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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15 comments:

  1. Beautiful picture of the Chinese lantern plant.. waiting for your comeback .. :) XOXO

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  2. I have noticed that a lot of my plants did not come back this year also. There were so many sunflowers last year and NOTHING this year - there should have been a lot but nothing.

    You sweet dog is so cute and he looks like he loves you and captain very much.

    Take a break as we start getting older we need breaks every now and then. Enjoy your time off and have a wonderful time in whatever you do.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  3. Your cottage is just beautiful,with more flowers or less...Cute dog too!Have a lovely time!Maristella.

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  4. Enjoy your break, your project, your new family member and that beautiful cottage of yours. Flowers don't live forever, unfortunately. They come and go and we get to enjoy their fleeting beauty.

    See you when you come back ~ FlowerLady

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  5. Enjoy your break. We all need them from time to time. I hope you can figure out something for your place. Sometimes if you take a picture to a local greenhouse they can kind of tell you what you need and what will look good and be easy-care. Good luck.

    Glad your pupster is okay- xo Diana

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  6. Love your Chinese lantern plant! It does bring memories of Fall. I have so been there with my garden...nothing blooming, looking bad. I waited it out for some plants and this year they flourished. Last Fall I pulled out my hydrangeas and then regretted it because everything else grew so well. Have a nice break....looking forward to seeing your pretty garden again.

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  7. Judy, your garden looks delightful; I know what you mean though-I am not a natural gardener and sometimes I just let things die if they are invasive. Love your Chinese Latern plant.
    Hope you have a great break!
    Hugs,
    Noreen

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  8. Judy your garden is still very pretty. Love the Chinese lanterns. Enjoy your break.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  9. You are a teaser!!! Have a wonderful break, especially with that furry little friend.

    I have Chinese Lanterns that self seeded from my neighbors yard. They have taken over an area along my fence. There is absolutely nothing you can do to remove them and prevent more reseeding. Makes me sad as I had so many ideas for that area. Let me know if you find a 'cure'!!!

    Enjoy your time off!

    Jane x

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  10. The Chinese Lantern is cool looking. Our yard is hurting for lack of rain water.
    The crepe myrtles are full but not as full as last year. Mother Nature is recking havoc on gardens and flower beds that's for sure.

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  11. I have seen Chinese Lanterns in books, never in person. Must be neat to have them. I bet your flowers come back next year. It hasn't been a great year for flowers here either. They bloomed late, very quickly and now it's almost over like you said...I however am nowhere near ready for fall...enjoy your break. Hope it's for a good reason. :)

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  12. And by that I mean a happy reason!

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  13. I wish chinese lanterns would grow for me. I think they are so pretty. Hasn't been a good year for my zinnias either. They usually always put on a show, but not this year. I know sometimes things have to be pulled out some to make room. Maybe the ground needs enriching as it's given all it's got in this one area to all the flowers that have taken from it.
    Can't wait to see what you come up with for the area.
    betsy

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  14. I don't think I've ever seen the front of your house Judy. It's soooooo pretty!!

    I'm not much of a gardener either, which is why I need low maintenance plants. I'm sure whatever you do will look charming!

    Enjoy your break!

    xxx

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  15. I take blogging breaks all the time! sometimes a month or more.. not because I plan to but because I just get too busy with things.. and then I get overwhelmed because there is so much I want to share and don't know where to begin.. so I just don't share it at all! Oh boy....... I know what you mean about flowers sometimes just coming to the end of their time.. I've had shrubs do that over the years and perennials too. Our flowers this year just aren't as full and hardy and some never came back. We're fighting pests and ear wigs and moths and all sorts of bugs this year and it's very disheartening to say the least. I may go with all plastic plants and veggies next year! I truly love your cottage so much... it would be beautiful and quaint without any flowers anyway. Hugs and enjoy your "break"... is there really such a thing as a break? probably not! I'm sure you're up to something! Marilyn

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy