Garden green. . . . . and a new visitor!

Well, those expected gentle showers have turned into two days of very heavy

 downpours, especially overnight. Quite a difference in the garden colors, and

 even now, at noon, drenching rain still falls and steady breezes continue to wash

 off the dust and remaining springtime pollen. But enough is enough!  We are still

 looking at one more day and night with plenty more rain which we really don't need!

The hydrangeas love the rain, much cooler temperatures, and no sun to curl the

 edges of their perfect leaves and turn them brown.  The blooms are just starting to

 open, looking small but usually end up huge once all the tiny buds are fully open.

Some of my potted plants I've brought up on the porch, many don't need

 continuous watering for days on end, and seedlings certainly don't want to be

drowned or washed out of their small pots - basil mostly.

Oh, about the new visitor to the garden.  A surprising return of a chipmunk yesterday! 

 We had one named Chippy for several years who disappeared after hibernation

a year ago. This little guy/gal was running along the front porch yesterday morning, 

then headed over to the bird feeders and spent time with the squirrels - who tried

 to chase it away - but got along famously with this male cardinal as they

 breakfasted together.  I think we'll just continue using the name Chippy . . . . .

. . . . after all it may be the same one, just back from traveling!!!!!

Bad squirrel - we have a whole new family this spring and they are definitely a nuisance!

Just another garden wildlife story. . . . . . . . 

See you when it stops raining!

Ready to leave home?

Can't say being constrained at home most days for many weeks is bothering me a lot.

I love being at home.

 However, I now find myself thinking more about what to plan for travel once we

 can actually pack up and go somewhere a little further than Costco! 

The cars sit in the driveway with full tanks and nowhere to roam.

The suitcases collect dust in the attic.

Here, inland, we are being blessed with gentle rain this morning as

 Tropical Storm Arthur, now just 50 miles off the North Carolina coast, 

is passing the Outer Banks with winds reaching 73 mph.  

Many hurricanes are forecast for this year's season, we wait and hope

 they aren't devastating.

People have enough to contend with already!

The garden needs a good deep water following the hot weekend, 

and rain is so much better than dragging the hoses around.

This week will see plenty of rain thanks to Arthur!

Speaking of gardens, how about this neighborhood gem.

When we walked Saturday we loved finding this U PICK - Everyone Welcome 

sign on a curbside raised bed. The gnome was cute keeping watch.

 Beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash etc. are coming along for picking soon, 

meanwhile I snipped a little bunch of curly parsley and pineapple sage.  

Pretty Serena & Lily summertime seaside offerings. 

Hopefully we will get to a coastal location sometime this summer.

Have you made any travel plans yet?

 My visit to the beautiful Cape Verde Islands last year - where most of the US east coast 

 hurricanes come from!  

Fading beauty. . . . . . . .

The peonies, like me, are fading now.

Their beauty is short lived in days, sadly their blooms don't last for months.

 We care for them from the thrilling day when that tight, round bud appears,

then opens with the assistance of tiny ants (never rinse off the ants, they

 are needed according to nature). For a week or so we breathe the

 fragrance as the blooms grow large, beautiful, stunning to look at, and

 one feels especially glad to be at home.

Now they've even passed the blowsy stage when petals loosen and droop. 

Tinges of rusty shades are encroaching on the fading ballet pink. Yellow stamens 

are curling into fine threads. To me they are still so lovely in their old age. 

I feel a need to record them even this way - so I've been out there with the

camera to watch them change before they fall forever.

THOUGHTS - This weekend arrived very quickly and although every day is

 somewhat the same, I still enjoy the feeling of Saturday and Sunday. 

I hope those who are still working can enjoy some time for relaxation - something

 we elderly retirees are already used to.  

So, more time for the garden - both working and relaxing there.

Weight gain is noticed - me rather than Bob, not fair because I eat

less than him!  No bread baking - crusty loaves slathered with butter

now off the menu for a while, as are pistachio muffins. The farm fresh

strawberries are now being served naked without whipped cream!

Must walk more - grocery shopping is not exercise and we actually 

didn't even do that this week as we've too much food in the house.

The weather is warming up - high of 89F today - so I'm leaving you

for now and grabbing my walking shoes and sunhat.

Enjoy your Saturday.

A fragrant garden walk. . . . .

Take a closer look at the smaller things. . . . those you may take for granted.

Yesterday started out under thick, low cloud cover.  

Coffee mug in hand, camera around neck, in dressing gown and flip flops,
I quietly let myself out into the garden.
I've had to do my own mini pedicure to enable being seen in open toe sandals
 this week - sweet Ms. Kim, my pedi lady is probably missing me, as I am her by now! 
As for my gel finger nails, don't get me started, just know I need my sweet 
 Ms. My Lihn more than ever before!!!

I only managed a few hours sleep, found myself reading at bedtime and 
then again at 3:00 AM. One of those lousy nights I'm having more often lately - can
 I blame COVID-19?

I needed fresh air.

garden is still lovely even without sunshine. 

Dampness brings out full fragrance of the jasmine billowing over the fences,
the mint and rosemary standing tall perfume the air as I pass by.
The new, still tiny, basil shoots when gently rubbed between my fingers, bring
 thoughts of making pesto when summertime arrives.

Yes, wildlife was awake too!  A naughty rabbit was already eyeing my small
tomato patch. A brown thrasher was busy breakfasting on the suet cake,
the bluest Eastern bluebird and pair of wrens were on the big feeder. . . . . 
and all around birds were singing and calling from the trees.

Early morning does not allow you to take the small, beautiful things
for granted - especially in a spring garden.

The language of flowers -

The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many

countries throughout Europe and Asia. Flower meanings have fascinated people

 for centuries. The special symbolism of flowers became a very popular pastime in

 Victorian homes of the 1800's where, alongside a Bible, they often had guidebooks

to decipher the 'language' of flowers. 

You of course know the red rose was used to openly express feelings of

 love - but did you know the pink rose represents grace, happiness and gentleness?

Today my pale pink New Dawn rose is blooming on the back fence and I must

admit its grace is certainly bringing me happiness.

The Victorians believed the human quality associated with the peony was

 'bashfulness', a gentle old fashioned word, but sadly not heard so much

 these days.

Rain and storms seem to have disappeared from the weather forecast.

An amazing week ahead is showing days of abundant sunshine, perfect 

daytime temperatures in the sixties and seventies, with cooler nights once again.

I planted my dahlia tubers yesterday - a first for me - and am so hoping they 

grow and bring summer color later.

The tomatoes are doing OK and I think the naughty rabbits have moved

 on to another neighbor's garden!

I scrubbed the last of the pollen off the deck furniture, blew the 

cobwebs out of the gazebo to enjoy warm evening suppers without spiders!

The front porch is clean and bright and providing our outdoor seating

throughout the day - waving to passing walkers - enjoying a drink. . . . .until

 the beastly mosquitoes arrive!

  Growing and blooming should be continuing with assistance from the

 garden hose. . . . . . . and what's more enjoyable than being outside

surrounded by beauty, blooms and birds at this time in the world!

May Day in bloom -

In the merry, merry month of May!

Some glimpses of the garden in the past 

couple of days of sunshine and rain.

 Perhaps the loveliest time in the garden here in the southeast prior to the

 heat and humidity of summertime.

Taking a little afternoon break to enjoy the shades of green.

It's been a very busy week and I'm ready for the weekend!

All four buds have opened on the amaryllis - so beautiful.

 Peonies have opened - not many, but so fragrant.

 Sweet smelling jasmine on the fence.

 Masses of beautiful flowers on the backyard privets this year - a pleasant surprise.

Rhododendrons are a pop of color in the back garden.

Honeysuckle on the back fence.

And so it goes - days still go by very quickly for us despite continuing under stay at home orders for other than essential outings for food and necessities. Bob found a bottle of bleach - we cheered in the store, muffled by our masks! There's no rice though - who buys so much of it? 
This week we did go to a necessary doctor appointment for Bob's painful knee - an injection seems to be helping. Our good neighbor (also a Bob) helped us by mowing the front lawn as Bob was out of commission. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by 'Bobs' who make me feel safe.
We had a kitchen plumbing problem. I cooked and baked daily, including a huge veggie lasagna. I hadn't made one in ages, it was good with plenty of cheese - in fact far too much cheese. . . . . I need to walk more now! 
Thanks for all those great hair tips on going grey - former post - you are the best of friends. We worked on changing winter to summer wardrobes, which meant a lot of laundry time - and I have a big pile of ironing waiting in the wings. The garden is ongoing. We pulled out yards of ivy - a lot of work, but rewarding. The storm of Wednesday night brought high winds and heavy rain, thankfully no severe damage, and the plants seem happy with the good deep water they received. Hydrangeas are budding - remember they are my favorites. . . . . after the awesome amaryllis of course!

So the month of May is here and most of us admit that April was like no other April of the past!  Hoping things improve - wishing you continued good health - hoping your loved ones are coping and staying safe - thanking all the people who are working so hard to help us in

so many ways.