The Thrift Shop Romantic: columbine

Well, folkses, thanks for bearing with me regarding the delayed Treasure Box Wednesday post. I really needed this extra day to get myself together.

And you know, it's very lucky I did. Because this morning's rain afforded a few more photos. Flowers love nothing better than to mug for the camera, and when they're covered in drops of rain, doubly-so. (It's like their own special performance of Flashdance.)

So today's post is mainly designed to let them show their stuff. I've been longing for days where I could look into the backyard and see big beauties like these. Like these Helen Hayes roses...

Each one has different colors, depending on where they are in their lifecycle. I love it.

This red rose just opening speaks of promise...

And these Miss America roses get sassy...

This Joseph's Coat is new to me this year, but I think once it gets established, it will be lovely...

In addition to our friends the roses, the foxglove thought they'd put in an appearance...

There are two kinds here. One Camelot in a purple, and one sort of a pink.

This columbine planted itself in my front yard, and having never seen one quite so red, I've left it where it chose to be...

This Sweet William was another one which planted itself. I love the zingy pink color.

The irises are just about done...

And the nigella are just beginning...

I can think of few greater treasures than these...

Well, maybe just having you stop by today as you did. Thank you!

As spring gives way to summer, we look ahead to warmer weather, vibrant flowers and well-earned vacations. For the thrifter, however, the summer months are not always the best. Thrift store shelves become increasingly bare as spring cleaning yields to summer leisure. Yet today, I don't think you'll be disappointed, since there's always something to talk about in the Treasure Box.

I'd discovered-- really by accident-- a painting on Ebay which pretty much demanded I bid. And perhaps it was due to the impending summer and the lure of the gentle outdoors that meant the usual competition was nowhere to be seen online.

You see here my purchase, a full-fledged Victorian painting done by a "G. Verdier"...

And I imagine with that full view, you've also noticed the painting's unusual and delightfully humorous element. The lady, who looks rather pleased at whatever the outcome of events has been, smiles hopefully at the horizon as the Cupid lies-- asleep? knocked out cold?--- legs akimbo in an upset of roses and arrows and overturned furniture.

Whatever has happened, it's been a serious ordeal for the chubby god of love...

So this has been a real delight for me this week. My only real thrifted goody came in the form of this trio of chicks... Or The Andrews Sisters, if you will. :)

They'll be great for Easter.

Other little joys involve the beauty you just can't buy. The garden is just beginning its summer blooms, and I'll give you a small preliminary tour. Like Big Red here... the first of the roses original to my house.

And here we have a ruffled columbine which planted itself in a compost heap a few years back, and which was transplanted to a little better location...

I don't know what this pink groundcover is, and I don't honestly recall planting it last year, but it's doing marvelously...

A previous year's investment of foxglove means this year, I have foxglove aplenty. I love their impossible-looking spires...

The yard itself looks a bit rough around the edges, I admit. Some of my topiaries haven't made it and need to be removed, and some of the roses need a serious trim. There's still a lot of work to be done in this tiny space...