Monday, June 24, 2013

It's All Done but the Crying..

It's finally over.  My first course has finished.  That's one out of 12 anyway.  I expect my marks in the next week or two.  I can shed a few more tears then, that final was brutal.

For now it's summer.  Two months to myself to garden and relax before I hit the books once more. 

The garden is a big mess as you might expect.  Not a stitch of weeding has been done, plants are still sitting in pots waiting to go into the ground, worse still there are summer bulbs that I haven't planted! (not sure these are still alive or not...)

Despite not being able to get into my garden to work I have been enjoying it.  Over the last two months I've spent a considerable amount of time sitting in our dining room.  It has a big bay window facing out over the flower garden.  The view looks like this


Can I just pat myself on the back here and say, brilliant idea Marguerite putting that flower garden in front of the window.  It has provided ample distraction as needed when studying.  I haven't missed a bloom all spring.  There is a design principle at work here of incorporating your garden into the home.  The window acts as an extension and brings the outdoors in.  I'm not sure that's what I was thinking when I did this but let's pretend I did anyway.  I would certainly recommend it.  Particularly if you're stuck indoors for months on end studying.

And while I'm congratulating myself can I mention as well how great the procession of blooms has been.  This too was completely unintended.  I have simply planted what I like but amazingly it has worked well.  The first bulbs to appear in spring were the hyacinths, followed quickly by tulips and daffodils.

Menton tulips
Solomon's seal and sweet woodruff then started to take over.  Followed quickly by still more tulips, anemone and columbine

late tulips provide a pretty backdrop to emerging columbine
hostas began to fluff out


Then the mountain bluet and jacob's ladder

Mountain bluet - Centaurea montana
As of today the rhododendron and siberian irises are in full bloom

I picked up this lovely native iris at the local plant sale
I really don't know how I managed it but I've been duly impressed with the ongoing show.  Of course, it's still early in the season, there may be some gaps in the bloom sequence yet.  There's definitely a rather large gap on the far end of the bed - Jody 'helped' weed one day with a weed eater...  but that's a story for another day.

Anyway, thank you all for hanging in there, I appreciate your patience.  I look forward to catching up on all your blogs one by one in the coming weeks.  till then, happy gardening

26 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Aren't you glad you have that big bay window? It probably saved your sanity. Now you can relax and really enjoy your garden.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on finishing your course. I can tell you from long years of experience that not only is staring out at the garden a great source of work avoidance when you're supposed to be studying, but so is realizing that you just have to go out and take a closer look at something that you can't quite see well enough through the window :-). -Jean

Gardeningbren said...

One down!! Excellent. Miss your posts.

As you know, did the same thing and planted the garden to see from the kitchen window..and it provides a wonderful vista all day long..highly recommend it as you do. Plant your garden where you can see it, if possible!!

This is a great year for the garden (rain) so far...plants I haven't seen in four years are blooming! Hurrah!

Great post..great photos. Enjoy your summer.

Laurrie said...

Oh, I love that observation -- I planted what I liked and it worked out amazingly well -- that is exactly how a garden should develop.

Enjoy your summer of freedom from books!

Diana Studer said...

so satisfying to the heart and soul, when the garden comes together. My garden focus is thru 2 tall livingroom windows onto Paradise and Roses. Our work pays double dividends, walking the garden, and looking out thru the window.

Rose said...

Congratulations on finishing your first class and hooray for some time off! All those beautiful blooms--good planning, by the way--must have been a great diversion from studying.

A husband and a weedwhacker are never a good combination near the garden; at least, that's been my experience:)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

There's such relief at the end of a course isn't there?? Such a weight off of the shoulders. Here's to hoping you have a well-deserved breather :)

Hoehoegrow said...

Least you had some lovely things to look out onto ! Makes such a difference ! maybe it inspired you too !

Anonymous said...

One or more big windows looking out over the garden is absolutely essential. We did something similar when we rebuilt our back porch and are so glad we did. Kudos for making that happen, I'm sure that will continue to provide you with a lot of pleasure. And despite the fact that school kept you from gardening as much as you like, looks like you had a great deal of beauty to enjoy through that window.

Jennifer said...

Congratulations on completing the first of your classes. Hopefully the exam went better than you thought. I wish I had a window overlooking the garden. The windows in our old house are small and there is only one larger window on the back garden. Disappointingly enough, the porch blocks the view. Try not to let the work in the garden overwhelm you. Like housework its never done. You just have to do your best to balance work and summer fun.

The Witch said...

Great news on completing your first class. I'm sure your marks will be fine.
The gardens look lovely and I didn't notice too many weeds amongst all the beautiful flowers. We have the same Irises and I just love the colour of them. I always think they would look great around a pond.
You are right about seeing your gardens from the window. It will always bring a smile to your face with such beauty around you.
Take care, relax and have a wonderful Canada Day!!

Pam's English Garden said...

Marguerite, I am so happy your first class is over -- now you can enjoy your garden outside as well as from the inside! It is beautiful even without the weeding. P. x

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Marguerite girl ... don't be so hard on yourself with the exam .. I used to do that all the time and I always did better than I thought.
That was perfect garden planning with such a pretty view from the window .. you still have lots of time left with this summer to enjoy the garden and just relax from all that study stress !
Enjoy our long weekend girl !!!
Joy : )

Marguerite said...

Lisa, I have always loved those bay windows (one of the features that sold me on the house) but never have I loved them more than these last couple months.

Marguerite said...

ahh yes, there's definitely been a time or two when I just had to nip out a second to see something a little closer :)

Marguerite said...

Brenda, I've been quite glad to have the rain this year, especially since the drought of last year. has made working in the garden this late in the season much easier too.

Marguerite said...

Laurrie, now to delve into some garden books! I've got some catching up to do on my reading list.

Marguerite said...

you're so right Diana, there's double the pleasure of having a garden near a window.

Marguerite said...

Rose, I've had a chat about that weedwhacker before and I thought we were settled it wasn't to go near the garden but.. it sure must be a lot of fun to use because inevitably once he gets started he just can't stop

Marguerite said...

EXACTLY!! the day after the final was so wonderful. Suddenly felt very relaxed and like I had all the time in the world. am very much enjoying my breather now.

Marguerite said...

It always makes me happy to rest my eyes on pretty flowers. Studying was a little less stressful with such nice conditions.

Marguerite said...

We were fortunate to have these big windows already here but I'm so glad I decided to put a flower bed in front of them. I really didn't realize what a difference it would make but every time I walk past now I'm just thrilled there's something to look out at.

Marguerite said...

Jennifer, the marks came back already and I'm thrilled to say it went much better than I thought. phew! I was a bit concerned there. thanks for the kind words, how right you are. I was weeding today and started realizing there were plants to be moved, things I would like to change. Started feeling like - will this ever be done?!? nope, it won't. that's half the fun isn't it?

Marguerite said...

Those iris would look great around a pond! and would probably appreciate the water. I've put them in a low spot so they will hopefully get all the moisture they want. What a find they were at the sale. I'm smitten with them. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Marguerite said...

Thank you Pam! I've been spending every spare minute outdoors this week and thoroughly enjoying myself.

Marguerite said...

Joy, how right you are. the exam went okay after all. school is funny this time around, I'm trying to learn about balance, not to get too over wrought about marks, making sure I don't burn myself out. It's a lot harder than I thought trying to take classes and work full time but I'm learning a bit more about myself along the way.