My heart just wasn't into gardening this year. I guess I was just tired: it has been a busy year with work, my daughter's graduation, family obligations and vacations.
As referenced in a few previous posts, we also have had months of turmoil with a mentally unbalanced female that had been bothering us. I am happy to report that after she violated our Harassment Protection Order in July (we are one of four people with a protection order against this woman, in a town with one traffic light and one gas station),she was arrested and brought to court where she proceeded to 'pull rank' on the judge and informed him that she is a forensic investigator with the FBI. The judge finally decided that it was time to do something about this woman and sent her directly to a mental health facility where she is still being held and is hopefully being given the psychiatric help she so desperately needs. I realize my garden blog isn't the place to vent about personal issues, but when something this bizarre happens, it's difficult not to discuss.
I hope that by next spring life will be back to normal. Luckily my garden went on happily without me, in spite of a hot dry summer and no fertilizer.
I'll start off with the only butterfly that I caught on camera this summer. I found it this afternoon on a wildflower/weed at the back of our yard (anyone know what this wildflower is? It grows in our yard every year - is it Joe Pye Weed? Ironic if it is since I've wanted to get some for a few years now and just haven't):
The side garden is going strong, by far my favorite garden in our yard:
Coneflower Pink Swan, Sedum Autumn Joy:
The best mistake I ever got: this was supposed to be Coneflower Pink Swan; I absolutely love this plant. It's growing nicely with Phlox Nora Leigh:
A different view of the side garden from our under-deck patio:
This a view of the side garden and the outside of the pool fence from the back of the yard:
Back of the pool fence; KnockOut Roses are still blooming as well as Rudbeckia:
Although I tend to ignore my blog for a while and then do a very long post, I am making a concerted effert not to do that this time. I am saving some pics for other posts over the next week or do.
On that note, I will end it here with a view from our deck, which is where I ended my day while enjoying this gorgeous weather and enjoying dinner with hubby (you can see the side garden through the railing).....
...... after I spent some quality time here. I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend!
