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

Friday, July 1, 2011

Catching up.

After the recent rains and lack of time I've been able to spend outside lately, today felt like I was entering a jungle when I went to the backyard to work.  You literally could not walk down the pathway for the first half of it.  The geraniums had grown so tall and then flopped over after some wind and rain a couple of days ago.  Today I was I able to cut a path through and cut back some of the plants that are finished.  I'm surprised at what is still blooming now, mostly because so much of it was later than usual.
I also haven't posted too many recent pictures of what I've got blooming outside lately, so I thought I would catch up on that too.

Still loving the Canterbury Bells.  Many had fallen over in the backyard so I cut them and made a bouquet in one of my old watering cans.

Peony 'Festiva Maxima' which survived the winter move is now blooming.  The flowers are smaller than usual, but so glad it is blooming at all.

Oriental Poppy 'Princess Victoria Louise' is a pretty pink.

Rose 'Honey Perfume' has more flowers than ever this year.

Rose 'Julia Child'

Rose 'Abraham Darby' almost didn't make it this year.  It came up from the graft so the stems are much weaker and can barely hold the flowers off the ground.

Baptisia blooming with the neighbors roses.

The little corner garden in the front yard.  Lavatera has started blooming in the corner.

I know some people have already seen this, but I wanted to share what my daughters were doing when I was out taking pictures and watering the other day.

The Littlest Gardener learned something new this summer.  She's learned how to ride a bike with training wheels which has been very exciting for her.

I'm doing my best to catch up and visit everyone's blogs.  I've had a little time here and there, but time at the computer is rare during the summer with the girls home.  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

38 comments:

  1. Catherine,

    The roses are beautiful, had Julia Child but it did not come back for me.

    Chalk drawings on the driveway, still have boxes of chalk in my garage for my grandchildren. They love to do this and so sorry that it is all washed away.

    Eileen

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  2. Hi Catherine and Happy July 4th weekend to you and your family. The Littlest Gardener has grown a lot since I last saw her picture. I can remember learning to ride a bike on the sidewalk in front of our house when I was her age.
    Your flowers are gorgeous; I especially love the roses. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

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  3. My garden buddy Carol has 'Honey Perfume' and it is astounding! I love it. Your other roses are also just luscious. Love that awesome "sculpture" on the driveway. Like I said on Facebook, this means the rainy season is OVER! :) Littlest Gardener looks so cute on her big-girl bike. Enjoy your jungle--mine is the same way. Plants just seem to leap this time of year.

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  4. Love that baptisia! I planted four of them our first autumn here, and they still have not flowered. I wonder if they need to be moved, or if the soil is too lean. Or maybe they need more sun/less sun. Maybe I'll try moving them.

    It's crazy how suddenly everything is big and blooming! The roses are so pretty, some day I have to get around to planting some.

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  5. My Julia Child has gotten pretty yucky with blackspot the last few years. The first year was great, and ever since then it has really been irritating me. Enjoy the turn of nicer weather! I know I am!!

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  6. Love all the flowers and the fabulous sidewalk art. All is lovely! Congrats on the training wheels. Big step! Happy 4th!

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  7. Beautiful roses and I love the sidewalk chalk image!
    That must have taken your girls quite a long time...hope the rain stays away so it will last longer.

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  8. Oh your little gardener is soooo cute! And i forgot to comment about your flowers.. lol

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  9. I haven't drawn with chalk on the pavement in...well...too long! Makes me want to run out and buy some sidewalk chalk ;) I'm impressed with how quickly your front garden is filling in, it just seems like yesterday since the beds were installed, and the fence was painted. I bet we'll hardly recognize it this time next year!

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  10. Catherine your blooms are beautiful and I love the "Julia Child" rose, very pretty. I have to say though I think your girls chalk drawing is the scene stealer here though...gorgeous!!! What beautiful artists you have there and good luck with the trainers, we are in the same boat...ahhh summer =)

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  11. Lovely to see and hear what's been happening in your life. Give your little Princess a big hug from me. She looks so smart astride her bike! Your photographic rendering of the beautiful blooms you're enjoying right now is stunning! Your garden is truly a magical place. Enjoy your sunny days!

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  12. Your garden looks nice darling !! beautiful plants.....oww your sweet kids...beautiful painting on the street!! and look at that sweetie on her bike....!!..enjoy a happy weekend...love Ria...xxx..

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  13. Whoever said that summer was slower paced sure was wrong. I have found that I am busier too. Your gardens look so beautiful and we also love sidewalk chalk. I love the girls artwork. My goodness has the littlest gardener been nibbling in the compost? She is surely growing and so cute on her big girl bike!

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  14. The girls mural is a work of art! Love those peachy roses.

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  15. Your daughter is a budding artist. Pun intended.LOL

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  16. Your daughter is a budding artist. Pun intended.LOL

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  17. Catherine, it is always inspiring to look at your blog! In this post I especially love the Canterbury Bells, the peony, and 'Abraham Darby'. He is such a beautiful rose. I was growing him in my old garden, too, and had the same problem that the blooms were so heavy that the canes were not able to hold them up.
    Christina

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  18. I felt happy seeing the photos of the pretty roses. Thanks!

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  19. Happy 4th of July. I love the lovely photo's and the cute little chalk drawing, your daughter is a good artist!

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  20. Hi Catherine. The Baptisia is just so pretty against the white fencing. The corner bed is looking so pretty too. Wow, what a great picture the girls drew with chalk. They did a wonderful job.I see they are enjoying their summer so far. Have a wonderful 4th!

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  21. Piękne rośliny, ładne zdjęcia, pozdrawiam.

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  22. Catherine - it's so good to know other gardeners & garden bloggers are out in the 'field' and haven't been in the Blogosphere much (weeds have been so vigorous this year - gardening feels more 'weed maintenance' and nothing else).

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  23. Glad you're having a good summer. The Baptista, your neighbor's roses and the fence are looking quite patriotic, just in time for July 4.

    Have a good one, and stay safe.

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  24. My favorite is the peony. Does it have a wonderful scent?

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  25. Hi Catherine, hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend. We had some sun...briefly ;) Your gardens are looking beautiful and I love the chalk art that your little artists did. Isn't just the best to be out in your cozy gardens with you girls? Cheers, Jenni

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  26. Taking a week off from gardening this time of year is so risky. Especially with all the rain. Isn't it funny how when you want it to fill in quickly, it D-R-A-G-S but when you need some time to clean the house or do laundry, the stuff just goes bonkers? Your photos are great! Looking at those you'd never know you had jungle-like conditions.

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  27. Lovely blooms, but your chalk drawing is PRICELESS!! Have you ever had Festiva Maxima produce solid white blooms? Mine is blooming for the first time ever, and all 3 blooms are solid white :(. I hope it is just being difficult, and not mislabelled. We'll see what it decides to do next year...

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  28. Catherine, Both the flowers and the driveway art are looking lovely. I've never tried growing roses, but I could be tempted by a beauty like Julia Child! I think this is the first time I can remember my garden being ahead of yours; my Baptisia finished blooming about a week ago. -Jean

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  29. My gosh, how can that be the Littlest Gardener She has grown! Precious!

    Your flowers look great, too. So healthy-looking, as usual.

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  30. It's nice to see how far your new front garden has come along with summer's warmer temps but my favorite is the sidewalk chalk art! That's priceless!

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  31. The roses are gorgeous! So are the canterbury bells.
    I found the chalk drawing by your daughter very charming. I had my "tree analysis" done a while back. Yes, it's weird, but interesting. Your daughter's drawing looks like one of the happiest I've seen. Sweet.

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  32. That peony is GORGEOUS! I've got to find space for it in my own garden...

    :-)

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  33. Your roses are gorgeous and your garden is always a treat to see! The girls' chalk drawing is very creative too! Kelli

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  34. You do a wonderful job on the photos. I'm in the same spot you are - trying to catch up on everyone's blogs. I've been surprised by the number of folks who've stopped writing. Glad you're not one of them.

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  35. Looks great there Catherine! Your helper looks like about the same age as mine... too cute as well, love the chalk drawing!!

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  36. Pretty blooms Catherine. Love that you still have poppies. And stunning peony. Lots of pretties in your gardens.

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  37. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the chalk art they've done.

    Yes, my garden has its jungle-like aspects too, but oh how gorgeous yours looks. Wow.

    Love,

    S

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  38. have the same problem with my Abraham Darby rose, but ooh soo pretty! love your blog grtz from Belgium

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