... something very much in evidence right now in my garden at the lake... Our May and June on the coast has been on the very wet side this year, in contrast to recent years during which we experienced unseasonably dry and warm weather in late spring and early summer which inevitably led to severe forest fire seasons.. So, yes, I am definitely not complaining about the rain, as the thought of nearby forests raging on fire as we begin navigating our way through our first Covid summer would be rather worrisome... The vegetation in my garden, I do think, is also not complaining as it seems to be more verdant than ever before and growing rather jungle-like, as you can see in the photo below taken from the second floor of our house...
While perhaps a bit more sunshine and warmer temperatures would have led to a bit more blooms above, a lot of my flower garden is made up of perennials, many of which peak in July and August, so more colour is definitely yet to come... However, some colour has started dotting the landscape with the blooming of foxgloves and roses,...
... cornflowers and Sweet Williams here and there,...
... one of the bees’ favourite, lovely spirea,...
... one of my favourites, the ever-dramatic purpletop vervain,...
... and a relative newcomer in my garden, quickly becoming a favourite, charming mullein...
Given my garden's jungly growth, I've had to do a fair amount of "editing" to it lately, i.e., pulling out clumps of aggressive growers to allow for the more timid ones growing in their shade to gain some territory and spread themselves a bit more. For one, I seem to be curbing patches of bee balm on a daily basis to give some of their neighbours more of a chance; after all, I'm going for a meadowy mixed border look and not that of a monoculture!...
Over the last month, I've been working on a new border along our downhill path towards the lake where I planted a few varieties of lovely fountain grass; they seem to have taken to their new spot so far with their long linear leaves seemingly getting that much longer and more graceful with every rain shower...
While the zucchinis, tomatoes and cucumbers in my veggie plot need a bit more balmy days to start blossoming more profusely so that they can begin bearing fruit, the pears on the trees seem to be getting bigger and more pear-like by the day...
And then there are the native ferns which I never planted but have come into their own with all the rain, happily popping up here and there,...
... and of course the daisies which are starting to make their cheery presence known...
... all over the garden...
Along with its lushness, my garden seems more fragrant this year, perhaps because it is that much more established with all its sprawling vines and bushes, such as this heavenly tangle of honeysuckle...
... and this glorious mock orange specimen which I think is a must for ever garden...
Can’t you just almost smell its delicious scent? There is nothing quite like it when the sun shines on it after a soft rainfall...
On the subject of yummy fragrance, the first flush of my roses did not disappoint… Well-watered by the rain and well-nourished by the special concoction of rose food I give them, they have shown plenty of vigour and donned themselves with the loveliest of blooms, like this New Dawn,...
... Albrighton Rambler...
... and Sally Holmes…
And then there are these beauties which remain nameless to me, as I picked them up at a nursery from the clearance section where they were bidding their time without name tags and tender care...
Nameless perhaps, but in sweet harmony with lavender clematis blooms…
… and modest but very pretty blackberry flowers, don’t you think?!…
Oh, and I can’t forget my Wasagaming Rose of which I have three bushes because I love her so… To my great delight and surprise, her maiden showing was particularly spectacular this year as a forgotten (thought not to have survived!...) Belle of Woking clematis blossomed in her midst...
Isn’t she the most deliciously elegant of belles!?…
With its vigorous growth so far this year as well as it being more mature now, I’m really feeling that our house is not just sitting next to a garden, but is actually nestled in a garden — and that, my friends, is the loveliest of feelings...
No matter what time of day...
... and no matter what the weather may be,...
... I feel so lucky to be able to spend time in my garden at the lake because, as you may guess by now if you've been visiting me here over the years, it is my happy place. I hope you’ve enjoyed today's garden visit, and I hope you are all well and able to enjoy the outdoors wherever you may be... Thanks for popping by!...
