Garden in the Rain

Garden in The Rain

T’was just a garden in the rain Close to a little leafy lane A touch of color ’neath skies of gray The raindrops kissed the flowerbeds The blossoms raised their leafy heads A perfumed thank you They seemed to say Surely here was charm beyond Compare to view Maybe it was just that I was there with you T’was just a garden in the rain But then the sun came out again And sent us happily on our way -Dianna Krall. That was refreshing. Yesterday was the first notable rain in July. And the garden sighed.

A sweet pea from my sweet

From the smallest hands come the most wonderful joys.

My 3 year old participated in some Green Thumb classes during late spring/early summer. These were the fruits of her labour.



She's been very excited watching these pods grow! Frankly so am I. We are going to be growing our own veggies next year, and these little experiments have help cement that its not that hard in my mind. We have tomato's and strawberries growing in pots in the back yard, but this is a first for us!

The most anticipated plant by far is the pumpkin. Last year a neighbor's plant breached the fence and a pumpkin grew in our yard. She was thrilled! When they planted them in class the excitement was still there. She'd seen this before.

Grow little pumpkins grow!

Christmas in July

A new Obelisk and a gated arc. One can understand why it feels like Christmas.

This is my favorite time of year. The stores start itching to change to the next season, even though there is still plenty of summer to go around. The perfect time to find a deal...or two. The arc stands at the back of what will soon be a garden patio. I plan to have the gate facing out, and to eventually put a fountain under its bow. Once the patio takes shape, I will plant a couple of climber roses at its base and let them go to town.

This will be a nice spot to sit.

To enjoy.

The drummer is in.

What is it about the Bee Balm's that remind me of Animal from The Muppet's? Wild and untamed, with a shock of red hair. Hmm, sounds like my daughter too!
Ah, well it must be a good connection in my mind, because it keeps me planting more Bee Balm. Such a unique flower!

Love it!

Tagged....

Well I have been tagged by an old friend over at Cooking and UNcooking So here are the rules.

The Rules:

• Link to the person who tagged you


• Post the rules on the blog


• Write six random things about yourself


• Tag six people at the end of your post and let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog


• Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Not a bad time to better introduce myself. Hmmm, 6 things about me.

1) I have a garden helper. She's big on watering, and starting to help with the weeding! She loves taking care of the plants.

2) Well, I kill inside plants. Seriously, I have a problem. Well that not true, I have three problems. This leads me to ......

3) My cats, I have three of them. They love to eat my plants to bits. They are lucky there cute!

4) I am a political geek. I love summer, its the gardening season. However, I have a serious problem with the summer break of CBC's Politics with Don Newman. I love and respect Mr. Newman, but really no break. Just year round Politics please :) Thank you.

5)While on the subject of tv. I am addicted to Lost. It is truly one of the greatest mind bending shows. The wit humor and humor, the challenge and strategy! It is spellbinding. Haven't seen it? Ohhhh, you should get the box set. Its one of those ones best watched without commercials.

6)I dream of being a Guerrilla Gardener.

My tags:
Amy from High and Dry
Anne from Anne's Garden
Joy from GardenJoy4Me

Let the sun shine in.

Things are happening here.

Day by day new flowers are appearing, and even the late perennials are starting to come up. I'm still waiting for a few. There's still hope, they had a cold wet spring, but its been warm lately. I caught the poke of a Calla Lily this afternoon. Hidden by the foliage of the Poppy's. My yellow dinner plate Dahlia is growing. A few of the other's are showing no sign.

I think it was a bad year for my Dahlia's.

Luckily I move on quick. I had planted two new tubers this last spring. I also picked up a white Dahlia at a garden club meet.
Yesterday a friend and I strolled the grounds of Triple Tree Nursery in Maple Ridge, BC. Its one of my favorite nurseries! I couldn't help myself when I saw this beauty.

This stray was found while weeding today. I still have to move it. I wonder what variety of Echinechea it is.
It could be anything. In that general area there are 4 different varieties.

Yes I know I'm totally whoring out more pictures of these pre bloom! I just love how they look in this early stage. Spiky, fresh, vibrant.

They are almost electric.
This one was forgotten in my earlier posts. Its name is white swan, and it is just lovely when in bloom, and even when not!
We are in the throes of summer.

Finally.

Just a minor infactuation.

I thought, it truly wouldn't be an obsession unless I posted about Echineachea's for yet another day. well I cant be helped. They are gorgeous, and they are coming in fast :) A few of these were plants I picked up at the end of last season, so I never saw them bloom. Something I'm looking forward to this year. It looks like I wont have to wait long.

Something a little sweet.

Well yesterday was an ordinary day. I sifted through a little dirt in the afternoon.....still looking...hoping, and found nothing. So close to giving up I retreated to my room where I had thrown my gardening clothes that dreadful day I lost my ring. I stripped the bed, Pulled it out from the wall, scoured through laundry....still nothing. Feeling incredibly deflated I hung off the end of my bed, feeling sorry for myself, when what did I see?......No.......It couldn't be.......Could it?......

Holy shit! Its my ring!!!!!!

Up against the baseboard, under some furniture, right beside the bathroom door she lay. Had I not been hanging upsidown feeling sorry for myself.......well Id still be thinking she was in the garden.

Hooray!! Now the green waste can go to collection tomorrow. Now I can lay my new path in the garden without forever wondering if its under there. Now........I must apologise to the garden. She took a lot of blame for this little bru ha ha....

Maybe a new trellis will make it up to her....

Well for today at least, Ill just show her off a little.
This little sugar fix is amply named Chocolate Cosmos. She even smells like chocolate. The picture doesn't do the flower justice. It was too sunny out, and hard to catch the velvety texture and colouring of her petals. I received one of this plant two years ago. It is one of the last things to come up in the garden every summer. My original plant still hasn't peeked her head. I have trouble with this. I get worried. Every year around the same time, I start to fret. Certain that this year she wont be returning. So every year in my panicked state, I buy another and plant it beside.....Just in case. In the end it mean I have more of the plant, which suits me fine. This year was no different. This picture is from the recently purchased plant.

Looking forward

Yesterday was another garden club meet up night. We had lots of fun. The guest speaker was from one of the big grower company's. She was going over the hot perennials for this year and some for next. I now have a new list of plants I need. Great.

One of the big ones for this year was the Echinacea Pink Double Delight.. I already have this plant, and love it. The blooms are so unique and beautiful.
This is a picture from last year in my garden. I was also informed that there are a few more of this variety in circulation, and more coming next year. Yay! The one that's gets me really excited is the Coconut Lime White Double Delight, which is also supposed to be fragrant!! Here's a picture from Sooner Plant Farm. On the top thing on my must have list!

Sigh.......

.....Back to whats grows here today,

The Lilly's are bursting. I just love the yellow ones, they just seem so fresh. Kissed with a touch of orange in the centre.
Jude- the Obscure, making my garden smell de-lish!
A miniature rose. This plant has these lovely yellow roses, as well as beautiful pink blooms.
This absolute beauty is the Echinacea Pink Double Delight, just about to bloom!

Beep..beep.....beep :(

Well a whole lot of silliness, but no ring.
I can't seem to walk by this flower without taking its picture.

Lost in the flowers.

I'm having a hard time focusing. I'm out there all the time...looking.. trying to find my lost ring.. but they are calling me.. I couldn't help but take a few snaps.


Thank you all for your kind words of sympathy. I'm going to try out a few suggestions Ive been given. Tonight Ill be using my handy dandy flashlight to see if I can spot a sparkle. If that doesn't work, tomorrow Ill be renting a metal detector.

Onwards and upwards.

The gardens treasure's

I lost my engagement ring today :(
It may be in the garden, it may be in the house. I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards the garden. One more twinkle of summer out there I guess. Hopefully she rears her head soon. I miss her already.

Just another summer day..

The garden is ever changing these days. Every day something else is blooming. Returning home, is a mesmerizing experience. Opening my car door, I'm immediately overcome with sights and smells and colour. It always makes me happy to be home.
The California Lilacs are in bloom, with the lavender's just hitting their prime. When a good wind comes, the aroma lights up the neighborhood. More Lilly's were opening today, adding to the parade.
Following suit, the Day Lilly's are breaking open. You can almost hear them sizzle! I look forward to the coming days, when there will be a sea of them.
The dwarf Speedwell spikes are always a favorite sight of summer. I love their colour and texture. Even though I avoided plant purchases before my vacation, I did end up buying a few smaller of these plants for the front of my garden. No blooms so far. I didn't plant them for this year, I planted them for the next.

Hey Jude.

Hey Jude- The Beatles.

Hey jude, dont make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey jude, dont be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey jude, refrain,
Dont carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey jude, dont let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey jude, begin,
Youre waiting for someone to perform with.
And dont you know that its just you, hey jude, youll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey jude, dont make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then youll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na na na ,na na na, hey jude...

'Jude-the Obscure' English Rose.Well that didn't take long..... I spotted this gorgeous rose on my recent trip to the Okanagan, and fell in love. Fragrant doesn't describe this beauty, it needs it own category. Something like stunningly fragrant, and that would get you a little closer to the shock of such an amazing and beautiful smell.

After trying desperately not to go to the local nursery in the week leading up to my trip, as I wouldn't have had time to plant and tend. I finally had an excuse. I needed that rose. So off I went. Looking around the blooming nursery, I knew....Its good to be home, and I must take this one with me! So I did.

GTS: Betty Boop

Green Thumb Sunday: Betty Boop Rose




JoinGardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

A wonderful trip to the Okanagan

One very good reason to grow mint. Mojito's, mmmmmmnn!We spent the Canada Day long weekend in the Okanagan. We had a wonderful time sitting on the beach drinking Mojito's and pina colada's. We visited a winery while we were there, and even found the time to tour a garden.
It was wonderful to see how things grow in a different climate. Everything was growing much faster than back home. Everything was blooming! It isn't too surprising when you consider the amount of sun the Okanagan receives. It was hot out there!

My sister and I had to resist the urge to buy a few rose bushes from their shop. Where would we have stuffed them in our respective cars on the 5 hour drive home....Yet it was difficult leaving there empty handed :)