We enjoyed a
splendid June in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia until the past few days. Late June and
July are hot and humid. Rains keep passing us by so I'm praying we get some of
these storms soon, but not the really bad ones. The battle to survive without
succumbing to nature's harsher side is here. I've prepared the gardens as best
I can. The plants we grow are hardy wildflowers, heirlooms, and herbs, with
some vegetables and fruits mixed in. Many of the flowers choose their own
sites.
Every single
day in the garden is different and constantly changing from early spring through late fall. A
perpetually altering world, magical in its way. I ordered more seeds from my
favorite site and am expanding. I must have planted another pound of wild
flowers this past week. There are many nooks and thistly spots on the farm
that could use some magic. Coreopsis, hollyhocks, aster, evening primrose, and
larkspur are prominent. I also have a lot of Shirley poppies and other
varieties. Poppies are sacred to my people.
'In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.' ~Abram L. Urban
I do mightily love
seeds, brimming with possibility. What wonders may come...all from a packet of
tiny life-bearing seeds. If they grow. I can't stop planting them to see. Then
watching, gleeful when they sprout. And waiting for the blooms, like an Easter
egg surprise, because only I know what will be when the majesty unfolds. A
wonderful secret to hold and tend, and to share. If it rains, or I must water
like a mad woman.
Larkspur and miniature hollyhocks to the left in front of the house. I love the early summer flowers.
'The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.' ~George Bernard Shaw
This is very
true. The garden is a deeply spiritual place. I find much inspiration there.
Also for my stories. Scenes and plots come to me while I'm at work. The only
problem is writing them down. I think I'll remember and sometimes I do.
(Heirloom poppies and
Chinese Forget-Me-Nots)
It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that
all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended
thought. ~James Douglas, Down Shoe Lane
There is something magical about dawn or dusk in the garden.
Both times of day are wonderfully special. Below is a pic I took a few days ago
of the back garden at dusk. You can see my lovely hollyhock and the barn up
above it.
(Pale pink heirloom
hollyhocks with the barn behind them)
How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence. ~Benjamin Disraeli
Amen. I'm trying to beautify my bit of earth.
(My mini wildflower meadow)
'You can bury a
lot of troubles digging in the dirt.' ~Author Unknown
One of our neighbors.
Image by Hubby. Garden images by me
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