Monday, July 16

Idyll for a Hot Summer Day


Idyll for a Hot Summer Day, originally uploaded by MontanaRaven.

Our outdoor dining room is just a table and chairs under the lilac hedge. These lilacs are at least 50 years old, and I have trimmed and pruned them to create a "cave" or roof over that part of the garden. With the umbrella (barely visible above the table amongst the lilac branches) even when it rains in summer, we stay dry. At least until the wind starts blowing.

The hammock in the foreground is hanging between the house and the trunk of an 80+ year old Colorado Blue Spruce. The spruce is a condominium/apartment house for birds: chickadees, finches, pine siskins, magpies, ravens, flickers and the ever-present sparrows. In the mornings and evenings our garden is LOUD with birdsong .... and relaxing in the hammock in the evenings or late afternoons is like being in a concert hall -- or out on a school playground at recess. Joyful. Raucous. Busy.

Though it's not visible in this photo, between the hammock and the table in the background is our small garden pond with a trickling waterfall and a small splashing fountain. The birds love the water. So do I. Even when the birds are singing their little hearts out, this part of our garden has a real sense of peace because of the water, the shade, the privacy...

Our outdoor dining room is just a table and chairs under the lilac hedge. These lilacs are at least 50 years old, and I have trimmed and pruned them to create a "cave" or roof over that part of the garden. With the umbrella (barely visible above the table amongst the lilac branches) even when it rains in summer, we stay dry. At least until the wind starts blowing.

The hammock in the foreground is hanging between the house and the trunk of an 80+ year old Colorado Blue Spruce. The spruce is a condominium/apartment house for birds: chickadees, finches, pine siskins, magpies, ravens, flickers and the ever-present sparrows. In the mornings and evenings our garden is LOUD with birdsong .... and relaxing in the hammock in the evenings or late afternoons is like being in a concert hall -- or out on a school playground at recess. Joyful. Raucous. Busy.

Though it's not visible in this photo, between the hammock and the table in the background is our small garden pond with a trickling waterfall and a small splashing fountain. The birds love the water. So do I. Even when the birds are singing their little hearts out, this part of our garden has a real sense of peace because of the water, the shade, the privacy...

View On Black

3 Comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a wonderful garden to spend time in. I hope you are doing better these days... :)

Maureen said...

thank you Rachael -- I am. From about the middle of the summer to the end of September -- when there is lots of light, long days ... and the garden is like this: welcoming -- I usually do pretty well. Also am very busy! yikes -- so much work to do all at once. Our growing season is only 90 days, so we have to make hay now ... or wait until next spring.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

This is so beautiful, and I wish I had one just like it! So glad to see you back!