For those who have “followed“ for years… you’ll know about my never-ending quest grow my favorite Black-Eyed Susan’s in my garden. Everyone claims that they are the easiest flower to grow & they take over quickly. However… I’ve tried several times in different places… new plants, seeds, divisions from friends, over & over again… but to avail. Until now… so excited that these cuties are now blooming in my garden… and they survived the winter & came back this year!!! Not to gloat… but perhaps the “curse” has been broken???

Huge thanks to everyone who came out today for Day One of the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. It was a sunny, hot, cloudy, steamy, breezy, sprinkley & hot asphalty kind of day… not ideal. So extra special thanks to those who “survived” it with us!

And a reminder… tomorrow is Day Two from 11:00am-5:00pm… and the weather forecast is looking better!Just hoping the wildfire smoke cloud doesn’t come back!!! Fingers crossed…

With the crazy Canadian wildfire smoke casting a weird “colored”-grayness over the City today… I figured it might help to shake it up with a “pop” of fun floral colors! A collection roses & mums in one of my stamped & soda-fired square vases!

Doesn’t hurt any to have some fun rusty metal right there too…

Loving this single stem of a Black-Eyed Susan… in one of my textured square vases! Thanks for sharing Carmie… both this photo & a few plants for my garden too!!!

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with a vibrant collection of magenta roses in a soda-fired hybrid mug. Yes, that’s right… not every mug needs to be used for coffee or tea! Sometimes a big mug can also become a great vase just for the fun of it!!!

Garden fun!!! Kristy & Matthew in Stevens Point, Wisconsin are participating in their local garden walk this weekend. And featuring a few of my ceramic novelties in their garden. Always fun to see some pottery, birdhouses & rusty metal popping up amongst the flowers! Thanks for sharing Kristy… and have fun showing off your garden!!!

Just a morning milkweed moment…

Just got home on my bike… and noticed my first dahlia of the summer!!!
Small, but mighty… and hopefully the first of many this summer!
Fingers crossed…

A pop of color to start your day! Some beautiful asiatic lilies in my neighborhood…
and I’m loving this new color combination!

A beautiful pop of color to start your day… another asiatic lily in the garden!