WESTON GARDENS "PICK ME UP"

September was a "miserable" month for me.  The heat is so depressing.  I fight it and still give in to "woe is me, why do I even try?"

That is when I took my pitiful self to proof that all is not lost.  I love to visit Weston Gardens in Fort Worth at various times of the year.  Even winter can be a revival of the spirit. Garden life does go on, and on, and on.  One just has to go on, and on as well.

I wandered through the peaceful demonstration gardens after visiting the plant sales area.

Even though things in the sales area are a little weather worn, it is still a hopeful sign to see what they have to offer.
Self pity closes the mind to buying new plantings when everything in my garden is dying or planning to.

And then, I spotted a beautiful proof that all is not lost.  This photo is of the Hyacinth Bean Vine. Yes!!

My bean vines have suffered mightily, what with bad potting soil, heat, drought, mistaken attempts to plant where they didn't have a chance.  This picture does not do the vine justice.  The blossoms are a beautiful purple and will turn into dark maroon bean pods later. What a glorious thing to behold!

I have to remember that my Turk's Cap is a healthy plant in spite of drought.

Don't forget to click on photo for larger view

I love this bench!!

Broken pot reclaimedl!

Mine never look this good this time of year!

I have glued a few pots in my time.
Happy to see that my fix can be a statement all on its own.








“By bringing a soulful consciousness to gardening sacred space can be created outdoors.”
― S. Kelley Harrell, Nature's Gifts Anthology

“Regardless of geographical region or culture gardening is perhaps the most common and shared experience of Nature.”
― S. Kelley Harrell, Nature's Gifts Anthology

“As I leave the garden
I take with me a renewed view,
And a quiet soul.”
― Jessica Coupe, Life Abundant a 30 day devotional for Latter-day Saint Women

 

  

“I am intrigued by writers who garden and gardeners who write. The pen and the trowel are not interchangeable, but seem often linked.”
― Marta McDowell

Beauty Berry

I had forgotten how tough this plant is!

 

 

 

I think it is time to set out some more Caladiums.
I have plenty of shade now.

In the end, don't let summer doldrums get you down.  You can visit an arboretum, public garden, a nursery, a park a,neighbor, anyplace with plants and shade and maybe sitting spots can restore your soul.

Oh, yes and they do sell tea of all kinds.  They also have a beautiful assortment of things related to tea.

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A bit of green in my favorite pot

Garden seating

Treasure from the side of the road

Hubby and I took a little time out this morning to sit on one of my seating creations.
It was a perfect morning.
Perfection made more so by the pleasure of watching a Monarch visiting the milk weed plant I had set out this past Spring.
He (being used to my camera in front of my face) asked where my camera was.
No need for a camera. I have enough pictures right now.  Just wanted to savor those few minutes

The "bench" is 2 railroad ties stacked.  The surface was not very comfortable with a big ol' bolt sticking out.  The 4 pieces used for the "seat" were already the perfect length and covered the bolt nicely.
Don't ask me where they came from. I just wandered around the place and voilá there they were.Hubby screwed all 4 down for stability. I have intentions of putting a cushion top on it some day.

Purchased from garden center, badly weathered. A little oil fixed that!

Purchased for $10.00 damaged corner

I have a nice collection of seating for the time
when I need a quick sit down.
Some are shaded which is nice in summer

 “To dream a garden and then to plant it is an act of independence and even defiance to the greater world.”
― Stanley Crawford, A Garlic Testament: Seasons on a Small New Mexico Farm

Found on the side of the road

A bit of cross tie and cinder blocks under a tree. The blue ice chest makes a nice pot for plants

This was an expensive kneeler. Moves around nicely.

A bit of repair to the decorations on the back and a slat for the seat.  All this bench needed. It turned out too nicely to set out in the weather. It does have a good view of the front garden.

Buried post ends and a bit of laminated shelving.

Emergency seating!

Sometimes this all you need!

4 cinder blocks, a wire shelf, piece of old plywood.  In the shade. Life is good

“As I leave the garden
I take with me a renewed view,
And a quiet soul.”
― Jessica Coupe, Life Abundant a 30 day devotional for Latter-day Saint Women

Country life

I still consider where we live as "country".  Development has encroached on the highway(s) around us.

Gone are the bucolic pastures I relished passing on my evening drives home from work in the city.
Cows, long horns, horses and an occasional donkey grazed along the drive home.  A calming drive after the hectic office and city traffic.

We are so blessed to live where we do.  All be it, it has its share of problems with strays, unfenced dogs, kids strolling through our property, or riding their 4 wheelers as far into the property as they dare.

Kids grow up and go away, traffic through our quiet neighborhood becomes too much and too fast sometimes................................. Neighbor dogs barking at the least movement............................Neighbors cranking up their mowers or trimmers too early in the day. Neighbor's boom boxes or other noise makers. We have an acre of land so they are not "that" close.

Venting aside.  We have the best of living country wise in that mornings can be entertaining or upsetting any day of the week.  Always a variety. Since having the quails on our property, using our water dish, eating our bird feed, we have become aware of just how many critters we do have here.

We always shook our heads at the destruction of said unidentified critters. Until we had a mama and future babies.  They nest on the ground and are so vulnerable.  The spot she chose was pretty safe in some ways. Until the eggs hatched.
With that introduction, comes a new source of "entertainment".  We purchased a catch and release animal trap. We have caught, opossum, skunk, raccoon, and this morning a house cat.  It didn't have a collar and mewed pathetically when we move to the cage to release it.  The other critters would attack fingers if they could, this cat cowered and was out the door of the cage before it was all the way open.

The raccoon has not returned, the opossum has not returned that we know of. The skunks still let us know they are around with scent.  Mostly, these animals dig holes everywhere, looking for insects.  Having sunflower seed on the ground makes food easier to find.

Looking out the window on a chilly morning, we can watch birds, squirrels and even the blasted rabbits eating seeds on the ground.  If you have feeders and are dedicated to provide water and food for the birds, you have to accept the mess they scatter.

Oh, yes, we have very welcome visitors as well.  Be sure to click on picture for larger view.

 “Gardening is akin to writing stories. No experience could have taught me more about grief or flowers, about achieving survival by going, your fingers in the ground, the limit of physical exhaustion.”
― Eudora Welty