Sunday 28 June 2015

What is summer..............

 A time for planting containers,
 and hanging baskets.
 Carrying watering cans back and forth to make sure they thrive.
Waiting for new plantings to bloom and hoping they are as lovely as you anticipated .
 Watching life return to the pond...........sitting close by with a cup of tea, and just enjoying those moments.
 Feeling of anxiety as the rabbit population increases each month...........but the kittens are very sweet :)
 The scent of Angelica wafting around the garden for many weeks,
 attracting dozens of honey bees, and much more.
But for me, the best thing about summer is waiting for the return of the bumblebee.    This garden was originally planted for them.   It is a garden of all seasons.    A supply of nectar for every month of the year, just in case they come out of hibernation early, in the darkest days.

Happy summer gardening...........

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful Cheryl, the bumblebees are still here, so glad. I´m also very worried about the growing population of rabbits, I saw two days ago early in the morning 4 little ones playing in the garden, so cute, but...... Your containers and hanging baskets are wonderfully planted, I love surfinias and petunias.
    Have a wonderul new week!

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  2. Oh dear Janneke, I hope you will not have a growing population of rabbits too !!!
    They are cute but they ruin a garden. I spend yesterday filling in holes they have dug in the grass.
    I have twisted my ankle so many times, I have lost count.


    The petunias are Black Velvet and they look very pretty with the pale pink surfinias.

    Enjoy your week,...........

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  3. What a wonderful way to plant a garden! My garden is full of bees at the moment and I do have them pretty much all through the year but this is by chance more than a deliberate policy. It's only really over the last couple of years that I've started to try and buy plants that are useful to bees.

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    1. I am always thrilled to read that gardeners are planting for the bees.
      With numbers dropping it is a good thing that we are planting more bee friendly plants :))

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  4. What beautiful containers you have. I didn't plant too many containers this year. I knew we would be out of town some so I didn't want them to suffer while we were away. I guess I could some more now. Seeing your containers looking so beautiful makes me want more. I have a black petunia planted with a yellow one. They look fairly good together. I like pink tho... I don't think we have surfinias here. They are nice. Love seeing the wildlife in your pond too. We have tree frogs and toads here in my garden. I would like a small pond I would have other frogs too. Maybe some day... We have had the most beautiful weather the past day or so. We have been so enjoying getting out without working up a sweat. Happy Summer!

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I enjoyed planting the containers this year. I have kept it simple, for me, that has worked well. I have been feeding them on my homemade comfrey tea.
      it seems to be working a treat.
      Black and yellow look lovely together.......nice combination.

      I remember seeing a tree from in Beckie's garden when I visited.....lovely little creatures.

      Glad your weather is good.............we are expecting a heat wave this week, they are forcasting 33C (96F) in our region. Way to hot for me, I will probably melt...........

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  5. Wow! summer is amazing season! full of colors, taste, feelings and aroma!
    Have a great Sunday, Cheryl! Your garden is very beautiful!

    xoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :)

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    1. Thank you Juliana,

      Have a great day..........

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  6. Hello Cheryl,

    Beautiful photos of your stunning garden. A garden for all seasons must be wonderful, I just have two small borders in our tiny back garden. I get so much inspiration from yours, and I adore your containers.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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    1. It is not about size Irene, is it ? So much can be done with a small space, I always think they are so much more intimate than a large garden. I love the way a small garden can almost embrace you..............

      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      Enjoy your garden :)

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  7. There's plenty of bumblebees in my garden at the moment, mainly because I've got a nest somewhere around my roof. Not only that but I've got a wasps nest too. Unfortunately, the wasps have to go as they've been coming in to the house but the bees can stay as they're not causing any trouble. I love that photo of the frog. I had one jump right out of the little pond the other day, he did make me jump, and that baby bunny is so cute.

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    1. Hi Jo,

      Wasps can be a nuisance.....I am allergic to their sting, so am very cautious.
      I have never found bumblebees a problem. When they come into the house I pick them up and put them on a flower in the garden. Of course, I am not suggesting that anyone else should do that..........
      Nella is terrified of the frogs.....it is the jumping she does not like. It is so funny to watch her back away...........and jumping every time the frog does:)

      Yes it is cute but I wish it would be cute in another garden, rather than mine :)))

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  8. Hanging baskets are looking lovely, and bees seem to have done well in my garden and happy to have them around.
    Great shot of the frog, would be happy for him to visit my pond, not sure what the old man would think, especially now he's taken to drinking the pond water!!
    Amanda xx

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    1. Yep....seen Nella do the same thing. Amazing when they have a nice bowl of fresh water indoors !! Crazy dogs :))

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  9. Your hanging baskets look very nice, well all your garden looks very nice.

    Sit down with a cuppa and enjoy ...

    All the best Jan

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  10. Your hanging baskets look very nice, well all your garden looks very nice.

    Sit down with a cuppa and enjoy ...

    All the best Jan

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  11. What lovely hanging baskets! I love the bumble bees too, you just can't beat watching them bumbling lazily from flower to flower, how wonderful that you cater for their needs!
    What marvelous pics of the frog and kitten, yes, having rabbits in the garden can cause havoc, we don't get them here, fortunately, although I would enjoy seeing a few bobbing around. xxx

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  12. What a lovely tribute to summer, Cheryl! Your hanging baskets are all so lovely. I agree about the rabbits--they are cute, but they are especially prolific this year, so I'm starting to get a much harder heart about them. I've seen a fox on the edge of our yard the last two nights, and I'm secretly hoping the rabbits find a safer place to roam...away from my garden!

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