You Are the Beholder Inspiration
(for a high resolution image to download please CLICK HERE)
Good morning. How was your weekend? Ours was filled to the brim. Saturday we had a stay-cation. Well, actually it was a “get some much needed chores and maintenance done around this house” day. I actually had weeds growing out of our gutters, boards on the decked needed fixing and I painted on my arbor that is the entrance to my Secret Garden. I am going to post about that soon, I am just waiting on my husband to get done with the drawing and materials list for me so I can share how he built it with you all. The basis is my Garden Obelisk and it will be just as easy to build.
The garden is in its full glory. We have been keeping it lush with gray water so despite the drought we are enjoying a bounty of blooms. Are you ready for a little garden walk? Then come on along.
My David Austin English Roses never disappoint. This is Graham Thomas.
My Echinacea’s are starting. I love this one with its peachy pink petals. It is called Katie Saul.
Pink perfection in this Queen Elizabeth grandiflora rose.
One Trumpet Lily is perfuming the entire garden. It makes for a scented walk in the garden first thing in the morning. I love it!
My Hydrangeas are doing their thing too. I love how you get variations of color on a single bush.
Both this blue and the lavender are on one plant.
I bought more lily bulbs this Spring and I get so busy with life I forget what I bought and where I planted it half the time. So it was a pleasant surprise this week to walk in my newly started Secret Garden to spot this lovely. I had to twist my body down into an odd angle to get this shot so you can really see the freckles this beauty sports.
Daisies are always a favorite and they thrive here. I have several varieties which I wrote about here, so click on over if you wish to get the full scoop on Daisies.
Sad to say this year I am having to yank out and destroy all my Hollyhocks. They have a nasty fungus that is mutilating them and the only way to get rid of it is to get rid of them for a season or two and treat any news ones that come in to my garden after that intensively with a fungicide. But one got away from me by volunteering to come up over by the chicken pen. To get to this one I have to climb over a block wall or through some blackberry brambles. This one is determined, it does not get a lick of water at all.
Now for more sweet scent in my Secret Garden, I love old fashioned sweet peas. These are the annual old fashioned type that need to be reseeded each year. Their sweet perfume is a pure delight.
I picked a bouquet for the house. The more I pick the more they bloom. I am going to seed some more in pink colors.
The perennial type sweet pea is pretty but has no scent and becomes a pesky invasive plant. So be aware of that if you plant Sweet Peas in your garden, always plant the annuals which are easy to grow from seed and you get both beauty and sweet, sweet perfume.
One parting shot here, this is of my back fence in the Secret Garden. Most of the Secret Garden is quite the mess as it is just getting started but the back fence is filling in nicely with Hyde Hall English roses, (they become a hedge), larkspur, lilies, Aglaia daisy, and Morning glories.
A super busy week is ahead of me. Lots of cleans to do with all the vacationers that were up this weekend for the holiday. I wish you all a fabulous week and fun in your garden!
TwoPlusCute
Wednesday 8th of July 2015
Excellent close ups and it was worth it bending to shoot that beautiful spotted Lily (it is a Lily, right?).
Pamela
Monday 13th of July 2015
Yes it is a Lily, and so gorgeous. I so love the purple speckles, it makes it so striking! Yep, that acrobatics I had to perform were worth it. :)
Peggy
Tuesday 7th of July 2015
What beautiful, beautiful blooms! And you have to admire the determination of that hollyhock!
Pamela
Monday 13th of July 2015
I so miss my Hollyhocks this year but I have next year. Yes that is one touch cookie out there, it must like all that chicken manure compost. :)
Donna Harvey
Monday 6th of July 2015
I love your flowers. Now I see where you get your inspiration to paint. I am so thankful that God gives us so many blessings. Keep up the good work. Donna
Pamela
Monday 13th of July 2015
Thank you, Donna, yes my garden is my inspiration, and capturing the peace and tranquility of my flowers is what gets me through the cold winters. :)