Thursday, July 30, 2015
Summer Slowdown
I'm the type of person who likes to get involved in things, especially when it relates to music and gardening. Ever since I took an early retirement, I've added quite a few things to my agenda. It makes for a busy lifestyle. I enjoy these activities, or I wouldn't participate in them. I've made many good friends, and I've had lots of fun.
But then there's summer time. Ahhhh! Many of my activities have gone on hiatus, and my life has slowed way down. It's strange. And wonderful!
Summer lends itself to slowing down, doesn't it? The heat can make us feel a little lazy. It's time to simply relax and enjoy a little quiet time.
Sometimes the garden slows its growth in mid summer too, but that hasn't happened quite yet. It's a jungle out there! With all the rain we've had, my plants are bigger than ever.
I have to admit that it has kept me from constantly buying more plants, as I've been known to do. My current flowers have grown so large that they've filled in all available space. Weeds haven't found much room to sneak in, which has meant less work.
I've had more time to enjoy my quiet hobbies, especially reading. I've devoured more books than usual this summer. But mostly, I've been taking pictures of the garden. Yes, I know that I always do that. However, I've taken a lot more than usual. It's a little overwhelming to keep them sorted out and edited. But the blooms have been coming on fast and furious out there, and I don't want to miss anything.
The endless rain that we struggled with earlier this summer seems to have finally tapered off. We're still getting a little more rain than normal, but it's more spread out now. One week in June we got five inches of rain! Now it's about an inch or so, which is actually ideal.
So I'm enjoying my summer slowdown, that for sure. It's been very relaxing, and very low stress. Isn't that how life should be?
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Your photos of your flowers are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Terra, and thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you'll stop by again soon.
DeleteYes indeed, Robin. Summer is made for slowing down and enjoying all that Nature has gifted us with. If we don't, we'll miss all the butterfly and bee visits. The flowers in your garden are so pretty. You already know how I feel about your gorgeous Agastache! I hope you have many more lovely moments in your beautiful garden. (Oh, and I totally understand about down-sizing and having fewer pots to water. I just can't seem to commit to it yet. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually wrote an article called "How to break up with your garden hose", so let's see if I follow my own advice. I think the difference is that we don't generally get the rain that you do, and watering becomes such a chore in late summer. Not to mention my recalcitrant knee, which prefers that I do not spend time wandering around the yard endlessly!
DeleteIt's beautiful there Robin, all that rain might have temporarily put a damper on your garden, but it's thriving now. I can't get over how lush, and full everything is.
ReplyDeleteJen
I think we all have the goal of having our garden be lush and full, but now that it's happening to me, I'm not sure! Things are starting to seem wild and overgrown, and I struggle to reign it all in. Not to mention that I no longer have room to stuff in new plants! Be careful what I wish for, yes?
DeleteBeautiful flowers! I dunno about slowing down though...I'm always busy doing something or going somewhere! I just finished two painting projects today, cleaning bathrooms and the kitchen, 3 loads of laundry, gardening...now going to make a chicken stir-fry for dinner and work on a scrapbook. My reading time is about an hour before bed time.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have busy things to fill our days, cooking, cleaning, organizing, gardening, etc. What I'm enjoying about this slower summer is the opportunity to stay home more, and do the aforementioned activities!
DeleteHi Robin, your garden is looking wonderful! My garden definitely slows down in the summer, and I don't do much except to keep it watered when it doesn't rain and to weed it once in a while. It is too hot and humid for much else. I confess, about this time of year, I start longing for fall.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to fall too. The cool, fresh air is just so appealing to me!
DeleteYour garden is looking great. You have some lovely plants and what great colour! We had the coolest July in 22 years in Northern Ireland; hoping August is a bit better.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your August has warmed up! Our summer has been cooler over all, for which I'm grateful. If only it wasn't so horribly humid all summer. Ugh! Bring on the autumn cool weather. I'll welcome it.
DeleteYour garden looks incredible Robin. I can't say the same for mine. Rocky start with all the rain, voles & bunnies. But things are better now ~ maybe I should get out there & finally do some much needed work???!! I'm also glad to hear someone slows down in the summer! I usually think of it as a slower time but it never ends up being that way for me. Sometimes even busier than other seasons. Thank you for all the comments you've left me ~ I really appreciate them. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason for my summer slowdown is that several of my music groups go on hiatus in the summer. I enjoy them, or I wouldn't participate, but it gets overwhelming to be gone nearly every night of the week. One of my favorite way to spend the evening is to head out to the patio after dinner, and start snapping photos of everything in sight! Now that's why I like to stay home now and then.
DeleteHi Robin girl .. I too have Cheyenne Spirit echinacea but managed to keep them mostly in one spot and I think it does work better that way as well ... but yes all the plants that have to be moved so height and what not looks a little more appealing .. we finally just have gotten some rain (it is moving in again as the thunder is rolling closer) .. tomorrow it is supposed to be sunny and cooler so that will be a nice change.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to Autumn !
Take care
Joy : )
Yes, I do love autumn, and look forward to the cool, clear days. We are having a preview this week, with cool temps! I love it, but it's actually a little too soon. Hmmm, cool enough to move that Cheyenne Spirit I think!
DeleteYour garden is just simply amazing, Robin. I like the way the plants are layered in, crowded, close, no weeds--a look that I strive for in the center circle, but it is just too big for me to take care of now. And by the way, the waterfall does not seem to be leaking. We had to refill it, once, but it seems to be holding its own now after we tore it apart again and didn't find any leaks. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteIf you want that crowded look in a large area, I think you need to use those that grow easy from seed, and spread themselves around. One that comes to mind is nigella. Yes, it's an annual, but it spreads itself around so well that it may as well be a perennial. Pretty too!
DeleteI am glad you can slow down now and enjoy your wonderful garden, Robin. I know all that beauty didn't just 'happen' and a lot of work went into it. I just wish the summer wasn't passing so fast! P. x
ReplyDeleteIt's been an odd summer, late to start, too much rain, and now it's turning cool already! But then again, I sure do love fall.
DeleteI am in awe at how beautiful your garden is. I scroll through these lovely flowers and when I reach the end of your post, I start at the top to take in all of lovely eye candy all over again. Blessings... :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so sweet Dee! I'm glad you stopped by my blog and left me a comment! Come back again anytime.
DeleteI suppose that I have said it before, your garden is stunning. I love the plant variety and how everything is layered in, complimenting each other. We began wet and cold too, warmed up, cooled down, now we are in a late summer heat wave. The morning are fall-ishly cool, but the day heats up. Your water photos are nothing short of awesome. I love sale boats.
ReplyDeleteMy garden has gotten increasingly full over the last couple years, but it has turned out to be a good thing. Once it fills in, there's not much room for weeds!
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