Tuesdays With Tracy: Summer Gatherings

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Hello Friends!

This summer has been a dry one here in Colorado. Most of the lakes and reservoirs are low on water. Our little pond is filled with run-off from the golf course in our neighborhood so we can still enjoy the fountain.

GARDEN BLOOMS & SUMMER GATHERINGS

Last month in the garden I featured our Hollyhocks. I was asked how to grow them, and it’s really quite easy.

I started ours from winter sowing seeds in milk cartons two years ago. Most Hollyhocks are biennial and reseed themselves. The ones growing this year are from the dropped seeds of the last two year’s plants. They are quite hardy and grow in zones 2-10. They need at least 6 hours of sun a day and once established are somewhat drought tolerant.

Hollyhocks are classic and beloved garden flower plants that are low maintenance and easy to grow.

I recently saw this watercolor in a very old Victoria Magazine. It brought back memories of a long ago trip to the Cotswolds where I had my first sightings of Hollyhocks.

My husband, Larry and I both are group leaders in Bible Study Fellowship. The men decided to host a summer BBQ and we volunteered to have it on our back patio.

“Barbecue is an experience that goes beyond taste. It’s about creating memories and moments.” – Melissa Cookston

It turned out to be a beautiful evening. I borrowed a couple of tablecloths from Kelly, she and I have the same tablecloths and share them whenever each of us is hosting. I mixed our blue & white checked ones with our toile ones that we each have, to set four long tables.

Unfortunately, sometimes when we entertain I forget to take photos. Afterwards I took a photo of the place settings on the checked tablecloth. I still have my Americana colors in my home that I featured last month so I just naturally let that flow to the outdoor tables.

I used Bonne Maman jam jars to hold mini bouquets and put several on each table. I have saved the jars from all our tea parties where we have scones with clotted cream and jam. I cut some of Kelly’s Zinnias and added them to some of mine, as well as some sprigs of hydrangea.

“A bouquet is a little piece of heaven brought to Earth.”

Kelly brought this charming bouquet for me last night. The little white flowers are Feverfew which we both started from winter sowing. She included Cosmos, Basil sprigs, and, of course, Zinnias.

And if you haven’t already, you should check out her Free Flower Friday posts!

I’ve been enjoying cutting flowers and bringing them in for bouquets. Currently on the coffee table…

A FLEA MARKET VISIT. THINGS I ADMIRED…

AND POSSIBLY ADOPTED.

Here we go again! I recently wandered through a flea market and found several things that caught my eye. I photographed my favorites – but the question is, which one do you think actually came home with me? And yes… there may be a certain greyhound involved.