I thought I would show you around our home and look at what is blooming. We've had the most rain I can remember in June, almost 10 inches! It's almost been like Camelot. It mostly rained in the evening and at night. July is starting out quite steamy and hot, but still we've had rain. I did need to water a few pots of flowers. As plants get larger they require more moisture as they dry out quickly.
 |
| Impatiens and Squirrel Proof Feeder |
This is a shot of our patio. We love to eat our meals out here. When the weather is nice it's great to hang out here and read, relax and enjoy the birds. I'm an outside girl and need to find time there whenever possible. This is my spot on an afternoon with a glass of iced tea and a book or my Kindle.
I have impatiens planted in the brick planter. I planted these plants from seed. This is the first time I tried that. I usually buy bedding plants. Last year I had saved an envelope full of impatiens seeds. Before we went to England, I planted the tiniest seedlings and left them. Samuel kept them watered nicely and now they are beginning to grow larger. I was not sure how things would fair while we were gone, but everything lived! Yay!
Let's go out the shell walk (another story for another day) and take a look around.
That's my Uncle Sam--made by my dear sister, Susan. He really needs repainting, but I don't have the heart to paint over my sister's work. Susan passed away 5 1/2 years ago of pancreatic cancer. She was only 57. I still can't believe she is gone. She was so talented and could make anything out of nothing. She would find things along the shoreline and use it for her art. Uncle Sam was made from things that washed on shore from the Chesapeake Bay. She had a wonderful cottage along the shore. I miss you every day sweet Susan!
Above Uncle Sam is a Vitex. I was afraid it wouldn't bloom this year---it was a little slow. Nature takes its time and it is now blooming. The first time I saw Vitex blooming was in Williamsburg and I bought this plant there.
Don't you love when the garden gives you gifts? These are a couple of gifts from my garden this year. Volunteer petunia--I haven't had petunias for years and Lamb's Ear from seed that my sister Inkie gave me. Of course I could list all the wonderful weeds that have sprung up, but let's keep it positive.
This used to be the Secret Garden that my daughter and I planted 35 years ago. We had roses here for as long as they could stand being in the shade that has slowly taken over the space. Now this area has plants that are suited more for shade--Like Painted Ferns.
The perennial garden in the back was made in honor of my Mama. There is so much I could say about her. She first introduced me to gardening. This bed is sorely in need of color. The rudbeckia in the background is full of buds and should be in bloom soon.
In the back, where there is more sun, we have a few tomatoes growing!
Let's walk to the side and let me show you some real bloomers!
Keep walking!
I learned a lot about gardening from a dear neighbor. Her family gave me her birdbath when she passed away.
Who influenced you the most about gardening? Do you mentor anyone who is learning to garden? I hope you find JOY in your garden! ♥
We moved around too much and rented so my parents never gardened. I must have just picked up the love of gardening from my Dad's mother. Mamaw had flowers lining the walk up to her house and various plants around the property. She had some hedges she sheared to look like a couch and two chairs! I'm really loving the music you picked. And I like your patio area. It does look very inviting. Your lovely windows add to the charm.
ReplyDeleteCathy, your grandmother's hedges pruned to look like a couch and chairs sound charming. I took a topiary class once and learned a little about the process. It's not that easy and quite labor intensive. My Mama did very simple gardening when I was growing up. She became very interested in plants after all of her four children left the nest. My interest in gardening helped us to grow closer in the years that followed. The windows you see are four of eleven that surround our Florida room. I think I mentioned the saga about them on your blog. ♥
DeleteYes, I remember, but I didn't realize they were such large window--almost like french doors.
DeleteCathy these windows are 6'6"s tall---that's almost tall enough to be a door. When we had this room added to our home, I told the builder I wanted the largest window he could put in. If we hadn't added this room to our house, I'm sure we would have moved. ♥
DeleteI can imagine you sitting out on your lovely patio with your glass of iced tea and your book! It looks like Samuel did a fine job keeping things up while you were away. I love the impatiens in the brick planters!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you are reluctant to paint your beloved Uncle Sam. I believe I'd feel the same way. I am so sorry to learn about your sister, Martha Ellen. I cannot imagine how it feels to lose a sibling, but I would think that it is a loss that stays with you. Hugs...
Cheryl, I hope to show the impatiens as they get larger. They are looking a little puny!
DeleteLosing my sister shook me to the core--I still find it difficult to deal with. I was blessed beyound measure to have her as my sister and my friend. ♥
What a lovely patio for dining and relaxing. I see that your garden has many treasures...so sad that you lost your sister much too soon. I would say that my blogging buddies have mentored me most with gardening. I used to say that I pretended to garden on my blog. Now I actually do and it is very relaxing, especially now that I have some knowledge and some good tools! You and I have similar concerns with the ever encroaching shade. Did you know that in Britian there is a right to light law? Neighbors must keep their trees pruned or cut them down when they take over too much. (I may have discussed this with you already...please forgive me...old thinker.) I love impatiens...they probably will do better from seed since there is some sort of problem with impatiens in the past few years. They do so well in shade that they are a excellent choice. I used to have large hanging pots of them on my former veranda...they are good, too, in letting a gardener know when they're thirsty without croaking.
ReplyDeleteVee, I love the idea of a right to light law! How interesting. In our neighborhood the trees are quite old and very large. We try to keep our shrubs, etc from encroaching into other folks property. We have elderly neighbors that are unable to keep up the same. I love impatiens---too bad they had the downy mildew problem years ago. The only problem with planting seedlings is they are still quite small--But a gardener is always planting hope! ♥
DeleteThat patio is gorgeous. How nice it must be to sit there in the afternoon with a book or a friend.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you, Amalia. We enjoy our patio very much. ♥
DeleteWhat a wonderful garden tour today! Your garden is filled with such dear family memories, Martha Ellen. Thank you for sharing your sister's story with us. Susan will always be a part of your garden. Gardens are a very special place to 'be' with the people we love. The Rudbeckia will add a burst of sunshine to your momma's perennial bed any day now! The lovely birdbath is such a special memory of your gardening friend. Martha Ellen, your patio is just gorgeous!! It took my breath away! I love the beautiful windows overlooking the yard. You have so many lovely places to sit and enjoy your garden ... when you aren't busy working in the garden! Hope you will have a chance to relax on your patio today! Enjoy! ♡
ReplyDeleteThank you Dawn for your sweet words. I think gardening buddies understand each other! My Mama always said the older she got the more places she had to sit in the yard. I think I'm becoming my Mama. I'm always on the lookout for benches to place around. Have a lovely day in your garden, dear Dawn. ♥
DeleteYou have some wonderful memories woven throughout your beautiful garden.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for the loss of your sister. I lost a dear, childhood friend, to the same disease about the same time too. Your Uncle Sam is a treasured gift indeed. Do, though, think about protecting him somehow, but I also understand why you don't want to paint over her work.
Ah, to sit and sip a glass of tea while reading our Kindles in your pleasant spot!
Dear Deb, I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Pancreatic cancer is so hard to detect early- by the time you diagnose it it's too late. Uncle Sam already has a new bottom that Grayden made for him. I know Susan would say "just paint him"--Maybe I will one day...
DeleteI wish you were close enough to come and have tea on my patio. Hoping today finds you feeling better. ♥
I really like your outdoor space and the curved brick planter!! I think the sunny windows entrance to it from the house is gorgeous. You are so lucky to live in one place for so long. This is the longest I have lived in one place (11 years), that I finally see the fruits of my perennial labor, but alas this isn't the last stop and it is terrible here for veggies.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother loved her plants and my father gardened along side all of us girls, while our mother cooked and canned all the veggies. I almost laugh about all the craze over organic gardening. Was there anyother kind???
I was very sad to hear about your sister. I have three sisters, or one and two halves as I tease the twins, LOL. I never say I am the eldest, rather the wiser, better looking sister. I like it when people used to confuse me with one of the twins, because I am 12 years older.
Have a nice day! Yesterday was so nice for a change, I hope today will be the same.
Dear Margot, I'm glad for you that you have been in your house for 11 years! I bet your garden is lovely! How hard it must be to have to move frequently. Thank you and your family for the sacrifices you give to our country.
DeleteI am the older sister also--We are wiser-right? It sounds like you come from a wonderful gardening background. What wonderful memories to treasure. It's trying to rain here today, but can't make up its mind. Have a lovely day! ♥
Your gardens and patio are lovely. I like your brick planter. We don't buy impatiens anymore, amazingly they just keep coming back each year, not only where planted originally but in other places too. We dig them up and move them around if we prefer another spot. You have had a lot of rain! We sure need some here.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the impatiens spring up, Dotsie! I don't know what colors I will get, but that's okay, they are all beautiful. It's raining here now--I was just talking with Grayden about this being a very unusual summer. I'm usually out with the watering cans and hoses. Hopefully rain will come your way soon! ♥
DeleteI am amazed that you could grow impatiens from seed. I once tried petunias and that was a total wash. Your yard is beautiful. Love the curved, brick planter around the patio. That's a lovely idea! I can't wait until we get ripe tomatoes, but then I'll be canning like crazy, so maybe I can wait... I don't think I intentionally mentor anyone regarding gardening, but I did notice that our son came and got rolls of old carpet to put in their garden this year, like we do each year. Hmmmm. Those lilies are stunning!
ReplyDeleteThis was the first time I tried growing impatiens seeds. I used a strange little method in milk cartons and put them outside in the winter! I need to write about this experience. I'm sure your son is watching you and learning from his mother about gardening, Judy. Great idea to keep down weeds in the garden. ♥
DeleteYou have a lovely courtyard my dear!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeri. We just came in after having dinner out on the patio. We really enjoy it. ♥
Delete