juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN

More Rocks Rock!

Baughman's delivered us some more rocks! The pile will shrink as I use the larger ones for flower bed borders, replacing smaller ones I had installed temporarily. I am in a "rock phase". I enjoy using natural elements in our yard and garden along with the occasional whimsical touches.

Colors

Between the first of the month and now, the intensity of the pink sedum flowers has increased. They make beautiful statements in several of our flower beds.

...With a Nod to Autumn

Outfitting for Autumn

My husband designed, constructed, painted and hung this shelf/flag holder for our front porch. He used scraps and pieces found in our garage. I could hardly wait for the paint to dry to arrange some of my tin platters on it!

Birds on a Fence Post

Our Latest Acquisition

At "free", the price was right!

Autumn's Art

Had the Weather Cooperated....

...this would have been the scene in our garden this past Tuesday. I had hoped to serve desserts and coffee to my Red Hat Club ladies following our normal dinner meeting. However, rain had fallen most of the morning and there was another strong rain around 200 p.m. So desserts were served at the restaurant instead. I had looked forward to using the cushions (click on "cushions" to see the story) I had recently sewn scattered on various benches and seats throughout the yard along with vintage table clothes. Oh well. Maybe another time.

"Mums" the Word!

No other plant says "fall" like chrysanthemum flowers. (David Beauliu)

I divided a couple of hardy mums earlier in the summer. ALL of the divisions have done well and are blooming beautifully today. This is my favorite color and one of my most favorite, easy-to-grow perennials.

Sedum, too.

Two Angles - September View

A Proper Topper

We found a better spot for this cardinal AND a proper topper for our bottle tree!

Buck: Designed by my husband and crafted with the assistance of our friend, Andy.
For more details, check out the August 22, 2009 post here.

It was a busy day in the yard as Gary anchored this arbor and I transplanted a few hosta and black-eye Susans to fill in space in the expanded flowerbed.

Friends were removing their split rail fence....so we salvaged what we could, bought new posts, and greatly improved an area of our yard that lacked definition.

If these rocks could talk, they'd tell you they came from the bottom of the lake - rudely uprooted by persistent feet and lifted to the surface by the weak legs of the determined author of this blog! See them at their place of origin here.

These blue suncatchers hang from a bush outside our three season back porch. I shall be thrifting for more!

Our Backyard Bottle Tree

Freshly planted Russian sage. (I personally "love" this plant!)

Finally!

Discovered at thrift store Tuesday, painted Tuesday evening, in place on Wednesday morning!

Freshly stained to match the front porch and surrounded by "thrifted" treasures...

Click on the numbers to see more detail.

We're enjoying our newly painted front porch. I decorated the formerly pitted brass house numbers and am pleased with the results. The white porch furniture was free for picking up and the cushions were garage sale purchases. We had loaned the furniture to one of our children and when they could no longer use them, they were returned to us. I am delighted with the way they fit - perfectly!

Surprise! Click to find out more!

According to the above source, "Surprise lily, spider lily, magic lily, resurrection lily, pink flamingo flower, hurricane lily, naked lily and the ever popular "nekkid" lady are all names for the same plant. It must hold the title of the most common names for any plant."

"Most of the common names refer to the plant's split personality. Similar to feuding in-laws the leaves and flowers refuse to appear together. In spring, long amaryllis-like leaves grow in large clumps. By early summer the leaves have yellowed and withered. In mid July-August the surprise appears. The fragrant flowers pop out of the ground overnight. Large 2-feet tall naked stems erupt with 6-8 pink blushed funnel shaped flowers. This flower is definitely proud of its long legs."

We've added some solar lights and transplanted several clumps of a variegated grass in one of the beds we're expanding. One large mum is blooming profusely. I hung a small piece of blue stained glass near it.

We moved the fence away from the bush which had grown to overwhelm the smallness of the fence. We envision a mulch or stone covered area one day extending from the bush to the fence. Till then, the bench & table make a fine place to watch a game of croquet or keep an eye on the flower garden. Husband painted the fence, once moved, as well as the little black table, a garage sale find. Another crop of berries has appeared on the bush. A viburnum?

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)