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If there’s anyone who puts on a better show in a garden than a peony, I haven’t yet met them.
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For a pure burst of color they’re hard to beat.
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I have a few small plants in the front of the house, but it’s this old backyard beauty that was here when we moved in 20 years ago that makes the biggest statement.
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Peonies can be fussy and hard to establish.
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But if you manage it, they’re carefree beauty that will be enjoyed for decades.
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A storm was rolling in and made for nice background skies so I snapped a few iris shots.
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I really should plant more of these.
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They’re such a lovely pop of purple.
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On the other side of the property ….
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Momma chuck was hanging out on the barn porch.
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Probably looking for some more marigolds too munch.
😖
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Mother Nature is putting on her own fireworks show at Casa River.
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And while it’s not the true red, white and blue of the Fourth…
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Pink and purple are close enough for me.
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The Japanese irises are still in bloom and the peonies are starting to pop.
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They’re truly gorgeous blooms and smell divine with a rich heady fragrance.
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Happy holidays from my garden to yours!
❤️
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It’s Japanese Iris season at Casa River and I couldn’t be happier.
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While I’ve never been a fan of the fleshy full size irises that always hump their monstrous rhizome roots out of the ground… I adore their smaller less arrogant cousins.
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Daintier, more delicate and frankly less look at me darling, aren’t I gawgous!… they’re a lovely pop of perennial purple.
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Number two rhododendron is now in full bloom though not nearly as full as it’s neighbor. Why this should be is a question that stumps gardeners everywhere. Same soil, same sun exposure yet one is always bigger and better. Personally I think Mother Nature just likes to keep us guessing.
And if you’re wondering what the woodchucks have been chewing this week ?
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The toothy little buggers are eating marigolds!.
Marigolds!
The plant so disgusting no one will eat them. I don’t even like the silly things but have been putting them in my pots on the barn porch simply for the woodchuck gag factor. I thought they’d be safe.
I was wrong.
Very wrong.
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I have a thing for bumblebees.
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Thankfully the bees have a thing for my rhododendrons.
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When the bushes are in bloom they’re covered with fat fuzzy bumblers…. and I love it!
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I’d love it more if the little darlings would stay still long enough for me to snap a decent blog photograph, but you get the idea.
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Long live the bees!
❤️
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I adore early June in Maine.
Daytime temperatures are warm but not hot. Nights are cool and there’s no humidity. The tourists have started to arrive but haven’t yet overwhelmed the state.
But the best part of early June in Maine?
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Rhododendron season. (Please note I have color coordinated my hanging baskets of geraniums… momma didn’t raise no fool)
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We have two large bushes in the front of our house and they never fail to put on a show. They even have it timed so one blooms after the other for a longer burst of color.
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I trimmed this one back last year and was a little worried I’d done it at the wrong time.
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Clearly, I was wrong.
💕
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The baby nibblers are on the move and my flower beds are quaking in fear.
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For that matter so is my wallet.
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I thought the head count was four, then five..
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But yesterday I think I spotted six.
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It might be a very colorless summer at Casa River.
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First, I weeded the garden bed.
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Which…. when you’re old adjacent at 59 and have a blown knee… isn’t as much fun as it used to be.
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Then I sprinkled a container of shake and feed bloom booster.
And worked it into the soil with a blister boosting rake.
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Then I watered the soil and planted the few flowers the woodchucks left me.
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Three hours plus for a few measly perennials.
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$200 worth of flowers barely made a dent. That’s just wrong.
🥴
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It’s finally time to start planting some annuals around Casa River. It’s really only safe after Memorial Day as we had frosty nights right up until the end of May.
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A few geraniums.
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Some peachy begonias on the kitchen porch.
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A line of alternating marigolds.
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And it was back to the greenhouse for another trunkful. One can never have too many flowers.
My husband disagrees, but what does he know?
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A pizza. With pickles. And pickle flavored potato chips. Christ, it might as well have kale.
🤢
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I always thought I was one of those people who said – I’ll eat anything as long as it’s covered in chocolate.
Turns out I was wrong.
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Remember those $50 blueberry bushes we bought at the nursery?
Turns out they had the same ones at the grocery store for $25.
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The husband couldn’t resist.
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There are days when I prefer to soak myself in alcohol, but apples and watermelons work too.
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I passed on the meatloaf mountain. Bread and potatoes? That’s a bit much.
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Here’s the Junior chuck, just chillin’ on the deck landing.
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Probably still full from all those flowers he devoured.
😖
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