Bountiful Blooms of Summer

 

With Wednesday's and Saturday's rain (HOORAY!), my zinnias and snapdragons woke up. I picked all of the flowers that were on the plants and filled the house with bouquets. The more I pick, the more the plants will bloom. I will just keep picking and picking. My garden has also been producing haricot verts, zucchini, summer squash, cukes, basil, and parlsey. Most of the garden is planted to flowers though. Sunflowers are a few weeks away but they are growing fast now that there is a bit of moisture in the ground. It is amazing how much change happens when plants that are starved for water get it.

A couple weeks ago, I re-planted some rows of sunflowers for the third time. I don't know if it was lack of water or the birds but I had very poor germination this year. I hope they will sprout and there will be time before frost for them to bloom. 

I have a complete row of Verbena Bonariensis. It is one of those that really thrive on hard picking. I love how the blooms dance above the plants and how it is so delicate and airy. 

It seems like my end of summers every year here at the farm are devoted to flowers and my garden. When I am in the garden in the early evening, the sheep are usually beginning to move around and start grazing. 

I really enjoy growing flowers, picking them, keeping them in vases around the house, bringing them to friends. I do not think I am alone in my love for flowers. Am I? The colors - the shapes - the promise of beauty - the life and death of a flower and a garden - I do not take them for granted. Sometimes I think I must be a bit crazy - growing, picking, plopping them in vases for no one to see but the three of us. But they make me happy - so happy. 

This year I grew snapdragons for the first time. They are so old-fashioned looking, aren't they? They do look good in vases and I think they will keep producing through September. The plants look good and full so I hope there are more flowers to come. I purchase most of my flower plants from Walker Farm in Dummerston, VT (I call it Insta-Garden) except for my sunflowers which I sow directly in the ground. They only had 2 colors of snaps left when I went in June but next year I may grow some other colors.  This is a very dark red that is quite dramatic but difficult to get a good photo

Thanks everyone for the entries in the Kaffe Fassett Bold Blooms Book Giveaway. I had 74 entries which is good for the end of summer when folks are away from their computers. FYI, the most favorited flower of all the contestants was the peony. I guess that is no surprise. 

I have notified the winner Helen Mathey Horn and am waiting to hear from her now. 

I hope you all are enjoying the last fleeting days of summer. Only 2 weeks til Julia starts school again. And then the race begins! It is her last year of High School. Where did the time go?