Monday, July 12, 2010

Flora and Fauna in the Garden


As I said in my last post, it is time to do some garden maintenance.
So, while in Sonoma this weekend, I took the time to deadhead and fertilize the roses.

The lavender is in full bloom and I'm dying to cut some to bring inside. The bees are swarming though. I'll have to cut them after dark.

Lavandula X Intermedia, Or "Provence" Lavender--my favorite!


This lizard showed up while I was out trimming the roses and scared me to death!

Not as much as this snake though! He was at least 4 feet long! At first I thought he was a rattle snake. He is a gopher snake and hopefully he will eat some gophers, who are destroying my vegetable garden!
(Mr. A threw him over the fence!)

After I was through freaking out, I got back to the job at hand. For some reason, the geraniums aren't doing well in these urns. They are getting enough water, but maybe the 100 degree days are taking their toll. Luckily it wasn't that hot this weekend.

I pulled the geraniums out and planted lavender. We'll see if this works.

Looking up, I saw a pack of Canada Geese flying over!

Which made me notice the grape arbor. I had Mr. A tie up the hanging vines....

"Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it."
-Author Unknown

That's the thing about gardening. It is hard on my back. Nothing a few Advil and time in the spa can't take care of though.
This week, I intend to spruce up our back yard at home. The hydrangeas are gorgeous, but the weeds are taking over. More back breaking work!

I'm linking up to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.
Thanks Susan for hosting.

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29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful garden and pictures...!!!
Bravoo!
Kisses from Croatia.
Zondra Art

Anonymous said...

http://www.canadageese.org/coalition.html

Canada Geese are often seen world wide and often mistakenly called Canadian.
Love your blog!

Blondie's Journal said...

I'm glad your enthusiasm is holding up, Delores. This is about the time when I am tiring of garden work!

How neat that you had your camera at hand to capture all the critters. The snake would scare the pants off me!

Beautiful lavender and I love the little blue chair!

xoxo
Jane

savvycityfarmer said...

your days seem so fairy-tale-like!!


did you ever smell my perfume at nordies?

Debby said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Scary big time on the lizard and snake. I would have passed out for sure. They both are big ones, yikes.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I would first have screamed when the lizard showed up and then I would have wet my pants when that rather large snake showed up. I can't believe he picked that thing up!!

Babs said...

Bees and lizards and snakes.. oh, my! Your lavender is gorgeous. It's nice to have bees to pollinate the lavender. Do you have any hives near you? Bet the bees make yummy lavender honey.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

What a view!!My bloomers are not doing well either - I think the early heat wave hurt them. The lizard - not a problem as long as it was not to big. The snake on the other hand. :(

Unknown said...

Ohhhh the lavender... That sweet, sweet lavender...

That's all I gotta say 'bout that!

Lisa

Joan said...

We have had such drought that our plants are just withering. I have found that geraniuoms do much better if they receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Your lavender plants are gorgeous. Mine died this winter after being buried under 30 inches of snow. Can't seem to win in the Shenandoah Valley this year! So it is so nice to see how lovely your area is!

Allison said...

Oh, you have so much lavender. How gorgeous! I bet it smells heavenly! I also love your little rustic chair outside your door.

Debbie Taillieu said...

Amazing how you can still get a great picture of a lizard and a snake after they have scared you to death!! I love my lavendar also, just wish I hadn't planted it on the side of the house where I can't see it or smell it. Time to think about planting some within the senses!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Delores, The lavender is beautiful! I can't believe you got close enough to the snake to take a picture! That is a dedicated blogger.
Hugs, Sherry

vignette design said...

I have a telephoto lens! There is no way I would have gotten that close to that snake! He was seriously 4 feet long! Actually, he was "friendly."

Lori E said...

Well this is the first post that you have done that I didn't wish I were there. Snakes are the absolute end of me. I can't even look at the pictures.
I would have to move away.
Gardening is such hard work but it is so satisfying too.

Bill said...

Wow, Delores, so much drama in one post! As always, I'm spellbound as I drink in the beautiful photographs of your Sonoma home, the views, your garden. It really has an old world feel.

The lavender is gorgeous, and your reptilian images are compelling as well (not calming, but compelling!). ;)

Hope the rest of your week goes well.

Warmest regards,
Bill

Montse said...

Delores what a brave woman you are, I have a enormous phopia to frogs, lizards, and snakes surely could kill me, Mr A. grabbed this thing to trow it over the fence? OMG! My husband coulnd't grab a black garden snake.. I definetely prefer gophers

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

We had a black snake in our garage yesterday. It got into a bag of potting soil. I am so glad it did not surprise me... thanks for visiting your garden looks great.

teresa said...

What a beautiful place you have and what a view from the spa. I could live without that snake that's for sure.

Petie@inspirednesting.com said...

Gorgeous lavender! My 11yo son would LOVE that lizard and snake. I look forward to exploring your blog some more.

Marie said...

Your garden is so perfect and the view is like you're in Tuscany. I almost died when I saw that snake though and it's just a picture. I'm sorry you had to encounter that in person :(
=marie

Tracy F. said...

The lavender is spectacularly beautiful! The snake---not so much! I probably would have been hysterical.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

I love all of your lavender...I've grown it here in TN but extreme cold temps cause it to not be perennial...but it will last for a few years...I have empathy with the critter stuff...My dog usually sniffs them out before I do thankfully...Happy OW!!!

Bettey said...

Oh your lavendar is gorgeous! I wish I had access to such a great amount... love that reflection shot too! Have a good rest of the week :)

Hood Photo Blog

Linda said...

What lovely gardens you have. I also have a ton of bees in my lavendar, but they don't seem to mind if I trim.

Sue Murphy said...

We flew up from Southern California to your neck of the woods on the 4th of July weekend. We stayed in St. Helena and traveled all over wine tasting. What a beautiful area you live in. The refection shot is really amazing.

Sue Murphy said...

I realize St. Helena is in Napa, but we traveled over the county line to Sonoma also.

Light and Voices said...

Absolutely beautiful garden.
Joyce M

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh My Goodness! That field of lavender took my breath! How beautiful! Your photo of the Canadian Geese is prize-worthy! But the photo I am so drawn to is the one of the old French chair outside the door, next to the stone wall. Such charm! Your whole blog should be in a magazine. laurie

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