Sunday in the Garden -

It's on days like this when all the hard, dirty, tiring work pays off!

Again, I walked early in the garden today to take these photos.

A little more rain during the night worked wonders and much is

 blooming. 

Unfortunately the pollen continues and air quality is poor with a gusty

breeze blowing. Not sure whether to head outside and do some garden

 work or just sit here and continue sneezing!

We still have a lot to do regarding hardscaping - a new

low wall across the back bed, re-do the pathways, and perhaps

remove a couple more very old trees, one of which was struck by 

lightning and is damaged. 

As we know. . . . . . ."a garden is a thing of beauty and a job forever."

Singing the blues and purples . . . . . .

Each day the clouds build and thunderheads appear late in the afternoons.

Huge drops of rain plop heavily on the back deck, and I run outside to toss the 

cushions into the gazebo. Lightning illuminates the darkening sky, thunder

 cracks sharply directly overhead making me jump and the neighbors' dogs

 bark, or booms in muffled rumbles off in the distance.

Thunderheads (cumulonimbus) are the most dramatic looking clouds with their

tall and imposing shape. They grow vertically instead of horizontally, forming

into dense towers that can reach 20,000 feet, sometimes even more.

Late Summer sky over Raleigh while driving home from the State Farmers' Market downtown on Sunday. 

Sunday, we took a drive to the market for fresh farm eggs and tomatoes, and

ended up also buying a few pretty purple eggplants - they come in all shades, 
shapes and sizes now.

Despite garden conditions being disappointing this Summer due to a

 crazy weather pattern, I was shocked when Bob pointed to "a purple thing in

 the back garden on the arbor." Looking closer I found not one but two

 'purple things' dangling from the arbor. . . . . . . very late blooming wisteria

racemes! None bloomed in Spring but it's lovely to see them now.

While singing the blues, I have to show you this beautiful piece of handmade glass

 from Colorado. It was a gift from my neighbor. His kitty is Ms. Nala whom I've

 shared with you often. . . . . and this Summer I did take care of her for several
 weeks. The blue vase is sitting on the lovely mosaic tray made some years ago
 by my dear friend Penny in the North Carolina mountains. 
You can find her here at Enjoying the Simple Things.

Clambering up the arbor, a story continues . . . . . . .

The flowers are beautiful right now - seemingly a deeper blue than in other years.

My one and only wisteria, dancing in the Spring breezes, the blooms so fragrant.

The leaves are now opening. . . . .eventually they will envelope the little arbor we built

 for this once very tiny potted plant which I inherited from a long ago dear friend.

Note the thick pollen covering the roof of the gazebo - sneezing has reached

 its peek here in the southeast!

Flowers on a newly planted wisteria can be a long time coming, often up

to seven years!  Patience definitely is a virtue, followed by pruning

to keep this wandering, often invasive, vine in check.

HERE is the story of my wisteria, a most beautiful memory

 of my special friend Julie. 

If you are a gardener you've probably received pass-along plants from

 friends and neighbors. 

I'd love to hear stories of your special gifts which are popping up in this new

 and lovely season of the year.

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.