MY LATE SUMMER MUSINGS

There’s picture posts abound right now of dahlias in their glory.  After all, this is their time to reign, and what a show these tuberous beauties provide.  I still see the beauty in this dahlia bloom despite its withered appearance.  I see romance. Something ruffled, not crumpled.  Vintage.  Antique.   And what an exquisite color palette this photo provides to be inspired by, don’t you think?  I’m enjoying lots of windowsill bud vases as much as possible before the hard frost makes its visit to the east coast.

Another garden icon of late summer is the beloved sunflower.   This one’s towering face looking down upon me is almost confrontational and surreal in nature.  I was face to face with the one pictured below it; hence, the feeling I got was totally different.  Is that not just the happiest face you’ve ever seen?

Next year I may grow and extra crop of carrots just to let them go to flower, as I love these delicate, lacy darlings.  They last very well as a cut flower and have a slightly stronger stature than their relative, Queen Anne’s Lace.

It is the commencement of my favorite season of the year.  The still and snowy days of winter comes in second, though I’m in no rush for that quite yet.  The squirrels are shaking off acorns from the oak trees like mad.  Bright and colorful dahlias are a plenty.   Sunflowers are still smiling.  Evenings are cool and make for comfortable sleeping.  The days are shorter, signaling me to ease up on outdoor chores and focus on my home’s interior.  The cricket orchestra is providing free evening music.  Pumpkins, gourds and locally grown delicious root crops are coming into season.  It’s an absolutely divine time, it is.

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CORRECTLY PRUNED HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

See…. I told you the blooms would be football sized.  Okay…… they are obnoxiously colossal; but, my point is that correctly pruning Hydrangea paniculata is worth the time and effort.  Notice that there are no dead and/or weak branches peaking out from the shrub?  Almost every branch stem tip is in bloom.  The few that are not, are lush, green and healthy.  Didn’t catch my post from the past about pruning them?  No worries, as it needn’t be done until next spring; but, take a look anyway.

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STROLL THE PARK WITH ME

We haven’t strolled ‘the park’ together lately.  Perhaps you’re not familiar with it.  Read my post from the past to find out its history, then jump back here so we can continue our stroll.  I redesigned it the summer before last; the plantings have settled in nicely.

©Linda Nelson 2014

©Linda Nelson 2014

The loss of plant material due to hurricanes Irene and Sandy was not as great on this portion of the property, but the planting bed had not had a facelift in quite some time prior my coming on board.

The garden tasks for next year will consist of basic, seasonal maintenance, as this garden makeover project is complete.  And, I hope you enjoyed the stroll.

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AN AUTUMN CRAFT PREVIEW

Thought I’d whet your decorative crafty appetite with a little autumn preview.  Start gathering pinecones… the tight, unopened ones (you know, the ones you normally overlook).  Be sure to stay tuned, as a future tutorial and inspirational post is in the works!

 By the way, the floral arrangements are purely for your viewing pleasure.

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