• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home Garden Companion

Home Garden Companion

Ilona's Garden Journal

  • Plant Library On The Journal
    • All Season Garden Color
    • Sitemap
  • Garden chores
    • Essential Garden Tools For Beginners
    • Garden Tips and Advice
  • Ilona’s Garden Home
    • Old House Blog
    • Garden Librarian
  • Ilona’s Garden Flavor Shop
  • Privacy Policy

I knew I should have taken pictures

10.06.16 | Ilona Erwin | 4 Comments

This spring was unusually cool and full of rain. The result was a long period of spring bloom that seemed to stay fresh and picture perfect for a protracted period.

I knew I should grab a camera or at least my iPhone and take some photos.

cherries in tree
Cherries galore this year

But I have this contrary quirk of wanting to bask in the moment, simply experiencing the beauty and fragrance, or the curious activity of birds, bees, and butterflies.

I think I did snap a few, but mostly not.

The gorgeous heirloom peonies bloomed and then flopped, as we reached close to the 90’s this past week. The viburnums came, bloomed gloriously, and then went.

The Diablo ninebark has very good bloom right now with my Therese Bugnet rose and some clematis.

June Rose
June rose

How quickly hot temperatures and brisk breezes dry everything out, though.

Planting has momentarily ceased; and after the first pickings of radishes I fear that the remainder of the crop is now overly “done” and probably uncomfortably hot for my palate.

During those rainy, cold weeks of our Ohio spring, I took off for the South for a few weeks. You should have seen the weeds and the long grass when I returned! Some still standing, since I only had energy to work on the veggie garden area and the front “bulb lawn” isn’t quite ready for first cutting.

I blame that break in Florida and Georgia for putting me off my work schedule. (Not really, but that is my story). The truth is that this year I am going to work at whatever pace I can manage and refuse to feel guilty about how terrible this garden blogger’s yard looks! Instead I plan to just enjoy the process, rather like I do when I should be taking photos.

I just sit, or stand, stare up through the trees and gaze at clouds.

Sometimes I come back to earth and start making mental lists of all the garden chores stacking up. Right before I move on to all the household tasks that are waiting for me, as well…

Then I pull out my computer and write about it! LOL!

Thankfully, I have lots of film footage and photos taken from other seasons to provide fodder for my projects when that happens.

I’m not always so remiss in my RL work, but it looks like this will be a hot dry summer, and the best way to handle that is to focus on one job at a time.

Lychnis Chalcedonica - Common name:Maltese Cross
Lychnis Chalcedonica – Common name:Maltese Cross

Hopefully, the heat will result in good tomatoes and peppers. And perhaps some organizing and writing while hiding inside in our one air conditioned room.

I can be optimistic, hopeful, and positive… or I can complain and feel defeated and guilty about all the things I haven’t done. Which will it be?

And for a topic of conversation … what’s with all the ticks this year? I can’t go outside without at least one dropping on me from somewhere…

Are they bad where you live?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

← Previous Post
Low, Low Maintenance Spring Bulb Garden, Nothing Easier
Next Post →
Cottage Garden Revival

About Ilona Erwin

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. Thank you, in advance for your support! Privacy Policy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kylee Baumle says

    June 11, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    Gosh, Ilona. I could have written every word of this. Except for the peppers. I don’t grow those.

    • Ilona Erwin says

      June 23, 2016 at 8:14 am

      What no peppers?!:) Yes, we suffer/benefit from many of the same storm systems. I think your part of Ohio gets more reliable rain and snow cover than mine.

  2. Robin says

    June 20, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    Well, I can’t give you any insights into the weather where I am, because we’re neighbors! LOL It’s terribly dry already, and I’m discouraged. I shouldn’t be so shocked, because it usually is, but still. I always hope for a rainy summer, and last one we actually had one! So I’ll continue to dream about a summer with plenty of rain.

    • Ilona Erwin says

      June 23, 2016 at 8:19 am

      The jury is still out on the way the summer goes, but I was surprised that the conditions resulted in so much fruit this year! I do recall a summer with cooler temps and good rainfall throughout the summer. It was one of the most comfortable and great for blooms.

Primary Sidebar

Oh, hi there!

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

Newest Postings Here

  • Hawaiian Flower Arrangements
  • HELLLOOOO, From The Other Side
  • February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden
  • Compilation of Past Mini-Posts of 2003
  • Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

Visit for a Spell

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Mission

Finding your way home via the garden path

Books, Tools, Tips

Read reviews from the GardenLibarian

Portrait of a Gardener

gardener musings
Musings

What’s Wrong With Today’s Gardening?

Modern gardening
What Is Wrong?

Garden Journal

fine garden journal
Journal, Planner and Log Book
buy quality plants

You might also like

seeds

National Seed Swap Day in January

Garden advice

What Makes a Low Maintenance Garden?

Create A Child’s Garden, Grow Love For Nature

Growing Indoor Flowers In December

I Found Out About “She Sheds” And Coincidentally, About Friends

Newest Postings Here

  • Hawaiian Flower Arrangements
  • HELLLOOOO, From The Other Side
  • February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden
  • Compilation of Past Mini-Posts of 2003
  • Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

Books, Tools, Tips

Read reviews from the GardenLibarian

Standouts

10 Useful Gardening Tips For Spring

Do You Grow Herbs? 10 Reasons To Love Them

10 Cool Season Annual Flowers To Plant

Standouts

August Gardening: Ten Suggestions

What are your ten top choices for perennial plantings?

ilonagarden

With village lights With village lights
Christmas decor #christmasspirit🎄 Christmas decor #christmasspirit🎄
Instagram post 17935013548845771 Instagram post 17935013548845771
Instagram post 17981374354427684 Instagram post 17981374354427684
Instagram post 17865517706595888 Instagram post 17865517706595888
Gift of flowers by my bedside Gift of flowers by my bedside
#mockorange #juneflowers #ohio #mockorange #juneflowers #ohio
Instagram post 18224713828022497 Instagram post 18224713828022497
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Join Me

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · Your Site Name

Hazel Theme by Code + Coconut

 

Loading Comments...