This week in the garden, there’s a big clean-up going on.  I managed to rake the front yard and pull out all debris from the front garden beds and it looks so much better.  Next up, I need to transplat the catmint (stat – it totally took over the garden last year and started choking out other perennials) as well as put down fresh compost and mulch.  Even though it’s a fair amount of work, it’s so good to be outside in the sunshine and warm spring air again.  There’s nothing like working in the garden, I really find it relaxes me and I can sort out a lot of ideas while I’m out there.

(the rock garden before the big clean-up)

(the rock garden after!)

{for more of my in the garden photos, check out my Flickr}

Taking a peek inside the home of Unruly Thing’s Alyson Graves.  Love the photos of her kitties and terrariums!

{images shown belong to Unruly Things and Alyson Graves}

We’ve had a few days of glorious sunshine and warm weather, and I’ve caught the spring bug – bad.  I’m taking a short break from cleaning out the porch so it will be ready for the “season” (spring until fall).  I plan on having breakfast on the porch Saturday morning and spending the entire day out there as well, working on my design work.  The birds have been chirping like mad, windows have been opened to let in some fresh air (which smells like heaven), and the garden is popping with all sorts of bulbs.  These are the first crocus I’ve spotted so far, and I didn’t even notice them until I knelt on the ground to photograph the green bulbs and saw these little ones blooming under a shrub.  I think I’ll start brainstorming on my garden to-do list this weekend, which includes the big clean up (I don’t rake until spring; I like the dead leaves to act as a blanket on the perennials for the winter) and moving the catmint (which narrowly choked out all other plants last year in the front garden beds).

I can’t believe that spring is already here!  What do you plan on working on this spring weekend?

{for more of my in the garden photos, check out my Flickr}

It’s been exciting to read about the studio move for Anna Bond and Rifle Paper Co., and this latest update on their blog had great images of where all their hard work is going. I love the chalkboard wall and those red pendant lights.  Their big move is so inspiring!

{images shown belong to Rifle Paper Co.}

Some gorgeous images of the Oregon Coast from Abby Try Again…

{images shown belong to Abby Try Again}

I’ve been curious to try making doughnuts for some time now, and these photos are making me drool…

Cherry Blossom Doughnuts from Cannelle et Vanille

{image shown belongs to Cannelle et Vanille}

We’re back to grey, chilly late winter days here in New England, but we had some really lovely sunny and warm spring days (which were a blessing after about 1-1.5 weeks of straight cold rain everyday).  These images of Grey Gardens as it stands now are making me really long for spring (found via quintessentially b).  I actually don’t mind the snow, and I’m disappointed that we didn’t have at least one huge snowstorm (I like a good blizzard once a year, one where everything closes and you have to “stock up” on your groceries and everyone gets a snow day).  However, after seeing a field covered in robins today (there must have been about 50 or so) I definitely think I’m ready for spring.

(PS: Before you dare watch the HBO version of Grey Gardens, you MUST watch the original documentary!  Big Edie and Little Edie were QUITE the pair.)

With all of the gorgeous spring weather the past few days, I’ve been thinking and wondering why on earth I never tried making another terrarium after my first attempt last year (I over-watered them and had an issue with mold, so I dismantled them and was able to salvage much of the plants and replant them in my garden).  These gorgeous terrariums from Flickr have my hands eager to work with loose soil again.

{images belong to helloyarn, koko studios, ex.libris respectively}

Loving these gorgeous photos from 100 Layer Cake, especially the paperwhites and gigantic pinecones!

{images shown via 100 Layer Cake, taken by Jose Villa}

Hooray!  What a glorious way to start Monday but with a new Anthropologie catalog to flip through (even if it’s online).  I love the plants, ferns, and fauna found throughout the catalog, especially the greenhouse section towards the end.

{all images belong to Anthropologie}