Heaven in a raindrop...

Last night it rained!

This may not seem like a big deal to those of us in these sodden lands

but this summer has been probably the lowest rainfall in recent memory.

But enough doom and gloom...I am rejoicing in last night...

I woke in the middle of the night to the soft, unmistakeable sound of a steady downpour.

I lay in bed with a sigh of utter pleasure...glorious rain!

This morning everything was coated in heavenly droplets of moisture...

The earth exhaled...

...took a big drink...

Hopefully there's more on it's way.

The garden is smiling...

...the Virginia Creeper has donned her fall blush, reminding us of whats to come...

Even our little pirate's smirk is brighter...Sweet Georgia loves water.

She will purposely run under the sprinkle of a hose to get wet.

So all is well for now in her little kingdom.

Slow photo movement...

When I first started this blog it was mainly a place to house my never ending photos

that I take and to document the adventures of my daily life.

So this morning as I strolled around in the garden, camera in tow, it was

as if every plant wanted it's portrait taken. Some more than once.

It was a gentle reminder to me to 'slow photo'.

Take the time to use my real camera and not just my iphone and Instagram.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving the 'quickie' bits of FB and Instagram

but sometimes you just have to get down on your knees, get them dirty and 

find your balance to do some slow photography.

So here, I take you for a little wander through the early morning flower beds...

first stop...sleepy bumbles in the foxgloves...

I love how when closed, the flowers have this simple grin and then, as if to sing they open wide 

the icelandic poppies with their paper thin petals, softly dressed in a coat of dew...

 honey bees tip toeing, balancing on the ruffled edge...

 the inside of a poppy flower is a wonderous thing with its fluttering stamen...

 just waiting for the tickling of tiny bee feet...

 ...and those buds! 

The lavender will be fantastic this year...

The one peony I have has never disappointed...

 her name is 'Bowl of Beauty' 

 ...her dress is of soft silky pink with a creamy, delicate petticoat... 

 ...and her perfume is that to rival any in Paris!

...water plays on the surface of the plume poppy leaves...

 the perennial geranium...

 ...the forget-me-nots...

...and the wooly thyme...

...reminding me to take the time.

Once more around the garden, and then I'm gone...

The garden is looking good and I'll share a few shots with you.

 First of all I must show you the sweetest little gems in the greenhouse...

 They're called 'Fairy Watermelons'...

here's one just beginning to grow...

They're actually a gherkin and taste like a crisp little cucumber...

 Now here's the reason for the Fairy reference...

That's about as big as they get!!

How cute is that?!

As for my spaghetti squash, I'm not sure why it has the funny groove in it...

 ...and the poppies are as lovely as ever...

 ...even their fuzzy flower heads and seed pods are lovely to look at...

 Another tiny beauty is this pot of 'Corsican mint'.

Just run your hand across it and you'll breathe in the fresh scent of summer...

 I picked up this plant on a sale rack but can't remember the name...

 Pretty little plumes of pink and grey...

 On the way out to the garden, I encountered this visitor munching under the apple tree...

 This eryingium is called 'Miss Wilmotts ghost' and

glows silvery white especially at night when the moon is full...

 In a week I'm off to Toronto for our daughters wedding and will be gone on

the road until mid September so I'm taking a bit of a holiday from

blogging...a 'blogiday' you might say.

I may be posting from time to time but no guarantee's...

Hope you all enjoy the rest of this most wonderful summer!

Be blessed and hug the ones you love.

Ciao for now!