Wordless Wednesday – Red Orchid Cactus

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Eliza Waters

Red Orchid Cactus – Disocactus ackermannii 

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IAVOM – First Dahlias

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Eliza Waters

It is always exciting when the first dahlia blooms, and this week I have two: Dahlia ‘Hypnotica Icarus’ and ‘Grandahlia Dark Red.’ Orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is looking fine, but I’ve seen no butterflies, only ants, alas. My first self-sown white love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) flowers are blooming this week as well. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and a small dill flower (Anethum graveolens) complete the arrangement.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the weekly garden meme In A Vase On Monday, featuring flowers from our gardens. Click the link to join the fun or see what others are sharing this week.

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Silent Sunday – Bog Reflections

Posted on July 11, 2026 by Eliza Waters
Posted in Field Notes, My Photos | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – July Meadow

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Eliza Waters
Posted in Field Notes, My Photos | Tagged , , , | 59 Comments

IAVOM – Summer Joy

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Eliza Waters

Last week’s heat wave, along with enough showers, made a lot of garden plants happy. It pushed others out of bloom and many more leapt forward to full-on summer.

Yellow and orange red-hot pokers (Kniphofia uvaria) dominate this week’s vase, accompanied by spikes of purple speedwell (Veronica longifolia). Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) and a lemony day lily (Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion’) add yellow, and a single red-orange sweet pea (Lathyrus odorata) was added to vie with the orange red-hot poker. Wildflower fillers are daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the weekly garden meme In A Vase On Monday, featuring flowers from our gardens. Click the link to join the fun or see what others are sharing this week.

Posted in Country Gardening, My Photos | Tagged , , , , , , | 80 Comments

Independence Day 2026 – USA 250th

Posted on July 3, 2026 by Eliza Waters

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Posted in Inspirational Quotes, My Photos | Tagged , | 66 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – Bright Eyes

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Eliza Waters
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 75 Comments

IAVOM – June Mix

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Eliza Waters

June blooms are passing and July’s are waiting in the wings. A last fond look at many flowers we won’t see until next year: Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), Carolina lupine (Thermopsis villosa), sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), Veronica ‘Crater Lake Blue’, hearts-ease (Viola tricolor) catmint (Nepeta racemosa), lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). Two newly blooming zinnias introduce us to July (Z. elegans ‘Envy’ and Z. marylandica ‘Zahara’ Salmon.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the weekly garden meme In A Vase On Monday, featuring flowers from our gardens. Click the link to join the fun or see what others are sharing this week.

Posted in Country Gardening, My Photos | Tagged , , , , , | 70 Comments

Silent Sunday – Summer Sunset

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Eliza Waters
Posted in Field Notes, My Photos | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – Clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Eliza Waters
Posted in Country Gardening, My Photos | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments