Tuesday, July 25, 2017

TAKING A BREAK...










Just wanted to flash everyone 
my beautiful smile! 

 Just spent a lot of 
Dad and Mom's money 
but look what they got for it 
and,
 they say 
I'm worth it!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~







Planted one little plant of 
the Chinese Lanterns 
about two years ago and 
this is the first time 
we have had anything to show for it.

I probably will be 
complaining about them,
 sooner than later, 
as I understand they are 
rather invasive,
 but no one would dispute
 that we kind of
 like things that way
 around here,
so for now
I am as
pleased as punch.

  I have never seen one close up 
so did not realize 
that they set blooms  up the stalk.
  
What a fun little plant.

 A few pods
 at the bottoms 
have already turned color...





 ...makes me look forward
 to fall.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I am taking a break from blogging 
for a couple of weeks.

 When I show you the next pictures 
you will understand why...


"Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago...

Peter, Paul and Mary
1964







...this is what 
the Cottage garden looked like 
last summer...






...this is what 
it looks like now.


I have always said 
that I am not a gardener. 
 That, if things 
don't come back on their own, 
they just don't come back
 at all.


Well, apparently, 
they are starting not to come back.

 The flowers that we have had
 growing along side the walkway
 for all the years we have lived 
in the Cottage
 are shutting down. 

 Maybe it has something to do 
with the drought,
 or the excess of rain this winter, 
or the excess heat this summer, 
or something as simple as
 an end of life cycle.

 What is 30 years 
in flower years
 anyway?

 I don't know, 
but they put forth 
such a poor showing and
 are already going to seed 
which normally didn't happen
 until the end of August.

 It looks like
 we may have to do an overhaul 
so will be putting
 all our spare time into 
coming up with a solution.

 It is still very warm here
 so the plan is to work 
in the mornings and evenings 
and regroup during the heat of the day.

  Hopefully,
 there will be something pretty 
and surprising 
coming out of it.  






See you then.


...Judy...


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Tuesday, July 18, 2017

AND THE FAIRIES DANCED FOR THE LITTLE FROG PRINCE...










Times have been hard 
for the fairies 
these past few years. 

 What with the drought, 
they were not able to find 
many of their usual haunts
 in pristine condition.

 The mossy banks
 had dried up and 
the flowers that were their life blood
 did not thrive in 
such dry conditions.

 Then, 
finally, 
the rains came 
but flooding was a big concern
 and the fairies are not known
 for their swimming abilities.
  
When winter was over
 and summer began, 
hopes were high.
  But, 
the hot, scorching sun,
 made it almost impossible to
 realize a time 
when fairies, or humans,
 would be able to 
get back to the lives 
they loved.

  Until now...





With the spirit 
of Mary Lennox in mind,
 the humans in this story,
 along with their
 ever faithful apprentice, 
sucked it up
 and started the renovation of 
the Secret Garden.

  Always mindful of
 bad backs and aching joints, 
they persevered and 
were able to put it to rights
in short order. 

 (Well, that depends on whom you talk to)...









...not only did 
the Secret Garden
get an overhaul...









...so did 
the screened porch.






A new carpet 
of pea gravel
 was laid down,
 pretty little flowers
 were added to the pots and 
the fountain 
found a new calling 
as a planter...






...and Dickon 
would be happy to see 
that the animals 
have come once again
 to grace the garden and 
to drive away any predators 
that might be lurking around
 that could be harmful 
to the fairies.






The screened porch, 
or Summer Place,
 as it is called, 
got a good dusting and sweeping...






...the "starry sky" 
at night, 
looks bright and twinkly...






...fresh flowers, 
a pretty tea set and
 a new pillow...





...make the little bistro set
 look charming and ready 
for a shady spot of rest
 in the afternoon...






...or a dessert destination 
in the evening.






As a fairy peeks out 
from behind the door,
 a soft breeze 
moves the chimes and 
in the dappled shade 
of the old Twisted Tree, 
she begins 
to dance...





...moments later,
 the other fairies 
come out
 to join her...





...and if a human is lurking
 around the corner, 
you might hear a faint
 "Kaizie, the fairies are dancing" 
and seemingly out of nowhere, 
and every single time,
 a little black dog 
comes running to watch.





This little black dog 
has many quirks 
but one of the most endearing 
is the way his back legs 
start by his side
 in a seated position 
and, bit by bit,
 start to slide out
 to each side.

  This reminds one 
of a little frog and 
has earned him the nickname of 
the Little Frog Prince.















It is a celebration
 in the Secret Garden 
that has been 
a few years in the making
 and hopefully,
 the fairies,
 along with the Little Frog Prince
 and the humans,
 will enjoy it for 
many years 
to come.


"If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden."

Frances Hodgson Burnett
"The Secret Garden"



...Judy...






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