Garden Tour at Connie’s 

Reed wanted to see Connie’s gardens up close so his mom, Karla, baby sister June and older brother Nolan came, too.  I think they were impressed – who wouldn’t be?  And Karla left with some plants for her own gardens.

Here’s Connie, June, Karla, Nolan and Reed.

Pink lilies  – just beautiful!


This is one of my favorite plants – this huge jade tree that Connie has had for many years with Reed standing next to it.


June wanted to touch this grass.


Reed and I weeded our little garden this week and I took a picture looking south over the fields with that pretty blue sky and white clouds.


I actually put this quilt on the machine yesterday.  Maybe you remember when I made it last winter out of mens’ shirts.  It’s been finished for months but laid aside until I had time to quilt it.  As soon as I get it bound, I’ll show you the whole quilt.


Thank you to Steph from Ankeny for sending the book.  I have read this already and loved it so I’ll pass it on at our next book club meeting in July.

20 thoughts on “Garden Tour at Connie’s 

  1. Diane

    What a neat family– cute kids😃 Connie’s flowers are beautiful and your and Reed’s garden looks great. What did you plant? I miss my garden😢 We have too many deer to have one. The quilt is so bright and pretty!!

  2. Pat Smith

    I think both yours and Connie’s gardens are beautiful! Makes me wish I lived in Iowa again. I especially loved the shirt quilt and plan to start looking for shirts to use in mine when the Winnebago arrives home in Sept.

  3. Debbie Miller

    Beautiful gardens and your dirt looks so good! Most of the dirt here where I live in SC has lots of red clay in it and is hard to grow things. Love the shirt quilt. I have been picking up shirts at thrift stores to sew with but haven’t started anything yet.

  4. Launa Peters

    Lovely garden. Thanks for showing Connie’s wonderful flowers and your marvelous recycled shirts’ quilt. So unique and beautifully done, Mary.
    Well, we finally had a young brown bear 🐻…was totally afraid , turned and ran away.
    Am keeping a watchful pair of eyes on a Robin who has built her nest outside one of my bedroom windows. No eggs yet.

  5. Steph

    Perfect! I love sharing books. As much as I love my kindle I still prefer the real thing in my hands!

  6. Joanne

    Love both gardens. Reed is such a lucky boy to have a great neighbor. Love the quilt in progress

  7. Ann Barlament

    Thank you for letting us tour Connie’s garden. With book in hand, I would sit among the plants and read to my hearts content!

  8. Nancy Pleimann

    Hi Mary – I love the old shirt quilt. I have a large collection of Roberta Horton Fabric and would think they would look nice stitched this way. Can you tell me the size of the strip that you cut. And I notice that you don’t have a center square in all your blocks. It looks great. Thanks, Nancy Pleimann

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Nancy – I actually tore the strips in assorted widths – I didn’t measure a thing. Look at the blocks – none of them are even. I trimmed to fit in this case.

  9. Sue

    That lily is stunning! Your garden looks great. I must pat myself on the back. We are going to have a red ripe tomato by the 4th of July. Yipee. I think it will be a first.

  10. maxine lesline

    What book was sent to you that you really liked? Sorry for the curiosity but I am such a book maniac. Trying now to get interested in The Little Paris Bookshop… highly recommended… but so far.. it’s a chore. Your blog is a pleasant start to my mornings.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Maxine – the book is “In A Dark, Dark Wood”, by Ruth Ware – very good!

  11. Mary Says Sew!

    Mary, your shirts quilt is gorgeous! And the backing you put with it is a perfect choice.

    I, too, am wondering what size your logs are.

    Happy July 4th weekend!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Mary says sew – I tore the strips without considering the width – look carefully – no blocks match up!

  12. Jane

    Mary, would Connie share the name of the gorgeous pink lily?
    I envy your beautiful dark Iowa soil!
    Is Hazel going to be a little firecracker for the 4th?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jane – I’m quite sure she doesn’t know the name – it’s an Asiatic Lily – they come assorted.

  13. Gwen

    I love all of your pictures but I especially loved the one of the big beautiful Iowa sky. I grew up in Iowa and that is one of the things I miss they most.

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