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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Fading Gardens

October 7, 2022 at 9:17 am by Claudia

Bits and pieces of the David phlox are still hanging in there, bless them. It’s clear, though, that they’re preparing to leave for the winter. We had a sunny day yesterday – so welcome after several dreary and rainy days – and I took some time to look at the gardens. They’re overgrown, of course. I haven’t been weeding because of my back. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn’t have weeded them anyway. I usually lose interest in weeding by August.

Once again, I have a morning glory climbing the chicken wire fence that is lovely but has no flowers. Do you remember the days when I routinely had tons of flowers on the vines? Now, they seem to bloom much later, if at all, and it’s always just before a frost hits. Climate change? Soil problems? I don’t know. I’m reluctant to give up on them because I’m ever hopeful, I guess. I loved the look of those beautiful morning glories. Sigh.

Truth be told, I sort of gave up on everything after the drought. I spent hours watering the garden beds, especially the chicken wire fence garden. And some of the beds revived and did well. But others suffered.

I finished The Ink Black Heart  yesterday. Excellent! I’ve never had 1000+ pages move along so smoothly and effortlessly. It was completely engrossing. Sometimes after a particularly wonderful read, I need a brief palate cleanser before I make a decision as to what to read next. I’ve found that Georges Simenon’s shortish Maigret mysteries are perfect. I chose Maigret and the Man on the Bench  which was on my TBR pile. I suspect that I’ll start Maggie O’Farrell’s newest, The Marriage Portrait, after I finish the Maigret.

Today, I’m going to mow. I’ll be careful and I’ve made a vow not to take on too much. I’ll start with the back forty where the grass is very long, then, the corral area. But right now, it’s too wet with morning dew so I’ll have to wait until it dries.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, reading 16 Comments

Monday – the Funeral

September 19, 2022 at 8:00 am by Claudia

I’m writing this post on Sunday because we’re getting up early on Monday to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, so I won’t have time to write at my usual time in the morning. Better to write it now and guarantee it’s published near the usual time instead of hoping I get to it.

Sunday was warm – 83 degrees – and sunny. I was actually rather shocked by the warm temps when I went out to water some of the plants.  There is still a lot of mowing to do, but we plan to spread it out over the week ahead. Hopefully, I’ll be able to join in. My back is getting better; I vacuumed and dusted and did a little more work on the puzzle. After all of that, I sat back down in my chair with the heating pad on.

Remember the bunnies eating all my zinnia buds? Well, I guess they didn’t get them all because these tiny zinnias have bloomed. I’m hopeful there will be a few more. The gardens along the chicken wire fence have suffered this year. The Rose of Sharon didn’t bloom as much as it would have had we had rain. The morning glories and zinnias basically came to almost nothing in the chicken wire fence garden, and the aforementioned zinnias right outside the side door grew, were eaten, and apparently fought back. The morning glories behind these zinnias are growing up the fence, but no buds are in sight. Still hoping.

What a strange and depressing summer. Frankly, though I dread winter, I’m very eager for fall. These cooler mornings and evenings are lovely. I’m afraid fall color here in my part of the northeast will be a bit of a bust because of the drought.

Okay, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden 37 Comments

Flowers and Autumn

September 2, 2022 at 8:09 am by Claudia

A small bouquet of zinnias that Don gave me when I returned home last Sunday. He got them at the Farmer’s Market. Since we will have no zinnia blooms this year (thanks, bunnies) these are a lovely addition to the den.

It’s actually chilly this morning. I had to don a sweater. We’ve had such high temperatures for so long that we almost don’t know what cooler temperatures feel like. And for all of you in California, I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with another heat wave.

Both Don and I are glad to turn the page on the calendar and anticipate autumn. I don’t think the fall colors will be great this year – we’re in a drought – and some of our leaves started to turn brown a few weeks ago. In fact, when I drove up the driveway after my trip to Rochester, I noticed that 2 or 3 of the trees in the woods have already turned golden brown.

I’m going to say it: what a sucky summer it’s been.

I felt out of it most of the day yesterday and briefly worried about Covid, but then I realized that we’d had a major weather change, so my sinuses were in outrage mode. I started a new puzzle, which kept me occupied, but didn’t do any of the other things I had on my list. Thankfully, I’m feeling better today, so I’ll run a few errands and do some cleaning.

And then, on Sunday, I’ll head back to Rochester.

The sunlight is lovely today. I certainly see the change in the quality of the light as we head into September.

For once, I’m more than ready to leave summer behind and embrace fall.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: autumn, flowers 21 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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