How can it be already be Friday? The weeks go by so quickly! Goodness.
I know I’ve said it before, but this is the absolute best time in the garden. The peak of prettiness. I’m trying to remember to get out there and take lots of photos. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the things that need to be done and, before I know it, the day has gone by and I haven’t really stopped to take it all in.
I’m grateful for moments like the one I just had, when I glanced up and saw our living room and kitchen bathed in shadowy morning light and had a moment of profound gratitude. It was just a split second, but that is enough. Enough to get me rooted and thankful and ready for the rest of the day. And as Don says, when you have a moment like that, try to stay there and expand it as long as possible.
Ahhhh.
The phlox is blooming. And the scent is heavenly.
Don says it reminds him of night-blooming jasmine, which we loved when we were living in San Diego.
When I planted all of this David Phlox, it was white. And it still is, although some of it is now this lovely shade of purple.
And it has self-seeded and is now springing up all over the big garden bed.
Masses of flowers: catmint, bee balm, rudbeckia, sedum, day lilies and phlox.
Hello, Rudbeckia.
And since the Japanese Beetles seem to be slowing down a bit, a rose.
By the way, I mentioned this the other day, but in case you missed it, it’s possible to buy a single online copy of this month’s American Miniaturist at Pocket Mags. Unless you’re near a miniature/dollhouse/hobby shop, you might not be able to find it.
Here’s the link and a big thank you to the readers who tipped me off about this option.
Happy Friday.
Lovely photos!
Perhaps because work is frantically busy during the summer, the days of the week for me seem to go from Monday straight to Friday and then it’s suddenly Monday again. You’re so right about needing to pause now and then. I filled the planters in front of our office with all sorts of lovely flowers this year and took it upon myself to look after them. That five minutes in the morning watering and tidying is a nice start to the day.
So true. Sometimes taking a few minutes to water a planter is all you need to stay centered. Here’s to more moments of quiet beauty.
I had a moment like that the other evening. I was sitting on our porch, book in hand, a comfy shawl wrapped around my shoulders to ward off a cool summer chilliness, and as I looked out across our property, a feeling of immense gratitude and happiness just welled up in my chest. I sent up a prayer of thankfulness for all of the gifts in my life. It truely was an amazing feeling. We are not wealthy, by anyones standards andI have many wants, but not many needs. Your garden and photos are beautiful!
Those moments are rare and priceless. So happy that you had one, too!
I had no idea that phlox could change color. I have both colors planted in my garden but I purchased different plants. How does that work?
Heck if I know! But I never planted any purple phlox. It’s a mystery, but a wonderful one!
Nature is an amazing thing!! I love how you can plant one color and another somehow blooms! I am trying to remain ‘in the moment’ as Summer is flying by and soon I’ll be babysitting as everyone heads back to school!
hugs,
Linda
Summer goes by so quickly! Enjoy it while you can, Linda!
Garden is just lovely. My sister-in-law’s farm in West Virginia is like that early in the morning. With the fog hanging over the mountains, the crisp cool air, the deer and all you can hear is the rooster in the barn crowing. It gives you such a sense of peace and all is right with the world. Just a wonderful feeling! Have a wonderful day
hugs
Your sister-in-law’s farm sounds lovely!
Is your garden organic, Claudia? Do you ever grow vegetables? Or will the deer eat all of it?
No pesticides are ever used on the garden, Wendy. Vegetables take a lot of work, and I’m often away for portions of the summer. And yes, the deer would be a problem. Since we have so many farms around here, it’s easy to buy fresh vegetables and less of a hassle.
Lovely pictures Claudia. And, yes, pausing now and then to be grateful and thankful is always a good thing. I have those moments after I get home from work and my husband and I sit on our back patio…me with a glass of wine and he usually has coffee. Often we don’t even speak but rather look over our yard and woods and watch the birds. Bliss. I think Phlox are like Sweet William – they are genetically programmed (that’s not really the correct term) to have a bunch of different colors. There are some others that do that as well. Not like hydrangias where their color is dependent on the soil’s acid content. Hoping you, Don and the Dame have a lovely, peaceful weekend.
Maybe that’s the answer, Vera. They’re just programmed that way.
Finding a moment of peace and thankfulness in one’s day is like finding a diamond! And it is just as valuable. Flowers certainly help the moment!! :-)
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Love that. It IS like a diamond, Chris.
Your gardens are so pretty. Really makes me miss my garden at the house we had in Michigan. I had planted many of the same flowers that you have in your gardens. Thank you for sharing all the beauty.
I missed this kind of garden when I lived in San Diego, Kathleen. I understand.
Established gardens are such a gift to the soul. I am looking at yours with longing. Having moved where we live not quite three years ago, I’m trying to establish a few plants that I hope will expand to a garden. I have little area to plant. I have multitude of deer and rabbits. I dream of phlox , and am determined to plant some and establish it despite the deer. I tell myself, “I will win against these critters.”
This is the tenth summer I’ve been gardening here, Sally and we have deer and rabbits, too. Take heart. It will happen!
Thanks for the encouragement. I figure that if I plant in profusion, they can’t eat it all! Unless of course, they invite all their friends over.
Your garden is just beautiful Claudia. I agree, we need to stop and take life in before it passes us by. This past month has taught me to slow down a bit since I had no choice. Nothing like a hospitalization and unexpected surgery to make you take stock of your life and what is really important.
Blessings,
Betsy
Wise words, Betsy. And I hope this finds you feeling better and stronger, my friend.
I know those moments too Claudia…when I look around and think that I don’t have much..but I am grateful for what I do have…Anytime I am feeling sorry for myself…I just think of all the people out there that have less than I do…It’s good for the soul to remember that things could always be worse…I love gardens like that one…they just seem to grow so wild and free..they look so natural…As for the phlox..it is nice to get a little surprise from Mother Nature sometimes…She gave me a wonderful gift this year of some columbine growing in one of my planters that I didn’t re-plant…I have no idea how it got there but I was so happy to see it…I would prefer to have a print copy of American Miniaturist but will settle for the online copy if I have to…I am going to call the craft/hobby stores in State College Pa…Maybe one of them will have it…It’s only about a half hour drive from here…
Good luck with your search, Nancy!
I found another plant surprise today that really surprised me. More on that in another post!
Thank you for sharing your flower photos. They always make me smile .
I hope you, Don and Scout have a lovely weekend.
Deb
You’re welcome, Debbie. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
I know what mean about having a fleeting moment of gratitude.. I have those at times. Your flowers are beautiful enjoy your garden while it is in the midst splendor!
As you head into the weekend– I hope you have more opportunity to stop and breathe it in
Me too. I hope you have that, too, dear Pat.
Lovely gardens! Sun streaming in your home, in my book…qualifies as one of nature’s moments…too bad they don’t last longer. But, then again, if it happened once…if you look again at the same time, another day…you can often recreate it. I’ve been taking pictures of our yard to remind me in January, how lovely it once was! Enjoy your day! ;)
Good idea! I will do the same. I’ll go back to all these blog posts of the garden and remind myself of what will be coming in a few months – even though I see snow on the ground!
Catching up here…loved your post from yesterday with the amazing rooftop garden and a new cottage to construct! The accessories will be so much different for Don’s cottage; should be so much fun. Best of luck with it.
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