Celebrating the Summer Garden

Some years ago, a neighbor commented that my husband, Mark, and I had a "spring" garden. Now, I'll  admit our garden looks lovely in the spring, thanks to the beautiful red, pink, white,and purple blossoms of dogwood trees, azaleas, rhododenderons, and camelias...punctuated by the yellows, oranges, and whites of hundreds of daffodils.

But in my mind, spring is only the first act, followed by the equally stunning blooms of summer...the asiatic and day lillies, the roses, the clematis, the hybiscus, the petunias, the impatiens, the butterfly bush, the crepe myrtles, and more.

So, yes, we have a spring garden. But I'd say we have a summer garden too. What about you?

Days of Wine and Roses...Uh, Make that Sun and Lilies

I'm one of those people who really hates cold weather. My fingers and toes seem permanently frozen from November to March. I've been known to take two baths a day during the winter months just to thaw out. Friends and family have heard me say repeatedly that I'd rather be hot than cold.

But...this June has caused me to rethink my position. Record heat has left me feeling wilted, lethargic, and downright irritable. I worry about how reliant I am on air conditioning and live in fear of a power outage.

Fortunately, some of Mother Nature's creations seem to be weathering the heat far better. So here's a toast to the lilies of summer, those hardy, heat-resistant blooms that bring a smile to my sweaty face.