I hope you are doing well, wherever you are.
I’m sitting in the garden as I write this, having done chores inside and outside, and exercised.
In the garden, I’ve been “deadheading” – which sounds macabre, I know. Dead heads of flowers are cut and thrown n the slope below the garden in my vain hope that I will get phlox and bee balm growing “wild” next spring.
It’s calm here and the main sounds are from a variety of birds and a fountain. I love those sounds and realize they are among the outdoors things I miss so much in winter. Unlike my husband, I am not a winter person.
A bird has just flown off the feeder. A chipmunk darts out from under cover of a hosta bed, to see what seeds the bird scattered for him/her. But s/he sees me nearby and retreats.
The news here and abroad is grim. I no longer think I can change the world – that realization took me a long time but it doesn’t make me less anxious or furious.
I worry that the White nationalism next door in the US has already made its way here. There’s nothing Christian about it, so I omit that word.
Here in Ontario, the auditor general has released a scathing report of government corruption: the ruling party has sold off some of our crucial wetlands and wild spaces to friends of the premier.
That’s what can happen when most people refuse to vote – handing the Conservatives a majority win though only a small minority elected them.
Anyway, on to more pleasant thoughts.
Just above is a pink phlox. They are so nicely fragrant – I had forgotten.
More importantly, our family has enjoyed a healthy four weeks. The grandtoddler is well except for a nighttime cough, and the grandbaby has her first tooth. Husband has recovered from a back injury in May (he worked with a great chiropractor) and I’m… I’m as usual.
Reluctant to risk more back pain, I’m doing a lot of reading, thinking and gathering material for a future book. But I’m still not writing (except for a Myrtle the Purple Turtle book which Lauren and I keep discussing). Writing causes pain and calls for a lot of solitary time – which takes me away from my family. For now, I’m choosing family.
Here are a few more scenes from our August garden:
With news of another Covid variant, I have no idea what the fall will bring, but for now, I will enjoy “the moment” and wish you well.
From the garden,
Cynthia.
Your gardens look so lush and beautiful, Cynthia! And I hear you and agree with you on the state of the world. Each of has today, full of promise for what good we might achieve in our own corner of the world, and what beauty we choose to find. It is often underfoot or right in front of us. Your posts enrich my world, and I am thankful to know you. Blessings to you and your family, dear friend.
If you’re in your beloved garden and doing chores, then I assume your doing well. Sorry the US is sharing many of it’s less desirable qualities with Canada. Fascist fantasies seem to be ascending internationally as many citizens mistakenly feel that they can control an authoritarian government, but Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin proved them wrong.
That’s for sure.
Thanks for replying.
It’s so nice to have you back on your blog Cynthia. I’m delighted that you’re making family and garden a priority. Your garden looks fabulous. I hope to have a home and garden again someday. Meanwhile, my focus is on estate matters, the beach, and making the best of each day. I vote but no longer believe we have any real impact or control in politics. Hugs…
Your garden is a wonderful respite. There is much beauty to be found everywhere we look. I stay sane by focusing on the beauty. Hugs to you.
Hi Cynthia, I am sorry to read your comments about the Canadian government here. I am also sorry to read that writing causes you pain. I must admit, it gives me back pain too. I also don’t like winter, in fact, it makes me miserable and ours is relatively short.
Good to hear from you. It’s not so much the Canadian government this time. It’s our Ontario (provincial) government. They are making corruption seem normal.
Oh dear.
Happy Summer, Cynthia. Glad you are enjoying the garden. The hostas are magnificent. I am continually amazed at how awful politicians are! I live in Florida, the land of the embarrassing leaders. Ugh.
It was good to see a new post from you, Cynthia! Your garden looks so beautiful and serene. (I’m sorry to hear that the pestilence from the country of my birth has breached Canada’s border.)
It’s good to see you back posting, Cynthia. Sadly, I agree completely about the state of the world. We really have to stay vigilant here in Canada. Enjoy the rest of summer with your family and your garden.
Thank you, Jane. You too!
Isn’t it amazing how in this world so often peace and its opposite coexist? And it’s a constant decision as to which we focus on. I try to focus on peace without ignoring. What’s going on around me. But I’m not sure. I can help a lot of what’s going on around me. I’d love to be able to sit in your garden and chat with you about all of it. :-).
Haha, Jill. If you sat in my garden, I would do my best to not talk about the troubles of the world. Would much rather hear about your travels and fabulous photography.
Oh, that garden! Glad to read all is going fairly well with your family. Sorry about the pain you are in when you write.
Now I’m beyond jealous of your hostas. Does Canada not have slugs and snails? By now mine look like they’ve been crocheted. And keep enjoying the moment. We’re suffering an affliction of news obesity, consuming too many sad calories.
There are slugs and snails galore. I must have done really well with the photos because you didn’t see the slug-bites. I have used diatomaceous earth, copper collars (on the plants, not me) and crushed egg shells at the base of the plants, but methinks I am always too late with the applications (one can only eat so many eggs). I will try beer-in-saucer next. (Though methinks the chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits are bad enough without alcohol.)
Yes – too many sad calories – and though I limit my intake, it’s ubiquitous.
Oddly, I was thinking about you yesterday and wondering how you were doing. I was happy to see your post this morning and your beautiful garden. There are times in history when the whole world seems upside down and eventually, it rights itself.
I sure hope so! Good to hear from you. Thanks for the thoughts!
Your garden is lovely! Enjoy your summer outdoors! Btw, I find deadheading is an effective way of propagation only with weeds!
Haha! I think you’re right.
Of course, your garden is so peaceful that we all want to sit a spell and just breathe it in. You always have such a lovely, calm space. I miss my little bit of garden but the work is harder as we grow older. I am so sorry this disease of the mind has spread to your country. Most of us are looking for ways to escape the insanity here and I keep telling my daughter that they have sprayed stupid in the air and it’s being breathed in world wide. I can only find the calm inside me and work very hard not to look around too much. I feel what you are feeling and it’s not pleasant. Hang in there, Cynthia. We are right there with you.
Hello to you, too! Your garden looks so lush and dark and beautiful.I’m glad to hear everyone is doing well overall. I’m glad you’re enjoying the solitude and solace of that garden. I don’t have the temperament for gardening and no place to do it anyway, so you’re covering for both of us. 🙂
On the politics … a depressing topic. We’re in agreement on them, very discouraging.
I’d reached out to you by email, but never heard back. Did you get anything? (maybe a book?)
Yes, thanks! That’s why I asked you to email me. Beautiful!!
I did not get your email at all.
If you don’t see my email with this message,
I will see if I can get into my older files and find your email. It’s the same, right?
Be well, my friend.
I’m glad it arrived! I didn’t know if the wildfires may have been disrupting mail. Here’s me email – jeanne at jeannebalsam dot com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Find peace and relaxation in your beautiful garden Cynthia
Your garden is fab. I’m hugely impressed with anyone who can grow hostas without the slugs eating them all. And agreed; there is nothing Christian about the packing of the far right. It’s here, too, and as mother of an LGBTQ+ son it worries me.
Preaching not packing sorry.
Oh how lovely to hear from you … and your garden dear Cynthia looks so beautiful. Magic photos
Thanks, Julie. Hope you are both doing well.
Your garden looks so lovely, Cynthia, as always!
Thanks very much, Becky. It’s now entering its declining stage for the summer, so I am grateful to have some hydrangea and yellow clematis that are doing well.
All so pretty. And I like autumn gardens, too:)
Your garden looks cool and calm on what has been a very hot week here. I hoped that the wildfires I’d seen on the news were far away from you, and that you are all well.
Cynthia, your garden is amazing and it must bring much peace and delight to sit in its midst. I feel better just looking at the pictures.
Dear Cynthia, your garden looks absolutely splendid, lush and well cared for. You must have been pulling my leg when you said you‘ve given up😉. As for the madness in this world – we can only make sure that our own lives are honest and worthwhile. So much pain, corruption and suffering in this world, all caused by a sick minority. So import to create a cosy, peaceful and truthful bubble into which we can retreat with our loved ones. Enjoy your beautiful home, best wishes 🙏