Sleep deprivation continues. I’m sleeping, but not enough, and the cumulative effects are making me very tired and slightly snarly. When I am suffering from a lack of sleep, every worry and care seems heavier and more ominous. But I’m learning to not take my thoughts too seriously on days such as these because I seem to lose all sense of perspective. So, my friends, much to your relief I’m sure, I will not be listing all my worries for you today. No, I will post some pretty pictures instead!
Daylilies are fleeting, but I must say this year’s crop (the ones that haven’t been eaten by the deer) are more abundant than ever. This bed is right next to the entrance to the porch and is full of sedum, hostas, coneflowers and daylilies.
The sedum Autumn Joy was here when we moved in, as was the giant hosta that is just outside of this view. Everything else, I added. This particular bed is one of my favorites because it looks so cottage garden-like. It’s densely planted – more so every year, as the coneflowers keep reseeding and multiplying.
A few years ago, I tucked a Hens and Chicks under one of the boxwoods in front of the house. At the end of our very tough winter, it looked pretty awful. I thought I just might lose it.
But there it is, with little babies.
This one has bloomed for two years now. Aren’t the little flowers beautiful?
Some of you are suffering in a drought, some are dealing with high temperatures, and others, like me, are dealing with a lot of rain and humidity….so tell me, what’s blooming in your garden now? How does it look at mid-summer? Or, if you don’t have a garden, what’s blooming in the gardens around you?
Happy Thursday.
My summer garden this year is probably the most disappointing ever! After that awful winter – unusually cold and so long for the south – we have few blooming anythings! Not a single hydrangea flower, roses sad, day lilies few, lantana flowerless so far, most seeds sown never even germinated, everything pathetic. Except the fig trees…….a ton of fruits on each of the two slowly ripening trees, so guess I’ll be making jam in the coming month or so, not a bad thing!
I really am sorry for your sleep problems Claudia. I usually sleep well but Tues. was up all night, just couldn’t fall asleep, concerned about the plan to wake at 3:45 am to get the girls to the airport early for their flight to Calif. Times like that I always sympathize with anyone who suffers from insomnia – it must be really terrible! Hope good nights are ahead for you – last night I slept from 10-7 and it was wonderful!
Happy day, Mary
I usually sleep well, too, but lately Don hasn’t been sleeping well and his restlessness has affected my sleep. It will pass, but it’s driving me nuts!
I’m so sorry about your garden. I guess this winter had a major impact on many gardens.
Good Morning Claudia! Finally low humidity here in PA and no rain for the next few days anyway. Daylilies, loosestrife (which, I know some call invasive, but we love it), black-eyed Susans and hostas are all blooming well in what I call our bog or wetland area (we have a number of underground springs on our property which keep some areas very, very wet). Cattails are not doing so great this year. Our apples are small and most look damaged (we don’t use any kind of pesticides). The fig tree my husband gave me at Christmas is thriving now, but no figs yet…I keep hoping… And, hoping that you can get some needed rest soon. I often wake during the night a few times, but since I have gone back to yoga classes once a week that has improved.
Yes, low humidity here today, as well. Hallelujah!
We have some loosestrife in the areas of the property that tend to stay wet. It’s not out of control and I like it.
Down south crape myrtles, phlox, day lilies, petunias, cockscomb, and rose of sharon. Try melatonin if you can’t sleep. I take one occasionally and it really helps.
Don takes melatonin sometimes, too. I slept last night, just not enough. I couldn’t get to bed at my normal time and I wake up like clockwork around 6 am.
Nothing blooming on my property this year except for a few volunteer moss roses and lots of weeds.
So appreciate my neighbors’ efforts across the street and to my left, both who take pride in their properties and offer much in color and texture to enjoy. And believe me, we are enjoying it very much this year from our extremely limited living space on our front porch.
I had my flats of blue rocket salvia and white wax begonias bought, but they floated away in the flood waters that also devastated our home and our neighbor’s home to the right. I guess lots of weed seeds were left from the flood waters as we have rag weed for the first time ever as well as other unidentified weeds that are new.
This is the summer that never was for us as the garden plot we worked on to enlarge early this spring also has been let go and is sporting a healthy crop of thistle.
Keeping our fingers crossed the restoration crew will be gone by the end of this week then it is on to flooring and appliances. Even if I could find flowers this late in the season, there just is not money for them. While I have never truly cared for mums, maybe by fall I can spring for a pot or two of color. Until then, I spy roses, sage, various grasses, petunias, delphiniums, hydrangeas, coreopsis, and hanging baskets with what all , I don’t know. All compliments of my green-thumbed neighbors! So while you and other gardeners enjoy your own efforts, know that others truly do too!
I’m so sorry you had to deal with flooding issues. I can see how that would scuttle any big plans for a summer garden. More important that you get things restored so that your home is livable again. Hang in there!
We have been having lovely weather here in east central IL and it is making the gardens grow! Purple coneflower, shasta daisies, cosmos, cleome, verbena, zinnias, snapdragons & more are all blooming in my garden. The only ones not doing well are my tomato & pepper plants, deer ate them right down to the stalks last night!
Those pesky deer! They’ve been doing a number on some of my plants, as well. I see a tiny flower bud on my some of my zinnias. Hurrah! But the morning glories are taking forever to grow – I think they don’t like to do too much of anything until August.
I have the problem of thinking things through to their most horrid conclusion. I found this quote last week and have it on my bathroom mirror. “To see things in their true proportion, to escape the magnifying influence of a morbid imagination, should be one of the chief aims of life.” ~ William Edward Hartpole Lecky, The Map of Life. I hear this, I can tell you.
I also have hens and chicks everywhere in my yard. They grow well here, and all I need to do is keep them watered. Only thing I don’t kill.
Tana
Apparently, the winter and I don’t kill them either!
Love that quote, Tana!
Since downsizing and moving across the United States a few years ago, we had to give up our much beloved gardens. We moved to the NorthEast and were amazed at the beautiful flowers and how they lasted for the entire season. Being native Texans, we were accustomed to enjoying a somewhat brief blooming season and then when the summer heat set in, the task of just keeping things alive was our mission. We have since moved back to Texas and are living in a rental property. The neighborhood is lovely, but unfortunately no one in this immediate area does much but keep their green grass properly groomed. I have a few flowers to tend–zinnias, mini bell petunias, lantana, morning glories and crape myrtle bushes. We are totally enjoying a very rare cool down with rain today and everything outdoors is smiling for sure! We do not have deer to compete with, but rabbits, rabbits, rabbits everywhere :-) I don’t really mind their munching, as long as they do leave a few blossoms for us to enjoy as well.
I really sympathize with anyone suffering from any form of insomnia–short or long term. I endured it for years and one day POOF it was gone, much to my utter delight! I myself do not favor any type of oral relief, but found a lavender eye mask did help to a degree. Perhaps a short nap this afternoon will restore your vim and vigor. At least that is what my senior citizen “puppy” suggests :-) He is always happy to keep me company if I decide a 15 min. power nap is in order for the day. May your worries and troubles be few today~
I’m going to try to catch a nap this afternoon, Jeannine. Cross your fingers!
I know it gets awfully hot in Texas, gardening must be a challenge. And when you’re in a rental, it’s even more challenging!
I love the Hostas they are beautiful as are the Lilies!
It is currently raining here…actually coming down pretty hard. It’s only supposed to get to 88* today. We’ve had enough rain this year, that it has kept the grasshoppers from taking over. It’s also rained enough to keep the Crepe Myrtles in bloom, the Black- Eyed Susans are still blooming, and I spotted blooms on the Wisteria again! They’re the most showy around Easter every year– but sometimes, they give a slight bumper show! I also saw something blooming in the bar ditch the other day, it was the palest lavendar, and resembled a wild or antique Petunia…very pretty!
Really, I think your Hostas are so pretty– and they come back again and again, don’t they? Perennials correct? I wonder if they’d do well in our car park? That area is shaded. I have Hosta envy. :)
Pat
Yes, they are perennials, they come back year after year with no problem – big and full and beautiful.
Well, my hostas are doing quite well…unless the deer snack, but my lillie’s are brilliant this year. And my ferns are luscious with all the rain! Our Japanese maple suffered from the long winter though, and I’m really bummed about that. My neighbor’s garden is flourishing…she has lots of perennials…so I gaze on hers. We have a beautiful view from our deck! My annuals are doing fine….and the weeds would thrive if I let them! So happy the humidity has finally left! ;)
My weeds are doing very well, Donna!
Oh Claudia… I’m so sorry to hear that sleep has evaded you. Dang, I hate it when that happens…. but your posies are yummy… :-) Super HOT here. Unusual for the dreary and wet Pacific Northwest. I’m already tired of it and ready for autumn… CANNOT. WAIT!
Blessings sweet girlie!
Spencer
I have heard about the temps out your way, Spencer. Very rare, indeed!
I’m so sorry to hear you are not sleeping well Claudia..I know how miserable that can be..My flowers are doing well but I’m afraid I lost my beautiful Mimosa Trees and my pretty little Japanese Maple in a big pot to the awful Winter we had..I am going to leave them alone and hope that they return next year..
They just might, Nancy. Maybe they need a year to recover, poor things!
I think of you every day. Take care of yourself. I am a couple months ahead of you in the mourning process. The insomnia will disappear eventually. Keep smiling and enjoy that beautiful garden you have created. I know your Mom is enjoying it too. Still looking for that bug killing recipe.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
You know, Susan, I keep forgetting that I am in mourning and insomnia is part of that process. Thank you for reminding me. Love to you and Bentley.
I am blessed with several huge oak trees and one very tall long needle pine tree but no garden. However neighbors gardens are blooming beautifully thanks to all the rain. There are magnificently lush Crepe Myrtles blooming all around us in glorious bright colors. We are visited by some colorful butterflies which always remind me of my mother for she loved them so.
Just saw a beautiful butterfly outside, but I didn’t have my camera with me!
We are in an extreme drought so my garden is limited and very small. I do have zinnias just starting to bloom. They were planted from seeds. I love the Salvia that’s blooming and it’s drought tollerant. We are letting our lawn die in order to save our trees. They’re more valuable to us than the lawn. We actually would like to convert the lawn area into flower and herb gardens with paths in between. The lawn and drive way are the only flat parts of our property here on a wooded hillside. Those plans will have to wait until the winter rains return to normal. Hopefully this coming year otherwise CA is in big trouble.
Take care and yes we do wish you could share some of your excess rain.
I would do the same thing – let the lawn die to save the trees. Good luck, Patricia.
Claudia the garden looks so wonderful. I know the amount of time you have put into it, and I truly appreciate your pictures. I wish there was a way to show you my summer pictures.
Have you tried getting up and having a cup of cocoa? I know in the summer it doens’t sound very inviting, but it works for me every time I can’t sleep.
I am off to Minneapolis tomorrow for a week with a friend. If you happen to be in the area (lol), and see 2 crazy women loaded down with yarn bags, laughing hysterically, or dancing in the street, stone cold sober that will be us! We are eating lunch out, yarn shopping, thrift store shopping and antiquing.
Sorry I posted this on your blog, but I needed to share my giddiness.
Have a wonderful time with your friend, Trudy. You deserve it!
My hostas are blooming so well this year and seem to have doubled in size from last year and they are mature plants! My daylillies are going crazy too, and I have noticed everyone else’s are doing the same. Your gardens around the house look lovely!
I think it was that wet winter and very wet spring, Nancy!
your gardens are so lovely. perfect for your cottage. i always enjoy the views of your life and home.
i didn’t plant anything new this year just used seeds instead (less expensive) a butterfly mix, zinnias, and sunflowers. many of my ivy and plants that die back during the winter are thriving too. so amazing how resilient they can be with all of the snow and ice battering them all winter.
i hope your blog problems are all solved now. i love the simple look of your blog…it reminds me of your crafty nook in your cottage.
blessings Claudia.
Argh. I left a lengthy comment aboutmt mostly dead garden (drought and broken irrigation system — even some roses have died) and then something weird happened and then the train I’m on went through a tunnel and I lost it all. Anyway, hope you are feeling better.