Wide shots of some of the gardens at Astolat Farm |
Among the bright colors, there are some more delicate hues:
Clockwise from top left: rose enjoying a late bloom, surprise lily (Lycoris squamigera), cleome, spiderwort (tradescantia) that has bloomed all summer, hosta, great blue lobelia |
I have had a disappointing amount of produce from the Kitchen Garden this year that started with groundhog damage to peas, beans, and broccoli. I will give a full account in a future posting. Today, I have redbeets, parsnips, Swiss chard, and zucchini. Every bed has zinnias and/or marigolds. You can't eat them, but they brighten my day with their cheery, colorful faces. It's time to can the beets and sow a late crop of lettuce and spinach.Where did the summer go?
Zinnias rule in the Kitchen Garden |
Tying up the storm-battered zinnias was an all-day job |
Some orange and yellow blooms:
One of my garden successes this year is the window boxes on the tractor shed.
A 'double take' of window boxes filled with Supertunia® and purple fountain grass. Note the fallen leaves from the nearby walnut trees. It feels very autumn-like today. |
The pots in the Stone Garden are pretty with begonia and caladium. One of my favorite containers this year, located by the potting shed, has white Supertunia® and a red grass that I think is called 'Fireworks'.
The Stone Garden |
I love this red grass |
The hydrangeas are changing color: Pinky Winky from white to pink and Limelight from green to white |
There are signs that fall is approaching:
Viburnum trilobum with masses of red fruit |
Our farmer harvested the oats leaving a golden stubble |
As I write this, I hear the sound of tinkling bells through the open window. The goats wear bells with our hope that the sound will deter black bears. They are reminding me that it is time for their morning feed.
Doodles and Billy say 'Good morning' |
Do you feel that the summer season is flying past? I thought that with the pandemic I would have time on my hands and the days would drag, but that is not so. I hope, dear gardening friends that, whatever season it is in your part of the world, you are staying safe and in good health. This year is like no other. I thank God for my garden and the solace it brings, even when battered by storms.
Love,
Pamela x
Drumstick allium changes its appearance daily |
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.
Plants are remarkably resilient and despite the battering, your garden is looking beautiful. I am so thankful for my garden, particularly this year. It has brought me a lot of joy and peace too.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Now I am getting a lot of die-back as the weather cools and we head for September. Not my favorite time of the year as I hate to see my garden's beauty diminish, but I am still thankful.
DeleteThis group of mid August photos of your garden may just be the most beautiful of all the beauty you have posted. Something in these shots, maybe a mistiness in the back ground of some, or maybe the riot of color, or maybe just your garden this year reaching it's perfection, but these photos are simply gorgeous!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your beautiful comment, Katharine. I took the pictures very early, on a misty morning. x
DeleteYour garden is so beautiful Pam as I enjoy it over a morning cup of tea. There is something about the morning mist that just draws me right into the photos and promotes a feeling of calm. A garden is an extension of its owner and a thing of beauty to be enjoined by all those who encounter it. You have certainly achieved that!
ReplyDeleteI am using my iPhone for my blogger pictures now. I got a new one with a better camera. So much more convenient than dragging my bulky DSL outside. I am pleased with the results.
DeleteI'm sorry your garden suffered storm damage but there's still so much beauty, as always. Your window boxes are looking magnificent, I think the grasses really set them off. I haven't grown many edibles this year, just tomatoes and potatoes, but the tomatoes aren't doing very well at all. The plants aren't performing as well as they usually do and many of the tomatoes I picked today all had blossom end rot. Lovely to see the goats, I hope they're adjusting to the loss of their lovely friend. I think they feel a bereavement just as keenly as we do.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your garden isn't performing as well as they usually do, Jo. Every year is so different. There is always next year -- as gardeners are fond of saying.
DeleteMy first impression was how lovely your garden looks, then I read about storm damage. Frustrating for you to experience, and yet, it seems to have bounced back. This year has slid away in chunks.
ReplyDeleteYou’re hiding the destruction well! I do love Fireworks grass myself, growing it in a large pot every year for its gorgeous seed heads. I tried growing it in shade and it stayed small, but with full sun, it flourished!
ReplyDeleteYour garden still looks wonderful despite the effect of the storm. Your window boxes are stunning with the purple fountain grass. This month it feels here too that things are turning towards Autumn. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteYour gardens look lovely despite the weather that you had.
ReplyDeleteGarden wonder!
ReplyDeleteI loved the images.
janicce.