The Saturday garden. . . . . . . . .

I started early as showers were forecast - but they haven't arrived yet! 
It's already mid-afternoon and sunshine is plentiful.
A little garden work encompassing trimming, pruning, deadheading.
I can't do what I used to in the garden, and sadly my now 20+ years 
old garden is really in need of some professional help.
Meanwhile, Bob mows, trims and blows, and although I say
it myself, we do have the most lush front lawn on the street. 

Back garden. A fairly quiet respite filled with bird songs. . . . . and these 

days with pollen.

My favorite azalea  - George L. Taber

Honeysuckle on the back fence seems early this year

Wisteria leafing out and climbing over the arbor - I bet I'll miss
the blooms whilst away!

Perky variegated Solomon's Seal

All images from today's garden here in North Carolina.
I'll post soon on where we're headed next week.

September Garden Thoughts. . . . .

Fading flowers, trailing vines, fluffy seed heads, 

mystery weeds, new grass seed . . . . . . all part of 

the late Summer garden preparing for Autumn.

Working outside is still hard and tiring. Humidity and 

biting mosquitoes make gardening miserable. After an 

hour or so one feels like an old worn shoe, a rusted trowel, 

a broken hoe, a pile of clippings, and a trash barrel, 

all jumbled together by the compost heap.

The old quote comes to mind.

A garden is thing of beauty . . . and a job forever.

Now the beauty is fading, but it's still a small joy to 

behold in an early misty dawn, or the coolness of dusk.

I have to laugh to myself when people stop in the street, 

say how lovely the garden looks. I thank them profusely, 

but deep down feel somewhat guilty. I want to tell 

them not to look closely . . . I almost want to be like 

them, observing beauty from afar.