juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN: 2016

All Was Right with the World

While indoor projects have (regrettably) trumped our time and attention

to outdoor projects this season,

my pleasure in them has not diminished one bit!

Evening hours found me waiting for a ride in front of the house last night,

and for a brief moment I was captivated by the beauty of the beds;

the coolness of the waning summer hours;
the miracles of God's creation.

For those minutes, all was right with the world...

If...

"If you can dig a hole, you can plant a Star", reads the tag.

We can, and we did!

The rose was potted and a memorial plant sent by her nieces and nephews

to my mother's funeral.

I ended up being the fortunate recipient of the bush.

We dug the hole this morning at one of the corners of our front porch.

A light drizzle fell on it all day.

I think the white roses will look lovely against the white trim of the porch!

Surprise, Surprise!

Every year brings us unexpected pleasure

as the Naked Ladies/Surprise Lilies/Resurrection Lilies

make their sudden and beautiful entrances in our various beds.

Perrenials in August

These three photos are evidence

that summer is in its last stages!

...and though odd-appearing as this yesterday,

I expect beauty from them really soon!

A group of us have an annual contest to see whose "naked ladies" make an appearance first.

I think I've won!

Russian Sage

I thought he'd killed it when he cut it back so savagely last fall.

But no.

Here it is in all its wispy splendor.

17th Annual DeKalb Show Choirs' Garden Walk

Here, in no particular order, are photos from our afternoon walk

through eight beautiful gardens in Auburn, IN.

The well-organized event benefits the local Show Choir.

The weather was near perfect!

The only thing that could make it better

would be if we won one of the many drawings for plants or garden supplies!

I especially enjoyed the garden of a friend.

I hadn't seen it before...

(I'd love to find a similar holder and feature the variety of small bottles like the one above.)

I like the fact that the Show Choir members are visible at the various sites.

It was a very good day.

Note the chandelier here! It's holding tea cups and pots.

We returned home with our heads full of ideas to enhance our own yard and flower beds.

I didn't mention how reasonably priced this garden walk was!

Only $6 if purchased the day of the walk...

I wish I had more photos of specific features.

I used the camera on my cell phone, and the sunshine kept me from

lining up my photos as nicely as I would have liked.

I'm really happy we made time for this event in our schedule today.

First Day of Summer

He spent the morning weeding and trimming in our beds this morning.

This clematis is hidden from view from our house, so it wasn't until he sent in the phot

from is cell phone's camera that I realized it was blooming!

A major chore was accomplished with the trimming of The Three Sisters

as we've come to call these three viburnum bushes growing along our property line.

For better or for worse, this is how we've been trimming them.

Somehow it appeals to us, but the look requires periodic "pedicures"!

In another part of our yard sits this potted tomato plant.

We are very inexperienced in the vegetable-cultivation department.

Maybe that explains our excitement over finding FOUR tomatoes on the vine last Saturday.

Why in the world have we not done this sooner???

His, Mine, Ours

Photos from our phones' cameras this morning...

His, mine, ours.

Mostly his.

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)