elliemoon

FLOWERING

there are new blooms in the flower garden this year. here are some of my favorites::

dahlias::

cleome, queen pink (annual)::

osteospermum, margarita white spoon (annual)::

lace cap hydrangea::

 double tiger lily, flore pleno::

 july in the flower garden::

 loaded with honeybees and hummingbirds!! 

 

 

LAVENDER PATCH, REVISITED

remember that little lavender spot i started 3 years ago? probably not, but it is in full effect this summer. i added another variety to it last weekend::

yesterday i did some clipping and up in the attic they went::

now i'll just let this heat wave do the rest and then the lavender crafting can begin! 

 

SPRINGTIME WEATHER

finally. that felt like a very long winter::

happy discoveries: not only did our parsley patch winter over but my first ever rose bush is looking lively as well::

and just like that, we're right back to weeding and working in the garden! 

 

 

BETTER SOIL

7 cubic yards to be precise::

lots of digging and dumping, but in the end? the fertile soil is 2 feet deep (in most places) and our garden has almost doubled in size. we'll add some more next year as well. so refreshing after continually trying to amend the cape cod "dirt", which is mostly sand and rocks with a little clay interspersed for good measure::

no offense cape cod!

 

GREEN THUMBS

with three straight days of rain incoming, we took full advantage of the sun yesterday::

the girls did their own transplanting. little lu taking special care with a plucked dandelion flower::

and something for the table::

i hope my enthusiasm for weeding will last through the summer this season. only time will tell.



 

THIS MEANS WAR

from rainbow cakes to this. oh relentless briars, what did i ever do you to you?::

every year they try to reclaim their territory. and this is precisely the time of year to fight back, when they are the only green - before the woods follow suit. easy to find. not so easy to rip up. i'm almost through, and with only minor slashing this time around. i will not use herbicides, i will not use herbicides, i will not use herbicides. hope you all have something much more enjoyable going on this weekend. i'll see you back here on monday, band-aids and all.

METEOROLOGICALLY SPEAKING

it's already happening::

the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the air is warming, rakes are raking, diggers digging, clippers clipping, you get the idea. yeah for spring! tomorrow its official!!

hope your weekend was just as dirt-filled and lovely!

FALL PROGRESSES

the needles are dropping on my favorite tree, many of them with the help of owen and bella. those lower branches are very well loved. even little lu got in on the branch shaking/needle shower action, after ditching bella's "pretty shoes"::

she refuses to don any footwear that isn't her sisters! it has begun!! meanwhile, the other girls are enjoying what might be their last feeding of the season, depending on the weather::

mmmm, two to one sugar syrup! the hive is heavy, full of honey and sealed tight with propolis, ready for the cold. the cold which seems to be taking its time getting here. not that i'm complaining but, c'mon, its almost december! 

 

ITS OFFICIAL

happy autumnal equinox::

there's passing, but there's happening too::

easing into crisp air and looking forward to some hibernation, as usual on the equinox. we're ready for this fall!

A NEW KNIT AND STUFF

yesterday was cool. as in the weather. just cool enough to start thinking about knitting again. knitting larger things than socks, that is. long story short, i started a sweater pattern for little lu::

you've got to love a pattern that starts with five inches of garter stitch. no thought process necessary....just my style. shortly after my 30th row, bella and i took a walk around the yard to check the status of things, which is always interesting as i have completely disregarded my weeding responsibilities this summer::

it appears that all is well. no harm done, and at this point it will be easier to let things compost this fall and then start fresh with the weeding next spring. sounds like a plan to me!