"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Notice anything different?

There have been times I've been asked that question and gotten a little nervous.  What is it... a new hairstyle, lost weight, new clothes?...  But this time I think it's pretty obvious from looking at my pictures what's different.  Blue skies and sunlight!  I think the garden is jumping for joy the same as the rest of us around here when the forecast was right on target.

That's the bluest sky I've seen in many months!  Not a cloud to be seen.

 Rose 'Kimberlina' has done really well this Spring and Summer, but looks even prettier with sun on her petals.

 Yarrow is as bright as the sun shining on it.

Scabiosa is blooming in front of Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'.  The sun really brightens up that foliage which will soon have flowers the same shade as the Scabiosa.

Monarda 'Jacob Cline' just started blooming.  It is well over 5 feet already.  I think the reason so many plants are taller than usual this year is all the rain that we had.

 Hot enough for the Littlest Gardener to play in her wading pool and have a popsicle. 

Warm and sunny enough for Gracie to want to stay outside with us.  I think she drank half the water from the wading pool.

It looks as if it's supposed to get warm enough that we should break a couple of records for our highs.  What a nice change it will be.  We're heading out to a spray park today.  I guess I'll have to finally get the hoses out to water more than just a couple of containers.  
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47 comments:

  1. Everything looks great against the blue sky as a backdrop. Your littlest gardener is a sweetheart.

    Enjoy your sunshine and blue skies.

    FlowerLady

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  2. I can even hear the sunshine in your post. It looks beautiful on your garden.

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  3. I love shots with blue sky backdrops. They just bring out the colors and essence of the flowers. Your little one and Gracie are adorable. I've seen that Yarrow all over though never knew the name so thanks for that. The rose - exquisite.

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  4. Ahhh, sunshine. Send some down here!

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  5. Beautiful blue sky! Your flowers, child and pup look happy!

    It's going to be 102 here today. Was 101 yesterday. I hope your rain clouds blow our way!

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  6. Hi Catherine. Looks like you are enjoying your summer. It's nice to see a picture of Gracie, too.

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  7. Hi Catherine, The sky is beautiful and your flowers look so happy. Nice to see the Littlest Gardener and Gracie enjoying the sun too. Enjoy your day.

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  8. I am so glad you finally got some summer. I will have to look for that agastache - it is lovely.

    I have a couple of different ones, but I have not seen this unusual leaf color.

    Eileen

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  9. That sky sure is a beautiful blue. Have fun at the park! Stay cool!

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  10. It's hard for us gardeners to find a happy medium with the weather. Those are beautiful skies and that does make one want to shout and jump for joy. Beautiful blooms. Love your poppy - it looks so big. Monarda is beautiful as well. Little one looks like she is enjoying her popsicle. Have a great day at the waterpark. Becca

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  11. If you wanted sun so bad I should have had you visit me for the last two months, HOT and sunny ! Lovely pictures as usual, little sweet-pea looks so happy, I would fall apart without sun too , take care ! Gina

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  12. Beautiful sky, and beautiful blooms.

    We've been cooler and wetter this year, here in Central Texas. Last year, we had record heat and drought. You just never know, what you're going to get.

    That's qutite a beautiful Sweet Pea, you have there.

    Have fun at the park.

    ~~Linda...

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  13. Everything looks great!!! I'm jealous your Bee Balm is blooming. Ours has just finished blooming and is done for the season. :( Is Gracie a cockapoo? My mom has a cockapoo and it looks kinda like Gracie.

    Love the poppies!!! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. We had a lot of rain in June too--then the water shut off in July. The plants were loving all that rain:)

    Doesn't Gracie like to sit in the pool?
    Marnie

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  15. You're getting sunshine, and we're getting much needed rain. All is right with the world :-) Your garden looks very happy in the sunshine.

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  16. Glad to hear you are getting some sun and blue skies. We are just hot, hot, hot here.
    That littlest gardener looks like she is enjoying the sun to. So cute.

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  17. everything is so pretty basking under the big blue sky!

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  18. everything is so pretty basking under the big blue sky!

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  20. The blue skies look great! I hope you sent the rain clouds our way!

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  21. Think I may get that Yarrow and the popsicle too !
    Way to hot here 101 degrees yesterday and today not much better.

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  22. The poppies look so beautiful and so does the sky...Yeah! I'm so glad for you, I know how it feels to miss the blue sky and sunshine.

    Little gardener is a cutie pie and so is Gracie basking in the sun..

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  23. Wow, what an incredible sky!! Great pictures. :)

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  24. We are in need of rain here, that is a beautiful sky indeed, and your flowers are so lovely, Hugs my friend, Barbara from
    http://bakinnbitsbarbara.blogspot.com/

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  25. So good you have plenty of sun for your garden. Love that cute little gardener and love your poppies!!!!
    cariños,
    maria cecilia

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  26. Awww, Gracie is cute. I wondered where we'd misplaced our sunshine at. Yesterday our HIGH was 64, and we didn't see the sun all day (which is quite rare here). The marine layer seems a bit thinner today though, and our blue skies are back. Hope yours stick around for a while!

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  27. Happy your sunny days are finally here! Littlest Gardener looks quite content...and so cute!

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  28. Oh beautiful sunshine!!! But these days I'm happy to see some clouds. Obviously your flowers are loving the warmth.

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  29. I have been trying SO HARD to enjoy all my rain drops and roses pictures, but oh how I love the color of deep, rolling blue with a golden glow! Now, where did I put my popsicle?

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  30. Oh how wonderful, the blue sky is the perfect backdrop for the flowers. Enjoy!:)

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  31. You're such a good mom, Catherine. Water is about the only remedy for this heat, especially if you're a kid. Well, water and a Popsicle, of course. For me it's Julie's frozen yogurt bars from Costco. Yum. And staying indoor, glued to the computer until it cools off.

    Your garden looks magnificent, as usual. I can vouch for the tall Monardas. Mine are taller than me! Now that the rain is behind us we can be grateful for it instead of complaining about it. LOL

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  32. Catherine, your florals are fabulous & Miss Gracie is adorable ...

    Have a lovely summer's eve ~
    TTFN ~ Marydon

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  33. We have blue skies up here too! Isn't it wonderful? My Monarda are also over 5 ft hight - unbelievable - but the foxgloves were amazing this year too.

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  34. Sunshine is good! Love those poppies.

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  35. A jubilant garden, Catherine! I hope the weather stays good for a while. We have many of the same plants blooming except my annual poppies are just starting. I finally got my hands on Golden Anise hyssop this year and I hope it takes off wonderfully.

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  36. Yeah, it's finally hot around here, too. My kiddos have been running around in their swimsuits and sucking on popsicles, just like your youngest. So many plants will take off now that they have some warmth to spur them on.

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  37. That is one blue sky and your flowers are spectacular reaching for it. They are all so tall. I've heard that too about the rain making everything bigger, including the weeds! Well, the mystery is on again - I had 5 different Poppies still growing, some of yours, Di's and mine. Today I got back from appt. and they are all gone except for mine - the one I didn't care about since mine are blooming. I've seen lots of dead slugs so my baiting is working and there is no sign of them to where the poppies were. I give up! That was the 3rd planting and it happens the same every time! One day they just disappear!!!

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  38. Finaly summer has arrived! We've had that clear blue sky here last week and it was great. The tempearatures above 80 degrees and I think that the heat is great! I loved to spot the Littlest Gardener beside her wading pool in the second picture. But I do think you should call her the Cutest Gardener becaurse that's what she is! Now we pray for the heat and blue sky to stay for a looooooong while / gittan

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  39. Catherine, Your daughter is adorable! She looks very happy to pose for you with her popsicle. Love the pictures of the poppies and that blue sky, and of the monarda. Gracie looks at peace there. What a nice family and lovely garden you have! So glad you are finally getting summer weather! I am having a giveaway at Food As Art, for a pizzelle maker so if you're interested stop by and enter: http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/2010/07/pizzelle-four-ways-and-giveaway.html

    Hugs and blessings, Beth

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  40. What a wonderful blue sky and doesn't it show the flowers off so well. Do you think you could send your rain here we haven't had any for weeks and the garden is very dry, the hose pipe isn't quite as effective as real rain.

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  41. What a relief for you to have some sunshine at last. We are under threat of a hosepipe ban!

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  42. ...just popping up to tell you that you were the only one who noticed the little oranges -mandarinas- in my post..jajaja... only great gardeners can see through!!!!! So nice!!!
    cariños,
    maria cecilia

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  43. Nothing can beat a bright blue sky. It just amplifies the beautiful colors in your garden. Believe it or not...in the summer I look forward to the occaisional cloudy day :-)

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  44. We have been having your rainy season this whole summer so far. We are going to have a few days of dry weather until Sunday. That is the best yarrow I think I have ever seen. Your daughter is growing and your little puppy is sweet out in the grass.

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  45. I just LOVE your shot of the poppies and your little swimmer is a doll.

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