Tuesday, August 16, 2011

My August Blooms: The Big Picture


Yesterday, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, it rained here. The deluge started the previous day, and before last evening our rain gauge (four-and-one-half inches) overflowed. I did not take bloom-day photographs in the rain. I took pictures a day late, and to make matters worse, the zoom/macro feature on my camera doesn't work since I dropped it last week. Consequently, today there are no macro photos of flowers, but just the 'big picture' of my August blooms.

Although the garden was rather wet when I stepped out onto the back porch this morning, I welcomed the cooler temperatures the rain brought. I am glad to see there are blooms-a-plenty in my hanging baskets and planters.

My favorite tea-pot planter is shown bottom-right, filled with coleus.
Stepping off the porch, I see the viburnum I planted in the spring enjoyed the extra long drink it just received. It grew a little, and while not very big yet, I have great hopes for it growing large enough to hide the ugly pasture fence.

Viburnum (bottom front)
I head toward the Woodland Walk with my poor, broken camera. The Grass Garden looks healthy. The Turks' cap lilies have finished blooming and the Chinese lanterns already cast their Hallowe'en glow.

Zebra grass, Chinese lanterns, Autumn Glow sedum, ladies' mantle and Turks' cap lilies.
Chinese lanterns glow under a canopy of zebra grass.
In the Woodland Walk the only bloom I find is a small, white foxglove.


The goldenrod is budding,  but no flowers.

Four paths in the Woodland Walk are named for grandchildren. This one, Calvin Court, is named for a nephew.

In the shade garden, the turtlehead is opening its first pink blooms.

Turtehead Chelone 'Hot Lips'
I find some flowers blooming in the pond garden as you can see by today's lead picture. On closer inspection I see liriope is blooming on the water's edge.

  Liriope 'Big Blue'
The water lilies have not opened their petals this early in the morning.


In the beds around the pond there are still some colorful blooms: butterfly bush, daylilies and zinnias strut their stuff.

Butterfly Bush Buddleia Dividi and Daylily Hemerocallis 'Chicago Apache"
The beautiful annual, Cleome, is at its best following the rain.

Spider Flower Cleome and Butterfly Bush
I fill some of the gaps when perennials decline with pots of zinnias and canna lilies.


One of my most reliable plants, and a beautiful groundcover, the perennial geranium is still lovely.

Cranesbill, Perennial geranium
A crocosmia adds a vibrant shot of red to the rose garden.

Montbretia Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Many of the purple cone flowers have gone to seed, and the goldfinches love them. They visit my garden regularly during the day. They always fly away, however, before I can get a picture.

Purple cone flower Echinacea purpurea
The picket-fence garden that borders the kitchen garden is very colorful with purple obedient plant, yellow black-eyed Susan, and red roses.


The 'volunteer' pumpkins growing out of the compost bin have turned orange already.


I planted zinnias and marigolds in the kitchen garden. Look how high the corn is in the lower field, now.



Marigolds at the back, and beets at the front of this raised bed.

The peas and beans are finished, but there are still flowers and fruit on the squash plants, although I don't believe I've had as many zucchini as usual this year.


I check out the dill seed heads for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, but none this year.


Next, I check the milkweed. Wow! I am elated to find my first monarch caterpillar. I am so.o.o excited! I planted the milkweed especially for this purpose, and I am delighted it payed off so quickly. I wish my macro was working, but I manage to get an acceptable picture.


Feeling very happy, I pick a bunch of cottage-garden flowers and carry them to the Woodland Walk. As there are few blooms there, I decide to cheat a little, and place a vase in my favorite seating area.


Obedient plant, black-eyed Susan, zinnias, and roses add color to the Woodland Walk.
I am a day late, but I am going to head over to Carol's wonderful blog, May Dreams Gardens, and check out what is blooming in gardens all over the world. Happy belated Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Pamela x

A dear gardening friend painted this sweet stone for me.
~~ I love reading your comments. I hope you leave one so I’ll know you visited!
I look forward to visiting your blog in return.

36 comments:

  1. I am sorry about your camera, but I enjoyed seeing wider angle pictures, I don't think I realized just how beautiful your garden is. You have so many beautiful blooms, it was a delight to see them.

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  2. I am sorry about your camera, but I really enjoyed the long shots of your garden. You have such lovely 'rooms' of blooms and places to ponder. I am sure you are very excited to see the monarch larvae...I am hoping it is contagious. Happy GBBD!

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  3. Oh my a damaged camera, that is not good. But your photos were pretty good considering. I too like the wider views and like Masha mentioned, it really gives an idea of how big and pretty are all the gardens. And your 'renters' corn is getting big. Did I remember right, you rent the land? Happy GBBD. Glad you post after the rain.

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  4. I hope you are able to find a very nice replacement for your damaged camera. You still took lovely photos.

    I love your porch and the teapot planter I also liked your whimsical painted stone your friend painted for you and what it said...

    "Time began in the garden" how true that statement is, I may borrow that one day for a project in my future garden.

    Very, Very nice. I enjoyed your post today and as usual your garden is always lovely.

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  5. I personally prefer 'The Big Picture' and have truly enjoyed this visit... I guess when it comes down to it, I'm more interested in how plants work within the larger landscape, even though I do love collecting individual specialties. I really enjoy waves of color and repetition... I enjoy seeing the same view with changes from one week to the next. I wonder if there is a linking party out there in blog land dealing with the big picture... if not, maybe I should consider starting one! Your garden is beautiful! Larry

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  6. Donna - Yes, we lease the fields to a farmer. While the corn crop state-wide is not good this year, ours seems to be doing O.K.

    Larry - I think a 'Big Picture' meme is a great idea! Actually, I think a blogger mentioned something similar recently, but my 'senior' brain can't remember who it was. Seems to be an interest in the idea though. Go for it!

    Vetsy - I'm going to try to get the camera repaired, as I can't really afford a new one right now. If it costs too much, however ....

    Thanks for the generous comments everyone. You are what makes blogging worthwhile.

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  7. I find myself very happy about your pumpkin and Chinese Lantern flowers-- looking forward to autumn I think! White foxglove so pretty in the woods, a late surprise package...

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  8. My camera is acting up lately too, the vibration reduction hops all over and I end up with blurred shots. I guess it's time for a new one. But I digress...Love the pictures of your garden! I am a 'big picture' kinda gal and love to see the way a landscape is arranged. Your photos show a gorgeous landscape. And 4.5 inches of rain?? Oh, my, that's a lot!

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  9. Beautiful post...I adore your patch of Echinacea...and I bet the finches do love them!

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  10. I love those flower garden.
    Simply beautiful.

    Cassy from Beginner Free Guitar Lessons

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  11. Pam these longer shots are just wonderful. One gets such a great sense for your garden. I just love seeing the pumpkin volunteer...mine just aren't pollinating but oh well...I have not seen any caterpillars either but maybe they are somewhere I just cannot see them...I hope your camera is working as you would like but still the pics are wonderful...

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  12. Good Morning, Pam

    Somehow individual pictures of flowers seem to be the ones that make it on to our blogs the most, but I think the 'big picture' ones are definitely the ones that gardeners want to see the most.

    I know I am certainly the most fascinated by the types of flowers gardeners put together and in what fashion.

    SO very interesting to see all of yours. What a treat.

    I love that you made that arrangement for the table between those wonderful chairs.

    Cheers and Happy Gardening!
    Diane

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  13. Love your pond and your back porch area. So many different areas in your garden, it must be quite big.Still lots of lovely flowers. You have lots of my faves especially Cleome and Buddliea.

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  14. So sorry about your camera - I would be lost if anything happened to mine. It's like an old pair of shoes. But like the others, it gave me a chance to see so much more of your garden! I am salivating like mad over that bed of zinnias. I love having bowls of zinnias and roses all over the house and they are absolutely my favorite annuals.

    I love your porch... that tea pot planter is super sweet. I have the same problem as you with the goldfinches! They flit around way too fast for me to get decent pictures, but they are so beautiful!

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  15. I like your seating area with the chairs, it must be very relaxing sitting there enjoying your garden or woods. I would like to see the goldfinches eating coneflower seed. They are here but I only see them in the feeders.

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  16. My adirondacks look a lot like yours, weathered and rustic.
    The zinnias you have a gigantic! Great job on all your gardening endeavors, Pam!

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  17. Ooh! This is what I like - big pictures of a garden, not only macro-shots of blooms! You have great, interesting, wonderful garden, Pam! So many points of interests, and the variety of plants is awesome!

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  18. Pam, that sign needs to be Mornin' Glory instead of Morning. lol. :^)

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  19. The 'Big Picture' of your garden looks wonderful, Pam. It's amazing how the rain can freshen everything up. I can't believe your pumpkin is that size already, mine are tiny little things, I wonder if they'll get to a harvestable size. How wonderful to find a Monarch caterpillar. He's a beauty. I love the little stone painted by your gardening friend, how very true.

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  20. Hi! I garden in NE Pennsylvania, too. Your gardens are beautiful. Do you have woodchuck issues? I can't grow echinacea at all because of them, so I envy you your coneflower! I'll be certain to check back here often to see what's up in the Poconos!

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  21. Lovely garden. I'd like to see it live.

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  22. You've such a lovely garden and I love the idea of naming the paths after your loved ones.

    I loved the wider angle too Pam. I don't like giving a wide view of plants in my front garden for privacy reasons on the internet. I used to take a huge amount of wide angle shots but once I got a macro lens I ended up shooting more of those instead.

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  23. Feel like I just took a vacation.
    So many flowers and a charming home. Didn't have much luck with zinnias, don't seem to last long.
    Next year I need to more creative with pots.
    Loving the backdrop of the corn fields and forest.

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  24. The rain we have been getting is unbelievable. My husband wants to build and ark just in case!

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  25. It's been so nice to have sufficient rain for a change this summer, even if it does keep you from taking your bloom day pix. Everything looks wonderful! I have a monarch cat too, as I usually do, but I've never caught the chrysalis. Darn! I know you admired my Green Envy coneflowers, and I can't recommend them highly enough. Gorgeous, long bloom time, and the now the goldfinches are crazy over the seed heads.

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  26. Love your beautiful blooms and it is also nice to see all the beds so the BIG PICTURE looks great! Your Turtehead Chelone looks fabulous as do your Zinnias. Happy gardening!

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  27. I love the pics of your garden. I am also growing milkweed this year and am waiting anxiously for the monarchs to discover it!

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  28. Sorry about your camera, but the wider angle photos here are also beautiful. I love photos like this because i can visualize the real look of the whole garden. You have a wide area and very productive as well.

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  29. Your gardens are gorgeous and wowzer on the pumpkin!

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  30. Dear Pam, a real shame about your camera but gardenwise at least you do have some wonderful wide views worth shooting. Would love to sit on that porch and enjoy the various aspects whilst the rain tumbles. Lovely zinnia planting.
    Laura

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  31. Your garden is very beautiful. Sorry to hear about your camera, hope you could fix it/get a replacement lens. The painted stone is very beautiful and a wonderful from your friend.

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  32. Hi Pam, your garden looks marvelous, the porch looks like a great spot to relax and read a book if you have the time that is, with such a large garden. I do like the macro shots, but the wider picture seems to appeal to so many. Thank you for the visit to my blog and I am so glad that I dropped by.

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  33. Those monarch caterpillars cause a lot of damage to our plants. Great photo!

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  34. Dear Pam Your garden is stunning, you must be so proud of what you have achieved. Has your mother been over to see your garden ? I know from what you have said that her garden inspired you and I'm sure she must be delighted with yours.
    I hope you are keeping well.
    M x

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  35. Pam, Your garden is such a wonderful place. Love the zinnia's and your covered porch and the overall landscape of your garden...

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  36. Your garden looks wonderful Pam. I love all the different areas you have and that painted stone your friend made is just delightful.

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