My mother was a farm wife and a prodigious canner. She canned fruit and vegetables from the garden, even occasionally meat. But the best thing that she canned, in my opinion, was blackberry jam. Even as I type those words my mouth waters! Of course, before she could make that jam, somebody had to pick the blackberries. And that somebody was quite often named Dorothy. I think Seamus Heaney might have spent some time among the briars plucking those delicious black fruits as well, so he would have known that "Once off the bush the fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour." They don't keep; you have to get that jam made in a hurry! Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney Late August, given heavy rain and sun For a full week, the blackberries would ripen. At first, just one, a glossy purple clot Among others, red, green, hard as a knot. You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust ...
I always enjoy seeing your blooms, Dorothy, because you have so many plants that are different from what we can grow here. The firecracker fern is one of those--what a great plant for the Fourth! I guess the main colors in my garden right now are pink and purple, but once all the lilies bloom, it's going to be a riot of clashing colors:) Happy Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteClashing colors are great! That's Nature's color scheme, isn't it? I look forward to visiting your garden.
DeleteOur front is full of yellow blooms.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, Dorothy. Especially those of the butterflies.
Yellow is always in season in the garden. And so are butterflies.
DeleteYou have many of the same plants as are in my garden. I featured white for June, but next month the oranges will show up again (they haven't left but more orange flowers will be in bloom then.)
ReplyDeleteCrocosmia and Tithonia are not yet blooming here, not the orange flowers of Bengal Tiger Canna. Happy Bloom Day.
I have quite a few purples and whites in my garden as well this month, but orange certainly is dominant as it will be through most of the summer.
DeleteLove all your orange in the garden Dorothy and your capture of the Monarch is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThere have been quite a few Monarchs through the garden lately. It is always heartening to see them, as we hope for their recovery from all the catastrophes they've suffered in recent years.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the Monarch photo!
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Thanks for visiting, Lea.
DeleteThe colour here is predominantly pink. Which is odd, because I don't see myself as a pink person at all. But I have discovered the delights of pink and orange combos, so all will be well!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the Monarchs are returning.
I like the combination of pink and orange. And throw in a little purple. Maybe a little yellow. It's all good!
DeleteWow, your garden is on fire! Lots of beautiful color. How fortunate you are to have such beautiful butterflies as visitors.
ReplyDeleteYour passion vine looks so lush! Please tell me what conditions it likes. I have one in a large pot. It started looking sad and some leaves turned yellow and dropped. I turned to Google for answers and thought it had gotten too dry so I've tried to keep it well watered. It didn't really improve so I went to a garden center and was told it needs frequent feedings. That doesn't seem to have helped either. Any suggestions?
Happy Bloom Day!
Mine is the native passion vine and it does grow very lushly, especially this spring with all the rain that we've had. Some of the newer varieties are not as lush-growing. Which one do you have? In my experience, these vines don't need any special treatment. They grow in most soils and, as long as they have adequate water, should do well. Could it possibly be that the vine is unhappy in the pot? I've always grown mine in the ground. Good luck with yours.
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