A slow start today as both Don and I had trouble getting to sleep last night. Who knows why? So I slept in a bit this morning. Yesterday was rainy, tomorrow will be stormy, but today should be lovely and dry.
I’m hoping I can get to the miniature show in Massachusetts tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
I took a little walk around the property yesterday.
There are wild roses blooming everywhere. It’s very hard to keep these crazy, prickly plants in check, but at this moment in time, I’m grateful they are so abundant. The scent is heavenly.
The garden looks wild in the early summer. Everything is growing by leaps and bounds. The catmint is in full flower, the crown vetch is doing its best to take over the garden bed (I’ve already had to pull it back a couple of times.)
More lamium; this one is Dead Nettle. It’s in full bloom. It’s one of the first things I planted in the big garden bed ten years ago and it never fails to flower. Very, very dependable.
I am fascinated by every step of a plant’s growth, by all the stages of a flower. Here’s a clematis flower bud starting to open.
A little further along.
The clematis has more blooms than ever. It’s simply gorgeous.
This morning, I looked out the window of the kitchen door and there was a Northern Flicker just landing on the pavement. At the same time, our little chipmunk was running under the fence and he stopped, did a double take, and quickly escaped via the planter. Don said it must look like Jurassic Park around here to that little chippie.
The Northern Flicker is new to our property. I had to look him up in my bird book because I couldn’t identify him. Northern Flickers are a type of woodpecker. He’s really beautiful. I’ll try to get a photo because he has lovely markings.
Finally, I rescued two peonies from the heavy downpour that happened yesterday morning.
“Still Life with Peonies.”
I’m inhaling that scent every chance I get.
Happy Saturday.
What lovely photographs, Claudia. It looks so peaceful there. You have nurtured those plants and now they are nurturing you (and us, by proxy).
Jurassic Park. Ha. I love chippies. And flickers. I have a yellow-shafted flicker from time to time. He is noble and dignified, especially compared to the same-size raucous blue jays.
Oh, those blue jays!
Hi, it’s overcast and muggy here, I hope it dries out a bit, we have a graduation BBQ to go to at 2:00. Your clematis are just outstanding, we can’t seem to get one growing. ? xxoo
This one didn’t bloom at all until we, sadly, had to have the weeping willow taken down. Then it got much more sun and suddenly, blooms!
Everything looks very quiet and peaceful, Claudia. Yet you can see that there is ongoing activity taking place with every new bloom. Creation is Fascinating!
It is. Endlessly so!
Everything looks fantastic…you must have been busy weeding….cause I couldn’t spot any! It’s cooler here today…refreshing! Haven’t had to have the air on in a week or so! Enjoy your day! ;)
Oh, they’re there! I did a bit of weeding yesterday, but it’s a never ending battle, Donnamae!
I am just on my way outside to cut a few peonies. It seems we blink and they are finished for the year.
This time of the year is so lush and pretty. It seems like after the 4th of July we can tell a few things are getting spindly, and by August many plants are just tired. They do so look forward to their daily watering. So nice to get some rain a few times a week so the water comes from a source other than me!!
Hope you make it to your show tomorrow. Have fun! I’m sure we will see some pictures!
Hopefully! But we’re going to play it by ear, Chris. Depends on the weather.
Sounds like a nice, peaceful, Nature-filled Saturday for you two. ‘Bout time, huh? Oh – any news on the fox front? Any sightings ? Maybe they’re relaxing today as well. ?
No sightings, Janet. But every time I hear a car horn honk as it’s going down the road, I worry that that little fellow is in the line of fire.
Lovely walk around your property Claudia and Don…seeing all of those flowers is good for your heart…My son and I did this here a few days ago…I love all of the wildflowers we found..The Honeysuckle down at the creek..I swear it has doubled this year..it is just starting to bloom and when it and the Wild Roses bloom together it smells heavenly here too..I have a Sedum growing here that has tiny little yellow flowers on it..There is also quite a bit of Dead Nettle…I have to do something about the White Loose Strife that I planted not knowing it was invasive..Your Clematis and Catmint are so gorgeous this year…Enjoy!
Thank you, Nancy. We have purple loosestrife around here, but so far it seems to be under control.
Heading out for lunch and a theater matinee with a friend so no gardening today for me. Love the peony still life., Claudia. And you have so many neat “wild” plants on your property. My daughter picked some mixture of peas from the veg patch this morning. Veg for lunch. Getting anxious for tomatoes! Crossing fingers that Sunday will be mild enough for you to catch the minis show….but if you do go, we expect photos of the show, and your haul!
Don’t think I can afford a haul, but surely I will buy something or other! I promise to take photos, Wendy. Have a lovely time at the theater!
Your gardens are lovely
We have Flickers this time of year. They like a particular ant that builds hills on the sidewalk.
First hummingbird sighting this week.
I wish the hummers would come and stay but they always seem to be nomads
I rarely see a hummer around here. When I do, it’s moving so fast that I can’t get a picture!
Your yard is very pretty. A lot of work keeping up this time of year but so pretty to sit back and admire it.
It is a lot of work right now and I’m realizing that my big garden bed needs thinning out. But I’m not up to it right now!
Gorgeous. We dream of country living, but I think we need to be contented right where we are. Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden with us today.
Blessings,
Betsy
You are very welcome, Betsy!
Is part of your property, at the edges, some kind of wild wood/’forest’ that’s impenetrable? It looks very dense from the photos.
Yes, it’s woody, but it’s not impenetrable. We have paths going through the woods.
Everything is so pretty. I do hope you get to the miniature show!! I had a pretty restful day with a little work thrown in. My plants aren’t doing so well even with my watering. (sad face)
hugs,
Linda
Is it because it’s too hot where you live?
The heat and lack of rain. I’ve watered but it seems like some things just aren’t growing this year. Oh and the deer like to munch on the plants also. It’s OK by me. I put a little wind chime on my crook outside and its charming me with it’s sweet music.
Wind chimes are wonderful. I’m so glad I brought my parents’ wind chimes back to the cottage. I love the sound and it feels like they are talking to me.