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| Sunrise on the Eighth Day of Christmas at Astolat Farm |
The Christmas season officially ends on Friday, January 6 which is Twelfth Day, Epiphany or Three Kings Day. In my church this is when we celebrate the Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus. As a child it was a sad day for me, because my mother would take down the Christmas decorations, marking the end of the fun. All holiday food must be eaten by twelfth night, according to my mother, if it hadn't been consumed already. (I'm 'nearly there' this year having finished off the Christmas cookies for lunch yesterday!)
On this eighth day of Christmas I am reflecting upon the 2011 gardening season. In the Poconos the season lasts about eight months, with the spring bulbs making an appearance in March and the first killing frost in October. I've picked one or two of my best blooms from 2011 for each month from March to October. These are my gifts.
1. MARCH
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| Crocus |
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| Snowdrops |
2. APRIL
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| Pulmaria |
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| Hellebore |
3. MAY
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| Crabapple |
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| Crabapple Blossom |
4. JUNE
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| Peonies, roses and so many more blooms to choose in June. |
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| Clematis and Rose |
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| Pink Honesuckle |
5. JULY
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| The Cottage Garden peaks in July |
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| My First Waterlily |
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| Waterlily |
6. AUGUST
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| Buddleia with Monarch |
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| Cleome and Buddleia |
7. SEPTEMBER
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| Zinnias and Marigolds in the Kitchen Garden |
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| Grapes on the Pergola making the deck smell like Italy. |
8. OCTOBER
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| Autumn in the Shade Garden |
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| Dahlia |
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| Sweet Autumn Clematis |
There's nothing about Maids a-Milking in this Eighth Day of Christmas posting, but I played with the numbers as Diana suggests. I am linking to her at
Elephant's Eye with my eight shining memories of blooms in 2011. Why don't you join in the fun!
Wishing you a wonderful 2012 gardening year!
Pamela x
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
~~ 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.
Sunshine and flowers - I'm guessing that is what you would like to see out your window. How is your weather? I see lots of bloggers asking where's winter, where's My SNOW??
ReplyDeleteWonder if I can get a honeysuckle to grow here? I do love that smell.
Dear Diana - you are so right! The view through my window is very bleak now, and no snow to brighten it up. But it's very, very cold and windy. P. x
ReplyDeleteHi Pam,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photos! Wishing you a Happy New Year! Cheers, Jenni
Looks like a fine year it was in the Poconos. That is one of the prettiest places in all of PA and your garden is no exception, Pam.
ReplyDeleteOh, seeing all your blooms make me miss them even more! Your crab apple is gorgeous and I get so excited seeing the first water lily every year. I guess we all just have to wait for the first crocus to bloom to know that spring is on the way! Beautiful pics, Pam.
ReplyDeleteYour waterlily is beautiful, such a pale lemon colour. I'm looking forward to seeing snowdrops and crocus indicating that spring is on it's way, we've got rain and high winds here today.
ReplyDeleteClementis tree and the crabapple tree is awesome. What colors. These are not easily grown in India, so the wonder is more for us:-)
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers and pics.
thanks.
Pam,
ReplyDeleteWonderful post of last year. I am hoping to get to one myself sometime this month. It is so good to enjoy the color we captured in the sunny months for our bleak winters. Our snow finally came today in western PA, so there are lots of cozy hours inside to enjoy now.
Merry 9th Day! Pleased to have found your blog this year!
Julie
That Dahlia is magnificent. Dahlias do not grow well in my garden. My mother grew great ones farther north. I enjoy seeing pictures of dahlias and remembering the bouquets of them she made for Church.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful flowers this year past. June is such a great month in the garden. I love the water lily and your pond. Wishing you a great year in the garden Pam.
ReplyDeletehmm, much like you I'm working hard at ridding our house of all the last of the christmas goodies. I'll need to get back gardening to reduce my waistline. I love the photos of the white crocus. It's so nice to see pictures of the garden over the seasons, what a wealth of flowers.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Pam! I hope 2012 brings you peace and bounty in the garden. As for maids a milking, check back with us next year, after we get our new dairy goats ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Pam.... Happy New year!
ReplyDeleteMay peace, joy, relaxation, and all that you wish and hope for come true in this year and many more.
Lovely pics of last year's garden...and now the joy of anticipating it all to come again.
ReplyDeleteYou really have year round bloom!
ReplyDeleteVery fun to see the highlights of your garden through the seasons. Especially like the snowdrops, hellebores, and pulmonaria.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you shared your best from 2011...so lovely. The color of the flowers brightens up the dullness of the winter palette.
ReplyDeletePam - I see why your blog has its title! - your garden is lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is beautiful! I love this clever post. I would also love to help you finish off those Christmas cookies before tomorrow ends! Thanks for you comments about my eating local challenge. It has been a challenge but it is also fun. I think it's great that you're thinking of looking for local foods too. A lot of farmers' markets around here have vendors from PA (within 150-200 miles is considered local) so I'm sure you'll find lots of great local vendors too!
ReplyDeletePam, I enjoyed this post! And I LOVE your pond garden!
ReplyDeleteDear Pam,
ReplyDeleteYou sure have some gorgeous views of your garden.
Love the Woodpecker shot...such beautiful birds!
It's great to reflect on the year. You have some really beautiful photos of your garden over the seasons. Happy new year, Kelli, Northern Ireland.
ReplyDeleteEastern Orthodox and Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas today (1/7). You could always celebrate it too and extend your season. Happy new year and happy gardening to you!
ReplyDeleteHello, Pam. This was a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteLooking at all of the beautiful flowers was a wonderful accompaniment to my cup of coffee this morning.
It is 33F here today; I suspect our gardening blogs will keep my flower cravings satisfied until spring arrives in Michigan.