When going out to feed the chickens and ducks that morning, it was as if it had poured all night, though the moon had been shining brightly through the bedroom windows. Deep fog on the ground is beautiful when illuminated by the moon above. There were lovely beads of moisture standing out on all the spider webs in the garden. I took a few pictures but none are really fine, though I think they make the point.
Despite the weedy flower beds there are many varieties of daylilies reaching for the sun. I'm grateful for their hardiness despite my neglecting them. These are only a sampling. I am blessed by their exuberance.
Near the potting shed Anne has begun what's called a lasagna garden.You lay cardboard down on the short cropped lawn and then mulch on top of that. The theory is that eventually it all breaks down and you have a nice bed you haven't had to dig. On it we have several large pots of squash and cucumbers, as well as our 4 pots of blueberries brought from our city gardens. Here you can see our first pattypan squash showing among the blossoms. We've harvested zucchini already. And the blueberries come along daily now.
How did I think I would ever get the enormous flower beds cleaned out and looking as lovely as their potential? Somehow I overlooked the interfering elements of heat, insects, and lack of moisture. It is nearly impossible to pull out invasive grasses when the ground is like stone. I try to forgive myself for not accomplishing as much as I thought I would by now.
There are so many other ways to spend my time.
Such as watching the changing skies:
And keeping tabs on the resident swallow family:
Part ofmy dream that was "to find a little place in the country" included the time to enjoy it. So during this heat wave and while I'm on my own here for a few days I think I'll remember that and ease up on myself just a bit.
Beautiful flowers, skies, swallows and squash! Don't be hard on yourself Sharon. You have achieved loads since you have been on the farm. It will take a while to get established but you are learning new things all the time. We have had rain here in the South East of England every day for a week and my garden is looking a sorry state with all the blooms bruised and beaten down. It is disheartening when all your hard work seems to be in vain but I, like you put my attention into other things such as appreciating nature around me and focusing on good times to come.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced that life is a balancing act. And we often don't have much control over what we are trying to balance, so we're constantly being called to readjust our attitudes and expectations. Bravo to you for using your gorgeous skies and spectacular flowers to find some peace and pleasure in the midst of this heat and humidity!
ReplyDeleteThe heat has made it hard for everyone to do anything, Sharon. You are smart to give yourself a break and enjoy the beauty around you - such gorgeous skies and the swallow's nest is a work of art! Thank heaven for hardy lilies. Mine, too, are reaching for the sun and providing a beautiful focus in my otherwise parched garden!
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