Ladies' Day Out. . .

Life is a garden, Good friends are the flowers
And time spent together, Life's happiest hours.
And friendship, like flowers, Blooms ever more fair,
When carefully tended by dear friends, who care.



I was honored to host my sister, Tammie and 3 of her good friends on their "ladies day out" today. They spent several hours in a car to get here from the Barnesville/Moorhead area of the state so hopefully they were not disappointed. They toured the gardens and spent some time relaxing on the patio having lunch and just enjoying their time together.


Lisanthus was a favored bloom today and the Sweet Caroline hibiscus sprung her first bloom just in time for my guests. I wish you all a garden of "friends".

Melody of Rain. . .

With enchanting rhythm comes
the music of the rain,
beating fast or slower time
upon my windowpane.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter,
hear the glad refrain,
the joyfulness that's found within
the melody of rain.
(Alfred McAdam)

Just as pretty a sight as any bloom is the raindrops falling on the pond surface! We finally have some relief from the heat that had temps reaching 100 degrees yesterday. I'm afraid the garden took a huge hit from the drought & heat but this small rainfall we are getting today will help it recover.



Today, I am thankful for rain and have found out that I sure love the "melody of rain".

Who has seen the wind?

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing thro’.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by.
(Christina Rossetti)

It is almost 100 degrees here this weekend with strong south winds. Going outside is a bit like being inside a convection oven. I did manage to water my container plants (some of them may not make a comeback after yesterday) but as you can see from the far background in this photo the lawn is dead.


All of this heat isn't stopping us from having a wonderful weekend. Today, is Jeff & my 30th anniversary. We are blessed with two wonderful children and Jayme's boyfriend, Scott, who made the day very special. I scanned the beautiful homemade card that Jayme made to the right. She took the b/w photo with color highlights of my clematis in June. The poem says we are their greatest gift but I think they are our greatest gift!

Feathered guests. . .

I saw them through the window,
Sitting in the tree,
My lovely little feathered guests,
Who had come to call on me;
They didn't ring the doorbell
Or knock upon my door;
They knew there was no need for that,
For they'd been here before.












Whenever I see them waiting,
My heart is filled with cheer;
For who could be sad or lonely
With such lovely guests so near?
And since I am their hostess,
Refreshments for them I provide. . .
I know it's no use to ask them in
So I take it to them outside.

And every time they come to call,
And that's most every day,
They chirp and sing and fly about
In the cheeriest sort of way.
It makes no difference how often
They have called on me before;
They seem to know in their little hearts,
They are welcome guests once more.
(Naomi Parks)

Anyone who knows me, knows I love my backyard birds. I have been noticing more activity on the "rock" as they all come to get a drink and a cool bath during these hot and dry days.




I hope to catch more and more of them with the camera. Until then. . .enjoy your feathered visitors as much as I do.

Tea Time. . .

I went to a garden party
to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories
and play our songs again
(Ricky Nelson)





I gave an old-fashioned garden tea party for my step-mother and 5 of her friends today. I tied on a 1950's era apron, used some vintage dishes and made lots of little finger foods. It was fun to watch them enjoy themselves amongst the blooms, birds and sounds of nature.

The juvenille baltimore orioles are visiting the feeders several times a day. I have seen 3 males and 2 females all at once so we had a good hatch this year. They are one of my favorite birds so brightly colored and their song is so beautiful.

Beneath a tree. . .

I love to sit beneath a tree
and enjoy that cooling shade
While I listen to the water
Play it's soothing serenade.



It's a perfect place to bring
all your worries for a day,
Cast your cares upon the garden
and let them slowly fade away.
(Louis J. Kacinko)

I spent some time relaxing in the garden just listening today. The water sounds, the birds and insects are music to my ears. I noticed a dragonfly had a seriously injured wing (about 1/3 of it is torn away). As I approached closer to take a picture he made some quite loud noises at me. I guess it was the first time I had ever heard one. May you experience something "new" today too. . .

The Rock. . .

The only rock I know that stays steady,
the only institution I know that works
is the family.
(Lee Iacocca)






We had a wonderful dinner in the garden last night with my brother (Steve), sister (Renae) and her husband (Dana). Lots of good food and good conversation. Mr. Iacocca is right - family is like rock - strong, solid and always there for you.

Advice from the garden. . .

Fill each day

with joy and

happiness.

(my garden flag)

We all have those plaques/signs/flags in our garden that say "Welcome" but when I saw this flag and it's advice I had to have it. How can one not have joy & happiness amidst all the beauty and sounds of nature?

The angel garden gives more advice. "A garden is a Friend you can visit anytime", "Gardening grows the Spirit" and "Leave room in your garden for Angels to dance".

There was more of the much needed rain this morning, Yipee!

My wish for you today is "much joy & happiness"!

Rain

Rain on the green grass,
And rain on the tree;
Rain on the housetop,
But not on me.
(Mother Goose)

Mother Goose was wrong today as there were raindrops on me as well as about a dozen members of the Raymond Garden Club who came to tour the gardens. I managed one photo before the rain forced me to take the camera inside.


As they took a very brief tour amidst the sound of thunder and distant lightning these are a few of the blooms they saw. I have been waiting for the stargazer lilies to open for weeks and they opened just in time to show their raindrop covered beauty today.
Of course as soon as the cars left the yard, the rain stopped. We need rain very badly in this area of the state and a good soaking rain would be welcome by everyone. The storms and hail can stay away, just give me a good old steady, rainy day.

Let's do the rain dance!

Magic dragons. . .

"Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee"
(Peter, Paul and Mary lyrics)

Lots of magical dragonflies are frolicking in the summer haze around the pond this summer. Last night while I was out watering the garden I was visited by these three. It was interesting how the blue one kept going to metal (something needed in his diet?) while the others preferred nectar.

Okay, now I can't get that song out of my head! May you have a stress free day of humming it too :-)

Halfway through Summer

We're halfway through Summer, halfway through July,
There's bright, golden sunshine within the blue sky,
A soft touch of wonder in each Summer day,
The beauty of cloudsteps all happy at play.

We're halfway through Summer,
the season of charms,
Where country lanes sparkle within Nature's arms,
There's birdsong unequalled and trees climbing tall,
and vast reaching meadows to thrill one and all.

There's haze in the distance, humidity too,
Sometimes storms or showers before day is through,
Yet happiness greets us on each golden dawn,
We marvel at Summer that's just halfway gone.
(Garnett Ann Schultz)

It seems the older I get the faster time goes. . .I can't believe we are in the middle of July and halfway through summer. Yesterday, was 101 degrees and high humidity here in MN. More of the same is on course for today. Lots of water for the garden and the "gardener" these days. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Pink, Pink, Pink

Pink is pretty,
Pink is nice.
A lovely little color,
Filled with sugar and spice.

(Marissa Ingram)
Lots of "sugar and spice" in our life the last week. Congratulations to Jared & Andrea on the birth of Madeline Marie and Brenda & Matt on the birth of Katelyn Julie. We already love the photos of the two dark haired beauties wearing pink!

Pink beauty is highlighting my gardens as well - picking my favorite bloom changes from day to day. I just love the garden in July, it is so full and lush. I hope you enjoy a sampling of my pinks.

Pink

It makes you feel happy, It makes you feel great. . .

(M.I.)

Ah, summer. . .

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.
(Russel Baker)

It is another hot and dry day here in the garden. This area of MN needs rain very badly, hopefully it comes soon. Thanks to Carla for bravely leaving the air conditioned office to enjoy the hot garden and have lunch with me today, maybe next time she'll consent to having her photo on my blog :-)

A family of 5 swallows was raised this month on my bedroom window. We didn't notice the nest being built until there were already eggs. Yesterday, 4 of them "flew the nest" and after 6 hours I coaxed the 5th out on his way. Now the major cleanup begins - anyone out there do windows??










The frogs continue to jump out at me from all over the garden. Most afternoons they spend in the pond where the reflecting sunlight gives them an almost copper colored hue.

The whole picture. . .

In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams

I've been taking lots of close up shots the last few posts - so I thought I would take a few of the whole garden to share with you. Everything is now bursting with color and growing by leaps and bounds each day (including the weeds!

Wishing you a song filled summer. . .

Blue Balloons. . .

I saw the above poem by Brad Burg on an e-motion poetry site. And yes, it reminded me of helium filled party balloons but also of the beautiful balloon flowers in my garden. I am lucky enough to have 3 varieties, the tall blues, the dwarf blues and the tall pinks (only baby balloons on those so far). I went out to snap some photos and was immediately struck by our MN heat & humidty. No wonder, I was enjoying being inside today!



On a hot day like today, the blues in the garden have a "cooling" effect on a landscape filled with warm & bright plants. Today, the "blues" are a good thing to have. I wish you an "oh so blue" day!

Minnesota nice. . .

"Smile often, just for the fun of it."

Minnesota nice is waving at the people you meet driving down the road.

I guess our state bird,

the loon practices it too!

Jeff and I had a wonderful time getting away for the long holiday weekend. We explored an area of the state neither of us has seen before along the Rainy River separating MN from Canada.

The gardener in me was amazed at all the wildflowers growing along the roadsides, many more than here in farm country. The most prevalent was white yarrow seconded by black-eyed susans and shasta daisies. This area of the state is also known for it's lady slippers but that bloom time has passed.
My gardens seemed to have gone wild with weeds while I was gone - so I guess it is back to work for me. It will be a pleasant diversion from all the catch up stuff that happens after being gone even for just a short time.

"May all your weeds be wildflowers."