Wednesday 23 July 2008

My Garden Confessions and Contrasts

I'll start with confessions! This is the time of year when I become bored with my garden. The excitement of most of the new growth and colour of springtime and early summer has faded, things are generally 'going over', blossom pruning has left large gaps in places and it can start to look jaded. Just a matter of trimming and keeping tidy now until the many Autumn chores.

The weather has hotted up since we were shivering last Sunday at Pilgrims Hall and this week sees temperatures hitting 86f in the London area. Not a lengthy heatwave we are told though, it is set to deteriorate at the weekend. So for now lunch and dinner in the garden to make the most of it.

So having done with the confessions, let's take a walk around the garden and see what CONTRASTS we can find.






















































Contrasts in the Herb Garden
















And not forgetting the pond


COMPUTER UPDATE
It is now rebuilt but not knowing this was going to be the action taken the company was not in the possession of my application discs so I had to take them in today
Also some problem with video and graphics card - another internet search!
I had just been thinking about getting my computer back and up and running
I had failed to register that I will have to reinstall the various software that I have added myself
So I am having great lessons in learning patience, something that I am not very good at

30 comments:

Patsy said...

Colors are great in your garden, and everything is going to work out.
Patsy

Teresa said...

I have an award for you. Please come over and see.

Merisi said...

Such a wonderful variety of blossoms and colours!

duopastorale said...

Lovely colours. It's great having some warmth finally isn't it?

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Lovely garden photos! Especially the clematis!

Vee said...

The contrasts are beautiful and you're bored with them?

Computer woes...yuck. Reinstalling tons of stuff...double yuck. Perhaps your son could be encouraged over for the promise of a home-cooked meal??? ;>

Dorothy said...

Hi Barbara...had to do a little catching up...been traveling and had my mother visit for a fews days...I enjoyed the Pilgrims Worship...and your garden is just lovely although fading a bit to you...I know how you feel...here in the tropics with the heat temps soaring...we have to water quite a lot...a few things have succombed to the heat while we were away, I'm afraid. Winters here are more favorable conditions to gardening oddly enough....sorry to hear about your computer problems...Best wishes...Dee Dee

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

The colors in your garden are so pretty! We had a small heatwave ourselves with a couple days at 100 degrees farenheit plus. It was kinda warm! LOL!

Linda said...

At least you can go in your lovely garden to become peaceful when the computer business becomes too much.

Elizabethd said...

How do you get your clematis to bloom so prolifically! It is marvellous.

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

Barbara, I hope your day is starting out good. I am awake because I am on-call from work and have gotten the wide-awakes, as I call them. Your flowers are so pretty. Not at all boring. The fish are gorgeous. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such sweet comments. Oh yow, even your herbs are looking so pretty. It's been around 100 here nearly everyday. I will be happy for the cool weather. Take care.

Anonymous said...

Barbara,
I am new to your blog and love it! Your pictures of your garden are breathtaking! I would love to sit with you and look out at your garden.
The heat here is what keeps me from working in my "little" garden as much as I would like.
We have very dear friends from UK that have retired from Wycliffe(about a year ago). We stay in touch though snail mail. They live in Bucks. How far is that from you?
Blessings,
Miriam(from across the pond :)

Lorrie said...

Your garden is lovely - full of colour and texture. I hope you can enjoy it throughout the summer, even if you get tired of it.
Thanks for the clematis advice. I will begin tying mine up carefully.

Computer woes - so much in life helps us learn patience!
Lorrie

Paula said...

I agree, this time of year when flowers start to fade I get tired of it and the weeds! I LOVE your clematis, the whole garden still looks nice. Bee balm is one of my favs too.

Charm and Grace said...

My artist's eye just couldn't get enough of those photos of contrast. Those were amazing... your artist's eye was fully engaged when you took those! As for the computer, I deeply empathize. One of these days I am going to have to quit using my son's computer... that will require me taking mine (that cost 4 times what his did) into the shop for rehab and paying who knows what. Ugghh! But my darling, sweet (nearly 6 ft. tall) son is so generous with his that I just can't get motivated to do it.

Blessings,
Christi

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Well, for once we are both experiencing the same warm temperatures at the same time!

Your garden still has plenty of color to show us...and I love all your little goldfish in the pond.

Willow said...

The garden contrasts are so beautiful Barbara. I do love hydrangeas!
The contrasts in temperature just adds to the 'variety is the spice of life' attitude. Like the contrasts between Phoenix and Camarillo weather!
I hope your computer gets better quickly!

Sigrun said...

Patience? What is that? I had computer problems for a while.
Your photos are very nice, I found Leycesteria formosa!

Sigrun

Barb said...

Hi Barbara,

Your flowers are so beautiful and have given me a great lift.

Have a blessed weekend.

P.S. Good luck with your computer problems.

Anonymous said...

Barbara,
Thank you for your sweetness of heart and the comment you left. It is lovely to meet you also.
Our friends live in Stokenchurch, High Wycombe. They have such a heart for the Lord.
I would love to visit England someday soon. The gardens there have always felt inviting.
Blessings,
Miriam

Susie said...

Hi Barbara,
You still have so many beautiful colors in your garden, but I know what you mean about things beginning to fade a bit at this time of year. I've experienced that here as well.
Hoping your computer problems will be solved quite soon!
hugs))

Elizabeth said...

You are very funny and honest saying you are bored with the garden.
In July the trees are so blinking GREEN.
However you have some lovely pictures.
Your hydrangea just coming out was so lovely.
Happy weekend.

Shammickite said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shammickite said...

How could you possibly be bored in such a lovely garden?

Lavinia said...

What a kaleidoscope of colour. Your garden is *still* very beautiful. I like the different colour clematis, mine are past their bloom, unfortunately...

I like your pond. So many fish!

Continued best wishes for sorting out your computer issues....technology can be maddening...I don't have much patience for it either..

Mmm said...

Stunning garden!! Thank you for the stroll around it. Here, it would win an award, i tell you!

Amongst The Oaks said...

Hi Barbara,
Your garden is lovely as usual. I especially like the varigated foliage; I need more of that. I've give you an award. Hop over to my blog to get the details.
Laura

Susan said...

Still looks good to my untrained eye.

Yes, the Lord has a way of teaching us patience doesn't He?
Susan

Unknown said...

I've had such a wonderful time visiting. Your pictures are so lovely!

Barbara said...

I know this feeling of beeing a bit fed up with everything that concerns the garden....it overcomes me regularly end of July, beginning of August....and the reasons are same as you mentioned. But as soon as the first new flowers come again, this "feeling" disappears again....
Enjoy your wonderful blooming garden!