Morning Garden
The nicest time in my garden can be the early hours between 6 and 8 a.m., when the sun is peeking around, seeking entry past rooftops and fence posts.
Sunlight touching Southern Border
Yesterday, heading down the back steps with a cup of coffee in hand I intend to sit on the black Lutyens bench in front of the meditation circle for a few moments of reflection.
Before I even sit something catches my gaze and of course, I must look.
Iris germanica (Tall bearded iris)
Iris germanica ‘Immortality’ and Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Satisfied, I continue toward the meditation circle and take a seat. Birds calling and chimes singing are the sounds I notice and sometimes for an instant, there is complete silence.
Antirrhinum majus ‘Montego Violet’ (Snapdragon) and Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Pretty soon though I spot a mocking weed that must be plucked right away. There, that takes care of that impetuous intruder! Oops, another one.
Ah, too many weeds to worry about just now, so I relax and take another sip of coffee. But soon I am up wandering around with the camera, exploring each new bloom that has appeared since the previous day.
Dianthus b. ‘Barbarini Mix’ (Dwarf Sweet William)
Iris tectorum (Japanese Roof Iris) and Iris germanica (Tall bearded iris)
Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose)
Now the coffee cup is abandoned. Like the honeybees pausing for nectar at each opportunity, I float round the borders, inhaling rose and peony and iris, and retracing my steps.
Virgie’s Rose – a passalong
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ (Peony)
Tall Bearded Iris
Crossing Paths
I carefully tread lightly into the back of the northern border for a closer inspection, then swing the camera back out across the garden.
Morning Garden
Morning Garden
Morning Garden
Delighting at form, color and wet grass underfoot I recognize the transience of this peaceful moment, and can hardly bear it.
Such a lovely vignette, and it’s so familiar. We’re just getting through a cold snap, but during the warm days, this is a common occurrence for me, too. You’re ahead of me, though. Thanks for the beautiful view of what’s to come. And thanks for your lovely description and photos. 🙂
Thanks Beth. My garden has hit a tipping point I sense when spring has peaked. Hasn’t weather been unpredictable this year. Enjoy your warm days when they come.
‘Morning is the best time of the day to be in the garden’ and you just proof that it’s a correct statement.
Thanks, it can really be magical.
How nice to see the word ‘morningtide’ used. It’s very rarely used in the UK but has a lovely romanticism about it. I agree, it’s a special time, and a peaceful time, to be outside.
Your garden looks wonderful by the way. Very English if you don’t mind me saying so 🙂
Very high praise indeed. Thank you.
Morningtide just seemed like the right term for the mood I was in that day. I must have read it long ago in an English novel.
Morning is my favorite time too. I like to get up early, like you, and soak it all in.
Best time to enjoy the garden. The other morning I heard but couldn’t see my neighbor puttering around early. We’d been trying to find a time she could come see my garden so I called out and told her to come over. She showed up a couple minutes later in pajamas with coffee.
Great looks at your garden. Have you had trouble with tradescantia being invasive. I have, and many folks I know have as well.
Thank John. Yes, all the tradescantia you see is from plants I’ve tried many times to eradicate. At my previous garden I could barely keep it alive, so it must like the fertile soil here and sun. I have a love/hate relationship though and it has been covered with bees this week.
Your antirrhinum, peonies and Iris are fabulous. I like the crossing paths picture.
Thanks Brian. Seeing my footprints on the stone made me laugh. Apparently I’d been that way before, just from the other direction.
Your garden looks so good. I also find it hard just to sit and not walking around and pull a weed or two.
Thank you! It’s a dilemma isn’t it? Even at other people’s gardens or public spaces I subconsciously see them. (Not to say my garden is weeded at the moment.)
Good for you…exercising the discipline to sit a while, despite the many distractions.
Well, as you see, those distractions are difficult to ignore.
So very beautiful Susie! It is hard for me to sit and enjoy the garden too, so I know just how you felt. But glad you had a few moments of peace to start the day! The circle is stunning with those red antirrhinums. 🙂
Thanks Cathy–I think it’s good for us to try to take a few minutes for ourselves each day and what better place to practice that than in our gardens.
Stunning. 🙂 Your neighbors should pay you a fee to be able to look at your gorgeous gardens.
Thanks Judy, the neighbors are very complimentary.