Take a walk through MY garden

I can't seem to get enough of my garden this year. I keep taking pictures of all the flowers and food growing. I was thinking about it the other day when it dawned on me that my garden is something that I do for me. Most of what I do is for my kids. Not everything is about them, but a lot is. It's the season of life I'm in, and I'm really ok with it. But my garden is mine. It makes me happy to go water it and watch it change and thrive. I typically water by myself, without anyone asking me for anything. It gives me a peaceful hour to myself. I love that it provides food for us and beautiful flowers to look at. The kids and I have enjoyed watching a spider on one of the sunflowers over the last few days. Our raspberries and strawberries rarely make it inside the house because we eat them so quickly. I brought a chair into the garden the other night to just sit and relax while the sun set. It's pretty idyllic. So, I provide for you, some eye candy.

May: The Beginnings

baby plums

June: the First Fruits

Occasionally I get to preserve some berries. If I beat the kids to picking them! 

We picked a radish that looked like a hummingbird. I gave Sean the task of taking it on a photographic adventure.

July: Plum Season

Almost ready. And then...

I processed a lot of plums. I dried some. I made fruit leather. I made plum bread. We gave loads and loads away. If I hadn't been leaving town I would have made jam. There's always next year. This tree doesn't quit!! 

I love the way peas cling onto the frame

Who knew potato flowers are so cute?!

This zucchini flower just had its hair perfectly coiffed. 

My neighbors grow grapes and they come over our fence. They aren't delicious, but they sure are fun to watch develop. 

And, oh, the glorious flowers!

Poppies and zinnias:

This bud reminded me of Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors

Hydrangeas and Teddy Bear sunflowers:

Succulents:

I love the purple stems on this one. And it has tiny yellow flowers. And inside the leaves it seems like aloe vera. So cool!

Other assorted beauties

  

Even the dried out things look kind of cool:

My pretty pink dahlias. These are huge and bright for several days until the sun starts fading them. 

Here's the sunset in the garden from the other night. 

I have spent a lot of time outside contemplating how I can add more flowers and trees to the yard. I have some ideas and have started working on little projects. I bought a tree that I'm excited about (a curly willow) and slowly, slowly I'll transform my little slice of heaven into a more beautiful place to spend my evenings.