This is a painful (literally) and somewhat embarrassing post for me to write. I’m not writing it for sympathy comments; rather, my hope is that it will be a reminder to gardeners everywhere.
Sun is a friend of your flowers, but not a friend of your skin.
I’m joining Cathy at Words and Herbs for her annual ‘A Week of Flowers‘ meme, taking place this year November 30 – December 6. Though I’m a day late in joining her this year, I appreciate the opportunity to bring a bit of colorful beauty to our chilly December days. It’s December 1st–the sun was out today making it feel a bit warmer than the 19°F registering on my thermometer. Let’s travel back a few months and look at a few garden photos from Spring of 2024.
Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ put on a very brief show this spring. A late frost turned her beautiful yellow, tulip-shaped cups brown before they had a chance to fully open. However, I caught a glimpse of what beauty this tree will hold in future springs. ‘Elizabeth’ put on a few inches of growth in her first year in our garden, but is still much smaller than her anticipated mature height of greater than 20 feet.
I have forgotten the names of most of my daffodils, but truly love each one of them. The little white one on the left has a lovely waft of fragrance that truly ought to be bottled. The lovely daffodil on the right is a charmer with peachy ruffled cups.
This lovely tulip stood all by herself for quite a few days before she was joined by a few neighboring tulips. I smiled each time I spied her stalwartly standing her ground in my flowerbed.
If I had to pick a favorite type of tulip, it would most definitely be the Angelique tulips. This magnificent red one looks like a peony. She extends the tulip season by opening a little later in spring and her tight double petals can hold their own when brisk winds fly through on nippy days. When fall arrives, I can’t resist planting a few more Angelique tulip bulbs in anticipation of the next year’s daffodil and tulip performance.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
My yard is less than a half acre, but heavily planted with flowerbeds. It keeps me busy in July with digging, dead heading, and dividing. The time has come in my life as a gardener where I have to admit that I need help with the gardening tasks.
Thankfully, Henry (grandson #2), loves his grandma and enjoys helping me in my garden. He also enjoys earning a little pocket money.
Today’s task was digging out the orange ditch lilies which are usurping more than their fair share of flowerbed real estate. I really appreciate his joyful help.
Henry is the world’s best at carefully deadheading spent daylily blossoms.
He also had a little fun with soapsud mustaches as he washed my car.
I’m so thankful for this young man.
On May 12th, I shared this photo and wrote, “I can’t wait to see how this year’s chair garden fills out.”
I added, “I’m already enamored with its beauty. I’ll keep you posted.”
Well, here’s the June update!
Isn’t she lovely?
Come with me for a little tour of lovely purple-y blossoms in my flower garden.
No post featuring the color purple (my mom’s favorite color) would be complete without a photo of one of her blue flowerpots brimming with purple and white supertunias.
Rewind: A Father’s Day Memory
In loving memory of my amazing dad, Jerry Robert Boyles (1931-2008).
June 16, 2018
A summer thunderstorm knocked off the petals of most of the lovely peony blooms last night. Thankfully, a few tightly closed buds hold promise of beauty yet to unfurl in this summer’s peony finale. As the peonies fade in their glory and prepare for curtain call and their final bow, the daylilies in their own splendidly colorful petaled costumes stand in the wings ready to take center stage and continue the summer’s floral show.
Continue reading “Peony Love”Every now and again I spot an old chair forlornly sitting at the curb. Someone didn’t want it, so they left it there in the hopes that someone else would want it.
This is one of those chairs that came home with me.
I made a succulent garden in this roadside treasure chair last summer too. It was so lovely.
I can’t wait to see how this year’s chair garden fills out. I’m already enamored with its beauty. I’ll keep you posted.
I took a quick tiptoe through the tulips this morning to capture the beauty of a few of our tulips. It was just a quick tiptoe, as the dewy grass is cold—even for this avowed barefoot gardener.
Our newest addition to the garden is a yellow magnolia, which has been slowly opening her tulip-shaped blossoms. I think our cold and windy conditions of late has caused some browning on the beautiful petals. But she’s still giving us a beautiful little show in her first year in our garden.
Today’s favorite daffodils…
Or maybe this happy little clan?
Or this beauty robed in white?
Oh, it’s SO hard to choose a favorite.
It feels like a little wet weather is headed our way. Before it gets here, I am enjoying reading a chapter or two in this serene spot. Just noticed today that this pond is home to a solitary black swan.
I’m finding this to be a fantastic read. Best read with your Bible open.
Keeping On Moving On
Man is made of dreams and bones. (The Garden Song)
Notes on Seeing, Reading & Writing, Living & Loving in The North
All things come. All things go.
Bring the Outdoors In, and the Indoors Out
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thoughts on the spiritual journey
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The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. - Isaiah 50:4
A retrospective of the photographs from my last garden plus a few meanderings based on my own experience and a love of all things Asiatic.
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Barefoot Lily Lady 