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

Monday, October 11, 2010

Garden medicine.

I started this post almost 2 weeks ago, and then it sat while life got busy.  I've had a minor medical procedure to deal with since then, luckily nothing serious, but a major inconvenience anyway.  I'll spare the details, but it involves kidney stones and pain.  Glad both seem to be resolved now.   I'm thankful to have such a great husband, parents, sister and friends that helped out tremendously.
Just looking out at the garden (and ignoring the work that needs to be done) has made me feel better, funny how the garden can be so therapeutic in so many different ways.  A few of the days that I was feeling pretty bad I would take a walk around the yard to see what was happening.  But, I was also impressed just how well the garden was doing without me.  In fact the garden did a whole lot without me the past several months.  I guess whether I'm out there or not, the trees will remember to change colors, flowers will bloom and the birds will find plenty to eat other than from the empty feeders.
These pictures are the ones I was going to post and really not much has changed other than the weeds taking advantage of me not being outside.  I'm anxious to have a day to get out and do some fall cleanup.

Black-eyed Susans and Abelias are blooming nicely still.  The birds have been eating the fruits from the Dogwood tree.  I've noticed the Junco's hopping around in this bed too looking for something to eat.

The pears probably need to be picked by now.  We enjoyed about 5 from the Orcas pear tree already, this tree is a later variety (Comice).  This is only their second year in the garden.

Pretty Mums that my parents gave us for our 13th anniversary.  They look perfect on the front porch that the Littlest Gardener and I have been decorating.  She insisted we hang the fake spider webs even though the spiders have plenty of their own all over the yard.

The Nikko Blue Hydrangea always looks the best for the longest.

Hardy fuchsia 'Queen Esther' and the other hardy fucshias all look great right now.  They'll bloom until the first frost.  Hard to believe the first frost probably isn't all that far away.  It usually seems to be in the first week or two of November.

I wish these Sunflowers were mine, but they are from the visit to the pumpkin patch I took with the Littlest Gardener's preschool.  It seems like Sunflowers are blooming beautifully around here now, just wish I would've had some this nice in my garden.


Signs of fall are everywhere now with a big increase in bird visitors being one of the most noticeable.  There has been such a variety of types of them as well in both the front and backyard.  It's not until they start returning that I realize who hasn't been around lately like Nuthatches and Juncos and Flickers.  The birds are one of my favorite things to watch right now.  I love seeing who's at the pond or eating berries from the trees.    Hopefully I'll have a nice clear morning sometime soon to take some pictures of them, they seem to come early in the morning while it's still foggy.
I look forward to trying to catch up with all of you and seeing how your gardens have been changing. 
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33 comments:

  1. Glad you are feeling better now. It is amazing just how well our gardens can do without us-good medicine indeed!

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  2. Oh Catherine, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better...ouch. Despite not being in the garden for a while, it still looks gorgeous. I love the scarecrow, he's adorable! I hope you're fully healed and running around the garden again very soon!

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  3. Sorry to hear that you haven't been well, but glad that you are on the upswing now. Strolling around the garden can be very therapeutic. Making plans as you stroll can take your mind off of things, but it sounds like it would have been hard to distract yourself.

    Queen Esther is a lovely combination of white and pink. I had to remove my fuchsia from the pots this weekend, but surprisingly the begonias are still blooming in them.

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  4. Catherine, Your garden is still beautiful. I will have to look at yours as mine has retreated until next spring. Take care and happy gardening.

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  5. Catherine, it's good to hear that you feel better! Take care of yourself! They say the weather will be nice next 10 days or so. Don't work too hard. Lovely flowers and fruit you have there!

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  6. So sorry to hear about your recent troubles! Glad you are on the mend! Your garden looks fantastic, it's amazing that they continue to thrive, even without our constant care & attention. I'm wild about yoru Nikko Blue, I didn't realize they changed to hte lovely blue/green colour in the fall.

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  7. Hello Catherine! I just got back from my vacation and yours is the first post I saw. As usual, your flowers are beautiful. I just love that tub of mums.I have not tried planting sunflowers because the countryside is full of sunflowers, which seem to be much better than what we grow in the gardens.

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  8. The garden looks lovely and I hope you are feeling better,
    Charlotta

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  9. Dear Catherine, I am so delighted to see that you are once again posting and do assure you that you, and the garden, but mostly you, have been sorely missed. I am so sorry to hear of the kidney stones which I do know to be exceedingly painful and very much hope that you will soon be well on the way to a complete recovery. In the meantime, enjoy the garden during these wonderful restful weeks and forget any weeds - far tooo late in the season to bother!!

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  10. Good morning Catherine ~ I've been wondering about you as I've not seen any postings.

    So glad you are feeling much better now.

    Yes, our gardens do get along with out us at times. Yours are lovely as usual.

    Enjoy your lovely fall.

    FlowerLady

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  11. Hello Catherine,
    Really glad to read your illness is behind you now.
    Yes, what a lift a garden can give at times when you're feeling in need of gentle nurturing. It's a beautiful feeling to walk around your own little patch.
    It is amazing how resiliant our gardens are - they just get on with it and await our return. Possibly, you'll come across some little surprises too, once you've gotten back into it.
    Just don't look at the weeds at the moment ;-)
    All the best and with kind regards,
    Susan.

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  12. Welcome back Catherine, I missed seeing your lovely garden. Take care and don't do too much. I think the fall has more grunt work involved.

    Eileen

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  13. Glad you are feeling better. Your garden is doing well because you give it great "roots." :-) All looks good. Take care!

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  14. Catherine, I'm so sorry to hear you've been sick but glad you're doing better and posting again. I haven't been getting around much either because I'm still playing 'beat the clock' with getting more done in my flower beds than I ever have this time of year. I don't think I'll get everything done that I wanted to but giving it my best shot!
    Keep up the walks around the garden and you'll be better in no time!

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  15. You have been missed, glad you are mending just fine. Your gardens still look lovely.

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  16. So sorry to hear you have been ill. Kidney stones can be so awful. My daughter has trouble with them and has had them, blasted as I call it, a few times to break them up. They told her to drink a glass of pure lemonade once a day to help keep them at bay.
    Your mums in the basket are so pretty and so is your fuchsia, Take care of yourself now.

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  17. Gardens can be some of the best medicine. Glad to hear yours is being self-sufficient and that you are feeling better! Kidney stones can be very very painful.

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  18. Glad to hear you are on the mend, you must be feeling better if you are itching to get out into the garden! By the way I love your autumnal feel to your blog - very clever

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  19. Catherine, I'm so sorry to hear you've been unwell, and hope you have a speedy recovery. I'm glad your garden is looking so lovely as usual. Wishing you all the best.

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  20. Ouch! Sorry about the kidney stones...glad you're feeling better :-)

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  21. Catherine, so happy you are doing well. Isn't it amazing that the garden can do well without us at times? ;)

    Nuthatches and Juncos and Flickers... sounds like our garden right now, except for the hawk that swooped in today and made them all scatter except for the Stellars Jay.

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  22. Sorry to hear you haven't been well Catherine. Glad you're better now. Your garden is looking glorious as always. Isn't it great how therapeutic the garden can be?

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  23. Kidney stones and pain? Been there, done that! You have my sympathy!! I think it's because when I garden, I lose track of time and water consumption. There's just too much to do to stop and take a drink! I too have had a little medical thing going on that is keeping me out of the garden right now, and yet it keeps on keepin' on without me. Sometimes we need to slow down and just "drink" in what we've worked so hard on. So drink in your garden, and drink some water!!
    Take care :-)

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  24. Hi Catherine~~ I'm glad you're okay. The garden sure can be good therapy when we're not up to 100%, can't it?

    I photographed a similar stand of sunflowers a few posts back. It's nice to enjoy them vicariously.

    Clear and sunny here right now. Hopefully you're getting the same.

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  25. Catherine, So sorry you haven't been well! But I know what you mean about how therapeutic it can be just walking around in the garden and seeing what's happening. Hope things are getting back to normal for you.

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  26. Sorry to hear that you had some medical procedures. Hope you are feeling better.

    I love the pears, they look fantastic! The flowers look great too.

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  27. Catherine, I've missed your posts! Glad you are feeling better. The fuschia are fabulous! Love the big basket of mums too. Your garden still has lots of color, Catherine.
    Blessings and hugs, Beth

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  28. Oh, sorry to hear you were hurting for a while. I'm glad you're better and able to enjoy your garden. I love the photos and that Nikko Blue Hydrangea is my FAVORITE! Does the green happen before the blooms die off? I can't wait to live up there someday and be able to grow them. Simply lovely! By the way, I love your new background. :-)

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  29. Hello Catherine... I found a little time away from my homework today to pop in and say Hi! I miss chatting with you guys!

    I heard rumors about the weather being a monster this winter as well" I hope this will never turn out to be the case!

    Winter has never been my favorite season/month...

    Poo" to all those forecaster's.

    I love the chocolate Joe pie-weed, Purple Linaria and Abraham Darby rose... It's nice to still have a few flowers around to prolong our smiles as we anticipate winter.

    My Cactus Zinnia's are still going strong, i really fail in love with them this summer, it's nice to have them around for this lenght of time.

    I see that the littlest gardener has done a great job on pollinating that lemon, how cool is that!

    Have a fantastic day!

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  30. Welcome back Catherine! Hope you're feeling close to 100% by now?? Your beautiful garden had to be a big pick-me-up ~ I would think just walking around or looking at your pond would help you feel better? It sure would me! I could look at your pond for hours I think.
    Anyway, glad to see your new posts ~ enjoy the sun and take care of yourself.
    ps I'm waiting for some of my winter birds to return but also nervous for the hawks to show up along with them.

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  31. Hi Catherne - I thought I'd not seen you around. I hope you're well on the mend now and feeling a lot better?!
    Make sure you take it easy though - I know how tempting it is to get out there and weed and convince yourself that you're well enough to when you're not really - or is that just me?
    Take care of yourself - just like the garden will :)

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  32. I wish you have a smooth recovery and getting better now, Catherine.

    It has been a delight as I go through few pages of your blog. Love your splendid garden. You have done a good job on it. Take care.

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  33. I like that garden scarecrow. Its smilling

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