Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Hello Summer!



Hello my friends!  Can you believe June is upon us and summer is knocking at the door?  I know meteorological summer begins on the first, according to our weatherman, but to me it will begin on June 20th with the summer solstice.  The longer days greet us with the sun peeping through the curtains early in the mornings.  The setting sun gives us more time to enjoy outdoors later into the evening.  Our spring has been lovely with abundant rain, but like on queue, rain is beginning to elude us as summer begins. The temperatures are rising and the humidity is increasing.  


This oakleaf hydrangea is beginning to bloom.  First the lovely green blossoms turn a pure white.  Later in the summer they will turn pink and then brown into autumn.  I bought this shrub years ago at Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.  They sell lovely plants and heirloom seeds that I always love. 







The French Hydrangeas are beginning to make their mophead blossoms.  I think this year will prove to be good for ours.  In the last few years a late frost has nipped the buds to my chagrin!

 
The Jackmanii Clematis is continuing to tangle itself among the Pinkie Climbing Rose that has stopped blooming in the heat.



The Painted Fern is growing larger each day.  If we don't get rain soon I'm sure I will have to supplement watering of my ferns.

 

The morning sun shines briefly on this perennial bed that is home to ferns and astilbe.


My little angel statues are at home in this bed.  This one has been in this garden the longest.  She's an old girl, but loved.  I think I may need to give her a new finish one day.  


The Saint John's Wort is starting to bloom.  I have a small area I allow this to grow as I enjoy the lovely blossoms.  It can be quite wild and grow everywhere if I let it! 


 It was nice to have the lavender return.  Growing in a large pot in a protected area made me happy to have it bloom!  If you look closely at the planter, I've spread cayenne pepper around the vinca to help keep the squirrels from digging.  It helps but is not foolproof, but they do learn to stay away!


The Variegated Hosta needs to be divided.  If you need any let me know!

Grayden and I continue to walk the Heritage Trail every morning.  We have been getting up really early to avoid the heat.  It's really the highlight of my day!  We always see something wonderful.  Lately "our " eagle has been perched at the top of a dead tree at the end of the bridge!  I can't tell you how much it thrills us to see him every morning.





I hope you all are continuing to stay safe.


On the side of the museum we see this gentle reminder that we still must be diligent.  The quote is from Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis".  George Washington used these words to rally his troops as they crossed the Delaware River to defeat the British at the Battle of Princeton.





28 comments:

  1. Your plants look beautiful. I am working on a rock garden this year, it will be interesting to see the results, if any LOL! Things are beginning to ease up a little here (Ontario Canada) as far as lockdown goes but I think we will stay home a while longer, keep safe.

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    1. Thank you, Lynn. A rock garden sounds wonderful! Our state is in Phase Two which means some things are opening, but we are basically staying put ourselves.

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  2. I always love a trip around your garden, my friend. I especially love your Painted Fern, and have Hosta envy! Just look at them encircling your tree! I think a Wowser is in order! Your angel is gracefully guarding your garden for you.

    Stay Safe, Stay Well
    Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. My garden is always happy to have you, Deb! If you were closer I'd share plants with you. That's how I have so many Hosta in my gardens. An elderly neighbor shared so much with me years ago. Take care, my friend. xoxo

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  3. Oh dear...I really do not like seeing a mask on George Washington.

    Your garden is blooming beautifully and looks so green and lush in spite of the lack of rain. We have a lack of rain as well. Perhaps your eagle is waiting for you as much as you enjoy seeing him there. 😊

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    1. Thank you, Vee. "Our" eagle was flying gracefully over the river this morning. Perhaps he was in pursuit of breakfast.
      Knowing that George Washington was a very intelligent man, I'm pretty sure he would be following the guidelines of the CDC.
      Here's hoping we both get some rain!

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  4. I've been doing walks earlier too. It's getting very hot here. You are much more ahead than we are. It all looks beautiful. I especially love your varieties of hydrangeas!

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    1. Thank you, Jeanie. This year will be a good one, I'm sure, for our hydrangeas. I do love their delicate mophead blossoms in a bowl on the table. Our walk this morning, though early, was quite humid!

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  5. Your oak leaf hydrangea looks fabulous! I didn’t know roses would quit flowering because of the heat! I guess we don’t get hot enough for that. Seeing that eagle would be so exciting!

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    1. Liz, the oakleaf hydrangea loves its home. My knockout roses are still blooming beautifully, but I think all roses have a flush of bloom and then rest before setting buds again. The Pinkie Climbing rose was loaded this year with bloom. I think it's resting during the heat. Today is quite hot and humid--98 degrees and a heat index of 104!

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  6. Ferns are my favorite greenery. I've been transplanting them to different areas in on our property. As for the hostas, I see they sell for $9.99 at Meadow Farms. I told my husband we could make a fortune selling ours. They've really multiplied this year!

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    1. Since I have so much shade, hostas and ferns do well in my garden, Cathy. That's a steep price for Hosta! Maybe we both could make a fortune. Dividing them is so easy and they fill in the blanks in a shade garden.

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  7. Your lovely flowers are blooming for you, Martha Ellen. I was especially drawn to the Purple Clematis. It's such a pretty color. Your Angel statues are precious, and you must delight in them daily. What a sight to see the Eagle every morning on your walk. He's such a grand bird. You know, Nel worked in her garden yesterday while I watched Mia, and she also has the wonderful lavender flowers sprouting up right now. I wanted to take a bunch home with me, but forgot to. Maybe next time.

    I hope you have many good June days, Martha Ellen. Enjoy your garden, and your walks! Sounds so peaceful. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you, Sheri. I love gardening so much. I think it's a nurturing thing with me. I didn't work in my garden today as it was so hot and humid! We walked early but the humidity was really cranking up. We always see something beautiful on our walks. Nature is a great place to find peace. It's so nice to have your family nearby. I know you enjoy every moment!

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  8. How nice that you are able to walk the trail each morning. Those hydrangeas are wonderful. Haven't seen that variety before. Great catch of the eagle! Happy June to you!

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    1. One of the wonderful things about retirement is being able to choose how we spend our time. Staying healthy is important and staying connected to each other is even more so. A win, win for us, Ellen. Happy June to you as well!

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  9. Oh my, your garden is lush and full of wonderful plants and flowers.. and so neat and tidy! I enjoyed seeing it. And wow.. your eagle is magnificent! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Thank you, Teresa. Our gardens bring me so much joy. I know you understand, my friend. "Our" eagle was soaring gently down the river this morning. A wonderful sight to behold!

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  10. Love those hydrangeas and yours are so big and pretty.. I have ferns growing under the boxwood, I guess they were planted years ago. we cut them and they keep coming back thicker. I like the painted fern you have, I didn't know that is what it was called.
    Good to see you are posting and your gardens look so healthy. I need to walk more, when the humidity is bad my legs feel heavy sometimes, don't know what causes that.

    I will probably go visit my gr grand child in the next week or two. Can't wait. We have been out a lot but haven't met her yet.

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    1. I didn't realize you have a great grand, Betsy! Congratulations! It's really hard to go walking with the humidity we've been experiencing lately! Have a nice weekend.

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  11. Your garden looks lovely, the hydrangea adds such a burst of color.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Amalia. This will be a good year for hydrangeas, I hope! xo

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  12. I loved seeing your eagle--so majestic--and all your beautiful flowers in your garden!

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    1. Pat it is so thrilling to see him! Thank you for stopping by.

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  13. Enjoyed this very much Martha Ellen. The garden angels are sweet, and the flowers gorgeous. Glad you got to see the eagle and the banner with the mask, a great reminder for us all to take care. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend :)

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  14. Your garden is looking lovely, and I do like your garden angels … something special about them.
    Amazing photographs of the eagle, I enjoyed seeing him.

    I hope you and Grayden are staying safe and well … a good idea to enjoy an early morning walk.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I especially love angels and look for them to place in our garden. I found the older one after my Mama passed away. She's quite special to me.
      We are staying safe and I hope you and Eddie are as well.

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