juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN

Paths and Walkways

The day was SO fine. My husband suggested a drive. Auburn, IN was the destination. We walked the sidewalks in one of our favorite neighborhoods there. Today I noticed the walkways and paths. These were a few of them...

Another day, my camera may be drawn to all the wrought iron work...or maybe the unique way house numbers are posted. Today it was paths (and this one open gate set back in the yard.) I was SO tempted to see what was in the back yard! Click on the picture to enlarge it. Isn't it charming?!

Fluffy White Clouds...

The neighbors across the street might be getting a little paranoid that their house and garage keep showing up on my blog - but THIS cloud was the first to attract my attention and I am unable to crop it further without compromising its beauty...The sky is just AMAZING this morning!

The wind has "done a number" on our maple tree...

He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind (Psalm 104:3).

Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the Lord (Psalm 68:4).

Savoring a Sunny Saturday

We're slowly adding mulched leaves and grass to this area around the tree. We put newspaper under them to kill the grass. The plan is to turn it all over next spring and begin a new bed and seating area from which to view...

Maybe the next to the last tomato of the season!

our little vegetable garden intermingled with...

roses, grasses, hosta, sedum, and

mums.

Some ground cover (still blooming) continues to spread, while

the maple in front holds its colors a little while longer.

And all day - sunshine!

Black Walnuts: The Fall

Welcome, new gardening friends!

I noticed you.

Your presence makes up for the bareness of our

single black walnut tree.

Most of the walnuts were in the shadows on the ground this morning.

This afternoon I almost completely filled two rather large garbage cans with them.

Sure wish I knew someone who had the patience to dig out the meat!

These two tried to hide to escape the rake, but I found them!

It was a BeaUtiFuL day to work in the yard and flower beds.

I hated to see it come to an end.

Mid-October Touches

We added the lights to the front porch last night;

this arrangement sits on a small table thereupon.

This is probably as beautiful as our tree will be!
The next strong wind or rain storm will bring its leaves down.

Across the street, the sun puts on an evening show.
The sky glows in applause.

Goodnight, Moon!

Sunshine and Shadows

The colors of our beautiful maple tree altered subtly with the sunshine and shadows of the afternoon...

...while elsewhere, the flower beds showed their response to the shadows of autumn that have crept silently into Gatescroft...

Only a few hardy and stubborn flowers persist in their summer beauty.

It Takes a VILLAGE to Make a WREATH

Cut from one of the two small bed springs...

...we've determined it takes 14 of the individual springs (which will eventually be welded together)...

...to create an outdoor Christmas wreath.

It will take a village to complete this wreath!

the donor of the springs

the cutter of the springs

the connector of the springs

the welder of the springs

and

the decorator of the springs

Autumn Finery

Thanks to the generosity of Tom and Shirley, our front porch is decked out in great autumn style!

The Rocks Cry Out!

I'll find another spot for the stone (bottom left) that I removed to make a place for "Home Sweet Home" ...

...while THIS stone seems comfortable here next to another entrance to our front porch. I felt blessed to find both of them at a garage sale yesterday for $1@. I am soothed by the silent messages these rocks convey. I hope our guests feel the same!

September Sadness

I'm not sure why I was sad as I strolled through our yard this morning...

Could it be the thinning of leaves,

the straggly awkwardness of once-proud perennials,

the strong hints of the coming "deadness" of winter,

or the regrets for things neglected in season past?

The squirrels seem to notice NONE of it - scampering and screeching

far too fast for my camera to catch their activity.

I'll take a lesson from them and apply myself to tasks at hand today.

Focused, thorough and (hopefully) productive.

At Last! My Asters!

I've longed for some of these blue asters for several years now.

Finally, this week, I sought information at our local nursery.

"Technically, they're annuals," I was told. "But with good root stimulator and winter mulching, mine are in their third year," she added.

Maybe I shouldn't have, but I opted for a smaller container at our Meijer store ($1.99)

and bought two instead of one more expensive one at the nursery...

Planted in the bed directly behind our garage, they share space with these beautiful companions...

wild mums (unshaped with prolific blooms, and sedum--tall and regal).

Labor Day Play

Sunday evening. Sadly, no pictures of Abigail or Gramma!

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)