The gardens feel like the end of August..so parched and dry..and bug eaten..
I cut back all my lilies apart from a very few..all shastas..The peony leaves are turning brown.. honestly.. it's all going to pot.
Except the zinnias and hydrangeas..
And some cute marigolds:) Some phlox but quite a lot has been eaten by the chafers..
The 4 o'clocks are just starting..rudbeckias..russian sage..
Ever since we moved here I have had Japanese Anemones around our small pond..A lot..dancing in the breeze attracting bees bees bees..
NONE..These are true blues but pink for me..
Across the street they have gone forth and multiplied..Imagine that.
Honestly..
The destruction of squirrels..
I always said a good time to go away was September as my gardens were pretty much done by Sept..August is the new September.
And gardening has changed with the coming of Japanese Beetles.. I was used to rose chafers.. 2 yrs ago or so beetles appeared.Those are lasting much longer.
And squirrels never ate my tomatoes..never..I had such beauties..
Garlic is my first love now..
Squirrels don't eat garlic..I have tried planting garlic close..I'll get closer next yr..I'll plant in between.
Definitely not starting indoors..
Nope..no way..enough self-punishment.
They are slow this yr and Babette's Feast for the squirrels.
I HATE squirrels.
There.I said it.I won't change my mind.
Living in the country has so many advantages..but the wildlife is not always friendly:(
Celebrating our eldest daughter's bday today..it was the 10th..I was up at 5.30 AM..why?
Most of the things are prepped..
That's me in a nutshell..Never late.
Every home we lived in when the girls were young...my husband built them a playhouse..this was the first..La maison Sous Les Arbres I called it..She's in pink..and white (second pic) I made that..never had zippers I didn't know how:) I guess I was 25 ..oyoyoy..
My red dodge dart out there..:)
I like everything matchy matchy..she's in the dark Polly Flinders below..they looked like they were now fed up w/ pic taking..
I loved those purses..I was maybe 26 by then..I was all bout Priscillas and gingham..Raggedy Ann's to match..bows..barettes..
Recital days..
I never wanted them to be cold;)
La Maison sous les arbres~
I think I loved those years the very best..until we had our grandsons.
I have always loved children..Embroidered her little dress..
♥
Happy Birthday to your daughter! I am sorry to hear the squirrels are eating your tomatoes!
ReplyDeleteYou know the work that goes into a garden:( Thank you!
DeleteHappy birthday to your daughter !!….love your zinnias again…I love squirrels 🙈 owww poor you…but I understand…happy Sunday love from me…and from Leaf…it is verry verry hot here in Holland last week…and hope tomorrow will be the last verry verry hot day…we need rain !!🍀🙏🍀
ReplyDeleteWe get Euro news and I know how dry and hot it is for you:( Take care Ria..
DeleteHappy birthday to your daughter!! Lovely pictures from your garden!
ReplyDeleteWe are having a HOT Sunday again! Puh! I'm really longing for Autumn now...
Love from Titti and a sunny island
Thank you!!
DeleteThat’s a very nice playhouse! I would like one lime that…
ReplyDeleteThat was so cute..they had fun in that and a few others to follow:)
DeleteOoops HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER,🥂 PB
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration with the squirrels. I have gone through many years in the past fighting with the bunnies! Home made chicken wire cages, moth balls, red pepper on leaves. I don't worry about it anymore. My son is 47. Hard to believe that we have children that age. Just the other day I was 47!!!! Happy Birthday to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI feel the way you do!!:):)
DeleteI shudder to think what the garden at home looks like. My neighbor waters periodically but I suspect it's pretty darned dead by now, the sweet peas shriveled. The black-eyed Susans may be hanging in there. You can't seem to kill them. Even my herbs in pots up here are struggling a bit. Well, it's not my great skill so I get it -- but boy, it IS frustrating! Nonetheless, every photo you shared is a beauty as they always are! Sending loads of (belated) happy birthday wishes to your daughter. I think you must have done a very good job in those early years (loved the photos!) for she sounds like a lovely grown woman. It's shocking though, when they get so old (and we don't!)
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha You made me smile!!!
DeleteYour daughters' pics are 'M' adorable. Everythinh has your home spun signature. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the mid summer garden. So dry and brown. I cut back all but one of my 4 O'Clocks. I forgot how they drop petals so they mad a mess on my deck. And they grew so large that the pots they were in needed at least twice a day drinks.
Today is sunny and cool so I will spend time cutting spent day lily stems. I have tons. It will make my garden less ugly.
Perfect words..less ugly:( Its an ugly time much sooner than past yrs..I bet yours looks grand still!
DeleteI love M's embroidered dress that you did! Happy Birthday to your first baby. ♥ Such darling photos!! I totally get your frustration with the garden. This year, the Japanese Beetles have decided they like 4 o'clock leaves! OY. Rudbeckias that I tried to eradicate are still going strong - LOL. Now I like their cheery faces. My Japanese anemones left me long ago. I loved Honorine Jobert but she didn't like it here. Maybe I'll try again. The high point of my garden right now is really the annuals. They are the only bright spot in the garden in late summer...snapdragons, lisianthus, dahlias, marigolds, New Guinia impatiens, petite wax begonias bordering the front garden. Otherwise, I'd have nothing either. It was definitely a challenging season with the heat and so much rain in the spring.
ReplyDeleteI had Honorine..she didn't like me either butthe lovely pink ones did..she has a sea of them across the street..New Guineas are beautiful..I bought white again this yr.. envious of your lisianthus..I forgot about snapdragons:(I am liking that way of saving the seeds of the marigolds..just hope they germinate next yr:)Have a great week..fall is in the air..
DeleteJust noticed.. 4 oclocks and rose chafers:( :(:(:(:(
DeletePerhaps your neighbor would share a clump of her anemones with you? I had pink too once upon a time. Didn't like it here either. I will try to let of my lisianthus so to seed and see if I can save some for you. I'm going to see if I can save some from the two marigolds I was able to grow from last year's seed. They are really prettier than the ones I have this year. It's been chilly here this week too! Definitely a taste a fall.
DeleteYou did send me Lisianthus seeds and I was a huge failure! I am hoping my anemones will return:)I hate asking for anything..:)
DeleteI just hate when a much-loved garden or flowerbed goes to pot!!! When I was younger, I continued to plant my favorite things, regardless of how much work it took to save them from critters, drought, floods, etc. I'm gradually changing though. I think I've become tired of fighting nature. So far, in this home where we've lived 8 months, I have only planted a couple of tomatoes and a few cucumbers. It has felt strange to only have a few plants to care for, but I think I'm liking it! We used to work so hard, but the truth is, when it comes to the garden, we ended up with too much, even after begging others to take it. This summer I only planted super hard flowers (geraniums, marigolds and rudbeckias). Not sure what the future holds, but I'm leaning toward taking it easier. Anyone who has truly gardened, knows that it is rewarding when things work, but so discouraging if they don't.
ReplyDeleteOn a much happier note, how great is it to celebrate our children's birthdays. I hope your daughter had a good one. Those pictures take me back--and the dresses you hand crafted shows your love and dedication to your sweet family. God knew that life wouldn't be easy and He gave us children and grandchildren. Gifts!!
You.. you write the words I think..you always hit the nail on the head.I am tired of fighting nature too..it should o be so..but these chafers? Unbeatable..and a gigantic grape ivy that covers our neighbour's tennis court fence attracts them so much. so that those leaves look like lace..but they end up here ..roses mostly and they don't seem to be going away this year feasting on phlox and such also.Your parting words are so very very true.Have a good week!
DeleteSo much hard work goes into a garden, and I know you and I treat our gardens as good as our grandchildren. LOL When it's pouring outside during the night, I always wonder how my plants are doing. I think I need to change so I won't be so disappointed. Sad to see your tomatoes looking like that, and since the weather is changing, so are the ecosystems. How can I be annoyed when the critters love my garden? I have provided a perfect ecosystem for them. Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter!
ReplyDeleteI am changing my thoughts re gardening also..I am sick of fighting nature.. spotlights.. rose branches..all things.. to deter..garlic spray.. yes I almost vacuum my gardens.Our family was here Sat.My daughter said your gardens are beautiful..I said they are ugly.
DeleteI know when things are going well..:)
So sorry about the squirrels. I hate them too. They constantly eat flowers. I don't have a vegetable garden anymore because they even manage to get past the electric fence. I give up! Your photos are lovely. Happy Birthday to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI may too..I just had such great success when I started..then they found me:(Thank you!
DeleteWe had rain today. My lawns are brown but the plants and flowers are doing ok, I have been watering the pot plants though, and a few favourite garden plants.
ReplyDeleteFunny how we baby the favorites:):):
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday wishes to your sweet girl. Loved seeing the photos of the girls when they were small. We are so alike. I sewed matching outfits for my girls also. Just different colors. I remember making them cowboy/girl pants once with fringe down the outer seams and studded shirts. One was in pinks the other mint green. It was like that with everything until they got old enough to tell me they didn't like wearing matching clothes! haha I used to make them dolls and all sorts just like you. I think the favorite dolls I made them were Holly Hobby dolls. They had the strawberry shortcake dolls and oh, oh, I made them rainbow bright dolls also, which were a lot of fun with the rainbow sleeves all padded and stuffed in the different colors. Seems like just yesterday, but was oh so long ago. Its a pity your gardens have suffered so much this year. My sister's also. Her tomato plants are a bust this year. Squirrels are not so nice to have in the garden, neither are deer! What you do share is lovely though! And I am grateful for that! xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh I know we did so many similar things:)It was the best time of my life.The very best..having two real life dolls.I was lucky I never experienced any of what some moms go through like depression etc.It can happen I just was lucky.Now my boy dolls are young men..Time flies.. wish I kept some of those hand made dolls:)
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