Welcome Summer Solstice
Welcome Sweet, Sweet Summertime!
Happy Solstice and Welcome Summer! I’m taking a sabbatical from garden design and installation work this summer —putting focus back on my primary career as painter and beginning work on a little side project— so it’s been an especially busy spring for me. With a late, wet start to the season, trying to tie up all of my planting by June 21st was a real challenge. But I am happy to say that all projects are 98% complete.
You will still find me here —in fact, probably more so as I won’t be running around quite as much over the next few weeks. I hope you are looking forward to summer as much as I am this year. Travel, long days in the garden, time for family and friends …What are your plans for the sweetest season?
 Will This be the Year I Swing More in My Hammock? Definitely!Â
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6 Replies to “Welcome Summer Solstice”
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Happy Solstice to you Michaela! I am SO excited to hear that you’re taking time – don’t get me wrong; the many fine examples of your garden artistry are testimony to your design talent (sorry to make you blush; ) but it is so soul-filling to take the time to follow your heart.
Just wondering: I think I may have the same Day Lily as in your first photo; who is she? And are there more lovely Angelica planted nearer (in sniffing distance; ) your shady hammock retreat? Ahh, my idea of Heaven: )
Thank you so much, and Happy Solstice to you, Deb! I am thrilled, excited and terrified; a mix I very much like. It all makes me feel alive. Your support and kindness are so appreciated. xxx
As for the flowers …I was playing with iPhone Apps and filters with these little images, so they aren’t as crisp as images made with the DSLR. Top photo: the ‘Woodside Daylily Mix’ is from White Flower Farm. When the company sells the mix at a discount, they do not name the cultivars. So sadly, although I might have a couple of guesses, I can not truly confirm which cultivar I have at front and center. It is a beauty, and I think the prettiest in the bunch. Perhaps my local grower —Ollalie Daylily Gardens— can help me with a positive ID someday.
In the hammock photo, the white flowers are Valeriana offinalis. They stop at the edge of the garden, but I do catch a whiff when swinging in the trees. Hopefully, they will induce sleep.
So good to hear from you, as always!
xx M
Oops, sorry! That was a slip on my part – it was Valerian that I was thinking of. I just planted some at my studio door a couple of weeks back and, to me at least, the scent is right up there with Lilac (PaperWhites and Dame’s Rocket, Lily of the Valley and Peony, Pine needles on a hot Summer’s day… : )
In answer to your comment about sleep inducement? I find Valerian to be very relaxing; but perhaps you’d like to read this as well.., http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Valeriana+sitchensis
Thank you for mentioning that, Deb. I was making a play on the sleep thing (I don’t actually use Valerian root medicinally), but I am glad you linked the article on toxicity. This way, no one will make the mistake of actually eating a plant. Many people, myself included, often forget that medicinal plants are just that: medicines. They should not be ingested without consulting a doctor. Of course sniffing them, well, that’s OK. I fully support falling asleep to the scent of Valerian :) xx
Sweet dreams; )