Seasonal Celebrations-Promise of Summer

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Clematis Huvi

“The followed that beautiful season…Summer.
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

With the beginning of June just around the corner, it is time for our second Seasonal Celebrations.  It is hard to believe that another season is upon us especially given the crazy weather we have had this spring.  For those of us up in the Northern hemisphere we are heading into summer although it has felt like summer for weeks.  Our neighbors to the South are moving into their winter; a very different winter indeed.  So what about this coming season is special for you?  What holidays say summer or winter?  Do you do anything special in the garden during this new season?

Here in central New York as summer heats up, the blazing sun has us headed for shade, under the trees listening to the drone of insects and dreaming.  Each summer, I am taken back to my childhood in northern Indiana.  It was a time of swimming every day (if it wasn’t raining), wading in the creek or crick as we called it, days spent at Campfire Girls camp, riding bikes, playing until the fireflies came out and the street lights came on.  Then dragging home with the heat of the day still clinging to dusk, and keeping the day alive as I drifted off to sleep dreaming of tomorrow ready to skip rope and climb trees the next day.  So as I harken back to those childhood days, here are my dreams as this summer season approaches:

1. Lazy days on the front porch-My front porch is hidden from view this time of year by trees and shrubs.  What better place to sit in the shade and listen to the hum of the bees.  And oh the scent from the many flowers in pots and growing along the porch is amazing.  I remember as a child sitting on a friend’s front porch and swinging as the breeze blew.

 

 

 

 

2.  Miles of meadows-I remember running amongst meadow flowers as a child.  Picking bouquets to bring home and playing hide and seek amongst the tall grasses and plants.  Usually at the end of the meadow was a small hill we would roll down laughing all the way.  Of course this is probably why I had to grow a meadow.  Those memories are strong.

 

 

3.  Fourth of July picnics and fireworks-I remember there were many weekend trips to friends’ houses out in the country where we would have an incredible picnic with food all day, and then top it off with fireworks especially on the 4th.  I would enjoy the long, dark ride home with the moon following us (or so I thought) and seeing the many fireworks light up the sky as we passed through the outskirts of towns.

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Containers with bright colors– These remind me of my mom and all the wonderful annuals she planted.  I don’t recall her having pots of flowers but she would plant brightly colored displays all along the front of the house.  I loved the smell and sight that exploded as they bloomed all summer.  Petunias, marigolds and snapdragons were some of the flowers I recall her planting.  I think that is why I love to plant so many containers of brightly colored annuals every year.

 

5.  The shade of big trees-I have always loved big trees; climbing them and sitting in a tree fort surveying the land.  The view from on high was one of my best memories from my childhood.  The feel of the hot air rushing through and then suddenly cooled by the leaves was amazing and sometimes scary if you were really high up.  Being cradled in the branches of a huge tree was like being held in the creator’s hand I think.  I have never been fond of heights, but I always braved them to climb a tree as a child.

 

 

 

 

6.  Veggies– My mom grew cherry tomatoes along the back of the house and side of the garage in Indiana, and once we moved to New York my parents expanded their garden plot that seemed to grow bigger every year.  I so enjoyed picking and eating veggies right there in the garden.

 

 

 

7.  Picking fruit-We grew strawberries in a big patch behind the garage.  We did nothing fancy to them and they just grew and grew every year.  But to get any other fresh fruit, my mom loved to take us pickin’ as we called it.  The best pickin’ was when we went peach and blueberry picking.  I LOVE blueberries and my mom would freeze them.  They were a cold refreshing snack all summer.  And she would make homemade peach pies.  There was nothing better and it is one of my favorite pies to make.  Actually I love making any berry pie.

 

 

8.  Homemade popsicles and the ice cream man-I loved the sound of the ice cream truck coming down the street playing his song.  And what was a dime for a Popsicle; too much for my family.  It was a rare treat that we would buy popsicles.  My mom was forever economizing for a family of six and one of her best ideas was home-made popsicles.  She would make HiC from the packets with much less sugar than it called for and pour them into the Popsicle trays and freeze them-instant pleasure to cool us down.

She also grew mint near the tomatoes and would make ice cubes with mint leaves frozen in them for refreshing ice tea.  Now I make my own different ice teas and top them with home grown mint.

 

9.  Finding water, any water-The one thing my parents splurged on was the neighborhood pool membership.  We spent our summers there, and were able to take swimming lessons.  And when we were not at the pool, we were jumping through the sprinkler.  I think I was permanently water logged every summer.  Now I garden in the rain and spend hours by my pond.

 

 

10.  Critters-We were forever fascinated by insects, birds and other critters.  We would go wadin’ in the crick (or creek) looking for pollywogs (tadpoles), frogs or fish.  At dusk we would chase fireflies and try to catch them or catch grasshoppers.  We were fascinated by bird nests we would stumble across being very quiet not to disturb them.  Of course now, I garden for wildlife and have kept that childhood enthusiasm for all critters that live in the garden.

 

 

 

My summer mantra:

Summer is one of those times where as children we had no cares, no work and just filled the days with whatever came up.  Talk about living in the moment.  I was a pro back then.  I need to channel that child again.

“Whatever the present moment contains, accept is as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle


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Come Join Us:

I hope you will join me for this very special meme.  Maybe my dreams have sparked some of your own. And it seems so appropriate to collaborate with Beth and her Lessons Learned meme.  What lessons have you learned this past season of spring here in the North and autumn in the South.  Then tell us about your wishes, desires and dreams for this new season.

The rules are simple.  Just create a post that talks about lessons learned and/or seasonal celebrations.  If you are joining in for both memes please leave a comment on both our blog posts.  Or if you are choosing to join only one meme, leave a comment on that blog post.  Make sure to include a link with your comment.

Beth and I will do a summary post of our respective memes on the solstice (around the 20th of June).  And we will keep those posts linked on a page on our blog.  Your post should be linked in the weekend before the solstice to give us enough time to include your post in our summary.  And if you link in a bit late, never fear we will include it on the special blog page.

The badges here can be used in your post, or add the widgets to your blog.  My widget, Seasonal Celebrations, is pictured above.  You can grab the code at the bottom of my sidebar.  Hopefully the code should work.  It is a painting (done digitally) of my pond.  Beth’s widget, pictured here, is available on her blog.  So won’t you join in the celebration!!

 

 

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Next up on the blog:  There will be another Garden’s Eye Journal next Monday so tune in for what has been happening all around the garden.  Of course I will include a special poem.  Then for GBBD I will be trying to highlight just some of the blooms and also Lessons Learned in my garden as I join Beth for her meme.

I hope you will join me for my posts, every other Tuesday, at Beautiful Wildlife Garden.  I had to trim back my time blogging so I am back to every other Tuesday.

Please remember, to comment click on the title of the post and the page will reload with the comments section.

All content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.

48 comments

  2. Donna says:

    I was nice to see a bit of your suburban neighborhood. It looks like a nice place to live. I can see sitting on your porch or walking up your front walk. I always remember the ice cream man too. One still comes down our street. My parents sent us to the country club pool too, but I think it was just to be free of us. 😀

  6. Jen says:

    That harkens back to carefree days, and sun kissed skin. Love those memories, both yours, and the ones that you kindled in me.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

  7. PlantPostings says:

    As promised, Donna–it is true: Your blog is always inspiring! And so many of your childhood memories are similar to mine. “Channeling the child” is a great way to put it! You won’t believe this–I was born in northern Indiana and lived there until I was almost 10! What town(s) did you live in? I lived in Peru, Logansport, and New Haven (near Fort Wayne). I love the photos of your porch and gardens–that gazebo is beautiful! My next post will be my seasonal celebrations, and I will share the link. Thanks for hosting and collaborating!

  8. Christina says:

    I love your hopes for summer; here it seems that summer has already arrived; I’ve been madly head-heading roses and the gaura has grown so tall I’m thinking of chopping it right back! Christina

  9. Island Threads says:

    wow Donna what an ideal childhood you had and from comments so many others too, I enjoyed reading and seeing the joy others had, your garden is soooo full of flowers this part of the northern hemisphere is still very cool and little is growing many of the trees and shrubs in my garden are still bare, Frances

    • Donna says:

      Frances we warmed in May and as the flowers started it cooled again…I hope the warmth of summer visits you soon….so glad you enjoyed the post!

  12. Stacy says:

    Donna, it’s soooo nice to be reminded so eloquently of all those childhood summer experiences. Thank you! I was just talking to an acquaintance about how the summer months used to just stretch out forever and now seem to disappear overnight. Her theory is that we spend so much more time now with social media, cell phones, iPods, etc., that we’re never quite living 100% in the moment. I’m thinking of taking a vow over the summer not to turn the computer on on weeknights until after sunset, so the evenings stretch out forever again. I loved this post, Donna!

    • Donna says:

      Stacy how wonderful…I think your friend is right…I am trying to live more in the moment…maybe a vow to be less connected electronically would be a very good thing indeed.

  13. Curbstone Valley Farm says:

    Oh dear, I just noticed your count down to summer…19 days?! I still have some spring planting to do! I must admit, this post really makes me excited for the slow-down in the coming months, when the planting is finished, and we wait for the harvest. The only thing I might add to your post, under the shade of those beautiful big trees, is a hammock 😉

  14. debsgarden says:

    We are greatly influenced by childhood memories! We either want to create what we missed or recreate what was special to us. Some of your memories remind me of my own! Happy summer!

  15. Liz says:

    Hi Donna,

    Lovely post, summer is such a wonderful time and it never used to be my favourite season but I am coming to really enjoy it. Especially sitting outside until 10pm and waiting for bats to circle above my head.

    Of course let’s not forget the abundance of plants, Bees and Butterflies 🙂

  16. Janet, The Queen of Seaford says:

    I grew up moving every summer until we lived in NY (West Point) for three years, and what great summers they were. I think it was the perfect weather. Warm enough to swim, cool enough to ride our bikes the couple miles to the pond. I made my first jelly then…from grapes that weren’t quite ripe, growing wild along the railroad tracks.
    You certainly painted a wonderful picture of summer.

    • Donna says:

      Thx for your patience as the blog has had some issues with the web host. So glad you enjoyed the post and perhaps you might find a post to link in with that celebrates the season.

  18. The Sage Butterfly says:

    Summer has always reminded me of that carefree spirit I had as a child during summer break from school. Although I am not able to put that into practice as I did then, somehow the spirit of it is there. Isn’t it interesting that we carry that with us throughout our lives? I will be back to share in your celebration.

  19. Andrea says:

    Your summer is really a time for celebrations, both flora and fauna-wise. Our summers might not be as ‘celebratable’ as yours, but it can be in the eyes and senses of the beholders too! I am trying to join your meme, but i can’t find the linky or something to put my post links. Sorry about that, as most memes have their linkys in there.

    • Donna says:

      Sorry there is no linky. Glad you posted your link. I definitely love to learn about all the different seasons around the world…thx for participating.

  21. Bom says:

    Enjoy your summer! Your pond area looks like a wonderful place to laze around in. Our summer officially ended on the day of your post, as announced by the govt weather bureau. Our next season is the rainy season (we only have two) so I look forward to stocking up on rain water.

  23. Laura@PatioPatch says:

    The trip down memory lane with you was so vivid and beautifully illustrated. Hope the summer days ahead are filled with good times too. Stunned by that ruby red clematis

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