First I have to say the very most important event of the past week was the wedding of my cousin Jay and his beloved Juliet in a beautiful garden in Manchester by the Sea. It was a glorious day and celebration was in the air. Our hotel was hosting three wedding receptions and packed to the rafters with SEVEN groups of wedding guests.
Juliet is a Nanny in the classic mode. The wedding guest list was filled with her charges and their families, past and present which made for an amazing extended family of not only blood relatives, but the families who have exchanged love and respect with Juliet over a period of years.
The beautiful white garden in which they exchanged their vows, and celebrated into the night was owned by the family of former charges, and designed by the mother, Robin Kramer, who is now a garden designer. Juliet and Jay could begin their married life in no more perfect setting than this welcoming garden.
While we were off celebrating, son Chris and son-in-law Gerry once again set to and spent the weekend continuing to paint our house. The weather did not cooperate and they did not finish, but the potted plants already appreciate being set off by a fresh white wall, instead of one peeling and gray.
Most of my work in the garden centered around the work in progress – the daylily bank. Diane and her son made a start on digging and desodding during the rafting weekend. I continued digging and fertilizing, and began the fun part, planting daylilies. Several came from Lorraine Brennan’s daylily sale including: Crimson Pirate, Lemon Yellow, Barbara Mitchell, and Hall’s Pink. My husband gave me Ice Capades, Ann Warner, Happy Returns and Rosy Returns. I dug up Hyperion and a red daylily that Elsa Bakalar gave me many years ago from other spots my own garden. I don’t think I will fill the bank this fall, but it shouldn’t take much more work in the spring.
The purpose of the bank is to eliminate the need for grass mowing. Somehow I had not expected the pleasure I would have in seeing the blooming bank from my place at the dinner table three times a day. A reminder to always consider what garden views will please from the window.
Also notice the shining white of our house!
I guess I was busy enough, and the freezer was full enough of the low bush blueberries the grandsons picked, that I stopped noticing our own high bush blueberries. The time has come to notice and to start picking. I had my own blueberries on my breakfast cereal.
Amazingly, the second planting of sugar snap peas is still bearing, and still sweet. We had them in our salads all last week, and will again this week.
We have also been eating these pole beans, green and yellow, from Renee’s Garden for a week and the time has come to pick and get some in the freezer.
Congrats to the newlyweds! Such a nice description of their wedding and the garden where it took place. To imagine 7 groups of wedding guests!
The house is looking good and I do think the potted plants like the new white of the house. I know you do! It’s a good feeling getting it all done.
That lily/bee balm combination is perfect and good luck with dayliiy hill!
Tina – Thank you for noticing all the projects and treats. It never ends, does it? Happily for us.
Pat
Hi Pat, what a lovely crew is a beautiful setting! Love those boulders. Your daylily bank looks great, as does the freshly painted clapboards. We have Anna Warner, that was the name given by our neighbors who gave them to us anyway, and it is one of the very best growing here. Barbara Mitchell is new this year, another good one. It will be fabulous and at the end of the season you can just mow it. 🙂
Frances
The wedding garden was truly marvelous. I can’t imagine dealing with such a steep site, but I guess you know all about that. And thanks for the good words about the daylilies. I can’t wait until next year.
Pat