The thirsty garden was desperate for rain. At last it came and the plants revived. Leaves have plumped out and stems stand tall. The waterbutts are full again. The rainwater is so much better for most plants but especially acid-loving ones like rhododendrons and our blueberries.
The blueberries are just beginning to ripen. When they’re a deep ink-blue they will be sweet and juicy and indescribably delicious. We keep them in a fruit cage or the birds would strip the bushes. I don’t mind the birds having the redcurrants and wild strawberries but the blueberries are too special to share.
The garden is dripping wet but the sparkling drops look so wonderful.
Although we all complain when it rains too much, water is essential to life, including our own, and yet it’s something we take for granted, at least in the western world. Outdoors we collect as much as we can and have several waterbutts placed around the garden.
We all waste water. Hard not to when it flows so freely from the tap. Now though we are all more conscious that the earth’s resources are precious, and find little ways to be more careful with what we have.
I keep a plastic jug by the kitchen sink and if I need to run the water off, to cool it for a drink, for example, I fill the jug instead of allowing the water to go to waste down the drain.
I use the saved water to rinse vegetables or after washing the dishes. I learned to rinse dishes from my mother-in-law. A new idea to me at the time. It’s surprising how many people just leave the soapy water and all the bacteria to be wiped off on the towel. Of course we all have our own way of doing things but this seems a better way to me.
I also turn off the tap while I brush my teeth. It seems wrong and really unnecessary to just throw water down the drain for no good reason. Every drop saved is worth doing.
The wet garden has been looking a little bedraggled but there are some pretty phlox with my favourite pinks and purples.
The colours remind me of my favourite shades of embroidery thread.
Soon the asters will be filling the garden with similar colours. Lovely purples to clash in a pleasing way with the vibrant yellow of the rudbeckias. These attract late season butterflies and are a last fling before the garden begins to die back in autumn. Here are some photos from previous summers, showing what I hope to see again.
Usually at this time I have a lovely show of dramatic Stargazer lilies. This year they have been badly affected by lily beetles and I think the pots got too dry early on when the bulbs were sending up shoots. I still have a few and they are all the more welcome because they’re scarce.
A few pretty pansies keep popping up, looking like a watercolour artist has painted their delicate “faces”.
With the rain bringing some cooler weather I took the opportunity to bake. I had some ripe bananas and made our favourite banana and cranberry loaf. Best sliced and spread with butter. Very more-ish but healthy ingredients.
My recipe for this is on a previous post with the title, “Banana Loaf and Apple Blossom”. A good way to use ripe bananas and with the tasty addition of sweet cranberries. A fruity treat. Easy to make, delicious to eat.
Soon we’ll be gathering fruits from our small orchard. The windfalls have started with the breeze and the rain.
A bowl of fruit is always a nice subject for a winter painting session. Here’s one I did from fruit I bought. I did this with acrylic paints on canvas. I wasn’t completely happy with it but it kept me occupied for a few hours.
That’s it for this week. I hope you’re enjoying the summer as it flies along. Bye for now. with you again soon.
Living a contented creative life. 