Stroll Through the Mountain Garden

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 After all the rain, the sun came out. She is not playing hide and seek today. I thought I would share with you some of the flowers blooming and growing around the gardens. This lovely day lily came from the Southwest Virginia Museum's annual plant sale last year. There are two of these red double lilies in this garden and two mystery lilies which have not bloomed. I call them mystery because when you purchase the lilies you do not know what color they are.

 The echinchea is especially pink this year in the herb garden in front of the green house. I took out all the St. John's Wort early in the spring to transplant it near a butterfly bush and so many herbs flourished this year.

Black eyed susans are all over the yard. They are especially abundant next to the mailbox. After the blossoms fade, I will broadcast the seeds throughout the yard. The early fuzzy leaves help to identify the plant and keep the lawnmower at bay. These are growing amid Japanese anemone.

 Isn't this pretty? My sister calls it grandfather's beard. Do you know another name for it? I planted several of these and two are blooming. Maybe next year, there will be several more.

If you look closely, you can see a flying critter. I am not sure of the name of this, but is flies as fast as a hummingbird. Three of them were enjoying the nectar of the butterfly bush.

 These lilies were also from the Museum sale. They are a darker red orange than the road lily. It is called the road lily because it blooms all along the sides of the road. This garden bed has several different varieties of lilies as well as several mole holes. When next spring comes, I suspect the bulb population will be a lot less in this garden bed.

 Jasmine blooming next to a sculpture of a little girl. The jasmine is now three years old. I keep it inside where it actually blooms in the winter.

I found the bottle tree at Gardener's Supply. The butterfly sculpture moves just a bit. There are lilies just about ready to bloom in between the butterflies. I hope you enjoyed this stroll through my gardens on this sunny morning in July.

Fall in the Air

The mums are blooming all over the yard. We planted these the very first year we moved to the Valley. They are by far the bushiest and most healthy. 

 I have been creating quite a bit lately with gemstone nuggets. I took off my necklace just to see how it would   look against the gravels. The dragonfly was from an artist friend, Gena from France. The necklace is made of  moonstone and amythest stones. The moonstone seems to glow against the grey of the gravel.

 This was the only butterfly that I could have reached out and touched. Did not seem to be in the least bothered with me and the camera.

 Japanese anomoe cascading in near the door of the studio. Those are bits of leaves laying in front of the door. Lots more of those to come as the days began to get cooler.

The swallowtail butterflies enjoy the butterfly bushes in front of the house. The house in the photo is the house across the road.  The trees are just as tall as the ones in our yard and lots of them as well. This is a very quiet  mountain country road that dead ends just a bit beyond our house.

Butterflies and Glass Art

 The tiger swallowtail butterflies are flittering everywhere on the butterfly bushes. These are just two of what seem like dozens flying around. Right after taking the photo, one of the butterflies joined with two others and flew into what seemed like a spiral dance catching a bit of the wind. Then, just as quickly, they flew away one by one to find a flower.

 It has been so rainy here. The air was thick with humidity and the sky covered with clouds when I strolled out into the back yard. In the fall, we broke apart a large butterfly bush to move it. This was one of several smaller bushes growing near the mother plant. I planted one on each side of the garden out the back door. They are now over seven feet tall. In between the butterfly bushes are hosta, herbs, and a few flowers.

The Japanese Anemone are just beginning to bloom. This beauty is right next to the door of the studio. It is covered in tight buds just waiting to open. Seems a bit early, as they usually bloom in the coolness of the fall. But then, this has been an unusual spring and summer with lots of rain.

With all the birds, the full moon, stars glowing, I created this plate this weekend. The bird and stars are formed from copper foil. If anyone is interested in any of the art glass or jewelry, just let me know.

Flowers in the Gardens

 My grandmother called these snowball bushes. She had one of the most beautiful gardens I can ever remember exploring. She outlined all her flower beds with rocks and stones she collected from trips with my grandfather. I spent hours waiting for faeries to arrive at twilight in her garden. Why? My grandfather told faery stories always mentioning twilight. I got into trouble climbing on top of our house when I was little. I did not go alone, my little sister was right up there with me. We were waiting for Peter Pan to take us to faeryland.

 Angel's trumpet is such a large magnificent white flower. I held up her head as she is somewhat like the day lilies not open for very long.

 It is so very hot outside. The grass shows the intensity of the sun. The lavender are especially bountiful this year. This plant has already been picked once. New flowers are forming already. Going to be a lavender summer!

 I just had to share this with you! My very first ever butterfly plant that is blooming. I am so excited about this. I bought the plant last year at the Asheville, North Carolina farmer's market. It does attract butterflies and other flying critters. Growing up, I remember seeing these plants along side the Mississippi roads leading to the farm. They are a butterfly magnet.

 Sharing a view of the yard from the lower deck of the house. These hostas were given to me last year. We planted them at the base of the deck. This cuts down on the yard mowing of such a steep yard. I interplanted creeping thyme among the hostas. The bush is a butterfly bush and there is one on the other side. There are several in the front yard. Blossoms are set but not yet blooming.

 Here is a view of the  edge of the yard. Those trees are really tall. When the wind comes whippety tucking through the mountain valley, they sway to and fro. You have to see it to believe it!

Nasturtiums and peas in the raised garden bed. We have been eating a nasturtium flower with our salad lately. The fresh picked peas still have a bit of sunshine on them as they come to the table. It is so beautiful here in the mountains this time of year. Tomorrow is the first Farmer's Market in Big Stone Gap. Tuesday will be the first official Farmer's Market in Norton. I will be there from 4 - 7 selling jewelry, paper, and bunches of lavender!

Snapping Turtle Laying Eggs

 I was on my way to the car, when I saw this turtle. Her yellow eyes were almost bulging. I spoke to her and she just stayed in the same spot. I thought, what an opportunity to take a photograph. I went into the studio to get the camera. I took only these two photographs. I talked to her saying she best move before the neighborhood dogs come. They were barking as I spoke. I was a bit concerned for her.

She had dug a fairly deep hole next to the driveway. She is a snapping turtle. When I came home, she was gone. She had covered up her eggs. I realized as soon as I got home that I had seen a turtle laying eggs. What a miracle. What a wonder.
So,I googled to find out when the eggs will hatch and found 50 - 90 days and all sorts of other suggestions for snapping turtle eggs. This is actually the second turtle nest in the yard! Wonder of wonders, moments in the mountains never cease to provide wonders. Nature is certainly a teacher for  all of us.