Summer Solstice

  Hello Summer!

Caliente Deep Red Geranium

Stella Dora lily

Verbena bonariensis

We had a gorgeous start to summer, with clear, blue skies, so that we could enjoy the full affect of the longest day of the year.

coleus from seed

The gardens are slowly developing, and as evening came, I took a pictorial survey.

cosmos from seed

pansy from seed(a little late!)

 All of these shots were taken after 8pm as the sun was setting. Isn't the light wonderful!?

A month ago my more established gardens looked like this:

Front path garden

Back yard herb and perennial garden

Even though we have had cool and wet weather until the past week, look what a difference a month makes.

I am so lucky to have had a lot of the perennials given to me by old and new friends or I would be a poor girl if I had to purchase all these plants.

Back yard raised bed.  I've already had to pull mint twice to save St. Francis from disappearing.

There is a fledgling veggie plot and strawberry patch coming along in the back yard also, all started from scratch, and when they are presentable you'll get a tour there also.

Meanwhile, smell the roses and the honeysuckle and enjoy the season.

Welcome Spring

Last Saturday - the Ides of March - my father would have been 101 years old. 

To celebrate his life, I scratched a few furrows in the little raised bed that was still partially frozen, and planted peas. Since then I've gotten a few more flats seeded and now its officially time for gardens to get going.

Red Currant Tomato

Pansy

 My window sills have a few seedlings started in January and February, but now its time for the big push. 

Lupine

The humorous part though, is I don't have a big enough garden for all that I'm starting. As a matter of fact, the yard is a mess from the garage construction, and still has a massive pile of snow from the plow.  

But hope springs eternal - at least for the gardener!