Our beatiful days of sunny skies have continued well into October. I've been out trying to soak up as much sunshine as I can.
Our zinnias are still putting on quite a show.
The marigolds are not slowing down at all.
I know I'll want to remember all this fiery color in the coming dark months of winter.Miss P was channelling her inner Andy Goldsworthy while B and I harvested this year's Indian Corn over on the weekend.
I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the out of doors these days.
Soaking it Up
We're trying to soak up all of the warmth and sunshine that we can this weekend.
The last of the flowers are fading fast and the trees are getting bare.
Winter will be here soon.
I hope you are also enjoying a beautiful weekend.
Wordless Wednesday
Mute Monday - azalea time
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
After our canoe trip in Maryland we traveled to Norfolk, Virginia and visited the Botanical Garden there. We reached azalea overload there but also saw many other interesting sights and beautiful flowers in bloom.
May Merriment
There is always a flurry of activity in May. There is much to do outside in the yard and gardens, in addition to end of school activities. This year we also have a lot of graduation related events.This weekend P and I worked a bit in her fairy garden. The plants from last year all look happy there. We put in a few new plants but still have quite a few seeds to get in the ground.
We put in fence for the peas and weeded the vegetable garden. B did a bit of mowing and working on the house. D installed the toilet in our new bathroom upstairs! M wrote a term paper and had a couple of music gigs. P had her spring recital with others in the studio. I also made 20 books covers from these papers for the art club students. We have all done a bit of spring cleaning.
When it gets crazy busy like this I do try to make time to walk the yard and see what's in bloom.
I don't want to miss any of that!Since on the go knitting seems to be all I can fit in for now, I have also been progressing on a few portable projects like new socks for B.
That yarn in the background is making its way to the top of the knit pile too! I need to decide what to make with it.I'm currently working on socks for myself using the same rib pattern as these mitts.
Today I hope to make M's graduation and recital invitations. He has a much bigger list of people to invite than his brother had two years ago.
Thoughtful Sunday
"Everything is somewhere."Everything is Somewhere, Mircea Vasiliu, 1959.
Attracting Fairies
This spring P and I started a flower garden over by her playhouse. She has been hoping that the fairies would like it well enough to move in. She has been working to attract them. She has put interesting rocks in the garden.
Most recently she added a shell.
The plants have started to fill in a little.
She is thrilled that some of the plants are getting more "fairyly".
Just look at these Jack-in-the-Pulpits. How could a fairy NOT like that?
And don't these hosta flowers look like little dancing fairy skirts?
The other day we found THREE mushrooms and the following flowers that we didn't even plant!
Johny Jump Ups must be very fairyly. Just the name sounds like it.
Little Miss Petunia is VERY encouraged.I'll let you know if we have any fairy sightings.
A Couple of Raisins in a Cup
I really enjoy spending time with P. I love hearing her observations of the world around her.
After our recent rain the weather has been cooler and crispier. The mosquitoes have even been taking the days off.Yesterday, P and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon outside. We took the picnic blanket, a stack of books, the baby doll, some knitting, the camera, cups of water - you know, the essentials- out in the yard.
There we were, lying under the edge of the plum tree looking up into fluffy white clouds on a sea of deep blue. It was beautiful.P said, "We are like a couple of raisins on the bottom of a cup."What?She went on to explain that the air was the cocoa and the clouds were the whipped cream on top.Yeah, it was just like that, a beautiful relaxing afternoon outside.
We stayed out until the mosquitoes started to find us.While scratching the latest bites she said, "Putting bug stick (liquid antihistamine) on bites is a good thing to do... unless they are bites from a crocodile or something like that."Yes, she is a very wise child.Do you have any good childhood wisdom to share?In the mean time, I hope you feel like a happy raisin in the bottom of a cup.
In Bloom in the White Garden
Color in the Yard Today
Today
Gratitude
I am grateful that my daughter wanted to plant picking flowers in the garden. They have lasted a very long time. Their burst of color is very inviting and brings joy every time we go to the garden. Sometimes we go to the garden just to pick the flowers.
Late Summer Prairie
Our late summer walks through the prairie are pretty these days.
I like the way there are different things blooming throughout the summer.
Some flowers make big patches of color while others, like this flax, are more subtle.
The big blue stem grows very tall. This grass is over eight feet.
We do feel the coming of fall in the air.
What end of summer things are you enjoying?
Picking Flowers
August always gets to be very busy around here. Much of our garden bounty is ready to harvest in August. We spend a lot of time picking, preparing, and preserving food. Sometimes we forget to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us. I am glad I have P to remind me of that. She picks a little bouquet of flowers EVERY time we go to the garden. Luckily she has a long row of flowers to choose from each time. 
I like growing things such as fruit trees, raspberries, and rhubarb that come back every year. We are getting our first peaches this year from trees that we planted. 
We also get fruit from pear and apple trees that were planted long before we moved here.
This is the time when I start to think about what I want to do differently in the garden next year. What new things do I want to plant? I think about which grew easily and which things are easiest to preserve etc. First on the garden list for next year - picking flowers.
