Images of The Newest Arrivals

Snapped a couple of early morning shots of the new plants we'd introduced a couple of weeks ago. Early morning light adds extra dimension to these images and enhances the colors making them come through with more intensity.

Such a luscious & soft golden color .

The cone-head center of these golden beauties will provide food to small songbirds this fall and winter. As they select their free lunch they will inevitably scatter seeds on the ground. Some of those seeds will sprout and expand the black-eyed susan plantings! Nature plays an active hand in our garden.

And below, this profile view of one Hollyhock bloom highlights the contrasting textures between paper thin petals of the flower and the knobby, bulbous center where all the magical action happens.

We pick and scatter the seed pods these plants produce along our fence line each autumn to guarantee a future crop of colorful hollyhocks. They are bi-annuals and with a little help from us grow into the prettiest privacy screen every summer!

I am pleased that these shots turned out so well. Sure hope you've enjoyed the view!

Lovely Lavender

Lovely Lavender, originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden.

Another favorite in the garden, with spikes of tiny purple fleurettes , here still mainly in bud state. Walk by them and they release an earthy calming fragrance. Leaves and dried flowers are becoming popular in some novel recipes. They are also fun additions to miniature bouquets.
I enjoy adding them to wreaths made for special occasions and to make scented scrubbers for use in the bath.
This is one plant that is very hardy and makes a nice landscaping specimen or mass planting that is tolerant of lower water levels. Take care in it's application in areas where the general public may come into contact with them. Their volatile oils can irritate sensitive skin causing a dry patchy rash.

Branding My Work

Violet Rose Of Sharon
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

Took this sweet image of a Rose Of Sharon blossom and played a bit to achieve this soothing look. I'm liking the feel of this one.

Delphiniums have returned to our garden!

Introducing some new plant specimens to the garden this year. Replaced my old fashioned favorite, a purple-blue beauty with a bit of a white face; the delphinium. This young plant could live for years in it's new garden bed, they get very large and last for decades like peony plants do. A friend of mine saw her plants grow 7 feet tall or more last year. The light was too low to do a macro shot when I took this one. I'm thinking early morning light might give me my best image of this pretty flower, so I'll be trying more later!

Also added a new variety of black eyed susan - another of my favorites!

These sweet daisy like flowers produce cones of seeds that various finches and the chicadees love! I try to grow a variety of seed producing plants, shrubs and trees that help feed the creatures that come to visit here.

Another old fashioned flower that is becoming well established along one of the fence lines right near our little barn! It's such a perfect setting for them! (they were often grown to hide small farm buildings or fences.)

Well that's one quick tour of the garden today, more to follow as things keep growing! ;-)

The Wheat is coming off in Brant County!

The Wheat is coming off in Brant County!
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

We've finally had enough heat and dry-ish weather for farmers at this location, to harvest their wheat.
It has been an odd year for vacationers, farmers and even our own garden, cool damp weather had stunted some growth in crops in our area, though they seem to be springing back with this past week of warmer temperatures. Molds and fungi could be a real concern for everyone this year.

The shadows were so pretty crossing the field of view where Brant county farmers were harvesting wheat. We just had to stop so I could play with my camera a bit! I got a nice range of shots and love the color. It seems it was just the right time of day to capture the beauty and tapestry-like impression of the images.