Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Come Into My Garden...


If you can squeeze past the cat who has appointed herself door man, jump through the performing circus of squirrels on the front stoop, slap your way through the dawn mosquito patrol and beat down the bindweed, you might find a thing or two of beauty in the early morning garden.


Ignoring the ever present heat and humidity a brave iris has returned

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The lime light hydrangeas glow against the dark leaves of the ornamental plum.


When people approach the house all eyes are drawn up to the mandevilla vine, totally missing the garden destruction that lies at their feet. Clever strategy this.


A volunteer petunia has set up house with the black jack sedum. We think it's just a summer romance but would not be adverse to committed relationship.

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And most beautiful of them all, our first passion flower bloom. This shot taken on Sunday after the rain. Did I say rain?

So if you happen to drop by for a visit remember: in the garden eyes up and all around, in the house eyes down ( plaster ceiling in kitchen still not fixed).
Got it? Good.  Repeat, garden up, kitchen down.
xo jane

P.S. Sending our love and support to our friends in England.   We are saddened and horrified.
Posted by flwrjane at Tuesday, August 09, 2011
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20 comments:

  1. JenAugust 9, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    Beautiful--I love all the cool whites. And the passion flower is extraordinary. If I dropped by to visit I don't think I would leave the garden.

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  2. BonnieAugust 9, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Absolutely beautiful, and the passion flower....oh my!

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  3. Sherri B.August 9, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    I love all of the whites too, I thought you were going to say it was "the white garden". Everything looks lovely, as usual!

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  4. the gardener's cottageAugust 9, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    as the world goes mad the garden is the only retreat left, no?

    yours is such a sweet retreat. so many beautiful flowers. i'm now at peace. thank you.

    xo

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  5. An Urban CottageAugust 9, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    I love volunteer flowers. They seem all the more precious.

    Are the passion flower and mandevilla hardy in your area?

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  6. rachelAugust 9, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Yes, we are saddened and horrified too - but London seems a million miles away from the deep peace of the West Country, where gardens grow quietly.... I wish mine had lovely things to show as yours does!

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  7. Denise | Chez DanisseAugust 9, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    It is comforting to know that in the midst of all that is bad in this world there is still so much pure white beauty existing in gardens like yours.

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  8. SuzAugust 9, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Wonderful flowers. Loved seeing the passion flower. Amazing photos.

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  9. UnknownAugust 9, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    What with your amazingly gorgeous (and well photographed) huydrangeas and Janet's curtains, I am distracting my thoughts from London as much as possible. Thanks for your thoughts, my whole family live there and I was born and brought up in London and I just feel utterly appalled, we should be so much better than this. It all shrieks out so many questions and failures....

    so thanks for the beautiful photos to dwell on. xx

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  10. flwrjaneAugust 9, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Jen, You would be welcome to stay as long as you like:)

    Bonnie, I know, we've waited all summer for this moment.

    Sherri B.,I thought you were going to say " said the spider to the fly".

    Janet, as I would be in your house and garden. xo

    Steve, The passion flower is supposed to be hardy. We'll know next year. And i buy a white mandevilla vine every May. It's out thing.

    Rachel, next summer we'll be oohing and aahing over yours.

    Denise, Thank you and I hope our garden is just one of millions.

    S&Z, Now I have to go out again and stare at the passion flowers some more!

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  11. flwrjaneAugust 9, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Ah, Belinda, I so hope your family is safe and not living in fear. It is after 10pm your time and hopefully all is calm there.

    Your beautiful city...such a heartbreak

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  12. webbAugust 9, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    What lovely August flowers -you have a white garden! So cool and inviting! xoxo

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  13. Share my GardenAugust 9, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    Dear Flwrjane, white iris and hydrangea, how lovely. Thank you for your kind thoughts for those of us in England living with such mindless and deeply distressing violence. A garden really is the best place to retreat to in times like these.

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  14. flowers on my tableAugust 9, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Hi Jane, your garden is looking very fetching! I so want those Hydrangeas for my garden next year. I just adore Passionflowers, I always think they look like they could be made of tin or something. Love Linda x

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  15. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    How I love the early morning walks through your garden. White Mandevilla is so pretty and I can't believe you have an Iris in August! I'll bet your beds are impeccably edged! (GG)?

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  16. annie@mostlovelythingsAugust 9, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    I agree with Janet...the world has gone mad, but the garden, especially yours is a retreat. So beautiful!!

    xo annie

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  17. helen tilstonAugust 9, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    Your white flowers will call me attention and I shall look up..I love the summer romance (such a beautiful way to word a wandering plant!
    To a great week and peace and prosperity in the world.
    Helen x

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  18. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    Gorgeous white flowers ..

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  19. the fishermans cottageAugust 10, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    Beautiful... I always like your planting combinations, might have to steal some :).. especially love the white petunia and black jack sedum together.

    Thank you Jane and GG.. very shocking to watch, it seems to be calming down now x

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  20. SwimrayAugust 12, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    That hydrangea would look mighty fine in MY backyard (he wrote with envy.)

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