Floating Along

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."

~ Sir John Lubbock 1834-1913

Moving On

The nest on the front porch wreath was originally built by Mrs. Robin two years ago.
She raised four babies inside and promptly left, with nary a wave goodbye.



Along came Jenny Wren, she moved into the nest, and added a few touches of her own. She has occupied her little place amongst the flowers for going on two summers, and we as dutiful hosts,
are careful not to burn the porch light, after she's settled in for the evening.

Lately the nest has been abandoned, for a more exotic location amongst the porch ferns.
I'm not certain if it offers a cooler habitat, or as with most of us ladies, she's just tired of the same decor.
Hopefully when the weather cools, she'll choose her nest once again.

Hardy Blooms

Each year despite the lack of rain for days on end, we are graced with prolific blooms on the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ) bushes.

This particular bush was a volunteer, a single seed or two carried by the wind or possibly a bird.
It is also a second generation plant, the original bush belonging to my husband's mother who shared it's propagated beauty from her garden to ours.
Oftentimes they are considered an invasive plant, because they tend to spread so easily, but not to this gardener, we enjoy those endless blooms throughout the whole month of July.

Searching For Shade

"Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here,
that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones."

Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

Cooling off with a walk in the woods

Shady canopies

Goldenrod in bloom


Wild Blackberry Vines

Tennessee State Wildflower, The Passionflower

Bouncing Bet, Soapwort

Life's Little Rules

Stay out of trouble....
Aim for greater heights.....

Stay focused on your job.....

Exercise to maintain good health.....

Practice team work......

Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back.... Take your time trusting others.....

Save for rainy days......

Take time to rest and relax.......

Take time to smile......


Remember nothing is impossible...

Caught Cat-Napping

When it’s hot, there’s only one thing to do.... nap!
Oliver spent the better part of the day, in one of his napping poses, completely abandoned to the summer heat.

Reaping The Rewards

My dear son-in-law's garden is producing it's bounty, this is just a small selection of his plantings.
He has become quite the gardener.

" To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of life - this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do."

~ Charles Dudley Warner, author, editor, publisher (1829 - 1900)

Timeless Treasures

I have a fondness for English Staffordshire Ware.
One look at those pastoral village scenes, and I'm transported back to my grandmother's kitchen, where her cupboard displayed shelf upon shelf of these timeless treasures.

I can see the kitchen table covered in a freshly-starched embroidered tablecloth, the milk-jug sitting atop, awaiting the first of many pots of tea served throughout the day.
Treasured memories of gentler times........

An Unexpected Rain

As with most of the country, we've endured relentless heat these early months of Summer.
Miss one day of watering, and the plants are shriveled beyond repair.
Late this afternoon we were fortunate to receive almost an inch of rainfall, unpredicted, out of the blue, yet welcomed beyond words.

If you listened carefully you could hear the trees and flowers, heaving a big sigh of relief, their roots and foliage drinking in every last drop of moisture.
The temperatures fell, and for the first time in several weeks we enjoyed a tolerable 72 degrees.
How lovely is that.

A break in the heat
away from the front
no thunder, no lightning,
just rain, warm rain
falling near dusk
falling on eager ground
steaming blacktop
hungry plants
thirsty
turning toward the clouds
cooling, soothing rain
splashing in sudden puddles
catching in open screens
that certain smell
of summer rain

~ Summer Rain : Raymond A Foss

The Wayside Flower

Pluck not the wayside flower,
It is the traveller’s dower;
A thousand passers-by
Its beauties may espy,
May win a touch of blessing
From Nature’s mild caressing.
The sad of heart perceives
A violet under leaves
Like sonic fresh-budding hope;
The primrose on the slope
A spot of sunshine dwells,
And cheerful message tells
Of kind renewing power;
The nodding bluebell’s dye
Is drawn from happy sky.
Then spare the wayside flower!
It is the traveller’s dower.

~ (William Allingham) 1824-1889

Summer Days

"Then followed that beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; And the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Simple Life

To find the universal elements enough;
to find the air and the water exhilarating;
to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter;
to be thrilled by the stars at night;
to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring —
these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

~ John Burroughs

Porch-Sitting

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.
A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.

~Ada Louise Huxtable

Heat-Lover

The Crape Myrtle bush is in full bloom, it's flowers will put on this show for the better part of a month.
It loves the summer heat, I have offered it my portion.

The Dog Days Of Summer

Dog Days defines a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, was somehow responsible for the hot weather.
Either way, we seem to have hit that mark.

As with most of the country we are under a heat advisory for the next few days, 100 degrees and 115 degrees with the humidity factor figured in.
If you can avoid staying outside especially for long periods of time, then it is best to do so.

Even the birds have taken to their nests.........

Come Fly With Me

Just living is not enough," said the butterfly," One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.

~Hans Christian Anderson

Serenity

"Don't let yourself get so busy that you miss those little but important extras in life ~
the beauty of a day...
the smile of a friend...
the serenity of a quiet moment alone.
For it is often life's smallest pleasures and gentlest joys that make the biggest and most lasting difference."

Royal Lace

Around the garden, the wildflowers are in bloom..
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)
This wild version of the carrot is one of the most common and best known "weeds" we have. It is hard to imagine what a fallow field would look in summer without the white flower heads bobbing in the breeze.
The Bird's nest name comes from the dried flower heads that curl up to resemble small bird nests.




It is thought that the carrots escaped from the gardens of the early European settlers in North America having thrived in the wild to become what we know as Queen Anne's Lace.
Indeed the roots can be eaten just like a small pale carrot if harvested while still young and tender. Pull up a plant anywhere and smell the root. You will find it smells just like a carrot.

It is so called because the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center represents a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. The function of the tiny red flower, coloured by anthocyanin, is to attract insects.

The plant is commonly referred to, as Cow Parsley ( Anthriscus sylvestris ) in Great Britain.

A Returning Native

To some this native wildflower is considered nothing more than a garden thug, invasive, and highly successful at self-propagation.
We have it planted alongside the pond border, it's delicate blue flowers offering a cooling backdrop in the midst of summer heat.

It was originally a transplant from the garden of my son-in-law's grandmother, and is always welcomed back to ours each year.
At the first sighting of the flowers, I look towards the heavens, and shout "Granny, your Spiderwort's in bloom !"

Happy Birthday America

As we go about celebrating this long July 4th weekend, let us pause to say a HUGE "Thank You" to our American service men and women, without whose service and dedication, our lives would be forever changed.

For those who have sacrificed and brought us freedom in this great country.
" A Huge Thank You"

My Main Squeeze

There's nothing more welcoming in the Southern summer heat, than sitting on a porch sipping a tall, cold glass of homemade lemonade.

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup of HOT water
2 cups of fresh lemon juice ( approx 12 lemons )
1 gallon cold water
1 lemon, sliced
Mint sprigs for garnish

Directions
In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves.
Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed.
Pour lemonade over glasses of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top of each, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

dolce far niente ( sweet doing nothing )