Today was a day I could just take it easy and enjoy the garden. My only real chores were to water the front border well, because we've had no rain, and pick what needed picking in the kitchen garden.
I got outside before 0800, and it was a bit overcast. Even though it's July here in the Mid Atlantic, it was quite pleasant out, with a bit of a breeze and low humidity. I watered the long perennial border and got lost in my thoughts. I enjoyed what was blooming and made mental notes about things I needed to do in the future. The morning was perfect.
After I watered the perennial border, I headed out back to inspect the kitchen garden. The largest little bell is the size of a golf ball and there are a lot more just a bit smaller. Some of the large grape tomatoes are beginning to ripen, and the large tomatoes continue to swell. I can almost taste a tomato sandwich. Today's take from the kitchen garden was one zucchini, two yellow squash and a handful of beans. Looks like we'll be eating yellow squash several times in the next couple of days, and I think I have enough zucchini for a loaf of zucchini bread. Bread Boy (Garden Punk) will be in heaven.
Once I finished picking, I headed back outside with my camera. My garden feeds my tummy with produce and my mind with solitude and time to think. It feeds my soul with its beauty, and I wanted to share a little of that beauty with you.
While they aren't perfectly snow white, the Shasta Daisies add a needed bit of calm to the garden. Mine are almost in full bloom, and their cheerful faces almost seem to reach out in welcome to anyone who happens past.
We moved the Liatris in our border re-do last fall, and it rewarded us by doubling in size. It's a pollinator magnet in its full glory right now.
When I bought this Heliopsis last year, I don't remember what the description said. All I remember is I was totally seduced by what the words said. While I tend to gravitate toward pinks, purples and blues, this flower has totally captured my heart with its bold color, dark stems and dark edged leaves.
And while the flowers constantly speak to me, some with soft whispers, some with demands of "Look at ME!" what I most want to see in my garden are the welcome visitors who pollinate or accessorize. Today, I saw a Honeybee and watched her as she moved from flower to flower. With all the difficulties Honeybees are having at the moment, I am always delighted to see one because I know there continues to be a surviving colony nearby.
And that gives me another gift from my garden - hope. Hope for the Honeybees, hope for tomorrow, hope for all of us.
Such beauty in the garden! I started Shasta Daisies early in February, I think, a few of them managed to make it past out weird spring weather and one is actually in bloom- although it doesn't look great, I'm thrilled! Happy gardening to you:)
Posted by: Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots | July 12, 2009 at 01:56 AM
Kim- Your photography is amazing! I am most impressed. I can't take a picture to save my life so I love to look at yours. Keep them coming!
Heather
Posted by: Heather | July 12, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Your garden is so beautiful. I'm sure it is like heaven to the butterflies and bees. And I just love the header to your blog. It is really "an instrument of grace".
Posted by: autmnbelle | July 12, 2009 at 11:46 AM