Peonies, Roses & Green Grass

Flowers, flowers everywhere here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. The roses in the garden have started to bloom. The poppies have finished their bloom - my goodness, their bloom time is very short! Maybe that makes their vivid orange color all the more rare and wonderful.

And the peonies:

The scent is heavenly. The other day I was standing in the den wondering where this amazing scent was coming from and I remembered I had some in a vase on the coffee table. And I smiled.

Due to someone's forgetfulness at an airport counter, I have a lovely bouquet of pink roses that Don brought home for me.

There are lots of worries in my life at the moment. I don't know what I'd do without my garden. I can lose myself for hours there. There's always something to do and I love doing it all. Even weeding. It is a healing, magical place - at least for me.

Speaking of healing, remember the state of our lawn after it was dug up for the septic work and the tree removal? I'll remind you:

Depressing. Full of rocks. Lots of ruts.

Well, some of the ruts are still there - we're working on that. Many of the rocks are gone. But many are still there. Nevertheless....here is how it looks today:

Much better, don't you think? There are still bare patches, but we'll seed again in the fall.

Happy Wednesday.

Birds Simply Need a Good Birdbath

Those of you who have been with me for a while should remember the damage we suffered last fall from Hurricane Irene. We lost a massive limb from our Sugar Maple. As we watched in horror, the limb fell in slow motion, crashing to the ground only about 5 feet from the house. One of the casualties was my birdbath. The bowl of the birdbath was broken in two. The base somehow survived. I took the two halves and decided to use them in the garden as garden art.

That left the base standing by its lonesome throughout the fall, the winter and early spring. I found a replacement bowl at Lowe's the other day and it fit perfectly.

I couldn't stand the thought of my bird friends not having access to a nice bath or drink of water. It didn't take long for them to discover it.

When the catbird appears, the robin is right behind him. They take turns. I've seen the robin take a bath and catbirds always take baths. They love birdbaths.

How can you not smile watching a bird take a bath? It sure must feel great on a hot day - and the last few days here have been incredibly hot and humid for this time of year. Like much of the country, we are suffering from way too much heat, way too early. Hopefully, in a day or two things will be back to normal.

I'd like my own version of a birdbath.

Happy Tuesday.

Poppies for Remembrance

The Poppy represents Remembrance Day in Europe and Canada. Memorial Day is, like Remembrance Day, a day to honor those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces. There is a famous poem, In Flanders Fields, written by John McRae in 1915:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

between the crosses, row on row....

Memorial Day has become a day for picnics and family get-togethers, a sign that summer is about to begin. Stores use it as a merchandising opportunity, a chance to display all sorts of summery things in the hopes that you'll spend your money there. For most of us, myself included, the real meaning of the day has become somewhat lost. So many, too many to comprehend, have lost their lives serving our country. Though I know that sometimes wars need to be fought, far too many of them never needed to be. And the loss is devastating. 

It doesn't seem right to say "Happy Memorial Day." If we were really honoring what this day is all about, I should think the day would be rather solemn and reflective. I'm wondering: Has the meaning behind Memorial Day changed to just another Monday holiday? 

Those are my thoughts today. What are yours?

Under the Hosta

Adorableness. I love chipmunks. This little guy has been spotted several times lately in the garden. Having a chipmunk around the garden makes me happy. Right before I took this picture, he was darting around, sometimes on a rock, sometimes over by the patio. I grabbed my camera and shot this through the living room window.

A shelter under the hosta leaf...very Beatrix Potter, don't you think? Perhaps he has a little home under that canopy, with a little bed and a fireplace and a cozy chair or two.

I'll be careful not to disturb those leaves.

Happy Sunday.