In The Garden

Karen

A Small Bunch Of Lavender

Not much energy to keep up with my gardening this year, but the lavender is doing well despite the neglect. 

It grows right next to my porch and I had to gather a bunch for drying.

Such a soft, beautiful fragrance.

 Another type of lavender growing in a pot on the porch.

 Feels like summer.

Karen

Tansy

I remember reading about folks using tansy to dye wool.

It seemed to me that they could gather it from meadows, growing wild, or alongside the road as they were out driving. I've never seen it in this area, but came across some at an herb farm this past Spring. So, I purchased two of the plants and they are growing among a few other herbs beside my porch.

One has grown tall and is about to bloom, the other has been dug up by our dog so many times that I'm surprised it's even still alive. 

 Jack is such a good boy and I'm pretty sure he thinks that because I dig there, it's okay for him to do the same.

Anyway…there is now a fence there to keep Jack out.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Tansy in full bloom.

Should be any day now.

Karen

As It Is

Sometimes I feel like the normal, everyday goings on, just suck the life out of me.

Like there's no time left for me after tending to what everyone else needs.

Don't get me wrong…my life is good, but I crave a little solitude at times.

Time to think, be creative or just do nothing.

It seems like it's been a while since I've done that, so with camera in hand, I stole away a few moments of time this morning to just be.

Nothing staged.

Just things as they are.

The chippy cabinet door on my porch with the flower long gone from the old green bottle.

A burlap coffee bean sack stuffed with pillows, cushions the iron bench where I sit and drink my coffee in the mornings.

Sunflowers hanging from the porch post to dry.

They managed to grow all on their own with no help from me. Scattered seeds left by the birds and field mice, from last years vegetable garden.

There was no time for growing vegetables this year.

My old weeding wagon is almost hidden from the towering weeds that have taken over my garden.

Some of the weeds are quite pretty, like this morning glory that has climbed the fence that surrounds the garden.

I hesitated slightly as I turned the knob to enter the garden shed.

I never know if I'll meet a family of mice or chipmunks when I walk inside.

So far so good, but you never know.

Pots and garden supplies fill the shelves.

A birds nest found last Fall sits near the window.

Walking back to the house past the picket fence.

Time to get back to reality.

Thanks for joining me on my short journey of solitude this morning.

Hope you enjoyed the photos of things as they are in my world.

Have a great day everyone and remember to take a few moments for yourself now and then.

Karen Ann

Summer Blooms

Autumn is creeping up on us and I wanted to share some summer blooms before they're gone.

 

 

Although I'm enjoying the warmth and beauty of summer, I'm looking forward to the change of seasons and some crisp Fall days.

Hope your summer's been filled with beautiful blooms and sunshine.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen Ann

Heavens To Betsy

What a funny saying.

Heavens to Betsy

It doesn't have anything to do with anything.

Just like these onions.

The last of my onions from the garden.

 A little Blooming Kale.

 Not sure what this is.

 I just love these Hydrangeas.

RED 

 Sweet Pink Hydrangeas.

 Creeping.

 A cluster.

 Clean up of trees downed in summer storms.

 Under the Mulberry Tree.

 Drooping.

 karen

Hiding In The Gardens

This morning it is sweltering outside already, so it will be a day indoors for me.

I've been enduring the heat and humidity for weeks as I've been outdoors planting and tending the gardens, but it is beginning to make me tired and things are getting quite messy inside.

In the evenings when I can't garden any more I've been doodling. It's something I use to do a lot, but haven't in a while.

Most of my doodles resemble plants I guess. I must have gardens on my mind ; )

Then there are the trees……….

Love this Twisted Baby!

 We've planted 10 trees in the past few days.

There are willows and twisty curvy ones and weepy ones too.

I hope I'm around long enough to see them reach maturity.

These pink leaves are just gorge.

We planted 3 of these.

 The herbs are doing well.

These ones are in the center of the vegetable garden.

The ones around the tub I planted last week and they are taking off already.

My sweet husband came home with this beautiful arbor last week.

I am planning to plant wisteria along the sides.

We will have fresh lettuce from the garden tonight.

And flowers on the table.

I think I will leave the chamomile right where it is beside the daisies.

I just can't stand the thought of cutting it. 

 The rock garden has some interesting plants as well.

Soft short creeping ones 

 and tall sharp ones.

 This popped up out of nowhere and I don't know what it is.

A weed maybe or a remnant of some sort of grass that I planted last year that didn't make it through the winter except for this one lonely sprout?

The mulch is growing it's own interesting fungi from all the rain we've had I suppose.

I'm amazed at how this stuff just shows up over night.

It's been a busy Spring and Summer here so far.

I'm planning to take an evening to visit some of my favorite blogs to see what everyone else has been up to.

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

karen ann