I'm Melting....

After Hurricane Ike hit, my daughter could hardly wait to get outside and start cleaning up - not sure why since it's no family secret that 99% of the time, she doesn't know what the word "clean" means. But I digress; so Ike's eye had barely passed by and the rain was coming down and out to the front yard she went to start the cleanup. Of course I had to capture this on film and such a lovely photo it is. I actually think it's one of her best.

Fall is here

Love the fall weather. We finally feel relief from the heat and humidity that has been part of our lives for the last 6 or 7 months. The leaves have started falling and up north they are turning beautiful shades of orange and yellow. One of my japanese maples has turned a deep red. Can hardly believe next week is Thanksgiving. Both of my daughters will be home to enjoy our usual dinner. Every year I ask them if they want me to cook something different for Thanksgiving and every year, it's the same answer - No! We always have turkey, dressing, mashed potatos, green bean casserole and scalloped corn. I usually have cranberry sauce and over the last few years, sweet potatoes that I learned to love. Nothing very exciting but all together we enjoy it. I love how the memories of this meal will be a part of my daughter's lives and some day they will laugh about having the same thing year after year.
One year I decided I was tired of cooking the meal and announced that we would go out to eat. We ended up at Luby's and it was such a sad meal compared to our usual dinners that I have never complained since. We especially hated that we didn't have any left-0vers!

Simple Pleasures

I have said it over and over that the real pleasures in life are the simple ones. It took me many years to realize this so I'm not sure if it's due to maturity or that I am just more easily pleased as I have gotten older. Either way, I was ecstatic today when I saw my first bloom on my magnolia tree. What's so great about a bloom? Well, I planted this tree over 10 years ago and have never seen a bloom. It's a Magnolia Grandiflora and will eventually reach 65 feet high. In the meantime, it's a slow grower and I was worried I would never see a bloom. I was warned that it takes 7 years to bloom but mine is apparently a little slow. I thought there was a bloom last year way at the top but it turned out the light hit the leaves just enough to make them glow lighter than the surrounding leaves and fooled me.

Glancing out of my kitchen window today I was completely shocked to see the huge white bloom. I ran and got my camera for proof so I wouldn't think I was seeing things. It was the only bloom I could find on the whole tree for well worth it. As you can see in the photo, it is a huge shockingly white bloom with the most wonderful frangrance. Dare I wish for 2 blooms next year?

Rangoon Creeper

I bought this a couple of years ago and it finally took off this year. I am really pleased at the gorgeous color and the number of blooms. I have it next to my driveway along the fence. My neighbor came over the other day to mention that she has seen people stop to look at it. It's very easy to grow but considered a tropical. We had a warm winter and only a few branches died back. When the blooms first open up they are white and then turn pink and finally red. This would look great hanging overhead.

Japanese Maples

I have a number of Japanese maples in my garden. All except one are in large pots. We have awful soil and after loosing my first one to the clay, I decided to put them in pots. If I move, I will also be able to take them with me. There is something magical about their colors and the shape of their leaves. This photo was taken early this spring in the late afternoon light. The sun hit the leaves and the brillant red just glowed.

Last week I was in Washington DC and just drooled over the japanese maples I saw in the yards. The tour driver was pointing out all of the wonderful architecture of the homes and all I could focus on was the gorgeous deep maroon, weeping maples. I'm sure my friend was tired of my pointing out every one I saw.

Escape

We all have areas of our life that are private. Places where we go either physically or emotionally and exclude others. For me, my garden is the place I escape to. Only there can I escape the stresses and sometimes harsh reality of the world. My backyard is completely fenced in and I jokingly refer to it as a jungle run amok. It's mostly one big planting bed with paths winding through it. It has way too many statues and rocks along with one area of impossibly tall weeds. I like to think I am letting it go so it resembles a natural habitat. Actually it's the last area I usually get to during spring cleanup each year before the weather is unreasonably hot. So year after year, it continues to grow and I continue to ignor it. If I was smart, I would start at that area when the weather was much cooler but as it also needs the most work, I continue in the same order year after year.

When I am back there digging, raking, planting and sweating, nothing else comes to mind but what I am trying to accomplish at that minute. I can get totally lost in the mindless tasks of weeding, pruning and mulching. I don't invite friends to my yard but I occasionally share photos. I can control the look of the photo but letting someone walk through my garden invites their comments and I'm not sure I could face the criticism in this one area of my life. I can see the flaws in my garden but at least there is hope there for the future. Hope that I'll be able to make it perfect some day. I don't want anyone to squash my hope. In the meantime, all I can do is continue working at it, one escape after another.