It may be 40-degrees out in the Carondelet Garden on this Ordinary Tuesday in October, but the Mallo doesn't seem to be bothered by the chill. This lovely plant is still blooming. Another bit of grace on a brisk Fall morning.
As usual my math skills are not quite up to the task, and I miscalculated the amount of mulch I would need to finish the side garden. Another trip to our friends @greenscapegardens_stl to pick up some more is on the schedule for this morning. The triple ground mulch is beautiful, and things are moving along. A trip to the garden center is never a bad thing! It's furnace check day at the old Carondelet Cottage this morning. It's a twice yearly ritual for our friends from Degenhardt Heating and Cooling to show up to check the furnace in the Fall and the Air Conditioner in the Spring. As a good friend once said, "If you take care of your home, your home will take care of you!" True words from a wise man. It's time to get to work for this old gardener. Be good and be kind to yourself on the chilly October day. It looks to be a stunning afternoon in the upper 60s and sunshine. "Heaven came down and glory filled my soul" as the old hymn would say. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.
0 Comments
It's a chilly start to the morning here in the Carondelet Garden on this Ordinary Monday in October. The old thermometer reads about 41-degrees. A bit chilly to be sure. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to bring those fragile container plants under cover for the Winter season. Our tropical plants are already nestled into their warm homes, so we are ready for the possibility of frost.
The red Petunias are still looking quite good after being planted way back in late April. They have been plucked, pruned and fertilized over the last few months and the work has paid off. The beauties are quite hardy and can withstand a soft frost with no issues so we should be able to enjoy them for several more weeks. It was a busy weekend for the #supercoololdpeople. We had our annual Apple Butter festival with former neighbors who are truly family to us. What a gift to have these amazing people and now their lovely children in our lives. A blessing indeed! This week is a busy one here in the Garden. The mulch has arrived for the side garden and that means the heavy lifting begins for this old gardener in South Saint Louis. It's a good day for a good day. Here's a bit of faith, hope and love being sent your way. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. It's a cloudy, cool start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden. The rain is expected to begin later this morning, so the morning chores are going to get an earlier start than normal. The old gardener normally eases into the heavy lifting but today will be an exception.
These Petunias were plants in early Spring along with a bunch of others in the border garden as fillers. The other Petunias sputtered out as expected but this one bunch have hung in and are as beautiful as ever. I am so impressed and blessed by their grace. Love waking up and picking up the newspaper and witnessing this bit of beauty every morning. Time to get to work. It's a good day for a good day as they say. Be good and be kind to yourself on this weekend eve. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. A beautiful, brisk Fall morning here in the Carondelet Garden. The rains of yesterday are gone, and the skies are filled with sunshine, blue skies and white puffy clouds. Nothing more beautiful than a little Pansy lifting its fantastic face toward the sunshine. A good morning indeed.
Today I have the honor of helping with the Rotary Police Awards at the Missouri Athletic Club downtown. Every year they honor police officers from the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department for their bravery and commitment to a better Saint Louis. We have all heard the bad stories, but we have to remember there are so many more good stories that never get told. Today, we get to honor the good stories. I enjoy putting the presentation together knowing that good people are celebrated. Saint Louis is a great place filled with amazing people. I hope we can get back to the point where we can celebrate the good things while making positive changes fixing the bad things. We can often be our own worst critic but there is so much good here! We will see so much of it this afternoon as we walk around Francis Park at the Tower Grove Farmers Market at Rockwell Beer Garden. What an amazing gift we have in the Farmers Market. Filled with artists, artisans, craftspeople, farmers and makers. Truly, the best of the best and so many have become friends. It is truly a good day for a good day. Be good and be kind on your journey. The weekend is almost upon us. A little faith, a dose of hope, and all the love we can manage will change things for the better on this simple, ordinary Thursday in October. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. It's a wet Wednesday out in the Carondelet Garden this morning. I'm glad I took a moment to capture this pic earlier this week as it is dark and wet outside right now. We do need the heavenly moisture so there is no complaints from this old gardener.
Quick start to the day today. Heading out the door for my visit to the eye doctor to get the old cataracts checked out. They aren't quite cooked enough to remove yet, but we might find out differently today. They don't bother me too much except at night. Poor Dr. B has become my nighttime chauffeur. Of course, she never complains about it! Heres' to a good day. Be careful as you journey about on the slick roads this morning. Should be a beautiful afternoon. Be good to yourself and kind as well. You deserve it! That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. It's a chilly start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden. The sun is shining, and the skies are blue but there is that Fall briskness that is so welcoming this time of year. A bit of a BRRRR and a feeling of happiness at the cooler weather and all the fun and activities that Autumn brings.
The leaves on the trees are beginning to change to a tapestry of oranges, yellows, reds and brown. There is that feeling of change in the air. A bit of melancholy at the loss mixed with the waiting for something new to happen. Every day there is something different to witness in the garden. A bit of grace here and there with more work to be done over in that corner. That big, old, tired Hydrangea is finally out. She put up quite a struggle for this old gardener and I'm paying the price with the aches and pains of my old knees and hip screaming a bit today. As always, it was worth it to see the opening where it was and dreaming of the possibilities yet to come. We will do a bit of running around today and try to nurse my old bones a bit. Excited for the changes we've made and dreaming of what will come! The garden is really a reflection of my life. A bit of grace, some faith and hope, surrounded by love. A work in progress that is constantly moving and changing. A bit of sadness and sorrow are thrown in on occasion. Some pain and suffering thrown in there as well. Yet there is always grace. Grace unearned but always present. Grace that tells me I am cherished even when I am at my worst. A simple, ordinary grace. Here's to a bit of faith, hope and love in all of our lives this Tuesday in Ordinary Time. Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you make your journey. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. A beautiful, brisk beginning to the Monday morning here in the Carondelet Garden. The Digitalis or 'Foxglove' is looking exquisite in the early morning hours. What a gift to walk outside and be greeted by the glory of creation. A wonderful reminder to take a moment to stop and think and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.
This week is all about garden rehab on the west side of the garden. I have to admit I often neglect this little wonder because it is mostly maintenance free, but it has grown a bit wild and untamed and is now in need of a little TLC. Maybe even a lot of TLC. I have to remove an old, tired Hydrangea and I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it. It is huge and wild and it's going to take it out of this old gardener. Yet it must be done! The perfect day for gardening. The weather is cooperating, and the time is now. Here's to a new week filled with the glory of Fall. Be good and be kind to yourself as you journey about this Monday in October. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. The bright sunshine and blue skies are beautiful this morning. There is a slight fall chill in the air that gladdens the heart of this old gardener. There is some major rehab work that needs to be done on the side garden and I've been waiting for this cool front to tackle the heavy lifting and it has finally arrived. The work will begin on Monday for today we play! It's opening day for the Best of Missouri Market @mobotgarden!
You know the saying "you only know a plant when you've killed it twice." I now know 'Cordyline Red Star' quite well as I have killed two of them in my container plants over the past month. As you can see the plant was beautiful when purchased but I managed to kill them both. I thought the sunshine they received in the planter boxes was enough, obviously I was wrong. Poor things may they rest in peace. I can hear the lyrics from "Little Shop of Horrors" playing in my head: "I've given you sunshine. I've given you dirt. You've given me nothing, but heartache and hurt!" It's a busy weekend with lots of fun and adventure awaiting the #supercoololdpeople in Carondelet. Here's to a bit of joy and wonder in our world. Be good and be kind as you journey about this weekend. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. It's a misty, cloudy morning here in the Carondelet Garden. I took this picture of our lovely Hosta 'Tootie Mae' the other day because I loved the sunlight bouncing off the leaves. The days are starting to get shorter, and the hostas will soon go dormant, so I have to enjoy the show while it lasts!
October always feels a bit like borrowed time because the frosts could come any day. Each day is precious and filled with grace for this old gardener. Putting the garden to bed for the coming Winter has been on our chore list these past few days. I tend to never take anything out of the border garden or cut things back in October unless it is diseased or ill as the birds and other critters love the dried seedheads and the slightly unruly decline is part of the beauty of the garden. I wait to tidy up in late Winter and early Spring. For now, we are enjoying watching the birds enjoying themselves! It's a busy few days for the #supercoololdpeople here in Carondelet. There are birthdays, anniversary celebrations for friends, soccer games and even the ballet. We will welcome the Sabbath this week for the rest it brings. Be good and be kind to yourself as this week draws to a close. Take a bit of extra care as you travel about on the wet streets. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden Another flip of the calendar and Autumn is in the air. October is always my gardening new year. Time to take stock, plan, prepare and start again. It’s an earthy time with the smells of fresh mulch, worm castings, and falling leaves sifting through the air like wood smoke.
As Autumn begins there are butterflies wafting through the garden like flying flowers. Butterflies are so easy to love as they pause to sip at a plant’s nectar, before flitting off to another while performing their delicate little dance. They add another layer and dimension of color and delight to the Carondelet Garden. Happiness for this old gardener is always close at hand. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2024
Categories |