Monday, July 4, 2011

Summer, The Mid-life of the Year

New flag celebrates my passions- Country and Garden
"No bought potpourri is so pleasant as that made from ones own garden, for the petals of the flowers one has gathered at home hold the sunshine and memories of summer, and of past summers only the sunny days should be remembered.

Eleanor Sinclair-



The borrowed view of neighbor's gazebo through agapanthus blossom
 Dear Eleanor was a British gardener (1881–1950) , garden historian, and horticultural writer. Her life's passion popularized herb gardening. Think of her as you "clip-about" scents to remember this season by.

Trees planted in the canyon give depth to the viewshed
93.7 ° F  is close enough to triple digits to know that summer is here to stay.

Its a dilemma of summer that we expect life to be like song lyrics.  For the "living to be easy. " Forget easy, just make it not feel so darn hot and find ways to make the most of the season which is the changing of the guard from the youthful to mid-life of the year. 
Goldfinch enjoying a sip from sprinkler valve needing repair.
The plants cannot come inside to enjoy the air conditioning. I don't want to lug bag after bag of mulch down up and across the canyon. It is much easier to "mulch in place".  That is how I justify not sweeping away clippings (anything that isn't a weed). In informal private spaces,  it is a virtue to let the sun-dry leaves and buds into compost.  Over time, the soil improves with summer-slow gardening. 

Clippings left on-site are frugal mulch and labor saving device

Inside, there are mid-year corrections to make.

 

Inside, memories unfold as quilts are folded away until chill returns. Time to peel back the extra quilts off the bed. Wash and hang for the season.  When the dry cleaners decided to fold, not hang bed l linens, it was an off-season dilemma as the collection grew. Yacht Shop sensibility to the rescue.  Pioneer Linens  sells hangers  generously sized and  über strong.

God bless the inventors of the Internet. How else would a West Coast suburban housewife ever find a Yacht shop in  West Palm,  Beach Florida?

May Your Independence Day be full of only good memories.

10 comments:

  1. Ludia,

    I always love seeing your photos! Great as always!
    HAVE A HAPPY 4TH and stay cool!

    Hugs, Trisha

    ReplyDelete
  2. A HAPPY 4th To you my dear Lydia....Hope it is a nice one for you and yours...It will be quiet here, which is just fine with me...!
    Lovely pictures, my dear, as always.
    I like your analogy of Summer being the Mid-life of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Sue, Trish and Naomi for taking time on the holiday to write.

    Your notes uplift me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lydia,
    Enjoyed your post.
    And what a great tip on the hangars. I'm heading straight to that website!
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Lydia,

    I hope you had a great 4th July. One of the things I've learnt through blogging is just how many celebrations you have over there across the pond!! I feel rather envious!!

    Sarahx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Sarah- We had a marvelous 4th of July. I do expect it is a holiday more dear to our hearts than King George III.

    We knew a British officer assinged here to train international troops. Every Independence Day, he would turn the loudspeakers to God Save the Queen while he raised the Union Jack at his home.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like your idea of "mulching in place"--I'm all for less work in the garden! The oversized hangers are a great idea; yes, I sometimes wonder how I managed before without the internet.

    Thanks for visiting me recently; I do hope your friend found a good home for each of her pets. If I lived closer, I'd take them in!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your linen closet must be magnificent :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joan - Loved your suggestion for a late season garden on your blog.

    Rose- Thank you for kind words.


    Classic- I don't know that I would go so far as to say the linen closest is magnificient- but I believe in maintaining what you have or give it to someone who will.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are encouraging blessings! Please send your thoughts- unless you look like a robot, in which case you'll be ignored.