiful gift box with satin lining and certificate.

Sorry Sold out...

{Murraya Paniculata 'Orange Jasmine'}

• Today I want to introduce our 'Orange Jasmine' Murraya paniculata.
• Again, a plant with highly fragrant blossoms. We have them in planters, outside during the three seasons and inside during winter.
• This tropical plant is available from Logee's: Orange Jasmine Murraya Paniculata in  Connecticut and that's where ours came from. They do have all kind of exotic plants and lots of citrus plants too. Look for some photos at the very end of this blog, our citrus trees in a pot do even bear fruits!

• This is such a heavenly scented plant; like the: {White Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers} in a previous blog, which I showed on August 17th.

• The planters are on the stone patio, in front of our greenhouse. My Dad helped building it, together with Pieter. That's where all our pots will spend their three months period, till the weather is mild enough to be put outside again. Of course it is always too small... 

• To the left of the greenhouse there are numerous pots that also need to be placed inside the greenhouse... 
• This is the wooden trail that Pieter build, going alongside the gazebo towards the house. 
• Our own private walking trail and there are also trails in the wood garden, when crossing the three bridges over the creek. Lots of work done, one day I will show photos how it looked 20 years ago and what we made out of it. 
• We are the very first people ever living and working on this lot. That's the name for the land where you build your home; used here in the South East of the USA. 
• We are blessed for having such a private paradise all to our own!
• Now as promised our citrus trees; in pots:

• This is a closeup of the pot you see to the right in front of the greenhouse.

• This gives a good idea of its size... a photo from last year. They ripen inside the greenhouse as our season is not long enough.

• Yet another variety, inside the greenhouse during winter.
• One year when Mom & Dad were visiting again in March 1996, from The Netherlands, I left them all on the tree and gave Mom a basket to pick the oranges from the tree behind the gazebo on the patio. 

• That moment from Monday, March 25 of 1996 is being videotaped...
• Mom enjoyed that very much and they were sweet and tasty too in our yogurt with granola for breakfast. 

• The orange blossom is something to enjoy. Often I did use them with jasmines and floating candles for a center piece when friends came to dinner...