Her Garden Memory

"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dream. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful." ~Abram L. Urban

Thanks for the memories, Jasmine Hill Gardens.

Moments in the Garden

"Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination." ~ Mrs. C.W. Earle

"In the garden I tend to drop my thoughts here and there. To the flowers I whisper the secrets I keep and the hopes I breathe. I know they are there to eavesdrop for the angels." ~ Dodinsky

Emma's Garden Stroll

"A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer." ~ Author Unknown

My sweet little Emma was full of joy when we visited Jasmine Hill Gardens this spring. Here are some of my favorite photos of my bright, happy girl.

"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

Garden Sisters

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." ~ Marion C. Garetty

In years past, our annual trek to Jasmine Hill Gardens in Wetumpka was a family affair, but more recently the boys' full schedules have made our visits girls-only trips. Even when the boys are too busy to join us, we girls still want to take time to stop and smell the roses. 

Or the lilies, as the case may be!

"Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister?" ~ Alice Walker

The Gardens Alive with Color

The girls and I found Jasmine Hill Gardens in Wetumpka in vibrant bloom when we made our annual visit awhile back. I hope you will enjoy strolling though our favorite garden hideaway this week.

Stop in this week anytime you need to tiptoe through a sunny garden!

"I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips." ~ Violette Leduc

Raspberry Lemonade Ice Cream Recipe

Last summer, daughter Emma couldn't decide if she was more enthralled with her scoop of ice cream or the paper straw garnishing the cone.

Raspberry Lemonade Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups raspberries
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Juice of 4-5 lemons
Zest of 2 lemons
3 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon lemon extract
Pink food coloring

Mix raspberries, condensed milk, lemon juice and zest in a stand mixer. Add half-and-half, vanilla and lemon extracts, and food coloring. (Add food coloring one drop at a time until you reach the desired saturation of pink. One drop was enough for the soft pink ice cream pictured.) Mix until mostly smooth, with some bits of raspberry remaining.

Pour the ice cream mixture into an ice cream freezer, and churn according to manufacturer's directions. Allow ice cream to harden in the freezer, and remove the container shortly before serving. If desired, serve in waffle cones topped with whipped cream, raspberries and lemon zest.

And speaking of sweet treats, congratulations to Farrah, winner of my recent giveaway for a signed copy of Monograms. I did much of the writing for this recent special edition of Victoria, so it is a project close to my heart. If you didn't win, I hope you will pick up a copy on the newsstand or online here.

Farrah, please contact me within the week to claim your prize. You may e-mail me at alittleloveliness@gmail.com or leave a comment below.