Nature’s Thanksgiving Collage

On this November 26th, two days before Thanksgiving, we honor Catherine Hubbard. There is a group of animal friends that a special young girl would like us not to forget about. Yes, for those who have been following, today is day 8 of 26 days of kindness.Catherine loved animals, insects, too, She even had business cards for her own shelter. In honor of Catherine, today's post is titled ‘Nature’s Thanksgiving Collage.’

I chose this quote from Gemma Malley because it resonates what I read about this young girl with a beautiful heart. “He said that we belonged together because he was born with a flower and I was born with a butterfly and that flowers and butterflies need each other for survival.” Remember Catherine’s words to the butterfly. “Tell all your friends that I am kind.”  

Perform one small act of kindness today in her honor. Here is where Catherine’s dream lives on. +Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation

Images by Ann Bilowz ©

A few additional links: Some tips from the ASPCA for your pets during this Thanksgiving Holiday. Catherine was the recipient of the ASPCA Tommy P. Monahan Kid of the Year award this November. 

The event and FB page for the 26 days of kindness to partake in acts of kindness as a hurting town in Connecticut approaches these holidays and December 14th, 2013. 

And if you want to create a natural habitat in your garden, here is a useful link from the +National Wildlife Federation.

And you can also check the archives and follow this blog for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! Like our Facebook, follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.

Monday’s Sunshine

If you are waking up in New England this morning, you may think you overslept and woke up in Antarctica. It’s probably pretty chilly, too in Denver. Just saying as the Patriots won that game in overtime and it wasn’t looking good in the beginning. But back to the #gardenchat for this Monday before Thanksgiving. With the soil locked up solid, chances are most of your pots and shovels are tucked away in the garden shed. 

No worries, though. Need some instant sunshine? There are plenty of bulbs perfect for planting indoors. Plus they make awesome holiday gifts. So here’s a blast from the past of the Annie archives. This last minute fall shopping list of bulbs thrive in the indoors during these chilly dormant months when color is desperately needed. There’s also pot size and tips for planting so this post is worthy of another look.

For those who follow on a regular basis, yes, this is day 7 of 26 Days of Kindness. Today we honor Madeleine F. Hsu. She loved those simple things we take for granted - to read, run and dance. So to honor Madeleine, today’s post is a bit more fun and uplifting. It’s like the 7th inning of a baseball game, when we all get up and take a stretch. But that doesn’t mean we are off the hook. There’s a game to finish. There are more days ahead and acts of kindness that can only help with the healing in Newtown, CT. Bringing some sunshine in honor of Madeleine can only keep the warmth and kindness spreading. Plus, if you made it through yesterday, today is just a tad easier. There’s a lot less wind.

That is why I picked today’s archived image. It is an Amaryllis blooming outdoors in the late evening sun this past summer. Looking out the window today, you might be deceived. The sunshine is bright but the minute you open the door, the frigid air hits you. There is no escaping it. It is cold outside.
So as we gaze upon our exterior landscape, the ground may be frozen but we can still plant seeds, bulbs, or perform a simple act of kindness. Bring the sunshine indoors. Do it in honor of Madeleine. Read, run and dance. It is amazing the sunshine you might bring to someone who needs it.

Here is the event and FB page to bring extra rays of sunshine to Newtown, CT before Thanksgiving. The holiday seasons, though we expect them to be full of cheer are often the most difficult to work through so never underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness. It may be those simple things we take for granted - to read, run, and dance. As Voltaire once said, “Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.” Nor will an act of kindness. 

Sorry Madeleine, there are lots of words. But I know you liked to read. Hope you like today's flower.  

Image by Ann Bilowz © Amaryllis blooming in the late evening sun

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.

Sunday’s Flowers

Yesterday, before this artic air moved across our region, I discovered this one Black-eyed Susan in the garden. Uncovered when cleaning up the last of the leaves and cutting back the perennial beds, this blossom was discovered, all by itself. Covered by a light snow this morning and drooped over from the wind and cold, this seems like the perfect flower image for today. It’s the language of flowers I shall rely on again.

In the language of flowers, the Black-eyed Susan represents encouragement. It is also an extremely resilient plant. On this day 6 of 26 days of kindness, today's acts of kindness are to honor Dylan Hockley. 

Dylan was a “beautiful butterfly” who loved the color purple, trampolines and plain spaghetti with garlic bread. So on this Sunday, I hope you will visit the event and FB page later to share an act of kindness to honor Dylan. Every little bit of encouragement helps to heal the wounds of Newtown, CT. 

As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” So one last flower from the archives in honor of Dylan; a Purple Balloon Flower to give encouragement or a lift to someone in need today.

Image by Ann Bilowz © Rudbeckia hirta, black-eyed Susan in the November garden
Image by Ann Bilowz © Platycodon grandiflorus Balloon Flowers  

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.