Saturday, August 25, 2012

Enjoying the Deck & Pond

Today is a gift.  The sun is shining, it's warm and perfect.  Buddy begged for a walk so I told hubby that I would take him out.  We went out on the deck and I was encircled in the warmth and beauty of our surroundings.  I left the dog out on the deck and popped back into the house to grab my camera to share with you the beauty I saw.  Dayle has wintered over these fibrous begonias for several years now.  Aren't they just utterly divine?
Here is the other begonia.. I adore it's white flower with it's subtle pink edges - the center looks like a kiss! 
Here are the magenta geraniums that he has babied for years. :-)
Another flower on the begonia. 
Another variety of begonia.. magenta with pink centers.
Ahhhh...  
Dayle also has wintered over this red banana.  It's our second plant.  The first one lasted 5 years before we put it out too soon and it died.  This is the 2nd year on this one.  It thrives in the company of our Cedars and Douglas Fir trees towering up to 100 feet.
The last Stargazer Lily to bloom on this stem.  The aroma is so exotic and fragrant! 
The goldfish and Koi are hiding in their hide-y holes - the 2 Koi have gotten BIG, almost 10 inches long! 
The late summer sunlight slants across the land, the fuchsia I planted beside my 20's inspired garden sculpture of a woman is finally thriving and doing well after 5 years or so.  The bamboo to her right is called "Blue Fountain Bamboo" as it's a dark cane with a waxy film over it which gives a blue cast to the canes.  I simply love sitting by the babbling water of the 4 falls and pond enjoying the birds chirping and lush green that surrounds us.
This bamboo below is off our deck and is extremely graceful and full and lush - but I'm not sure what the name of this one is!  Do you? 
There is nothing to compare to this color.. magenta, cerise, fuchsia?   
This is a "Pink" - it comes back every year, gotta love that! 
My ballerinas dancing along -- fuchsia. 
A shot with the light from the other side. 
This is a zoom in of the delicate fuchsia growing near "my lady" with a backdrop of moss on the rocks.   
Glancing skyward through my big trees.   
We have great news!  Our oldest son Shawn's wife, Beth, has been hired fulltime in the accounting department of Schnitzer Steel.  Founded in 1906, and is a global leader in the metals recycling industry!  We are keeping the boys tonight as they go out to celebrate!  We are so very proud of our daughter-in-law!  I hope you're having a great weekend!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

26 comments:

  1. Teresa, you are so lovely and so very lovely to share the beauty around you with all of us. I too went out for a walk this morning with my Max, the air was slightly less humid due to tropical storm Issac sucking a bit of humidity out of the atmosphere, it was so beautiful out. The late summer morning light, the sun light sparkling off the trees. I did not see the beauty of all your flowers, but it was still lovely out. A big congrats to your DIL, she has done so well with her education and raising those beautiful boys.
    Hugs to you and have fun with your grandchildren.
    Meredith

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  2. Absolutely wonderful pictures, what lovely weather you guys are having! Yet more storms here today -we went to Sherwood Forest (legendary home of the legendary Robin Hood!!) and got absolutely soaked! But still had a great time.

    Helenxx

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  3. Every time I read your blog it inspires me to start mine back up....now I just need to locate the time to do that!

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  4. Congratuations on your DIL's new job! I bet they are estatic!
    Your plants are so pretty. I love the kiss and the ballarinas. Our gardens are starting to look old. Very hot here today. Hopefully rain tonight.

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  5. Your blog is my favorite. Your photos are so nice and clear, the flowers are so beautiful. I especially love the waterfall and pond. Is it man made? I would never want to leave the deck with all this beauty. cathy

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    1. Hi Cathy, I'm glad you like my blog! Yes, the pond and waterfalls are man-made - but our wooded landscape is so perfect for it many people think it's real. The people who installed it said where we wanted it is their "dream" installation! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. OMG, those begonias are "devine," as you so perfectly described them. I can smell those Stargazers just from looking at the picture. They have kind of a licorice-ie smell to me. Your pictures are just great! Is that your fancy camera?

    Congrats to the DIL. Good jobs are hard to come by these days!

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    1. Hi PS, thanks for the pattern! Yes, I am using my newest camera, the Lumix with the Leica lens.. I am totally sold on this camera. My "fancy" expensive camera is a bust for me as I don't have the time to learn how to use it. :-)
      ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. Your deck and pond are lovely. Congratulations to your daughter in law. Talk to you soon. XOXO

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  8. Wow as someone who loves pink this is a beautiful post. It is very inspirational it is giving me ideas of beautiful embroidery, or crochet flower squares or your fantastic painting. Congratulations to Beth. :) x

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  9. Hi Teresa!
    About to take off to my dad's place...but I had to stop by your place first.
    LOVE your begonias---esp. the mostly white one; beautiful!
    Your pond area is so beautiful; we definitely need to add more boulders and ground cover to the area around our lower one...maybe this fall when things slow down a bit.
    Have a great Sunday!
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  10. Teresa, how beautiful the begonias, but the one I liked the best was the white with the pink edges, all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW and wouldn't that make lovely colors for a crocheted flower. The center does look like lips ready for a kiss. I have never raised begonias. I will have to read up on them, do you dig them up in the fall and replant them after the danger of frost has passed? Congrats to your dil, a new job is always a new adventure and I hope all goes well for her. We did get our 45 bags of mulch down on Wednesday and so glad that job is done. It looks good and I will have toget some pics. The drought took care of any hope of greenery let alone any spectacular flowers. Oh well, maybe next year, hopefully.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  11. Stunning...sooooo much beauty through your gifted perspective! Thank you again for sharing it with us. Teresa, you have a way of nurturing my need for and appreciation of the lovely around us....and Dayle thank you for your part in your flowers and fish and your chickens [and the cat even though you think it looks mean] and Buddy to thrive and encouraging Teresa's creativity. I am so glad I found your blog!!! Cheers for your DIL, too :). Am sending you an email...

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  12. Ah I feel so relaxed and rested after the meander through your beautiful garden. Thanks for the tour - the flowers are lovely and your photography superb. Have a nice week. xoxox

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  13. Yea for Beth! Those are fabulous photos of the flora and fauna!!!
    XO Kris

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  14. Love love the begonias and ballerinas, and wow, those trees are standing in your garden? You live in a stunning place! :-) Congratulations to Beth! :-) xxxx

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  15. Those little fuchsia really are just like ballerinas, my little girls would love them, I will have to look into them for next year. Well done to your daughter in law on her new job, it's great to hear good news!

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  16. I'm really in love with your beautiful magenta flowers - one of my favourite colours! Bamboo is also one of my favourite plants, I love the sound it makes when the wind catches it, sadly I don't have any but it's my plan to get hold of some soon :) x

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  17. Teresa,
    Yes, indeed a real gift of a day! Everything looks so lovely, floral, and colorful. The flowers and greens are still so summer like, we are definitely in the mist of a slow New England change over. Fall is in the air and it's still August....a bit scary!
    Enjoy your Sunday, xoRobin❤

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  18. So beautiful and peaceful looking. I just love the pond you have with the sculptures.

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  19. Thanks goodness, Buddy, begged you for a walk today. How could you not on such a beautiful day. Love all the color you still are having. Let's go for a walk again this week.

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  20. Oh my! I've all of your flowers, but I have to agree that the white begonia with the pink edges is my all time favorite. It's just gorgeous. Thank you again for letting us enjoy your beautiful garden. I wish this time of year lasted forever and ever. Much better than winter snow.

    Blessings,

    Betsy

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  21. Beautiful flowers Teresa...can you send some sunshine over to us please?..We have rain and wind this morning....definitely a day to stay in and do some crafting!
    Hope you have a lovely week,
    Susan x

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  22. Such gorgeous photos of those bright and colourful flowers and all the luxuriant greenery. I so love those white begonias with the pink blushing edges! Your post is very cheerful on a rather grey and rainy day over here in the UK! Congratulations to your daughter in law too :)
    Have a happy week, Teresa!
    Helen x

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  23. Beautiful Teresa....can you please send me some sunshine! We here in Louisiana are under Hurricane warnings...Yikes! I don not like bad weather! The Begonia does look like it has a kiss in the middle ....so sweet! Hope you have a wonderful week...keep your fingers crossed for me! Shari ")

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  24. Hello Teresa and thankyou for so many beautiful photos of beautiful things and stunning colours. Congratulations to your DIL. Anne x

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