juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN: August 2013

Unexpected Harvest

Surprise in the flower garden!

I guess some gourds got thrown out last year.

I left these vines grow, not sure what I was growing --

pumpkins, cukes, or zucchini!

As it turns out, it appears I'll have two ornamental gourds

to enjoy this fall. Lots of vine; little fruit.

All Bottled Up

I could NEVER be accused of keeping my enthusiasm

for yard art "Bottled Up"!

An existing arrangement of brown bottles in front of our house...

So imagine my excitement when the black iron bottle tree arrived

this morning -- hand delivered by the artist himself!

After dinner, I enlisted my husband's muscle and mallet

to drive it into the ground. I quickly gathered green bottles

from various and sundry places throughout our flower beds

and VOILA!

Thanks, Steve Garmater!

See more of his extra-ordinary talent on display HERE....

the Redemption of the Extension Gardens

Several weeks ago we visited our local Extension Gardens

and were disappointed with its appearance....

I NOW think it was just that we caught it at a bad time.

Today we revisited it, and we were happy to see how it had filled out.

I think the hydrangea were my favorite view today...

although there was plenty of loveliness everywhere!

Under the careful eyes and skillful hands of many Master Gardeners,

this public garden is at once an educational and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Mid-August Reflections

An over-sized salvaged grill grate

temporarily guards one of my hostas

while two old chairs support kindling wood for an evening fire.

I potted a part of one of the hardy mums that (in spite of a couple of trimmings)

grew HUGE early. I think this potted part is going to survive. (Haven't tried it before....)

I'm sure that very soon I'll need to trim off both of these flowering plants.

They've brought me so much pleasure - lots of bang for the buck!

The lovely cool days have made it easy to enjoy our yard the past few days.

I have also enjoyed my visits to many of the sites I've listed in the sidebar.

Beauty surrounds us!

I can't help it...
If I must blame someone, I'd blame Pam Pennick.
Her post featuring Marcia Donahue's sculpture and found objects HERE
is what got my creative juices flowing.
Go to Digging to see what Marcia 's done with bowling balls!

What's YOUR latest creation?

One Thing Leads to Another

My husband's thorough garden shed cleaning last night

uncovered some long-forgotten potential Yard Art!

So we hung THIS particular piece on the front porch,

and I went to work stenciling the two sides of this shovel/spade.

(Do you know how difficult it is to think of single words to deck a spade?!?)

I waited for morning's light - which comes much later these days - to take these photos.

I couldn't quite capture the true essence of our side yard

or the lavender flowers on this hosta as I rounded the front corner of our house,.

but, as you can see, one thing led to another...

and at home....surprises

While I was taking the Home and Garden tour (see previous post),

surprises were forming EVERYwhere in our flower beds!

No matter how many years I've enjoyed this phenomena,

it always catches me by, well....

SURPRISE!

My Take on the Tour

I'm sure there's a limit to how many photos a person can place in a post....

and I'm also sure I'm going to break that limit!

These photos are from the Northside Neighborhood Home and Garden Walk

in Fort Wayne, IN. The afternoon was delightful;

the homeowners and hosts most gracious.

Without further ado (except to say that I'm a huge fan

of garden art and paths), here is my "take" on the tour.

The End.

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)