Monday, May 20, 2013

Patience, Perseverance, Pleasure

The days move forward, the years march on, and children grow up.  I can't put these precious moments into a time capsule, and the clock can never be turned back, but the lesson that gardening teaches is that tomorrow comes again, and each day or season brings the gifts of our past efforts to fruition.  With patience, and love, all the hard work and perseverance of the past turns into the pleasures of the future, and history lives on.

Garden Flashback #1:  The Sun Perennial Border has been tweaked many times, with different plants being swapped in/out, and the 1st photo is a bland sea of green.  Fast-forward three years, and the color, texture and contrast of the border is a big step ahead.  The border has now been expanded to allow for 3 full rows of plants, and the chartreuse Sedum 'Angelina' makes all the difference in the world.

July 2010


May 2013


Garden Flashback #2:  The Mailbox Garden was planted 2 years ago to replace a weedy neglected section of the garden, and to take advantage of the limited amount of sunny spots on our property.  I wanted butterflies and a joyful trip to check the mail each day, and definitely I got that with this new garden addition.  The bare earth has flourished.

April 2011



May 2013




As I walk through my garden, I'm coming to terms with the fact that my garden is maturing, and that the days of thrilling shopping adventures at local Nurseries may be coming to a close.  I am running out of space, the garden will be all growed up at some point in the not-so-distant future.  Alas, when one chapter ends, a new chapter can then begin.  It just may be time to start another garden, and somehow a seed has been planted in my head, and I'm exploring the possibility of purchasing a vacation getaway (with land) in the rural Shenandoah Valley.  Oh what I could do, to start anew...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Fox

Into the Shadows,
through the woods, lurks a surprise.
Soft-toed, Red Huntress.



Monday, May 6, 2013

Norfolk Botanical Gardens

For many years now, it has been a Springtime ritual to tour local Botanical Gardens & Parks, and during the last weekend of April we had the pleasure of visiting the Norfolk Botanical Gardens down in the Tidewater Hampton Roads area.


It was a treasure trove of woodland Azaleas, and gorgeous Camellias. Our timing was optimal for viewing the famous collection, and the blooming Camellia shrubs did not disappoint.






I hunger to one day have a vast wonderland of a garden, to buy land somewhere (5 acres perhaps) and go hog wild planting my fantasy garden. There's no better place for inspiration than Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and it was all quite impressive.






Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Tulip Time? Hello Spring!

It has been a slow climb towards the arrival of Spring this year, with unusually cold chilly days here in the Mid-Atlantic, however the side benefit of this miserly weather is that the bloom period of my Tulips have been extended. The garden looks as good as ever, and I am especially delighted to see the Candytuft "White Purity" doing so stunningly well, smothered in snow white blooms. As the garden matures, I am now in assessment mode, watching and judging and tinkering, assuring that everything fits together and sings to my soul like a great symphony. I am as passionate about gardening as ever, and it's a thrill to kick-off the 2013 Garden Season.



 





LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails