Garden Journal

Princes in our Gardens

I have been so intrigued reading Celia Thaxter's

book, 'An Island Garden'. 

She shares beautifully details of her beloved plants as well as the difficulties that face every gardener.

One such are pests - especially slugs.

She described her efforts to fastidiously set out salt and lime rings around her plants to protect them from slugs and to diligently get up each morning to clear them away so as to not damage her flowers.

Then, one of her friends noted that 'everything living has its enemy, the enemy of the slug is the toad'.

Celia said that she 'snatched' at the hope of toads

aiding her in protecting her flowers. She sent a message to her friends on the mainland and groups of boys delightfully captured boxloads of toads to be shipped to her! 

Celia 

describes the moment she opened a box. "among dry and dusty leaves sat three dry and dusty toads, wearily gazing at nothing. Is this all, I thought, only three! Hardly worth sending so far. Poor creatures, they looked so arid and wilted. I took up the hose and turned upon them a gentle shower of fresh cool water, flooding the box. I was not prepared for the result! The dry, baked earth heaved tumultuously; up came dusky heads and shoulders and bright eyes by the dozen. A sudden concert of liquid sweet notes was poured out on the air from the whole rejoicing company".

What a delight - princes for her garden! I know I have toads - I hear them sing and bark in the morning and at night! I want to make my garden a welcoming place for them so I found this site and this site to give me ideas! 

Did you know about toads!? Doesn't it just make you want to laugh at the idea that God created such an unsightly creature that one would desire to live amongst your beautiful flowers!

My garden has received welcome rain a couple of days - we're back to cloying heat. Signs of Autumn are in the stores - are you ready?! I want the summer days to linger - albeit cooler - days are flying by - time is so fleeting....I hope you enjoy your day - 

Here's a lovely surprise that delights me this time each year.

The surprise Lily, Magic Lily or the Naked Lady.

Her foliage appears in Spring then dies back -and seemingly as if by magic long stalks appear filled with delicate pink blooms. 

They seem to sparkle with fairy dust!

Perhaps our gardens are homes to mythical creatures that delight in 

bringing about such beauty. 

I can see how some are inspired to write and to paint such things 

when wondrous flowers such as these appear.

I am sharing this post with these Delightsome blog parties:

An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party

A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

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Garden Journal

My Friend's Garden

The first day I watered my friend's garden I did not take out my camera! The views so struck me with Delight that I made sure I

brought it a second time.

She is blessed to have a Pecan Orchard which stretches beyond her backyard in serenity and shadow - makes me want to walk among the trees or to find a spot to enjoy the shade.

Her flowers are magnificent.

She has some adorable garden statuary - 

I just adore whimsy in the garden.

My garden is coming along - we've had some extreme heat

temperatures - I am making some changes - 

I am pretty excited about them!

I will share them very soon!

Thank you for your visit! I do appreciate you,

Sharing with these Delightsome garden parties:

An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party

A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

Wishing you a Delightsome day,

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Counting My Blessing

 It continues to be hot and dry in Georgia. Each afternoon we have pop-up thunderstorms that seem to encircle our little area. I tell my husband we live in a bubble, where no rain comes in. 

Despite that, I walked around - counting my blessings -

my dear flowers are all wilting and yellowing, despite my efforts.

But in the midst of that - there are some troopers!

The Black-Eye Susans and Purple Coneflowers are blooming.

The Tiger Lilies are reaching for the sky.

The Marigolds are doing beautifully.

The Crape Myrtles are bringing color to every corner of my garden.

The Swamp Hibiscus are beginning to bloom

The roses have not returned yet, but I believe in the next week or two to see some gracing the bushes in the garden.

This side of the garden is doing quite nicely with the Petunias, Dahlias, Lilies, Bouganvellia, and the Marigolds.

I limbed up the Loquat tree to give the plants near it more light. 

It also gave an expanded view of the gardens beyond.

One day, when I have time, I hope to sit very still and to 

capture the antics of the cute, little Hummingbirds. This

one is guarding the feeder from a few of his competitors.

I adore them!

I am thankful for the hearty plants that can withstand this 

period of heat and drought - and for the knowledge that earlier this year, 

things were verdant and blossoming beautifully - this will happen again!

Thank you for your visit, I am sharing this post with these 

Delightsome garden parties:

An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party

A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

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Garden Notebook

First Week of Summer

Walking through the garden - I am thankful most everything is 

surviving our extreme heat and drought. 

Would you look! Summer is taking a Siesta!

We have been in a pattern as of the last couple of

days with the possibility of Thunderstorms.

I am so grateful - I believe my garden does so

much better when God waters.

I found these Hibiscus on clearance - they're doing nicely in the planters at the front porch.

The Japanese beetles are still attacking my roses - 

I hope the adult stage ends soon so that

those that will bloom again will give me

beauty once more.

I am loving these Dahlias - they are so very huge!

This Mexican Sunflower is a volunteer - I was focussing on

it, but my camera seems to have captured our cat instead.

He seems to want me to stop playing with the flowers

and to come and play with him!

These marigolds are volunteers that have been reseeding each

year - Marigolds are not my favorite flower - but, their 

presence each year does make me smile.

They also look pretty good next to the Mandevilla 

and the Snapdragons.

I planted three Daisies at the front - I hope they take

off in the next couple of years - love Daisies!

I love Geraniums! I am loving the deep red of these

called - Caliente'.

The Petunias are doing well in some places, not so well in others.

In my neighbor's garden he has a few large Lantana and a couple of beautiful Rose of Sharons - 

I couldn't help but take a pictures.

This is my Rose of Sharon.

Well, must run! Working on a craft project with my daughter,

if it turns out well, I will share it with you soon!

Thanks for stopping by

I am sharing this post with these Delightsome Garden Parties:

Please pay them a visit - you'll enjoy seeing Summer's blooms!

An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party

A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

No commentsRead more