"I must have flowers, always, and always."
CLAUDE MONET
It dawned calm and overcast this morning. With a mix of rain clouds and smoke hazing the sky from wildfires, it smelled like wet campfire early on. Thankfully, now it smells sweet and feels refreshing. A bubble of joy rises in my heart as I take a quick stroll around the garden. The heat wave that came through a few weeks ago stunted many of our plants, burning off buds, but they are at last recovering and filling our days with much happiness.
As August gets underway, I'm delighted to give you a peek at what's blooming in the garden, mostly in the backyard, a place that is a never ending work in progress.
"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind."
LUTHER BURBANK
" In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.
OKAKURA KAKUZO
"In summer, the song sings itself."
WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS
Before I close, here is a bit about the novel I'm currently reading. I'm sharing because it's a perfect fit with today's garden theme. In her latest book The Last Garden in England, author Julia Kelly writes a tale about five women who are connected by a certain garden that 'blooms a secret' and ties them together over the decades.
While relaxing in your own garden, time travel to overgrown pathways with Emma Lovell as she undertakes the arduous job of restoring this neglected garden to its former glory and uncovers old secrets long buried and forgotten. So far, I am about a fifth way into the book - it's a gentle read with mysteries that keep me turning the page but don't have me biting my nails in suspense. A most agreeable summertime read.
" 'Everything gardeners do is intentional. We create order out of nature.
If she called this Celeste's garden, there was a reason,' she said. "
JULIA KELLY, The Last Garden of England
* * *
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.
Brenda
Photos from my garden, Summer 2021
So pretty! So lovely! And oodles of my favourite colour. Thank you for the garden tour. My own flowers are slowly coming back to life after the heat wave, and it’s wonderful. I will look for that enticing book too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your own flowers are finally recovering. I find myself being drawn to all shades of pink these days - didn't realize just how many pink flowers were in the garden till I took photos, but I'm loving it. Thanks, Joy, for stopping by!
DeleteWhat a beautiful garden! I can just imagine you sitting in your garden with a book with a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're finally experiencing favourable weather conditions. The weather here has been all over the place: it's too hot, or we have an air quality warning (due to the northern Ontario forest fires), or we have a thunderstorm. Here's hoping August will bring more enjoyable weather!
Many thanks, Margie! Yes, we often have tea in the garden. I feel so sad about all the forest fires - there are so many across the country these days. The earth groans - we surely need some good rains.
DeleteSuch pretty glimpses of your garden. Is that a new header with "still" added to it? Perhaps it's been there for a long while and I've just noticed it now. Regardless, I like it! Your garden is a perfect spot for reading that book. I enjoyed it very much. And can I say how wonderful your green grass is? Here all is brown and crunchy. But I guess I won't complain since we have green grass in the winter! lol
ReplyDeleteLorrie, the header isn't new ... I added the word 'still' sometime during lockdown and restrictions. A reminder to myself about there being still so much that's beautiful in our world, no matter what is going on around us. Yes, haha, I do envy your green grass in winter when ours is usually covered in snow.
DeleteWhat a lovely garden you have! August’s arrival has brought us a few days of cooler temperatures; short-lived, I fear. I’ve read that book and really enjoyed it! Hope you find it enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteNellie, thank you! We've had some cooler days, most grateful. And yes, I am really enjoying the book.
DeleteYour garden photos are soul-refreshing, such vibrant, joyful colors! I'm adding that book title to my list, sounds intriguing. We have a little bit of rain today, I'm hoping our so-called lawn will be encouraged to become green again. Happy gardening and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteSome good soaking rains would be lovely. You're welcome to read my copy of the book. :)
DeleteOh how I enjoyed walking through your yard and seeing those gorgeous flowers.It is a refreshing break from the dryness and smokey world over here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth! I hope you get some rain soon.
DeleteYour garden is a wonderful haven and the book looks very good! I love all the summer blooms you have, hydrangeas are my favorite flower but I love them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! I bought the hydrangeas on a whim one spring, never dreaming they'd do so well in our garden. We've been pleased. They make such lovely bouquets.
DeleteYour echinacea flowers charm me! I have been trying for a few years now to keep my species echinacea going, and to cultivate the old, original purple coneflowers that I used to have. And I'm not succeeding at either so far! You've reminded me that I had thought to go an hour away to a fantastic nursery, this very month, to pick out some new plants that will be pricey but maybe will be more successful. And fall is the time to plant them around here. Thanks for the inspiration <3
ReplyDeleteGretchen, I hope your trip to the nursery provides some lovely new plants for you to plant come the fall.
DeleteOh my goodness, what wonderful loveliness is your back garden!! I love your color scheme & how serene it all is.
ReplyDeleteIt was because of you that I ordered another novel on gardening & at the same time ordered this one you are now reading. Both very good.
Happy August & thank you for the tour of your wonderful blooms. ~ FlowerLady
Awww, thank you FlowerLady! There is a real delight in the colours - these days my soul longs for something bright and something pretty. I'm enjoying the book - at about the half way mark now.
DeleteThank you for the lovely garden tour, Brenda! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed, Cheryl!
DeleteYour garden is so pretty! That book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Penny!
DeleteMy goodness! That lawn of yours is so beautiful. The flowers are wonderful, as well. ☺️
ReplyDeleteNow that book sounds heavenly. I am truly intrigued.
Thank you, Vee! Rick has a hand mower and he goes out every other day to give it a wee haircut. He likes to keep it longer so that the heat doesn't dry out the roots so quickly. I think that's what helps keep it green these days, although it gets watered once or twice a week, too, if there's no rain. I think you would enjoy the book.
DeleteWhat a beautiful pink border you have. I'm oing to see if I can get the book on my Kindle, it sounds just the sort of story that I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the book, Barbara, and I think you will as well. A good book for convalescing and too-hot afternoons.
DeleteHi, I read The Last Garden in England. I did enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing your garden. Thank You!
Carla, I just finished the books and really enjoyed it as well. Thanks for taking time to stop by and say hi!
DeleteBrenda, your garden is breathtaking. I know you thoroughly enjoy every moment you spend, soaking in the beauty and dreaming of new visions to come and reading your favorite book. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Last Garden in England." I thought it was a treasure and is now among the books I save. Although, it seems as though I am gathering too many in that group. My shelves are overflowing.
ReplyDeleteWishing you many happy days in your garden, as summer seems to be sailing along.
Sandra, thank you! I know exactly what you mean about shelves overflowing with new favourites. There are just so many good books around now, ones that speak life and joy and hope, stories to dip into more than once. Such bounty and beauty - how blessed we are. And, oh my, summer is really sailing along now.
DeleteOh, Brenda. What a beautiful backyard you have. All that pink! I LOVE pink. That's my favorite color. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. Loved that. The book sounds good, too. Hugs. Susan
ReplyDeleteI thought you might be enjoying all that pink, Susan. I didn't set out to have a pink theme this spring, but I think my soul needed it after the long winter - I kept gravitating towards all the pinks. By the way, I finished the book and really enjoyed it.
DeleteHow very, very gorgeous... all of it! Thank you Bren for the garden tour, and for that lovely list of books that runs down the side - wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a treat to see your lovely comment, Tamara, thank you.
DeleteWhat a lovely backyard garden you have Brenda. I love the predominance of pink and those perky yellow day lilies. I added a pink hydrangea this year that looks so similar to yours. Thank you for sharing these photos so we could all see what beauty surrounds you.
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you, Diane. There is a real joy in being able to celebrate beauty with others, isn't there? Perhaps that's why so many of us blog and do social media.
DeleteOh my, Brenda! I've never seen your garden before! It's breathtaking! I can see that you are a maker of beauty in so many ways! Thank you for sharing it and all the lovely quotes, as well! Happy Sunday!
ReplyDelete