These should be the dog days of summer. It's mid August, hot and sultry, right? Not this year.
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| Queen Red Lime zinnia |
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| Shabby birdhouse surrounded by Sunny Knockout roses |
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| Munstead lavender with black eyed susans |
This year summer is more temperate. It's not too hot, it's not too cool. Perfect.
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| Grandpa Ott morning glory |
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| Gazing ball with Full Moon coreopsis and anise hyssop |
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| Apple Blossom pelargoniums from seed |
Summer vegetables arrive daily, full of summer sunshine. There are jars and jars of pickles in the fridge. Tomatoes turn into salsa. I'm looking for the perfect recipe to use the lovely eggplants that are ripening quickly. The freezer is full of zucchini bread. It's all just so perfect.
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| Summer veggies |
I wish I could say that everything is perfect in the garden this year. I'm an organic gardener, so there will always be a few bugs out there munching. The rough winter made many of my plants small and weak. Blooms are often much later than normal.
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| Verbena bonariensis with purple coneflowers and Karley Rose pennisetum |
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| Black eyed susans |
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| Endless Summer hydrangeas peeking out from armillary sphere |
Butterflies don't seem to visit as often. But they're out there. They too love the summer sunshine. But they sure don't like to pose for my pictures. There are many more visitors than you see here. Yes, I've seen monarchs, but they are the most skittish of all. That's okay, it's good just know they are here.
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| Painted Lady butterfly |
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| Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar |
Summer is a quiet time around my house. Many of my usual activities are on hiatus, leaving me time to putter in the garden more. This is a very good thing. For once in my life, I don't feel so behind. I might even feel like I'm caught up, can you believe it?
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| Sunflower! |
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| Karley Rose grass |
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| Tiger Eye rudbeckia |
But the days are cooling a little faster this year. I'm afraid that summer won't last quite as long. I fear that fall will sneak in behind my back. So I try to spend all the time I can spare just enjoying that summer sunshine.
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| Goldfinch |
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| Summerific Cherry Cheesecake hardy hibiscus |
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| Welcome! |
I'm getting the same feeling about Fall coming early Robin. I hope we're wrong. I cannot get enough summer, ever!!! This year tho (with my daughter's rehab) it's gone way, way too quickly. I'm out as much as I can be too. I LOVE, love, love all the photos in this post. Miss my 'Queen Red Lime' zinnias after seeing yours. Haven't had them in two years. No one around here carries plants & I keep forgetting to order seeds. Love that swallowtail caterpillar. Lucky you. I haven't seen a single caterpillar in my garden this year. :(
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that "caught up" feeling as long as it lasts!! Wonder what that feels like??!!!!
p.s. Too funny about Pinterest ~ I remember pinning those peony cupcakes! They looked amazing...
I'm with you Kathleen, I never get enough of summer. But there's a small corner of my heart that is grateful for the winter's rest. It's nice to not have to think about watering, planting, weeding, etc. But I miss my flowers so much in winter! Order those darn Queen Red Lime seeds, you will NOT be sorry, and you'll order them again and again.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marissa, that's because I have such beautiful material to work with!
DeleteBeautiful shots! xxx...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Brooke! It's easy to take pictures with so much beauty to work with.
DeleteSorry girls, but even here in Georgia, it's arrival is imminent. I found golden rod today in a place where it's never before bloomed that early. Even a few trees are already coloring and dropping leaves. And most telling of all is how cold the well water is...I definitely think it will be an early one this year!
ReplyDeleteI used to say autumn was my favorite season, but more and more each year, I add another regret or two to my list of what I will miss about summer. This year is berry season and blistering sun which we had none of...
Autumn is indeed gorgeous, but it fortells the arrival of winter, and that I cannot abide!
DeleteYour garden is so beautiful. I love the cheery cheesecake hibiscus and the zinnia, too. Your photos are beautiful, too. This is a great post. You have captured your garden at its peak and that must be a very good feeling.
ReplyDeleteThat hibiscus was one of the freebies that I am trialing for Proven Winners, and I LOVE it! I'll be giving this one two thumbs up, for sure.
DeleteIts still.beautiful in your garden...lovely shots. Summer can stay for a little longer if I have my way.
ReplyDeleteJen
Thank you Jen, if you say my shots are lovely, that is quite an honor. Summer could stay year round to please us both, but would we appreciate it as much if it did? It's fleeting nature is what makes it so precious.
DeleteYour garden is certainly welcoming, and I adore your poka-dot cup planter! So many pretty blooms and wonderful veggies! I love your cherry cheesecake hibiscus. It is beautiful and sounds yummy. I am glad you are feeling caught up; I haven't worked in a year, and I still am behind, despite my unexpected gift of time. Our summer has been more moderate this year, although the last couple of weeks the weather has suddenly remembered just how far south we are!
ReplyDeleteIf only you knew what it took to find that cute little polka dot planter! I had a colorful one that I adored, but neglected to bring it in over the winter and it broke. So I was mildly disappointed that I could only find it in black and white, but it grew on me. Now I love it even more!
DeleteRobin you are making me miss my Karley Rose grass a lot more now .. I love my water feature but that grass was my master piece in the middle of the garden for so many years .. BIG sigh !
ReplyDeleteYour shots are gorgeous girl .. right place right time right shot ! well done !!
Joy : )
Joy, you know what I'm going to say, right? Get yourself a new Karly Rose! It's an absolute must have for me.
DeleteI love that Zinnia Robin. Your garden looks so pretty. It is all just going too fast for me.Such a pretty entry with your plantings.
ReplyDeleteLona, I consider that zinnia to be the queen of my garden, I can't garden without it!
DeleteSo many beautiful plants in your garden, but I really love that Karley Rose Grass, I've never seen that before. Your shabby birdhouse is just adorable!
ReplyDeleteKarly Rose grass is mandatory, you must get some! Gorgeous like that all summer long.
DeleteYour yard just looks so perfect compared to mine... lol I loved that little carrot that was peeking out of the summer Veggies box. and the purple kholrabi that you grew from seed...Amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe grew kohlrabi from plants last year, but this year from seed. Piece of cake, it came right up and gave us kohlrabis to eat early on. And the purple part was just for fun.
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