Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Friday, April 10, 2009

A View From A Bench

Iris cristata and Iberis sempervirens


Yesterday, I sat on the marble bench...
marveling at the beauty of spring.

There was a sweet scent in the air~~

Viburnum burkwoodii is blooming.
It has a gentle clove scent that does not over power the senses.


It's just right~~
and adds a sweetness to the air
that makes working outside a pleasure.


Variegated Soloman's Seal/Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'

The bench is a good place to sit and look.
From here you can see the entire garden.
But we are here for something special.
If you're patient and don't mind sitting with me,
you can see how
the setting sun
(click to enlarge any photo)

slowly

begins to light up

the tree tops until they glow!


It's a glorious show almost every night!

Then the sun slowly

slips away



and night arrives

and with it the hidden moon.


Thank you my friends for stopping by to sit with me on the bench. I treasure our time together and appreciate all your visits. I love your comments! They are the hot fudge on a delicious banana split; the chocolate ganache on a torte; the delight of my blogging day... You may have noticed that I'm not commenting back as frequently! It's spring and every minute outside is a joy, but, it means less time on the computer. You understand completely! I want to spend time reading about your springtime and seeing your gardens! So look for me less in my own comment section and more in yours!

Warmest thoughts of you. I hope this weekend finds you with those you love and getting enough time in your garden.

Gail

"I get by with a little help from my friends." - John Lennon

52 comments:

  1. Thank you, Gail. I enjoyed sitting on the bench with you, pointing out flowers, seeing the garden, and watching the sun light up the trees for one last show before it dipped below the horizon. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  2. Your Iris cristata and Iberis sempervirens photo could have been taken in my garden, Gail (though mine haven't bloomed yet). So enjoyed watching the sunset with you on your bench ... thank you for sharing. Enjoy this beautiful Easter weekend.

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  3. Carol, I am glad you sat on the bench with me...etc, etc....! gail

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  4. Hi Gail, burkwoodii is the one with the best scent. The two I have don't smell at all, not to my nose anyway. Your iris are lovely.

    This weekend is supposed to be nice here (if you call temps in the 50's nice) Anyway it will be sunny. Maybe I'll have a chance to do some bench sitting and bird watching.
    Marnie

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  5. That was lovely! I could feel the peacefulness in your garden...thank you!

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  6. that was a very relaxing sit..thank you! The photos are perfect!

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  7. Crested iris, candytuft, variegated Solomon's seal... aaahhh!!! have 'em, love 'em. Loved your pics of sunset in the trees as well. I'm a real dusk person, most alive in that magic time between sunset and dark, when it seems like anything could happen! A blessed Easter weekend to you and yours!

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  8. Hi Gail,
    Thanks for the lovely message and views from the bench! It's slowly starting to warm up here, and I am spending less time on the computer as well.

    Thanks for visiting my SkyWatch and other posts.

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  9. Love the sequence of the end of the day photos. Nicely done. I think the Viburnum is to die for -- the scent is so wonderful. I want to plant a cluster of them to let the fragrance hang in the air.

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  10. Hi Gail,
    Thank you so much for sharing your bench space with us. I could imagine that wonderful scent wafting our way. And such wonderful flowers bringing such delight on these beautiful spring days.

    You captured the effects of the sunset so nicely. I often wish I could share those sights (that golden color on the trees and the earth)and glimpses that I so enjoy and that make up so much a part of my gardening experience. You have done it and I could see it and feel it! That moon was outstanding last night... and the night before and even in the mornings this week before dawn... so stunning... so awe inspiring. Perfect for the week leading up to this wonderful holiday.

    The family will be here Sunday and we will enjoy the garden all together. I wish you a very happy weekend.

    Blessings to you, Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

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  11. Dear Gail...watching the tree light up, as the sun said goodnight, made me tingle. I loved sitting on your bench and watching your magic moment. May you, dear Gail, have many more of them......

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  12. Help! Zombies are attacking my house - they've already trampled my sunflowers and I don't know what to do. Anybody have advice on a good zombie-zapping plant?

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  13. What a wonderful 'sit'. I did so enjoy being with you. Of course you need to be outside more right now. You don't have to "say" anything to me on your comment page. I totally understand.

    Isn't that golden glow marvelous? I saw some buffalo out in a field with that golden glow about them. It was a magical moment.

    Happy Easter to you and yours Gail.

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  14. Dear anonymous...Now that is a good question;) I'm sure if anyone has the answer they will let us know....I have little knowledge of zombies...except that each year we have a zombie parade in nashville!.

    Gail

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  15. It's so lovely sitting on the bench with you. What a nice day! Too bad today is not so nice. Stay safe.

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  16. I was outside until 4:00pm when the rain came!

    I'm not commenting much during the day with gardening season underway. I have to do this in the evenings now.

    The burkwoodii is something to smell, isn't it? Like I say, your garden is like the Coker Arboretum here -- you have some of the same plants!

    Cheers,
    Cameron

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  17. Great job capturing the sunset lighting the trees. I almost felt the need for a jacket. Cute little Iris cristatata.

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  18. Gail ! I enlarged the pictures of that fantastic glow on the trees from the setting sun and it was wonderful ! I could stare at them for ages .. a very pretty view from the bench indeed : )

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  19. Gail, how beautiful that was, thanks for sharing your bench.
    K

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  20. Thank you, Gail. That was beautiful.

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  21. It's nice to actually sit on a bench and enjoy our gardens! The trees aglow are cool, too! Happy Easter!

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  22. Hi Gail~
    The view from the bench was so enjoyable to see. My favorite sight was the changing view of the trees.Incredible beauty! Hope you're enjoying springtime in the garden!

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  23. Gail, thank you for sharing your beautiful views. Enjoy each and every moment you're in the garden!

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  24. I love those trees in the late evening sun.

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  25. A wonderful post as always Gail. My I. cristata isn't blooming yet but I've been looking for it daily. Your photo is just lovely.

    I love your sunset series. Magical! There's something about the clarity of the light in spring.. it's beautiful..

    It's wonderful to get out in the garden, isn't it?

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  26. I was just thinking of you tonight Gail when I saw the horrible weather near Nashville on the national news. Hope all is well there? I'm glad you are taking the time for bench sitting ~ I think it's a learned practice! I haven't been able to master it but I agree it's a most wonderful experience when accomplished. The skies are overcast here ~ so no sunsets ~ rain is forecasted (glad it's not snow!) and the weekend temps in the 50's. We'll see how much gardening is done with that combination. I understand about the commenting. I seem to be doing less lately too although not for the same reason. Happy Easter weekend to you dear Gail.

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  27. Dear Gail,
    I justed wanted to pop over to the bench with you one more time today. :-) I checked with Marmee this afternoon to be sure all was well in ya'lls neck of the woods. Those tornadoes were not that far away. Was thinking about you and your family, too. Glad that bad weather has moved away from you.
    Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

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  28. How lovely to sit with you and watch the sunset, Gail. That golden glow is really something, isn't it? And that cobalt blue night sky is gorgeous!
    I'd love to smell the viburnum. What a beautiful flower cluster it has, and the iris and candytuft are so pretty too.
    My first daffs opened today and the scilla is blooming too. Things are looking up :)
    Have a wonderful Easter weekend, Gail!

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  29. That is so beautiful! No worries about comment comments, soon we'll all start to post and comment less and the blogological balance will be restored ;->

    Enjoy!

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  30. I'm glad Meems stopped by again. I was thinking of you, too, and wondering how close you were to the tornadoes. I haven't had the news on tonight, so I didn't hear how much damage was done. I hope wasn't much.

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  31. Beautiful views and the crested iris is so pretty. Have a great weekend!

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  32. Love the visits, walking along your garden, sitting on a bench with you, digging in the dirt... It's such a pleasure! Your views are great. Thank you so much. I thoroughly enjoyed it until night pulled over the curtain of night.
    I envy you temperate gardeners for your tulips, crocuses, and Irises! Especially for Irises. I wish they do well in tropical climates, would they?

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  33. Wow, that was a great visit on your bench...beautiful sunset and dusk!

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  34. This is just beautiful, Gail! Yesterday was a cold, rainy, and windy day here so I enjoyed sitting on the bench with you and watching the spectacular sky show. Glad you had time just to relax and enjoy the scene around you. I completely understand the cutback on commenting. It's time to BE in the garden rather than just write about it.

    I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

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  35. Dear Meems and Sue,

    Thank you for stopping by to see if everyone was ok. The storm moved quickly through Nashville and left lots of rain and a bit of hail. I saw the reports as it was moving through Leiper's Fork. I am glad that Marmee is ok, too! Folks in Murfreesboro were hit hard...terrible and sad news is coming from there. This is the month for tornadoes in the middle south.

    Take care and thank you!

    Gail

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  36. Gail, so glad to hear that the tornados bypassed you!

    Iris cristata isn't blooming here yet; Burkwood viburnum has just begun to open. They do have such a nice scent.

    I like to watch the golden glow of the trees in reverse - at sunRISE ;-)

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  37. Hi Gail, I'm glad to got to spend some quality time in your new backyard. Beautiful photos. I am such an iris lover. Hope all is well at Clay and Limestone and hope you didn't get hail damage. We had some as big as golf balls.

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  38. Lucky you to have such a nice sitting spot in the garden to watch the skies change from daylight to evening. Those trees are spectacular when backlit by the setting sun. I've been spending most of my time outdoors right now too, we understand. :)

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  39. Oh, that was delicious!~~Dee

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  40. We don't mind at all, dear Gail. We know the joy the gardens give us, along with the visits to the blogs of our friends, there are only so many hours in a day. Lots going on here as the families arrive for the holiday on this chilly windy beautiful day. Hope you are enjoying it as well. :-)
    Frances

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  41. Almost looks "Halloween-ish." I too love the trees in the evening. Branches dark against the sky. The moon easing in.
    Brenda

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  42. Thank you for sharing the sunset, it was beautiful. The plants were too, of course. :)

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  43. Gail this was a delightful time spent with you!
    Wishing you a Happy Easter! hugs NG

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  44. Gail, the viburnum looks lovely and I would enjoy the fragrance I'm sure. Sitting with you watching the suset in your beautiful garden has been a treat. Happy Easter!

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  45. A beautiful ending to a perfect spring day!

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  46. Always a pleasure to sit on the bench and watch the day go by with you. I can smell the sweetness of the Viburnum blooms which are in my not to distant future.

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  47. Hi Gail, Happy Easter to you too! The weather has been glorious here and it's been wonderful to get out into the garden. I hope you've had the same beautiful weather. Wishing you a wonderful day and chocolate!

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  48. It's a lovely weekend for being out and enjoying the garden. I've been enjoying our Iris cristata, too, and everything that's flowering now. Almost as fun is discovering the shoots of old friends like butterfly weed and blazing star poking up.

    Thanks for sharing your bench view.

    Lisa

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  49. Hi Gail

    The 'glow' in the trees is really something.

    I hope you're having a great Easter.

    Rob

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  50. Those are sweet little plants in your spring garden, and fantastic colour reflecting on your tree. I love sitting out, and seeing the last of the daylight linger on the tree branches. That's when those white flowers really come into their own too.

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  51. I love how you caught the light in the trees - that is something I would love to be able to do. Lovely color in your flower pictures, too. now I'm trying to learn a bit about photography I think a lot more about pictures I take - and pictures I see. A lovely twilight time - thanks indeed.

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  52. I brought us some warm hot chocolate and we all scrunched together on the bench enjoying the sunset. I didn't know your bench would hold us all but it did. I enjoyed smelling the viburnum too.

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