Kaseys Korner

'Soul Sister' Floribunda Rose

New addition in 2018.

I fell for the light outer petals and the deep center color.

Isn't she a beauty??

Dahlia 'Apple Blossom'

a last look.

Blackened now by frost,

its season truly over,

The tubers tucked safely away to return next season

During the last nice days, I would catch bumblebees overnighting in their centers, 

Waiting for the first rays of morning sun to warm them before departing.

A touch of sadness, looking back, that we've said goodbye to all that was so very alive & beautiful.

But now is the time to do the chores that will ensure they return, better than ever.

Those chores include, after a couple light frosts, storing the rose standards in the garage to ride out the winter months.

No chances or risks are taken on losing them.  Prized as they are....

Above:  Frost on the Chrysanthemum 'Rhumbas.'

A few hardy annuals survived the first freezes.  

I always try to take note of which ones, so as to add them back into the garden next year.  

Salvia farinacea 'Victorian Blue' one of those.

Most everything tender has been cleaned out & the garden has changed dramatically in the past week.

Containers of all types emptied and cleaned.

The antique iron urn looks so BARE without it's abundantly sprawling contents.

There is lightness in my heart tho as I review & post these last few photos;  for although I want to tweak & change a few things, I look and see that I've finally gotten the "English" garden I once envisioned & worked so hard to create.

That realization is the perfect way to end the season & enough to keep me going thru the cold winter months ahead...

 

Dahlias & Roses

It never fails, the end of gardening season produces some of the most beautiful Dahlia & Rose blooms of the year.

I don't know why that happens ~ maybe they respond to the cooler weather with a sigh of relief?

Above:  Dahlia 'Apple Blossom'

Or maybe they're spurred on sensing the imminent end to the season?

Dahlia 'John F. Bloomquist'

Whatever the reason, it is nothing short of spectacular, the "grand finale" of gardening, if you will.

Above:  Dahlia 'Tropical' bud

So exquisite it almost breaks your heart knowing what's to come.

Below:  Dahlia 'Peaches 'N Cream'

 

 

David Austin Rose 'Crown Princess Margareta:'

 

 

along with 'Abraham Darby' 

'Lady Emma Hamilton:'

and 'Winchester Cathedral'

Also, one last cluster of pink shrub roses.

There's more to share, I just haven't gotten all my photos uploaded yet although I do have a few pumpkin "scenes" for you.

Above:  Antique Colander filled with mini pumpkins

Pie Pumpkins in the Vintage Iron Planter:

Finally, for the first time, I took the insert out of my green reproduction planter & filled it with pumpkins.

Not sure why it just occurred to me??  

The open "lattice" sides are the perfect foil for showing off the pumpkins.

Today it feels like Fall.  Overcast and cool.  

But by the weekend we're supposed to be back up in the mid 80's!  

p.s.  My Monarchs are STILL in their chrysalis ~ I keep thinking any day now, they'll emerge.  I've been seeing other Monarchs flitting about the garden tho.  Yesterday there were two spiraling upward together over the Buddleia 'Honeycomb' ~ they looked almost "joyous" or maybe that's how they made me feel watching them?   Don't worry, I'll continue keeping tabs on them & post when anything happens.  :)

 

 

Itoh Peony 'Canary Brilliants'

Focusing on "happy" right now & one thing that's captivated me ( and brought joy) for quite some time is following the restoration of this grand old French Chateau:

http://www.chateaugudanes.com/captains-log

I've been hooked since first discovering the blog/website. Taking on a project of this caliber, with so much history behind it, would be daunting but oh the rewards. I think I would LOVE to do something like it but not by myself! What a legacy the family, the country of France & the town are bequeathed by the restoration of an estate so magnificent. How could anyone not find that goal appealing?  It seems especially meaningful to me right now.  The chateau has endured for centuries.  It's intriguing to think of the triumphs and losses encountered over such a span of time.   I imagine within and surrounding those walls, every earthly occurrence has been witnessed.  How lovely to bring it back and allow future generations to forge & add new memories to all those that predate them.  There are so many spectacular homes falling into decay around the world & country, I wish more people would tackle similar jobs instead of tearing them down & building something new (but not necessarily superior.)

The quote on the May 30th "Captain's Log entry was so lovely I had to copy & paste it here (afterall it IS still Spring):

"Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost

Her snow-white robes; and no more the frost

Candies the grass, or cast an icy cream

Upon the silver lake or crystal stream"

   ~Thomas Carew

The weather here has been as turbulent as my emotions ~ hail, tornadoes, wind & drenching rain with one 90 degree day sprinkled in for hope.

Above:  Clematis 'Snow Queen'

David Austin Rose 'Lady Emma Hamilton'

Despite the less than ideal incubating conditions, there are lot's and lots of babies:

& nesting activity around the garden.  

Above:  Mourning Dove nest 

I've also had a new project/distraction lately ~ relocating baby bunnies.  One day, I returned home to see sixteen in my garden!  No wonder so many of my cherished plants are chewed to the nubs or lost completely.  

Above:  Siberian Iris 'Caesar's Brother'

Finally, the subject of my post, Itoh Peony 'Canary Brilliants.'

New last fall ~ purchase inspired by my friend Dana who is just a little obsessed with them....  in a positively good way, of course.  :)

Now I see why.  'Canary Brilliants' is truly a creation of splendor.   If I can keep the hail from destroying her, she will do much to buoy my tender spirit...

 

Ansonia Porcelain Clock

In my last post, I said I didn't feel much like writing (which is still true) but something odd has occurred involving my vintage clock which I wanted to share with you.

A few years ago, I purchased the gorgeous porcelain antique Royal Bonn clock below, made in the late 1800's by the Ansonia Clock Company.

Although the porcelain case was in exceptionally good condition, no cracks, chips, etc., it never kept time.

In case you aren't familiar, this is an "eight day movement" type of clock which means it's meant to be wound by a key (inserted into the slots on the face of the dial) every eight days.

I really hoped I could get it to work again so after I received it, I took it to an antique clock repairman to see if he could get it running.  Unfortunately, he was in the process of moving his shop & said it needed to be taken completely apart and reassembled correctly which he could not do at that time.  

I brought it home disappointed but set it on my bedroom dresser and thought it was still lovely to look anyway.  It's been silently sitting in that position ever since until....

approximately two weeks after my brother passed.  Then, in the middle of the night, the clock suddenly began to chime and rhythmically tick.

The sound, utterly foreign until that moment, startled me awake and actually spooked me a little at first.  Since it hadn't ever kept time before, it wasn't set correctly but the chiming wasn't coordinating with the time on the face of the clock anyway.  There actually didn't seem to be a pattern to it at all ~ it would chime a lot (sometimes 20 times or more) at odd intervals but never on the hour, half hour, or quarter hour as you would think.   The sound and utter oddity of the whole occurrence, kept me up the rest of the night, as you might imagine.  

In the morning, I called my Mom and told her what the clock was doing and she asked if it was keeping time.  I hadn't set it so I didn't know.  Hesitantly (and half afraid it would stop working if I touched it) I opened the case & gently turned the hands to the correct time.  

It kept PERFECT time the rest of the day.  

As the hours passed, I didn't know what to think.  This clock, which had never even emitted so much as a whisper of a sound before, ticked on so regularly and beautifully, it began to feel strangely comforting.  

All throughout the day, I regularly went into my bedroom just to sit & listen to it, check the time, etc.  That night, at 12:30 AM, when I went to bed, I wondered if the chiming would keep me up but I fell asleep fairly quickly only to wake up two hours later to eerie silence.  

The clock had stopped at 12:45 AM ~ almost 24 hours after it began to chime.  

I have jiggled it, moved it, tried to wind it, turned the hands, etc. and cannot get one "tick" out of it ONCE AGAIN.  I don't know what your feelings are about inexplicable phenomena like this, but I want to believe my brother was using the clock to send me a message that he's okay?  I don't know if that's crazy, wishful thinking or what?  

Now that it's silent again, I weirdly miss it.  Anyway, that's the story I logged on to share with you, it was such a peculiar, special event, I didn't want to keep it to myself.

Btw, I purchased another David Austin rose, 'Golden Celebration' to plant in my brothers memory.  I've had this particular rose before in my garden but lost it two winters ago.  My brother wasn't particularly a "plant person," & though I thought of getting something totally new, I selected this one again because of the name.  Growing up, we used to call him "the Golden Boy" because he was so smart and never got into trouble so he was usually in favor with our parents. "Celebration" for his life and all he accomplished and that I got to be part of it.   

I feel like I positioned this 'Golden Celebration' better in the garden than the last one plus I can see it whenever I look out my front door, which makes me happy.  

Not that I need any reminders to remember him, as all of you know who have lost someone very dear are much too aware...  I'm just hoping it's another small step in the direction of healing.  Many thanks again for all your comforting messages.  Although I haven't responded yet, I am greatly appreciative of each and every one.

Spring arrives

amidst a flurry of activity.

My company is gone.

The yard waste container has been filled & refilled.

The rose standards have been brought out of the garage, re-potted with new potting soil,

and watered well.  

They may end up back in the garage, it is only the end of March, but once it's warm for good, they'll be ready to go!!

That makes me feel slightly ahead of the "game" this year ~ instead of behind like usual!

We'll see how long the feeling lasts...

Everything else was given a big drink along with the roses,

which was a good time to review the garden.

Peonies are up everywhere.

Along with daffodils,

and more daffodils.

A thankful thing, since the bunnies have eaten EVERY tulip in the garden except for what was planted in containers.

So glad I took the time to do that last fall, else there would be zero.

Above:  Tulip bulbs & perennials overwintered in garage, I think they were happy to see daylight!

Hellebore 'Phoebe' is also up and blowing everything around it away....

My favorite Hellebore by far in the garden.

Plus there are a few crocus but far less than there should be???

I know the ones in the front garden were eaten by voles.  *sigh*  Working with nature is a process, isn't it??  

So many more signs of life, but I'll stop there because this girl is TIRED!  After I rest up, I promise to return with more updates....  

Meanwhile, Happy Spring everyone!!!  The season we've all been waiting for is upon us.  Hallelujah!  We made it thru another winter!  :)

 

4th of July ~ goodies & roses

No hurricanes here like the East Coast experienced today.

Our day began sunny but by the time our neighborhood parade started (10:00 AM) the clouds were already moving in.

That's okay.  It made for a cooler parade & a rain shower is always welcome as long as it clears in time for fireworks!!

My dog is not a fan of this holiday.  He and loud noises don't cohabitate well.

He loved it last year when our state was experiencing extreme drought conditions & wildfires which cancelled many firework shows. 

No such luck for him this year, thankfully.  We've had an abundance of moisture so there are shows & celebrations aplenty.

Above & below:  'Lady Emma Hamilton'

and now, it's time for these girlies to catch one. 

Let freedom ring....

P.S.  Shortbread cookie recipes found on Closet Cooking & the view from great island blogs.  Check 'em out!  Yummy stuff there.

 

'Abraham Darby' and friends

I can't get enough of the David Austins this year ~ they've been so beautiful.

or maybe last winter was just so crappy it only seems that way?

Nooooooo, definitely not why!

Seriously tho, every year my first look at 'Abraham Darby' makes me swoon all over, just like the first time I laid eyes on him.

No matter how many roses I see, it always comes back to this one for me.

The color, the scent, everything is just so darn LUSCIOUS....

I thought I had lost 'Abraham' last winter but thankfully, one green shoot finally emerged in late April.  From that one shoot came the above bouquet of blooms.  Pretty incredible, huh??

'Crown Princess Margareta' (above) is the rose in my garden having the banner year tho.

She's the one who suffered the least dieback,

and has the most vigorous growth. 

The stems so laden with buds/blooms they can hardly support themselves.

Oh what a "problem" to have....!!!!

I can't seem to help myself from snapping picture,

after picture,

after picture!!!

Somebody stop me!

or NOT. 

I have to force myself to turn the camera in a different direction!

Above and Below:  'Teasing Georgia'

What a way to end June and start July.   Thank you roses!

Side note:  Look what unexpectedly got delivered by UPS today:

I had heard Restoration Hardware put out a HUGE catalog this year but never dreamed I'd receive a copy. 

Nine separate catalogs to be specific, divided by category.  How cool is that??   Anyone else get them???

Between my daughter's therapy and these catalogs, I don't know how much else will get done!!!!