Garden Collage

 "Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, How Beautiful!' and sitting in the shade...."
                                    -Rudyard Kipling ( Complete verse)

 Late start  this year. Brand New stuff still to bloom. So far, everything's coming up roses, as they say.

 Yellow/purple irises. The last ones. In fact, this is the ONLY one that has survived the winter. 

 Annuals and Roses I've been fertilizing every week. 

 Any water soluble fertilizer will do. I had leftover packets in the  garage. I only fertilize up till July, and then wait and see what survives the weather.

      “A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy."
Rumer Godden found in Power of Simple Living by Ellyn Sanna
                                                                                         ― Rumer Godden

 The roses I've started spraying with either Safer's Soap, or a mixture of liquid Tide detergent and water. Shake up the spray bottle reallllllly well, and spray away. Keeps the bugs at bay, and helps with fungus somewhat.

 You can even use leftover dishwater from your kitchen and toss  over flowers. Not as effective, but helps. All of it helps. 

 You can also use plain old liquid dish soap. A few squirts in a spray bottle, add water and you're all set.

 “Gardens and chocolate both have mystical qualities.” 
                                                                                                                               ― Edward Flaherty

 My last iris.

 The end of the masses.

 The next day, after I took these photos it withered and dried up like irises are want to do.

 The light is brighter these days. The cosmos have started blooming.

 They must like the fertilizer.They seem hungry for it.

 “In the 16th century,parks and gardens were models of the cosmos and also tools for altering one's consciousness, possibly for changing one's destiny.” 
                                                                           ― Linda Lappin, Signatures in Stone
 And in the greenhouse, I wage a battle with slugs and bugs. Different environment in there. But the beer in dishes seems to  work . Very happy slugs. Also a few beetles have found that beer suits them just fine......and the odd worm.

 And the Cat Plant thrives. He spills out of the dirt in happy rolls of fur. Doesn't take any fertilizer at all. Just some attention off and on, and Cat Plant purrs away.....

 "Garden's are made of darkness and light entwined.” 
― F.T. McKinstry, Crowharrow

 Photographs 2017