juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN: September 2011

Maybe Next Year???

Tall & elegant,

vivid and velvety

What?

And where have they been all my life?

Singly,

or in juxtaposition with other blooms...

a real attraction!

I saw these at our County Extension garden.

I need to do a little more research to see if they're

a possibility in our beds.

I'm not crazy about the foliage--

but OH! Those flowers!

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."
- Author Unknown

As soon as it dries up a bit, I have a few new

potted plants to place in our

already-crowded flower beds....

September Miscellany

Yesterday I took advantage of the cooler weather to work

in this small area beside our house.

I divided a hosta from another spot

and put in smack in the center (behind the black ball) here.

Then we uprooted a smaller sedum and put it to the left of the ball

to balance the larger one already growing beside the tree.

While looking over other parts of the yard,

I saw various spots of white.

I like the way it "punctuates" the garden-scape...

I decided to purchase a white mum and will look for a good place to plant it
for additional autumn "punctuation"!

I was assured it was a "hardy" one (even though the label didn't say so).

I'm always a little doubtful.

Guess I'll know next season...

THIS particular mum (above) has certainly proven to be hardy!
I've divided it many, many times and it prospers whereEVER it is placed!

I also came home with these two Heuchera (Southern Comfort).

I don't have this particular variety - and for $1.49@ decided to purchase them.

I'll look for a place to put them later today...

I really don't have room for ANYthing else!

Oh, my!

It just doesn't get

any more beautiful

than this!

Aster or DISaster?

In spite of my weak camera/photography skills,

can anyone tell me if I have an aster here?

(Or is it a disaster?)
You can click and click again on any picture to enlarge it...

I planted an aster either last season or the one before in this general area.

I thought I put a marker at the spot but have hunted for it all summer.

Suddenly (almost as sudden as the mammoth dandelions that have appeared lately)

this plant showed up!

What do you think? Does anyone know?

Is it or isn't it?

Should I pull it or keep it?

If you can't lick 'em....

...JOIN 'em!

Recent rains have encouraged the proliferation

of some VERY large dandelions around here!

Unfortunately, I'm dealing with some severe shoulder pain

and haven't been able to keep ahead of them...
Has this ever happened to you?
(What's YOUR excuse????)
Fortunately, the same rain that encourages weeds
also produces some wonderful plants and flowers...

The Year of the Sedum

I kind of forget how many there are until they start to bloom.

Autumn Joy Sedum...

in various stages of coloring.

Next spring, I need to divide most of them.

Meanwhile, they live up to their name--

Autumn Joy.

Labor Day 2011

I had some artificial flowers strategically placed,

hoping it would warm up enough

to enjoy our grilled burgers outside..

but 61 degrees was as high as it got!

We decided to eat inside, but later in the

afternoon we wandered into the backyard

for some croquet...

and a brisk corn hole competition!

Me? Mostly I watched from the green chair (below)

covered with a cozy afghan!

It felt SO good!
(And the coffee TASTED pretty good, too!)

Small Chores

Trimming the dried hosta stems is a joy with this little jobber!

I just love its size and color!

The chore was smiled on by the glow

of setting sun shining on the old tree trunk.

The effect in reality was much brighter than this!

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony. William Henry Channing 1810-1884

Irises come in many forms, shapes, colors and sizes and the sword-like foliage is attractive when the plant is not in bloom. The genus Iris is a large genus of bulbous and rhizomatous perennials.

The Iris was named after the goddess of the rainbow because of its many colors.
A flower on the Sphinx is considered to be an Iris, and another appears on a bas-relief of the 18th Egyptian dynasty.
Pliny also knew the Iris and praised its medicinal virtues.
The Iris was also a favourite flower of the Moslems, who took it to Spain after their conquest in the 8th century.

Bought at a local plant sale, Spring of 2009 Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium; syn. Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Pers., Pyrethrum parthenium Sm.) is a traditional medicinal herb which is found in many old gardens, and is also occasionally grown for ornament. The plant grows into a small bush up to around 18 inches high, with citrus-scented leaves and is covered by flowers reminiscent of daisies. It spreads rapidly, and they will cover a wide area after a few years. It is also commonly seen in the literature by its synonyms, Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh. and Pyrethrum parthenium (L.) Sm.

I'D PICK MORE DAISIES
If I could live my life again
I'd be a little lazy
I'd stop this rushing to and fro
And stop and pick more daisies
Through all the lovely summer months
Though days be clear or hazy
No more to fret over tasks undone,
I'd stop to pick a daisy
Not so important what I did
This fact time now discloses
While running through life's garden green
I'd stop to smell the roses
If I could hold my little ones
The children in my care
I'd scold them less and love them more
With so much love to share
If I could pass this way again
Though folks might think I'm crazy
I'd work and worry less, but I'd
Take time to pick a daisy
The rush of life has passed me by
Now I have leisure hours
But time has taken such a toll
It's too late to pick the flowers.

Mildred F. Rowe

MEASURE YOUR HEALTH...by your sympathy with morning and spring. If there is no response in you to the awakening of nature, if the prospect of an early morning walk does not banish sleep, if the warble of the first bluebird does not thrill you--know that the morning and the spring of your life are past. Thus may you feel your pulse. (Thoreau)

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on the trees and flowers and clouds and stars." (Martin Luther)

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The soul of a child is the loveliest flower
That grows in the garden of God
It's climb is from weakness to knowledge and power,
To the sky from the clay to the clod.
To beauty and sweetness it grows under care
Neglected, 'tis ragged and wild.
'Tis a plant that is tender, but wondrously rare,
The sweet wistfull soul of a child.

Be tender, O Gardener, and give it it's share
Of moisture, of warmth and of light,
And let it not lack for th painstaking care
To protect it from frost and from blight.
A glad day will come when it's bloom shall unfold,
It will seem that an angel has smiled,
Reflecting a beauty and sweetness untold
In the sensitive soul of a child.

...Author Unknown

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord,
With flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks may pluck
A lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine,
And jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths
For every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host:
A thousand rays of light
Are seen to guard the traveler,
And make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory,
Where soldiers may repair,
And find, for life's long battle-day,
All needful weapons there.

Oh, may I love Thy precious Word,
May I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glen,
May light upon me shine!
Oh, may I find my armor there!
Thy Word my trusty sword,
I'll learn to fight with every foe
The battle of the Lord.

(Edwin Hodder, Thy Word Is Like a Garden, Lord)