juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN

Other Peoples' Yards & Gardens

Whenever I go to our library which is in a neighboring town,

I drive by this yard.

A couple of days ago,

I invited myself to a tour!

The owner graciously consented.

Fountains, garden sheds,

fruit trees and NUT trees!

(Notice the identification sign. I think they're charming.)

It's all very fascinating.

I didn't get a picture of the vegetable garden....

but I think you get the picture!

I really like leisurely strolls through other peoples' yards and gardens,

don't you?

The Pleasure of a Good Garden Read

I spent a beautiful hour in the back yard on this glider/swing finishing

a witty, wonderful book.

Besides communicating the pleasure Elizabeth found

in developing her country estate,

this book is full of garden details, wit, and grand descriptions

of life in Victorian times.

I am "in the market" for my own copy.
It's a book I would read again and again and never tire of it!

I understand that she wrote 22 books. I'm looking for THOSE, too.

Let me know if you have a copy to spare.

Coming and Going

While I was visiting this little guy who is fighting a

nasty rhinovirus,

things in our yard and flowerbeds were coming and going!

The roses are coming on strong. The bushes are covered with blossoms.

Soon the clematis will be out in full, colorful force, too!

The iris are saying their good-byes...

at the same time the lavender says, "Hello!"

From the comfort of our newly refurbished swing/glider

I take in the sights of the peony's "coming"

the flowering of its neighbors in the flower bed...

and the "going" of the stone path, newly cleared of its weeds.

What beautiful weather we are enjoying!

A rain would be welcomed just about now...

All Paths...

We visited our local County Extension Gardens

late this afternoon.

(Can you see the butterfly in the bottom left-hand corner of this stone?)

I decided to try to photograph all the foot paths in this amazing place.

Unfortunately, I hadn't changed the indoor setting on my camera

that I'd used earlier in the day.

Thus...not the quality of pictures that I'd hoped for...

but enough to show the great diversity of materials and designs

used to create paths and walkways.

Even the Prairie Section below had navigable paths!

I have a path or two to change/expand back at "the ranch"!

I'm gathering ideas in the "Path" section of my Pinterest account.

One of these days, we'll come up with a plan to execute...

Every stone in the path that these two lie in

has a different design!

Whether stones, mulch, gravel, or plain old dirt,

all these paths were enjoyable to walk.

Thanks to the Master Gardeners who plan and work

to maintain this quality place!

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)

Other Peoples' Yards & Gardens

Sights and Signs

The Pleasure of a Good Garden Read

Coming and Going

All Paths...