Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Dusk, and a Dawning

Most of the blooms in my garden have now been deadheaded.  Roses, of course.  I deadhead those almost daily.  Asters, echinaceas, cannas, salvias, dianthus, yarrow, blanket flowers, and hydrangeas (just to name a few) have all had their blooms cut off.  With the drought turning everything brown around here, I was anxious to get any type of dead or dried bloom out of my sight.  So, I was curious to see what I could contribute to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

I found a few things still blooming in my garden:

Lilies are still making a show.


So, too, are the roses.


Bouquets of them.  One reason I love roses so - their repeat bloom.

But the most beautiful bloom in my garden I chanced upon the other night.  I don't know why I had gone outside, but I was glad I did.  Otherwise, I might not have seen this beautiful sight:


A white crape myrtle shining against a dark sky.  It made me forget all about those spent blooms.


It made me love the present moment.  The moment of a newly emerging bloom.


I love the garden.  Just when you've almost given up, another beauty comes along.
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27 comments:

  1. DarlaJune 15, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    It's those moments in the garden that keep us gardening.

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  2. GinnyJune 15, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    What a beautiful shot of the white crape myrtle!

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  3. The Sage ButterflyJune 15, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    It is so true that once a bloom is gone there is another one to capture our attention. Isn't that great? I so love this time of year as there is so much going on in the garden. Your blooms are spectacular!

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  4. TheGardeningBlogJune 15, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    I love your lilies and of course the Roses! I know exactly what you mean - Last week I thought I'd have nothing to show on GBBD, and a week later - a whole lot of new things! Always changing, always something going on :)
    Happy GBBD!

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  5. RoseJune 15, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    So true! As sad as I am to see certain flowers fade away, there's always something new to delight me. Your crape myrtle glowing in the moonlight is simply beautiful.

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  6. Bumble Lush GardenJune 15, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    I love the night shots. Sometimes that's when blooms look their best, when the sun isn't beating down on them.

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  7. LarryJune 15, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    I concur with your previous visitors... very beautiful! L

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  8. HolleyGardenJune 15, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    Darla - So true. The garden is good at giving encouragement when it is most needed.

    Ginny - Thank you. I think it was glowing in the moonlight, and caught my eye.

    Sage Butterfly - That's what is so special, and important, about having blooms year round, if possible. Especially since this year the blooms have been a little off their regular schedule.

    Gardening Blog - So true that the garden always surprises. And a great lesson to have more bloomers in each season.

    Rose - Yes, I've been a bit sad that so many blooms were spent all at once. I'm so glad I saw this crape myrtle in the moonlight. Always something beautiful to see.

    Bumble Lush - The sun sure has been beating down this year! Maybe I'll need to start going into the garden more at night!

    Larry - Thanks for commenting!

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  9. CatJune 15, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    It is ever changing and sometimes this makes me bittersweet as well. But then something new captures my attention and I'm loving it all over again. I can imagine your joy at seeing the bloom against the night sky...nice!

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  10. PolkaDotGaloshesJune 15, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Your blooms are beautiful! Even though many have come and gone, you still have gorgeous blooms popping up! Mine are still in bud stage so its hard to even think about dead-heading, we are so far behind this year! Hope you get some cool,wet breaks soon =)

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  11. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    That really is so true. When one is gone, another quickly and quietly fills in. Sometimes it is a new surprise or just a plant making a last showing.

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  12. HolleyGardenJune 15, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Cat - You are so right. I miss the blooms that were, but am so glad there are blooms to be! I was thrilled to see something beautiful blooming in the garden.

    Julia - Yes, I need to appreciate the ones I do have. Amazing how far apart in blooms we are!

    GWGT - Just shows how much a succession of blooms is important - for the mental state of the gardener! :)

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  13. DonnaJune 15, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    You are so good to deadhead things...so important and I was just thinking I needed to get on that already as well...what an incredible picture with the moon in the background...

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  14. scottweberpdxJune 15, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Lovely post...that single pink rose is stunning! Deadheading is one of those tasks I secretly love, as I just imagine the plants putting all their energy into more flowers!

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  15. HolleyGardenJune 15, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Donna - I usually don't deadhead much, except for my roses. But this year, everything bloomed so early, I'm hoping everything will bloom again. I won't deadhead in late summer - I like to see the seed heads.

    Scott - What a great attitude! And you are so right - more flowers! Thanks for commenting.

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  16. Beth at PlantPostingsJune 15, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    I can see why the Crape Myrtle is your favorite. It's my favorite on this post, too. But you have lots of lovely blooms. How often do you deadhead your Roses?

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  17. sherryocalaJune 15, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    HolleyGarden, it does seem that one bloom or another is always following hard on the heels of the last one, so there's almost no time to mourn it. The garden moves on, not wasting energy on what was, saving it all for what is. I love your moon shot and all the flowers you thought you didn't have.

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  18. LydiaJune 15, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    Your garden has an amazing sense of place. Thank you for inviting us in):-

    Our drought broke this year. I pray your rainfall will return soon.

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  19. dorothyJune 15, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    That is a beautiful photo of the white crape myrtle and the moon! Crape myrtle does very well in our zone 9 but doesn't bloom until sometime in July when most other plants have shut down in the heat. They are one of my favorites too!

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  20. p3chandanJune 16, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Indeed the white crape myrtle steals the show especially the one against the dark sky and a peek of the bright moon!

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  21. AnonymousJune 16, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Whew-eee! Lovely! Glad that you were able to look up and enjoy that gift. :)

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  22. HolleyGardenJune 16, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    PlantPostings - Yes, I need to remember to look at what I do have, instead of what I don't! I go out there to deadhead my roses every day, but sometimes get distracted! :o

    Sherry - You said it so eloquently. "Not wasting energy on what was, saving it all for what is." A good lesson, one I'll try to remember.

    Lydia - That's encouraging to hear your drought broke! I'm certain ours will soon, too (at least I hope!). Thanks for coming by.

    dorothy - It's like July/August here now. We're already seeing days of triple digit heat. Does not make for good gardening weather! The white blooms (especially at night) make me forget how hot the days are!

    p3chandan - Just one beautiful bloom can make me feel so much better about all the spent ones. There's a reason us Southerners love the crape myrtles so.

    Hanni - I am thankful, too. I actually don't remember why I was out there (I don't often venture out at night), but am so glad I got to enjoy the moment.

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  23. Glimpses of GloryJune 16, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    First of all I love your header photo, what a beautiful shot!
    Also the photo of the moon with the crape Myrtle, so glad you did go outside to capture that lovely sight.
    I don't have any Crape Myrtles...yet :)
    Lovely blog,
    karen
    glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com/

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  24. greggoJune 16, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    White in the nite, is oh so bright!!!

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  25. HolleyGardenJune 16, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Karen - Oh, you need to get some crape myrtles - they are truly care free and very long blooming. Some even have interesting bark!

    Greggo - You are a hoot!

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  26. Corner Gardener SueJune 18, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    I am always sad as flowers finish their blooming for the season. Like you, I am encouraged when I see the next blooms.

    I love your photo with the moon in it, and that pink rose sure is pretty!

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  27. HolleyGardenJune 18, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Corner Gardener Sue - I am always happy to see new blooms, one reason I'm glad to live in a mild climate. Unfortunately, the heat got to most this year - except the crape myrtle looked fabulous!

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