Like our growing family, The Cottage Garden has been full of life these past few weeks, so much so that the children and I have already begun the phase I lovingly refer to as "New Baby Mode." Instead of our usual flurry of activities, we have been keeping close to home, waking with the sun and spending most of our days outdoors as the children play and I put my feet up. I figure this new schedule should keep us all happy and healthy until mid-September at least!
Have no fear about learning though. With flora and fauna springing up all around us, science and nature, literature and art, poetry and prayer have been with us every step of the way.
Here are just a few of the blooming beauties paying a visit at the end of May:
Rhododendrons everywhere!
Korean Dogwoods, hot on the heels of their American cousins, in full array:
These fresh-popped peonies seem lost amidst the daylily leaves:
And these pink peonies are obscured at the base of a tall rhododendron:
I regret casting a shadow over the irises round the pool:
We found these woodland belles at the base of a tall Spruce tree. Now I know where Patrick keeps getting those fancy flowers he picks for me!
Thank you dear Patrick, but, please, stick to dandelions next time!
Alice, the State Department just called...they want to transplant your hedge to the southern border. ;)
Posted by: MacBeth | May 29, 2006 at 10:20 PM
Alice, Last spring I took a trip to Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright's former home in Pennsylvania. There are a plethora of gorgeous rhodedendrons on the grounds. I thought they had the most beautiful display of them that I had ever seen...until I saw your post today. Yours really are phenomenal! Do you feed them regularly or is your soil just extremely fertile?
BTW, I love the Korean dogwoods. I planted one in memory of my father after he passed away. Ours has just begun to bloom this past week.
Posted by: Rebecca | May 29, 2006 at 10:21 PM
WOW!!! I have never seen such Rhododendrons! Spectacular!!!!
Posted by: Theresa | May 29, 2006 at 10:47 PM
MacBeth, RFOL!
Rebecca, thank you! We do not do anything special to them, but I think they may be some kind of super large variety.
Thank you, Theresa!
Posted by: Alice | May 30, 2006 at 08:51 AM
Alice,
Thank you so much for sharing your garden haven with all of us. I can almost smell the flowers. : )
Beautiful!
Posted by: Cay | May 30, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Beautiful flowers and photos. Thanks for sharing!
Also, because I enjoy reading your blog, Alice, please consider making a contribution to this week's project on my blog titled "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Homeschool Bloggers".
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | May 30, 2006 at 09:44 AM
Alice, You make me SMILE!!
Posted by: Therese Stimpfel | May 30, 2006 at 01:29 PM
Gorgeous! With a yard so full of beauty, I wouldn't go inside till September either!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 31, 2006 at 08:26 AM
Very pretty! Thank you for sharing the pics.
Posted by: Marybeth | May 31, 2006 at 10:10 AM
Alice, so beautiful! We have a (much smaller!) rhododendron hedge along one side of our property and they are in full bloom now. I love that pink! Thank you for posting such lovely photos. :)
Posted by: Dawn | May 31, 2006 at 07:36 PM
Your rhododendrons are gorgeous! The hedge is incredible! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Christine | May 31, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Thank you all so much!!!
Posted by: Alice | June 01, 2006 at 08:18 AM
I love this post! I can totally raelte to that. It is so much fun to have your tjommies in the garden with you! Maybe I should consider azaileas in my dark areas under the potato plant and under the protea bush. There are nice cool and shady spots for them. I wonder if they can handle the hot summer temperatures!
Posted by: Fifietx | April 23, 2012 at 08:53 PM
I can't hear anyntihg over the sound of how awesome this article is.
Posted by: Suevonne | September 06, 2013 at 04:35 PM