June Garden

 

"It's beautiful the Summer month of June
When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.

Light hearted skylark songster of the wing
High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing
Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath
Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.

So mellow the gentle breath of june day breeze
The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees
And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream
Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."
-  Francis Duggan, June

 

 

June and early July are my favorite times in my garden.  Everything is nearly bursting with life! This yellow butterfly has been flitting through the flowers all week and seems to be particularly enjoying these blue iris and bright pink chives. (She's also provided hours of entertainment for Ethel who scampers around the lawn trying to catch her!) Look at the beautiful bits of blue and orange near the top of her tail!

 

 

And the BIG news is there are lupins growing along the edge of the field in our back yard.  I've had visions of this field brilliant with lupins since the early 90's when I optimistically planted a few seed in soil as rich and fluffy as wet bricks - oh my innocence! Over the years, I've dug plants from the roadside, lovingly dug deep holes filled with fertilizer for garden center lupins and tossed handful after handful of seed into the grass, always hopeful but to no avail. 

I have to admit, I have no idea where these came from :) ... but I am hopeful once again. 

Can't you just see this field brilliant with lupins?

 

 

There are three pink, five dark purple and one large white off in the distance!

 

 

My poppies are fuzzy ovals ready to open, the roses are covered in deep pink buds, lilies and columbine are in full bloom and this happy window box is gorgeous with bright shades of orange, lime and deep purple-y blue!

 

 

Happy June!

xo

Wild Orange Flower Vines in Our Garden

These gorgeous orange flowering vines are meandering wildly through part of our garden! A bit of research reveals the Wild Bitter Melon is not only beautiful but edible as well.  It pops open to reveal red seeds that are also edible.  I love it's bumpy texture!

Wild Bitter Melon

Wild Bitter Melon

Mexican Flame Vine

 

This beauty is everywhere, falling over the stone wall and completely taking over a tree - it's fabulous!!

 It's amazing learning to garden in this tropical climate - SO different from New Brunswick!

happy sunday :)

Blooms on our Horse Chestnut Tree!!

 Four springs ago, we planted a baby horse chestnut sapling. I'd seen photographs of mature trees in full bloom and was smitten - visions of a huge profusely blooming beauty filled my imagination! Fast forward to spring number two when the local deer families ate the poor thing to a nub.  I know deer have to eat but I could have cried.  I thought for sure it was done. Thankfully it leafed out and survived. That winter in our efforts to protect the tree and foil the deer, we wrapped it in layers of heavy netting.  Spring number three arrived with hopeful new growth and several tiny flower buds tangled in the netting - ugh. Then the deer ate them again, along with the netting.  Plan C involved staking around the entire tree (sounds big but the tree is still only 7 feet tall) and wrapping the netting around the staking - I would not be defeated! In spring number 4, finally the deer had to find their buffet somewhere else.  And, there was lots of green growth but not one single flower bud. Oy. Now, if you know me or read this blog, you know I waited 15 years for my wisteria to bloom. I'm patient. And I'd like to tell you that I had a complex and detailed plan for last winter to coax some blooms from this little tree and keep the deer from devouring it...but the truth is, we were away for most of the winter and did absolutely nothing to protect the tree before we left. And here it is - go figure.  It's grown about 2 feet, has 8 gorgeous pink and yellow blooms and is covered in happy little ants and bees! It's beautiful!

I can't believe it's been TWO weeks!



...since I wrote I was officially on vacation! So, what have we been up to? After safe travels, we've settled in and have done ALOT of yardwork -- I think my feet are tatooed with red Kihei dirt! As I mentioned, the property was empty for over a year and as a result, most everything needs some TLC -- cutting back, raking and clean up especially. We've also planted several areas around the house, adding much needed color and greenery -- including our first very own PALM tree!

 The decks are much more inviting with some potted plants, comfy furniture and a few very Hawaiian tikis that we've enjoyed at sunset this past week. A couple of rainy days gave me the chance to do a little painting and decorating inside. The house really just needs our own 'stamp' and that is coming along nicely -- I already feel very much at home here :)

This is the front deck -- the potted plants make an inviting corner for outside eating and provide a bit of privacy from the street -- I love the way the fronds blow in the breeze. Sunset viewing from this spot is wonderful!

 

We found a shop that specializes in gorgeous imported Indonesian pots and urns.  This huge glazed red urn and two smaller containers filled with tropicals and a Pygmy palm welcome at the front door.  We're in the middle of planting the area just behind them with a twin Manilla palm and some lower shade plants -- this will finish this area and really add some softness to the rock wall and edge of the driveway.  Manilla palms have some great red berries part of the year which should complement the containers.

It hasn't been all work however...we've lounged at the beach four or five times, enjoyed some lovely meals and more than a dozen Maui sunsets -- it's all good!