Waiting...

I've been a bit neglectful on this blog lately, but hope to write more gardening posts soon. In the meantime I thought I'd share a post I recently shared on my book blog... Thoughts on Books                                                   

                                                    This rhododendron is very special to me.


                       My father-in-law, who passed away suddenly a few years ago, gave it to me.


I've had it in my garden for close to 10 years now and every year I get excited for it to bloom and every year it doesn't...

                                                                        Until this year!


I was pretty excited to see all these buds and blooms! It reminded me that the Lord sometimes makes us wait, and through it all, He is always good.


"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.



Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."      Psalm 27:13-14


A Winter Day


The air is silent save where stirs
A bugling breeze among the firs;
The virgin world in white array
Waits for the bridegroom kiss of day;
All heaven blooms rarely in the east
Where skies are silvery and fleeced,
And o'er the orient hills made glad
The morning comes in wonder clad;
Oh, 'tis a time most fit to see
How beautiful the dawn can be!

Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie
Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky;
A glistening splendor crowns the woods
And bosky, whistling solitudes;
In hemlock glen and reedy mere
The tang of frost is sharp and clear;
Life hath a jollity and zest,
A poignancy made manifest;
Laughter and courage have their way
At noontide of a winter's day.

Faint music rings in wold and dell,
The tinkling of a distant bell,
Where homestead lights with friendly glow
Glimmer across the drifted snow;
Beyond a valley dim and far
Lit by an occidental star,
Tall pines the marge of day beset
Like many a slender minaret,
Whence priest-like winds on crystal air
Summon the reverent world to prayer. 


                                    Lucy Maud Montgomery 

*Photo from Internet

Sedum

Sedum is becoming one of my go to plants for fall. The 'Autumn Joy' variety being my favorite of all.

I love the color of the flowers that bloom in September and October and the foliage brings beauty to my garden all summer long. Here are a few photos from my garden. Can you find the little visitor? : )



The Autumn


Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them --
The summer flowers depart --
Sit still -- as all transform'd to stone,
Except your musing heart.

How there you sat in summer-time,
May yet be in your mind;
And how you heard the green woods sing
Beneath the freshening wind.
Though the same wind now blows around,
You would its blast recall;
For every breath that stirs the trees,
Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth
That flesh and dust impart:
We cannot bear its visitings,
When change is on the heart.
Gay words and jests may make us smile,
When Sorrow is asleep;
But other things must make us smile,
When Sorrow bids us weep!

The dearest hands that clasp our hands, --
Their presence may be o'er;
The dearest voice that meets our ear,
That tone may come no more!
Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,
Which once refresh'd our mind,
Shall come -- as, on those sighing woods,
The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind -- view not the woods;
Look out o'er vale and hill-
In spring, the sky encircled them --
The sky is round them still.
Come autumn's scathe -- come winter's cold --
Come change -- and human fate!
Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
Can ne'er be desolate.

                                          Elizabeth Barrett Browning

*Photo from internet

David Austin Roses

My favorite roses are David Austin roses.

They look very similar to peonies and many of them have a beautiful  fragrant scent.

I have one David Austen rose bush in my backyard, but its on its last leg for the season, so I thought I'd share some photos I found online. (Mine look similar to the William Shakespeare variety)

Aren't they gorgeous? Looking through these photos makes me want to plant some more!

Crown Princess Margareta

Glamis Castle

Scepter'd Isle

William Shakespeare

William Morris


What are your favorite roses?