Dahlia Decorative ‘Noordwijks Glorie’
Zinnia, Cactus Flowered Mix
Zinnia, Cactus Flowered Mix
Dahlia Border Decorative ‘Gallery Pablo’
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Cosmos ‘Bright Lights’ Mixed Colors
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Early Morning LIght – Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’; Dahlia, Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower)
A little over three months ago I would have risen early on Sunday morning and prepared to teach a gentle yoga class, which I always concluded with a guided meditation. Some classes are resuming this week but on a limited schedule and with a much different format. I feel it will be a long time before I am back in that world, although I am optimistic it will happen.
I spent this early morning photographing the garden in the midst of calm and solitude. Quiet but for birds running through their morning routine. Even bees were asleep. There is a clarity the garden invites, a stillness not still. Presence, knowing, awareness. The garden makes it possible.
Our house faces east and hides the morning sun from the back garden. Light slips in first from either side softly tapping the back fence and working its way into the western border.
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ and Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Here is one of the sleeping bees.
Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ and D. ‘Labyrinth’; Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’
Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’
Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hope your Sunday has been full of light
Spotted a beautifully colored damselfly on the Shasta daisies this morning. This is Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata).
Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) on Shasta daisy
The rich black wings and the metallic blue-green body indicate it is male.
Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) on Shasta daisy
He rested patiently while I took pictures, opening his wings slowly and infrequently (the video is set to loop, so it exaggerates the action).
He lingered awhile longer then gracefully lifted himself away.
Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) on Shasta daisy
Summer has been scurrying along and suddenly it is the middle of August. Despite the heat until recently large quantities of rain have kept the garden going long past its usual late June demise. With no showers for the past week nor any in the forecast that luxury may be coming to an end.
A few minutes before 7:00 I took my morning coffee outside planning to take some photographs of the flowers. The drawing attraction was a large stand of Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage). It looked beautiful in the early morning light. I ended up weeding and trimming for three hours, nothing really to brag about since the garden has been neglected for many weeks, but I did feel better with a little work done.
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (Black-eyed Susan) shines golden while Rudbeckia, R. fulgida (Orange Coneflower) with its much smaller flowers is just beginning to open. The latter is usually underwhelming but it looks promising. The red flower in the blue pot to the right is Dipladenia ‘Madinia Deep Red,’ still looking nice.
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage) and Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (Black-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (Black-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower)
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ often goes dormant during the hottest part of the summer but perhaps the rain has been encouraging.
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Zinnias are brightening up the garden with their signature colors and shapes. I have been conscientious about cutting them frequently and they keep producing. Butterflies visit throughout the day.
Zinnia
Female Swallowtail On Zinnias
Attractive to pollinators, this pass-along Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant) is dutifully reliant.
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
I have lost track of this dalia’s name. It has produced only a handful of small flowers but this morning the burgundy petals stood out against budding Autumn Joy sedum.
Dahlia sp.
Dahlia And Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude)
The meditation circle planted in the center with various thymes and with Angelonia ’Serena Purple’ and ‘Serena White’ along the outer paths, elicits a deep, satisyfing sigh.
Thyme In Meditation Circle
Angelonia ’Serena Purple’ and ‘Serena White’
Angelonia ’Serena Purple’
Angelonia ’Serena Purple’
Hope your garden is making you happy today.
The severe winter was rough on this Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ but I cut it all the way back in early spring. It has been looking strong ever since. There are flowers, but I became distracted by the colorful young leaves this morning.
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is barely blooming this summer, but a few were encouraged to give it try after this week’s rain.
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
While I was photographing the Black and Blue saliva a handsome dragonfly landed nearby for several seconds before dashing off.
Dragonfly
Dragonfly
The heat suits the zinnias just fine. This one looked particularly fresh in the morning light.
Zinnia In Early Morning Sunshine
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’ At Early Morning
Early morning is my favorite time to enjoy the garden. The birds provide the soundtrack at this time of day with their earnest songs. Hummingbirds bounce from stem to stem around the Monarda. American Goldfinches complement the purple Verbena bonariensis. For the first time in years early July foliage and flowers are lush.
The couple of hours I invested in cleanup this morning worked wonders to neaten the borders before a good friend from college days came for a rare visit. Between rain showers we managed a quiet stroll in the garden and even a walking meditation in the labyrinth. Early garden solitude followed by sharing the garden with an old friend was a restorative combination.
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