This fall, as I was preparing the property for another mountain winter, I understood something about myself.  I have become a gardener.  What I mean by that is that a threshold was crossed.  I have gardened for a while now, and cared for other houses here and there, but I have now been the head gardener at Rivendell for three years.  Can you believe it?  Three years!  I have learned a lot.  Studied a lot.  Taken Master Gardner classes and poured over magazines, books, and gardens in my area.  Kip, my patient husband, has stopped the car time and time again so I could investigate flowers and plant configurations.   But through all this I have worked the same seven acres for three growing seasons.  I know the soil.  I know the odd temperature pockets.  And I know the pattern the moose follow every time they want to cause damage and gardener devastation.  (The home owners love the large, plant destroying wild life.  The gardener does not.)  I have learned so much from my sister who is the landscape designer on the project, and we have worked together for many hours creating beauty.

It’s a satisfying place to be at the end of November.  Working on a property manual, the planters covered, the roses mulched and protected properly, all lying under a layer of snow.  I am already anticipating the spring and what the different areas will be doing, and will be needing.  I an envisioning the spiderwort growing larger, I am wondering when to stake the phlox in the terrace garden.  I am hoping that more poppies will be present in the meadow this year.

It feels good, this transition.  I imagine everyone in a profession reaches a point when they have worked in that field (no pun intended) long enough to feel the ‘click’ into their work.  I am just pleased that I work in such a beautiful place.

Cheers!

~ Red Clover

OH, But I do have something fun and exciting regarding color and gardens…still working on it. Cheers! Hmmmm. Maybe I am beginning to thaw already.

“…We must measure our lives in terms of what gives us joy. When we do that, we build up happiness in our lives out of what we do. Then, with the advance of our years, we can say, as did Julia Ward Howe, when asked if it wasn’t harder to grow old, “No, the deeper I drink the cup, the sweeter it grows. The sugar is all at the bottom.”

Inspiration, 1921

Cheers!

~ Red Clover

I also have my snapshot of a nasturtium in birth.  It’s poised, ready to fling itself open to the world.  The overwhelming green makes me feel calm, and the bright promise of orange-red a fortune telling of what I will be planting this year.

Kip and I have rearranged the kitchen, by basically eliminating the table and creating our own work/study/create spaces.  I haven’t showed you a picture of mine yet.  Well, here it is.

This red poppy that I painted last fall also graces my view as I sit at my desk.  I hope my poppies come back this year that I planted in my landlord’s garden.

One of my favorite things to inspire is this picture of my favorite author, Lloyd Alexander.  I wrote him a letter once, and never felt it was good enough.  I’ve lived a vibrant  life and don’t regret anything, but I do regret not sending that letter.

Red Clover has been quiet the last few months.  Well, that’s because I’ve been working on starting my own business, with handmade products!  And guess what?  I just launched my site!  And guess what?  Someone already bought something!  My name, is of course, Red Clover Creations…and just so you are tempted to click on the link and see what’s going on I’ll give you some tempting morsels to look at that are not flowers, but equally as colorful!

My Refillable Notepad and 3x4 Notebook Set

A set of three 3x4 notebooks, with elastics, for a charming jot or two.

A shot of one of my envelope sets.

An alluring and elegant set of fabric covered envelopes, four sizes for four occasions.

Are you curious yet what I've been up to? I'll give you a few more pictures.

I also do binders. Unique, fun, interesting, and recycled/recyclable!

Sunshine until those tulips come out, anyone?

Oh, and by the way, I’ve also been doing a bit of sewing…

Hmmm, just love the contrast

So come by my shop to see what I’ve been pruning and digging about in while the ground is frozen.  And if you want, you could send your friends to see also!  I don’t have all my product on yet, so be patient, there is a lot more that could be up, and more combinations that could be done.  I also do custom work and orders, so if you don’t see colors or patters you like, you can contact me at redclovercreations@gmail.com.

Ready to come get a look?

Etsy Shop

New Blog (Still a Red Clover) to keep updated with shop info

Hope you like what you see!  Let me know.

~ Red Clover

p.s.  This is what happens to gardeners in the winter without a greenhouse, they start businesses and such.

February is always a hard month in Utah.  The reason being  is that you’ve had quite a rough winter, and are ready for some clement weather.  Then you get a sneak peak of a beautiful day that slipped into the fifties.  It’s great.  You’re wearing a sweater and Chuck Taylors, then BAM!  Blizzard conditions sweep in for the evening.   It’s raging snowflakes outside the bookshop window as you sip your cocoa (last night), but in your heart, you are ready for the forsythia.  Please, oh please, forsythia.  Come on.

It looks like it’s time to force a batch of blooms.

Other news?  Why I’ve been a bit absent?  Well, aside from the garden world being deep under frozen tundra, I have also been working on starting my own little business!!!  HOORAY!  It’s called  Red Clover Creations!  I’m excited.  I have some charming products.  In a few days I will be posting them on my etsy site and you can all see them.  BE PREPARED!  IT WILL BE SO EXCITING FOR ME THAT I’M SURE YOU WILL FEEL THE VIBE.  I’ll post the link in a few days.  And maybe send you a business card.  Because their adorable, and my logo/design is AWESOME!

Need some pictures for this long winter?  Come see what I’ve been helping work on the last three years at work.  (Rivendell)  It’s an earthwork map of MIDDLE EARTH.   Yes.  My sister designed it and I’ve helped with the grunt work.  It’s really cool to get paid to build a mountain range, or plant up the Anduin.  Come see a little of what I help with/weed during the growing season!  (This spring I’ll help get the oceans in.)

Go here for those pictures.   You’ll love it.

BUT WAIT!  Don’t leave yet.  If you are a soccer fan, especially those of you in England…Are you?  My little brother just started a blog about his view of the Premier League.  You might just get a kick out of it.  I sure do.  Take a look.

http://footballpitch90.blogspot.com/

Spring, I am waiting on you.

What’s the rest of the world like?

~ Red Clover

Tonight a couple from across the street and down the way, who are in their early seventies, invited Kip and I to a Sunday Dinner.  Because the ham was too big for just the two of them.  The place settings were beautiful, food very good and extensive, and the company great.  They have done some acting, and he is a drummer, and they both enjoy cities.  We heard some great tales, like him slipping a note in to Frank Sinatra to get a few strings pulled for a fellow musician, etc.  Four hours later, and two large cups of hot coco later, we ambled back down the road in the cold winter air towards our cozy little apartment.  It’s always enjoyable to hear the stories and thoughts of other people.  And they have an aloe vera start to offer us, which is great because mine is quite sad and has to share it’s pot with another plant.  A good way to begin the year.

~ Red Clover

Happy New Year!

~Red Clover