Flowers - The Music of the Earth
Belinda Spillman's August Challenge has brought us the gift of so many wonderful colors, blooms and harvests this year! It's been one of my favorite challenges this year as I am a firm believer in Henry Ward Beecher's quote:
"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into."
Flowers have always been a passion of mine. I wouldn't say that I have a green thumb - I just read instructions well and do what is necessary to keep whatever I plant alive! I find digging in the dirt, great therapy...and then we also get to savor the fruits of our labor - either in beautiful flowers, gorgeous green grass, statuesque trees, flowering shrubs or maybe even a few herbs & vegetables. There aren't many things in life that seem so rewarding to me in both the work and the results!
Lady Bird Johnson said, "Flowers in the city are like lipstick on a woman - it just makes you look better to have a little color."
And, color I do LOVE in my yard! I'm also drawn to it around our beautiful city as well - I've often joked that Charlotte should be known as the "Green City" instead of the "Queen City!" Our climate lends itself to fabulous blooms year-round. There's something that is blooming all year long but, during the spring and summer months, the Charlotte landscape simply explodes with color.
Here are a few shots of my yard during spring and summer months:
Above: Azaleas (Encore) that come back several times of the year - late winter, spring, summer and early fall by my front porch.
Above: Hydrangeas mixed in the backyard landscape for a bright pop of color during spring months.
Above: Knock-Out Roses & Snowball Hydrangea - both were planted, along with everything in this backyard less than 3 years ago. This has been our best 'visual' year yet and look forward to next years' color-burst!
Above: Better view of the Snowball Hydrangea - and, of course, one of our favorite backyard guests!
Above: Blooming Hostas and petite roses (which bloom all spring & summer) and of course, the must-have in Charlotte - Crepe Myrtle tree.
Above: View of backyard from the sun-room & patio.
Above: View of the backyard from the veranda
Above: And, of course, I have to have a few potted plants - here, in front of the gardenias (which have already bloomed this year) - on the sidewalk from the veranda to the patio.
Finally, (above) our small, raised garden outside our sun-room, where we grew cucumbers & tomatoes this year - and the bounty was plentiful!
© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | Flowers - The Music of the Earth
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