For me, the Fourth is the watershed of summer….everything builds to this place of heat, picnics, and fireworks, and is downhill from there on through to the last gasp of summer, Labor Day. Maybe because the mystery is gone by the fourth of July. I know whether my seedlings thrived, what the insect populations are likely to be, I’ve already harvested the cool crops and the tomatoes are at their marker point: I can see when the first wave of ripening is likely to occur.
This past week my garden was blowzy with the drifts of feverfew that sprouted throughout the garden. The Shirley poppies are past their prime, but the bronze fennel which has self-seeded here is justt coming into it’s own. Fennel is one of those hazy plants that melds things in a soft focus sort of way.
I think the Annabelle hydrangea holds sway here by sheer ostentatiousness. Although I did notice how very effective it is for evenings and misty, cloudy days. The huge orbs of bloom seem to hold the light in the luminescent way that is so enchanting in that magic time between dusk and nightfall. It really is a moon garden entry, with white roses, and the impossibly large white Marie Boisselot clematis. I haven’t combined these in proximity, but it would work for those who want a ‘White Garden‘
Today, after writing the previous paragraphs, I took out a giant stand of overly healthy poison ivy. Then had to take a shower plus wash my hair to get rid of any oils that might create a reaction; ’cause I got it in my hair, on my arms, on my face, my feet, in fact I don’t know where it didn’t touch on my clothing, etc.
Now I need to rake it all up. Can’t burn it– because people can get allergic reaction from breathing in the smoke of poison ivy.
Well, now off to cook up some things on the grill in honor of the Fourth of July. Shish-ka-bob with a side of couscous is not exactly all-American fare, but tastes yummy. Just a fresh salad on the side with the grilled veggies from the Shish-ka-bobs. Lemon cake with fresh fruit and a dollop of ice cream,lemonade and tea to drink. Looking forward to it.
Labor day the last gasp???? Horrors! Not in my garden! Th last gasp of summer, and blooms, is well into October of the frosts are light. I have so many clematis and aster and eupatorium and other things still pumping out flowers and foliage at that time–best time of the year is fall! Say it with me!
I do say that fall is the best time- in unison with you, but summer has indeed rendered it’s last gasp earlier and the fall time is final burst of bounty, anything that is not quick and complete in bloom by the last day of summer is risking a frosty end -especially in your neck of the woods ;)
…Now, Johanna, not so much. We have a gasp at the end of summer in the North, but I think the South ends summers with a sigh.