Garden Photo Round-Up

One of the marvels of a garden is observing the changes, both subtle and more dramatic, which occur from day to day, week by week, and with each turn of the calendar.

Each season brings surprises of weather, some plants in the flower borders burgeon into exuberant clumps, some merely hang on, a few fade and the 'place there-of knows them no more.'

This is one of the last of the poppies.

Their season is a brief one and the exotic beauty of each bloom lasts only for a day.

A small army of the plants had germinated early in the winter and braved the frosty weeks, a bit shriveled but viable.

Weeds grew around them, mostly invasive blades of grass.

I was surprised to find that these self-sown plants were nearly all of just two varieties.

There were none of the frilly pink or red 'doubles' which flourished in the summer of 2011.

 Our early labors in the veg garden are being rewarded.

J. dug a hill of Yukon Gold potatoes this week.

We will probably let most of them mature a bit more as we have some 'store-bought' potatoes on hand to finish up.

We've found that we can store our garden potatoes successfully only through December, so we planted less this season and will eat them as long as they can be dug and used fresh.

M. was presented with broccoli plants which he shared with us.

We've harvested 4 heads this week.

I made a sauce with our favorite cheddar [Vermont Cabots] to serve with the second meal.

Lettuce--both red and green loose-leaf types, must be consumed or shared before the next blast of hot weather causes it to bolt.

Friday morning was cool and damp after welcome rain that began Thursday evening.

This moth was fluttering about in the grass at the garage door.

It wasn't very obliging when I attempted to get a closer photo.

[Photo by Pen Waggener in Columbia Magazine identifies this as an Imperial Moth.]

The Michaelmas daisies by the clothesline are in bloom.

This is an effect of the strange season we've experienced here.

I have known these as New England Asters--very prevalent in the pastures and roadsides of Vermont--but blooming in late August and through September.

Early August was their bloom time during our first two Kentucky summers.

I'm thinking I will cut them back and hope for a second flowering.

The elder flower is enchanting--just coming into bloom.

The starry flowerets have a delicate scent and a blush of pale pink.

The dianthus in the foreground bloomed early and has 'gone by.'

I will let some of the seedheads ripen, then shear it back.

The dominant colors in the border are now shades of scarlet and gold with the achilleas as the star turn.

Achilleas Coronation Gold and Paprika massed in front of Yellow Simplicity roses.

          

This achillea, a warm pink, has been later to bloom and is now at its peak.

My perennial gardening has a greater element of frugality with a retirement budget.

When I find that a plant flourishes I don't mind an abundance of it in the varieties I can start from seed.

One of my favorite rugosas, Blanche Double de Coubert.

The rugosas [surprisingly] aren't as happy here in zone 6 as they are in a New England setting.

Japanese Beetles have gathered for the season of roses,.

I wage war on them every morning.

I PINCH them with a vengeance!

The last poppy to bloom and only one of two plants to appear in this tousled style.

You can see that the edge is rather frizzled--it bloomed just after the rain.

I've made a note of its location to save the seed.

This next series of photos were a bit of an experiment.

There was no service at our church the last weekend of May [camp meeting in Tennessee] so instead of a morning when I rushed about to make myself presentable I went out to the porch with the one mug of coffee I allow myself per day.

It was later than my usual start to the day and already too warm for comfort on the wicker loveseat which faces directly into the morning sun.

I carried a folding lawn chair around to the carport and settled myself with mug of coffee and my camera.

I decided to experiment with various combinations of zoom, landscape and macro settings to snap only what I could see from my chair.

This shot of the poppy pods in the border has a very militant look.

Garlic grows in odd places here.

Mr. Rogers has told us that he planted some under the grape arbor.

Whether he planted it in other spots or it simply seeded itself, I don't know.

This one stalk came up in the tangle of daffodils near the carport.

Its papery cap had popped off and lay beside it on the ground by the next morning.

This vine with shiny heart-shaped leaves clambers all over the daffodil area.

Here it has wound itself around the garlic stalk.

Several days later I noticed that stalk and vine had both toppled.

It could be a natural event--or could be the result of the incorrigable Willis; he has a penchant for rampaging through plantings.

Johnny-Jump-ups which sprang up in the corner of the herb bed.

They will shortly disappear as they don't like hot weather, but they spring up, true to form, in the fall.

A view of the herb patch, in shade most of the day with the sun splashing between the maples and box elders in the yard.

The lambs ears definitely needs restraining.

Lavender vera.

Bumble bee on the lambs ears--a zoom shot.

Finally, a landscape and zoom of the familiar view across the neighboring pasture and down the Big Creek Valley to the south.