Goodbye July....

How can it be true.

that we are on the last day of July?

 

 

I would really love to grab the hands of time,

and slow them down...

 

I have so much more I want to do...

 

here in the Northwest

it has been non-stop blue skies..

 

not a rain cloud in sight for many weeks...

 



the Coneflowers

dancing and twirling in the sun...

 



 

the roses are working up to a new big flush...

 

this one is perfectly named Sweetness...

 



Queen Elizabeth...

 

my picture was taken from the front porch,

where I can see her eye to bloom,

she is about eight feet tall this year...

 



 

one of my unusual garden favorites

is this Chinese Meadow Rue...

 

delicate, airy sprays of purple blooms...

 

a bud from April in Paris...

 

I would love to turn the clock back to April,

in Paris or Seattle...

 

I'll be back soon

to share the roses...

 

I am joining....

Outdoor Wednesday

 

See you in August...

Ruffles...

 

Silly, frilly swirls,

so girly...

 

 

 

a rose of impossible ruffles,

Memorial Day...

 

each time she blooms,

I fall in love again...

 

 

an old tattered prom dress,

one dollar

at a garage sale...

 

careless romance...

 



 

summer is passing by so fast,

I want to preserve it,

keep it locked up,

safely tucked away behind closed doors...

 

Happy Friday...

 

I am off to hunt

the garage sales in the morning...

don't you love the anticipation?

 

I am joining,

Show and Tell Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

 and

Pink Saturday

 

Thanks for stopping by....

Come Along on a Garden Tour...

A few weeks ago,

I went on a garden tour

in Enumclaw,  WA...

 

my old hometown...

 

 

 they host these tours every few years,

the tour raises money for the

 hospital care van...

 

it was a picture perfect day!

 

 

the tours are very busy,

and the people are sometimes as fun as the gardens...

 

I think exploring

brings out the kid

 in everyone...

 



 

gates to nowhere...

things to ponder...

 



yes, flowers!

 



 

shady, pathways to secret gardens...

 

classical art,

forged right on the property...

 

and whimsical art...

 



I love poking around veggie gardens...

 

I'm always wanting to add

a little more fun to my practical space....

 



 

 

I don't know what it is about this picture,

maybe the crazy curvy stems?

it just looks like energy,

laughter...

 

“The earth laughs in flowers.”    

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

today I am joining...

Outdoor Wednesday

 

Thanks for joining me today...

Too Hot to Sip...

In the summertime,

I drink my tea iced...

 

but,

I miss taking the time to enjoy

my pretty china cups...

 

so I have been making petite bouquets...

 



 

I propped up my paper parasol

and a delicious breeze

blew across the porch,

taking my parasol with it,

again and again...

 

it must be a Murphy's Law...

 

So if you are looking for a cool breeze

 on a hot afternoon,

maybe you should prop up an parasol?

 

a pretty hand painted mug...

 

although this isn't her work,

my Grandmother painted roses on china...

 

I remember as a girl

watching her working,

fascinated...

 



a pretty in lavender cup,

filled with Garden Phlox...

 



Huntington Roses

and sprigs of Obedience Plant...

 

as the name implies

you can bend the Obedience Plants blooms

and they will Obediently hold the shape...

 



 

amazing ruffled petals...

 

 

I hope you are finding a deliciously cool breeze

on these hot summer days...

 

I am joining...

Tea Time Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness
and
 Inspire Me Tuesday

 

I'm on Bloglovin"

I'd Love you to join me

just click

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today...

I Love Lucy...

Sometimes

you just have to admit defeat

and move on...

 

I have been having a love / hate

relationship with my Cecile Brunner Rose...

 

Yes, she is a beauty...

 

but,  she has been completely

out of control...

 

there she is,

on the right,

whips flying in the air...

 

she is an early bloomer,

then the rest of the summer

we do battle...

 



so I headed North

to the Antique Rose Farm,

looking for a rose for my lattice...

 

(I have posted pics of the Rose Farm before here)

 

I fell in love with this beauty...

 



Blushing Lucy Rose...

 



 

I brought a pair home with me,

I can't wait to see mine loaded in blooms!

 

I Love Lucy :-)

 

 

 

the first blooms of new rose

Wisley...

 

Isn't Summer Grand!

 

I am Lovin' Bloglovin'

and

 I'd love you to join me:-)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by....

Like Goldilocks...

I think a lot of my blog post start out

where I talk about the weather...

 

it's too hot,

it's too cold,

or most commonly,

it's too wet...

 

 

well,

I am feeling like Goldilocks...

 

it's just right!

 

 

I have been in the garden non-stop...

 

deadheading the first rose flush,

trimming,

endless weeding,

always endlessly weeding!

 

days of beauty,

days filled with peace of mind...

 

and a sore back,

haha!

 

this baby dove glided into my Pussy Willow tree

two days ago...

 

still unable to fly...

 

I read this is common,

the parents boot them out of the nest as soon as possible,

to keep them safe,

from predators...

 



 

the mother (or is it the father with Doves?)

 

sits on the power lines cooing,

coaxing,

but still tonight

the baby Dove sits in the Pussy Willow...

 



the girls turned two in the spring...

 

one of the things I learned about

sibling puppies,

 

is there is no way,

I could compete with the fun

they have with each other...

 

so, I don't believe they bonded with us as easily

as a single puppy would have...

 

this year they are more mature,

and have been more interactive

with the rest of the family...

 

Daisy has become my constant garden companion...

 



Iris has been very busy playing with Cosmo...

 



 

my lazy hangout....

 

 

the Hydrangea are popping open...

 

setting a Summertime Blue backdrop

 in the garden...

 



 

sweet sprays

of Fairy Rose...

 

 

we are all

dog tired around here tonight...

 

and it feels

just right...

 

I hope summer

is treating you "just right"  too....

 

I am on Bloglovin'

if you'd like to join me for blog updates,

just click...

 

I am joining Debra

for Be Inspired Friday

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today...