A Sensational Day in the Front Garden
Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 10:00PM The golden sun was so warm, even as a strong cool breeze was blowing summer away. In the background, the sound of thousands of katydids rose and fell like rhythmic Latin American maracas. I have heard the sound all my life and hardly notice it, but a stranger to the region could be overwhelmed by it. The songbirds were singing, the hawks were shrieking at each other, and the barred owls where hooting in their otherworldly language. The colors of the world were heightened with the sky an intense cerulean blue and the trees and shrubs edged with shades of yellow, pink, and purple. When I took a deep breath I could smell it all: the earth, the freshness of the breeze, the aromas of the foliage. In all, the day was a marvelous sensory experience.
Here are some photos I took around the front garden yesterday as I enjoyed a taste of early autumn. I hope you will receive a blessing, as I did.
A view through the Jasmine arch toward the front garden
a view of the front garden
A view from the front toward the edge of the woodland garden
I planted Deodar 'Feelin' Blue' about a decade ago, when it was only a few inches tall and about a foot wide. Now it is over six feet tall and ten feet wide.
A view into the front garden from the lower front lawn. I call this the backside of the front garden.
Paths run throughout the front garden.
Wild ageratum is one weed I allow to roam, within limits.
Finally, here are some September flowers:
I hope that, wherever you are, you are surrounded by love and those things in life that are most beautiful. Have a great week!
Reader Comments (28)
Very sensory experience! There is something about the light at this time of year, not so blazing as in summer, and not so weak as it is in winter. Early autumn light in your garden shows off the whole place beautifully.
Beauty everywhere! It was great strolling around the front garden with you.
Oh and Oh and Oh! What a treat to see. I wish I could stroll your paths in person and speak to every flower, calling its name.
What a delightful wander round your front garden, the soft light makes everything look so beautiful and your bird song sounds most interesting. Everything added together makes for a really interesting garden, thanks for sharing it with us!
Your garden tours are always such a treat. Your words put me right there with your memory, too. Thank you.
What a beautiful tour. And ageratum, one of my favorites, showed up in a garden I had in Atlanta years ago. I let it stay, knowing that one gardener's weed is another's flower.
The photos of your fall garden made me smile. The way the light comes through the trees is so beautiful and inviting and I love your September blooms as well...so pretty!
Love the deodor! How wonderful to have planted it from such a small specimen. And the view through the jasmine arch is fabulous. Enjoy the cooler weather!
Beautiful pictures to accompany your auditory summary. That Deoder is spectacular! I hope your week is a good one too and that your recovery is going well.
No matter how many times I see your garden, I always say the same thing: I love that blue bench! The pop of color is truly complimented by the greenery. Enjoy the final days of summer!
Your garden is beautiful as usual. I enjoy seeing it every time! Jeannine
Beautiful Deb, you are indeed blessed to have created and maintained such a gorgeous garden. Love feelin blue.
Hi Deb - your garden is such a joy to look at. Perhaps your recuperation from the hip replacement will slow you down enough to really sit back and enjoy the view!!
As always, your photos are superb. My garden is starting to be stressed by fall so it was wonderful to see a garden still beautiful and in such great shape.
Both your words, and your images stir our hearts...that garden is stunning...it's like a dream.
Jen
Wonderful garden tour, Deb. Thanks for showing us around. Certainly a feast for the eyes if not for the other senses. I wonder how many years before technology can stimulate auditory and olfactory senses as well. It would make our visits so much more realistic.
You have captured the sunlight on the leaves and the long shadows beautifully. It looks such a serene space and I feel privileged to be able to experience your exquisite garden from this distance.
Oh my goodness. It's like a paradise in there - or an enchanted garden in a children's book. Maybe that can be your next project!
Your photos and your garden are so beautiful--I think I can smell the scents you describe! ;-) We had so many katydids this summer! I sort of remember them from the past, but they gave us great choruses of sound all night long for weeks on end. Usually the crickets dominate, but the katydids did this summer. I'm not sure why.
Your description of gardening and the outside world in general is magical. I love the sound of the katydids and do notice it, but it is really loud now that I think about. A funny noise to put me to sleep but it does.
You're lucky to have hardy ageratum growing wild. You're garden is looking like a leafy paradise, and I love the jasmine arch.
So serene and beautiful! The shot through the jasmine arch is incredible!
Quite breathtaking Debs. A reminder of how I will have my work cut out to make something of our new small plot when we move.
beautiful Deb, Frances
I swear you have the most beautiful golden light shining in your garden.
Very beautiful pics. I love to do gardening like this at my grandma's home. But, due to scarcity of water it was very difficult to grow plants. Now I got information about how to grow plants with less water.
Your beautiful sensory words took me there... your images were the icing on the cake. Thank you sweet friend Just what I needed.
I'd say a sensational front garden especially when viewed through the jasmine arch.