Summer sunshine

What a glorious day today. It is now 30c in my sheltered back garden and after gardening all morning it is now time to sit in the shade.

This was the view that greeted me this morning. Just bliss.
My pots have done really well this year and the beauty of all the rain we had is that I have only started to water them this week.  I have saved hours of work.

I really like the colour of this mini dahlia, as my blog friend Vivienne would say...very zingy!

An interesting yellow gazania I grew this year with some white and blue lobelia.

Sweet mini petunia and my absolute favourites........................................




Fuchsia.............these have been spectacular this year....

This variety is called Blackie ;0)

And this is Billy ;0), which actually survived all winter in it's hanging basket. I went to tip out the basket and saw it had some green shoots so I waited. I am so pleased I did. And talking of Blackie and Billy here they are...

Billy obviously has his own cushion but he graciously allows little stray Blackie to be safe in his garden ;0)

and when Billy's back is turned, naughty Blackie likes to try out the cushion too!






OK so a card challenge for today...well it just has to be inspired by my sunny garden.

It's another of my fave Lili of the Valley  stamps called Love Grows which has been coloured with my Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils. I love the strawberry backing paper. I used a fern MS punch for the edge and some gorgeous green gingham ribbon and red pearls.  This card really sums up today for me!
I would like to enter it into the following card challenges.


Lili's Little Fairies Oh so girlie
Sassy Cheryl's Digi stamp challenge #128 Favourite colour combination
2 Sister's In the garden #105
Party Time Tuesdays  #81 Garden delights
Crafting for all seasons Bright colours #33
Ribbon Girls Bingo challenge, my line is Ribbon, pearls, image Bingo!
Divas by Design Sketch #48


So it's now far too hot to do anything else than relax and soon it will be........

Pimm's  O'Clock of course. Yes I know there is martini glass there too! I took this photo last weekend and as you can see most had been enjoyed by then. I just love adding home grown mint to it and whatever else is at hand. Last weekend it was apple, cucumber and lemon but I spy some strawberries that have ripened so they are going in to today's.....

Happy weekend everyone, enjoy whatever you are doing. The Lovebirds fly home from LA today after nearly 3 weeks driving 3,000 miles to and from LA, visiting all the amazing sights en route. I can't wait to catch up with my darling daughter and my new Son In Law ;0)

Right,  it's time for the sun lounger for me!

Cheers!

Bye for now,

Jane x (and Billy ;0)

My 2nd Bloggerversary giveaway is still running here . If you would like to enter remember to leave a colour/theme request for the bag charm you would like me to create for you for the 2nd prize.The closing date is 31 August, good luck to all of those who have already entered.
******NB; You MUST mention the giveaway in your comment on that post for me to assume that you would like to be included in the draw******If you forgot to do this, do go back and add another comment. I do not use a random number thingy...it's just names in a hat for me!!