by Angela Hartley | Jan 6, 2024 | Dogs
Isabella Delilah Hartley-Sprenkel, aka Bella, Boo Boo, Bubby, Puppy (OGP).
Isabella is a Havanese, the national dog of Cuba. The breed developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana. The Blanquito descended from the also now-extinct Bichón Tenerife. Isabella was born December 22, 2013 and came home in March 2014. It’s hard to believe she just turned 10 years old. When the breeder brought her to us, the first thing she did was run to me where I sat on the floor waiting for her and then promptly peed and pooped on the living room Karastan. Sophie was 5 when Bella came home, and I wasn’t sure how she’d react, but Bella was great for Sophie and helped her to be less fearful of people.
She was so naughty as a puppy that we called her the honey badger. She literally ate any underwear, socks, or nightgowns she could get. To this day, I can’t give her any toy with a squeaky because she will rip it apart and eat stuffing, plastic, and/or fabric in the process.
Isabella, Havanese dog
Sophie and Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
Baby Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
Baby Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
Such a good puppy!
Isabella, Havanese dog
Baby Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
Baby Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
Bella, the OGP
Isabella, Havanese dog
Baby Bella
As she got older, she became a love badger and calmed down considerably after Tilly came home. Always snuggled with me after dinner on the recliner when I sat there and has her special spot next to me on the couch. If I am anywhere other than my office, she is by my side or on my lap and sleeps on the pillow next to my head. She is a barker, that’s for sure, and lets us know if someone is at the door, or walking by, or even if she thinks the wind is blowing.
Isabella, Havanese dog
Pretty girl
Isabella, Havanese dog
My pretty Boo
Isabella, Havanese dog
Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
My Boo
Isabella, Havanese dog
Portrait
Isabella, Havanese dog
Bella
Isabella, Havanese dog
In the garden
Isabella, Havanese dog
Smiling Boo
The squirrel is Bella’s nemesis and natural enemy. Unfortunately, she has caught a few over the years with and without Sophie’s help. She is always on patrol and would sit under trees in the yard for hours at a time if I let her. When she’s sleepy and doesn’t want to go out at night, we tell her “the nighttime squirrel’s out there!” which always gets her moving. Thankfully the Pennsylvania squirrels are faster and less clumsy than the ones in Maryland and therefore harder to catch.
Isabella, Havanese dog
On patrol
Isabella, Havanese dog
Stealth mode under the sycamore tree
Isabella, Havanese dog
On patrol
Isabella, Havanese dog
Always on patrol
Isabella, Havanese dog
Squirrel patrol
Bella’s favorite thing (aside from the squeaky toys she’s no longer allowed to have) is the big red ball. When we are in the yard, all I have to do is say “ball,” and she barks at me and takes me to the closest one.
The last time I was away on business Ben found a coconut in the yard. Bella thought it was a ball and insisted he throw it for her!
Isabella, Havanese dog
Throw it Mama!
Isabella, Havanese dog
Throw the ball throw the ball throw the ball!
Isabella, Havanese dog
Yelling at me to throw the ball.
Isabella, Havanese dog
Red ball
Isabella, Havanese dog
Squeaky ball from Uncle Brian
She tolerates the puppies and plays with them occasionally, but she is like Sophie in that she’s more of a people dog than a dog dog, and I’m her person. Ben calls her a mama’s baby, and that’s okay by me.
by Angela Hartley | Jan 3, 2024 | The Gardens
I started growing roses in Maryland where I removed old knock-outs and replaced them with David Austin’s Generous Gardener. They did so well, I planted a replacement here to climb the arbor in the courtyard paired with the Pilgrim, also from David Austin. I thought the pale pink and pale yellow would be pretty together, and they are. Since then, my David Austin collection has grown to include Jude the Obscure, Don Juan, The Fairy, and Sophy’s Rose.
My other roses are the Erzinger Rose from Jeanne, two bargains from Aldi (deep pink and deep peach), Lavender Simplicity, and a Rugosa from Aunt Marge’s farm. There is also another Don Juan from Jackson & Perkins that grows up the wall behind the amorphophallus konjac plants.
Most of them were placed in an area near the wildflower meadow, but the soil was not good, it was terribly dry, and they were not flourishing. So this past fall, we dug them all up and moved them to a new spot on the border of the courtyard. I hope they will be much happier in their new home.
One rose was here when we moved in, what I believe is a Peace rose. It is planted by the shed near the apiary. It is generally covered in black spot and often loses all its leaves, but it consistently produces the most beautiful blooms. I’ve considered moving it to the rose garden, but I’m afraid to disturb it.
Don Juan, David Austin
Don Juan, David Austin
Pink rose from Aldi
Pink rose from Aldi
The Pilgrim, David Austin
The Pilgrim, David Austin
Rose Lavender Simplicity
Rose Lavender Simplicity
Erzinger rose
Erzinger rose
Generous Gardener
Generous Gardener
The Pilgrim (David Austin)
The Pilgrim (David Austin)
The Fairy, David Austin
The Fairy, David Austin
Jude the Obscure, David Austin
Jude the Obscure, David Austin
Lavender Simplicity
Lavender Simplicity
Generous Gardener
Generous Gardener
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
The Pilgrim (David Austin)
The Pilgrim (David Austin)
Rose arbor with Generous Gardener in bloom
Rose arbor with Generous Gardener in bloom
Generous Gardener, David Austin
Generous Gardener, David Austin
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
David Austin Generous Gardener
David Austin Generous Gardener
Generous Gardener (David Austin)
Generous Gardener (David Austin)
Jude the Obscure, David Austin
Jude the Obscure, David Austin
Lavender Simplicity
Lavender Simplicity
The Pilgrim and Generous Gardener, David Austin
The Pilgrim and Generous Gardener, David Austin
David Austin Generous Gardener
David Austin Generous Gardener
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
Sophy’s Rose, David Austin
Rose arbor in spring
Rose arbor in spring
Roses are surprisingly easy to care for. If you plant them in the right place, most of the battle is won. Almost all varieties need at least 6 hours of sun per day. Even though mine can “tolerate some shade,” I have no doubt they would be much more vigorous if I had a better location for them.
Many suffer from black spot, but adequate sunlight and water applied to the roots only, not the foliage, will help decrease the spread and incidence of fungal diseases. I also deal with sawfly larvae that I remove by hand. But I’ve noticed more predatory insects in the garden, so I hope they’ll help out with pest control. Pruning is straightforward and can be done in late fall or early spring. I do both.
When they are healthy and happy, roses offer a long lasting, high impact feature to the garden. I wouldn’t be without them!
by Angela Hartley | Dec 26, 2023 | The Gardens
In August 2022, Jeanne and I visited Chanticleer Garden outside of Philadelphia. It’s taken me quite a while to share these photos, but it’s a garden I highly recommend. Just don’t go when it’s hot!! The multiple gardens are all gorgeous, especially the water gardens with huge koi. Streams run through the wooded and open areas.
From the website: “Chanticleer has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America. The garden is a study of textures and forms, where foliage trumps flowers, the gardeners lead the design, and even the drinking fountains are sculptural. It is a garden of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990, designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous. The Tennis Court builds on the idea of foliar display introduced in the Teacup. The Ruin is a folly, built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.’s home. It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Gravel Garden is hot and dry, a touch of the Mediterranean in Pennsylvania. The Pond area is exuberantly floriferous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The former features natives of China, Korea, and Japan; the latter, plants of eastern North America. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops. The cutting and vegetable gardens produce flowers for our arrangements and food for our tables. Surplus goes to a shelter. The parking lot is our “low maintenance” area, with hardy plants that are neither irrigated nor fertilized. Staff build furniture, fences, gates, bridges, and drinking fountains during the winter in converted garages.”
Here are some photos from the dry garden.
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Dry garden
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Swallowtail on liatris
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Dry garden
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Dry garden
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Swallowtail on liatris
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Dry garden
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Dry garden
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Liatris in dry garden
There are many interconnected water gardens that have beautiful lotus plants, water lilies, and koi.
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Water garden
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Koi
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Water garden
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Koi
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Water garden
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Water garden
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Lotus bud
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Lotus flower
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Koi
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Lotus flower
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Koi
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Lotus plant
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Koi
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Lotus
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Water garden
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Koi
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Water garden
The extensive vegetable gardens include a fenced area.
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Vegetable gardens
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Entrance to fenced vegetable garden
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Sunflowers in vegetable garden
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Vegetable garden
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Sunflowers in vegetable garden
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Fenced vegetable garden
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Tomatoes
Other areas of garden.
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Tiger lilies
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Main house
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Pool and pool house
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Swallowtail
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Coneflowers
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Damselfly
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Folly wall
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Shade pergola
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Jeanne in shade pergola
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Shade pergola
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Wooded area with stream
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Swallowtail
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Garden with thalictrum and tiger lily
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Stairs
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Damselfly
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Yews
One of my favorite spots was a garden full of tiger lilies and thalictrum. In the fall, in a small area of my own garden, I planted tiger lily bulbs and thalictrum plants that I started from seed.
Garden with thalictrum and tiger lily
by Angela Hartley | Dec 10, 2023 | Cooking, The Gardens
How do you get from here
to here?
Roast a lot of fresh garden veg.
This sauce was a big success this past summer and SO easy. I slow roasted tomatoes, zucchini, squash, eggplant, peppers, shallots, fresh herbs (fennel, oregano, thyme, basil) and garlic that I drizzled with olive oil. When everthing was soft, it all went into a stock pot, and I blended with a stick blender. I think we’re down to only two jars!
by Angela Hartley | Nov 15, 2021 | The Gardens
Living in Maryland, I never realized how much I missed hills and rivers. Since we’re back home, I constantly think, “Oh wow! That’s really beautiful.”
Susquehanna River from Clark’s Ferry Bridge
On Saturday, I took the camera with me when I went to visit Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, it poured all the way there and all the way back. Later in the day, Ben and I drove north again for a birthday party, and the sky cleared for a few minutes. Of course, I was without my camera, but I was able to get these shots on my cell phone in a moving car!
Driving on Rte. 11 & 15 North.
Finally, I have wanted to live in this old girl since I was a child. My Grandma Womer told a story about how they gave tours when she was young, and the foyer had a floor that was black and white checked marble. I believe this is what sparked my lifelong love of old houses. If you recognize it, leave a note in the comments.
