May has a funny way of teaching patience.

Every morning, I walk outside and do that thing gardeners do…look for what changed overnight. Some days, something did. Most days, I’m just watching and waiting.

This is the season for both.

This has felt like the driest May I can remember. As much as I love the sun, I was genuinely happy to see the rain move in the last few days. The garden needed it.

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A Day in Poulsbo

I took a day trip to Pouslbo with a friend this past week, and it was exactly the kind of outing I didn’t know I needed. With all the days in the garden the last couple of months (not complaining at all), and the bug I caught a couple of weeks ago, this was a welcome change.

We stopped into our usual places…Rust and Relic.

Red Plantation.

Details Home and Garden.

And I came home with absolutely nothing. I think this might be a first.

Everything I was drawn to, the vintage pieces especially, I already had something just like it. This was either a sign that my eye is consistent or that our cottage is full. Probably both.

The one spot that surprised us was a new store called Fjord Goods. The owner was so welcoming, and the shop specializes in Nordic goods, unique gifts, and specialty treats, including Norwegian Knekkegodis (a healthy chocolate cookie/candy…who knew?).

I left with spicy mixed nuts, fig jam, and chocolate-covered cherries.

In the Garden

Those daily walks through the garden with Jax and Ollie tagging along are one of my favorite things this time of year.

There’s always something to notice: a seedling that wasn’t there yesterday, a summer perennial that put on an inch of growth, a bud that’s finally starting to show some color, and even the new growth of a dahlia that the slugs had fun eating in the middle of the night.

Everything is growing. The beds are filling in. But the big, bright flowers that make you stop in your tracks are still a week or two away. They’ll be here before we know it.

Right now, the white and purple alliums are still so beautiful. I know, I do say that every week.

Peony update… The buds are fat and heavy and obviously don’t care about my impatience. Three stems look ready to be cut and taken inside.

I picked up a few pale pink peony stems at Trader Joe’s to hold me over until I can cut my own flowers to enjoy indoors. These actually looked like the peonies in my garden when I bought them. Just two days later, they filled out.

My fuchsia rhododendron tree is starting to bloom just outside the kitchen window. The picture above is from last year at its best, but the tree will look just like this before we know it.

I love this tree, and it is stunning from the kitchen table.

The surprise of the week is the bright and beautiful yellow calendula. This particular plant made it through the cold winter, while its other 4 or 5 sibling plants weren’t so lucky.

So it has abundant blooms when the calendula seedlings I planted several weeks ago are still small and bloomless.

Flower Containers for Instant Garden Color

While the garden beds are still working their way towards full bloom, the containers are pulling serious weight right now.

Sometimes one beautiful pot of flowers is enough to make the whole space feel awake again.

Vintage Garden Touches

Coming home from Poulsbo empty-handed made me look at it’s already here a little differently. The galvanized buckets, the weathered watering cans, the old bikes tucked beside the garden beds and paths.

These collective pieces have always helped make the cottage-style garden feel less decorated and more like this look happened over time.

Vintage pieces never take away from the real stars of the show…the flowers. But they’re always conversation starters and the perfect partners that raise the garden to that next level.

On the Blog This Week

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

This is the most adorable cottage!

This strawberry rhubarb pie recipe looks incredible!

How to Plan a Perfect Backyard Cookout.

Here’s how to make a DIY block print jute rug.

How about some Oreo pancakes for breakfast?

This Ashland Avenue house is so beautiful!

Learn how to propagate a fiddle leaf fig tree.

I have a feeling that these cookie-dough ice cream bites will be a favorite treat!

When not to makeover a yard sale find.

Check out these unique strawberry recipes to enjoy all summer long.

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead

Memorial Day weekend is close. The peonies will open when they’re ready. The days are getting longer, the evenings are warmer, and the deck is starting to call.

Bigger bouquets, deck dinners, longer days on Wildflower. Summer isn’t here yet, but it’s close enough to feel it coming.

Until next Sunday, I hope your garden surprises you this week in the best possible way.