juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN

My Tuscany

My Tuscany, I call it now...If you're curious why, follow the link.

"How do Italian friends naturally keep the jouissance they were born with? I've noticed that they don't talk about priorities. They work but don't become slaves. Always they have time to visit. Early on I learned that in Italian, there is no word for stress; it's a recent import: lo stress ...fun...that Italian born quality--I have seen it nowhere else--of taking great satisfaction in the everyday." (Frances Mayes, Every Day in Tuscany, p. 283-284)

Mystery Solved!

Who knew? Wanda first! But I looked up just Celandine and it didn't look like what I have here. Then, I followed up Kathy's tip about Greater Celandine. Mystery solved. Not only that, but apparently I have a medicine cabinet growing in my flower bed! Thank you, gardening friends!

According to one source (Health Benefits of Organic Greater Celandine) this invasive plant has some of these benefits!

* Stimulates production of bile in the liver
* Encourages production of enzymes by the pancreas
* Promotes cleansing and detoxification of the liver
* Motivates a sluggish gallbladder
* Can help relieve spasms in the gallbladder
* Acts as a mild sedative to soothe the body
* Helps prevent respiratory difficulties
* Provides relief for abdominal cramping, nausea, and other symptoms of indigestion

Questions: Why didn't I know this BEFORE my gallbladder was removed?! And would you dry it and steep it in hot water as in "tea" to get the benefit?

Whatzit?

Weed or flower? Can you help? (It certainly GROWS like a weed--and spreads like a weed!!) It grows in rounded clumps - maybe 12" high - I don't THINK it's a ground cover...

More perennials and "companion whimsy". I'm in the market (well, not the market really--I'm looking for FREE) for more blue bottles for our bottle tree. My husband created it from what remained of a tree he cut down.

Whimsically Speaking...

Yesterday, my husband placed this newly repaired & repainted cardinal atop our arbor.

Other "whimsy" in our yard include the butterflies placed on this old bed spring. Underneath, the sign says "SIMPLICITY".

Concluding today's whimsical tour, this bottle on a bar....

Hmmmmm....I thought I'd taken a picture of our bottle tree! Guess I'll have to review my photo file!

Do you have whimsy in YOUR yard?

One Bed, Three Views

Three views of the same flower bed. I couldn't resist taking the pictures as I returned from my morning walk this morning. I ended my walk in the back of our house where the sights of our yard were lighted by the early morning sunshine. I love this season!

Sunday Survey

(Above) Sanded and re-coated with weather-proof polyurethane...

Birdhouse repaired following weather damage...

Created the curved edging from leftover edgers and rearranged the rocks separating a parking spot from adjacent yard...

After 3" of rain the past few days, the grass needs mowed - again!

A friend gave me this copper ornament. The reflector light doesn't seem to work, but I like it anyway!

A busy Friday/Saturday in the yard paid off!

Our Newest Addition

For the scoop, see "Chime Time" at Working Wonders.

April Colors

Bleeding hearts (above) are an old-fashioned perennial species which are easy to grow and a popular favorite for many years.

The most frequently seen variety is the red bleeding heart (D. Spectabilis). This one will actually grow out in full sun but looks better and the flowers last longer if it gets shade from about noon, on. Flowering occurs during May and June but may continue throughout the summer if conditions are good and they're not allowed to set seeds. This MUST be the variety I have....

One of its very old common names is "lady in her tub," or "lady in her bath." If you hold a dicentra flower by its spurs and gently pull them apart, there she stands, looking for all the world like she must be saying, "Close the door!" I need to try this--would be great thing to show the grandchildren!

Without a doubt, this is the most colorful season in our yard and flower beds! It is absolutely beautiful here.

Lilacs

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. (Geoffrey B. Charlesworth)

Pruned back last year, the bush will soon be covered with the flowers that produce one of my favorite scents.

Front Porch Improvement

Constructed from re-cycled materials (bar-type doors discarded in a pile of trash), my husband fashioned and hung these shutters on our front porch yesterday. I think it adds great character and charm to our already friendly front porch!

Back "Island"

We spent several hours in the back yard this morning. I transplanted some iris (3 types) in the inner circle around the wishing well. My brother sent them back with us from North Carolina. They looked pretty dried out to me, but we'll see. It is supposed to rain tonight. Gary mowed the entire lawn. It was tall and quite thick. He may have to mow again on Saturday.

Paths We Take

Here and there, throughout our yard, are paths that we have constructed to take us from "here" to "there". Our materials are rustic and most were free! They're always evolving. This is how they appear today. Happy Trails to You!

Spring Fling!

Last Saturday, two of our grandchildren "helped" us with a few yard clean-up chores.

Burning twigs was definitely the highlight for them!

This morning I wanted to take advantage of the sunshine and finish reading a book that is due early tomorrow morning. Unfortunately the sun went behind a cloud, and the breeze made it too cool to stay outside. Still, the expectation of warm days ahead was pleasureable! And the book is delightful.

Preparing the Way for Spring!

Our arbor had fallen twice during the winter months. The second time we let it rest. Yesterday was a g-l-o-r-i-o-u-s day of warmth and sunshine, so we spent some time in the yard. Gary righted the arbor and braced it securely (he said). Hopefully the rose bushes we transplanted last autumn will grow at either side this summer.

Saint Francis also spent a good part of the winter on his face. While cutting off some of the dry flowers of sedum and coneflowers which we'd deliberately left standing in winter, we stood him up, too. I corralled several rocks and stones that had wandered, tossed into the yard along with the snow when walks and driveway were cleared.

I fear I already see signs of a very active mole. This is disappointing since we haven't found an effective way to eliminate these critters that do such damage to a lawn. Oh well, I won't let that dampen the joy of being in the sunshine and following the invitation and promise of spring to be out and about in our flowerbeds.

SUN

In spite of the forecast ("We will have to wait until Thursday or Friday for sunshine"), by late morning yesterday shadows suddenly appeared out of nowhere! I don't remember which I saw first--shadows or sunshine. It doesn't matter, really. The fact is they appeared together, because it takes sunshine to produce shadows!

I happily walked to a friend's home for our Monday prayer/chat/tea time around 2:30 p.m.. This was the sight through my camera lens--the sun shining through the branches of the tree on the northeast side of our property.

For EVERYTHING there is a season...Ecclesiastes 3:1

SUN...EVENTUALLY

Honestly, I'm very weary of winter. I looked out the back door in hopes of sighting a little sunshine this morning, but was disappointed that the dawn of March didn't bring with it very many evidences of spring-to-come. This large pine tree grows tall toward the sky beside our deck toward sun that MUST come out of hiding eventually...

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)