Posted on by Donna

Seasonal Celebrations-Summer Surprises 2013

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“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

 

This summer is a wonderful and special celebration for me as it marks my retirement from a long career in public education.  It also marks the dawning for me of a quest or perhaps a passage in my life to a new path, a new life and new beginnings.  And it will begin with a summer full of wondrous surprises.   And the dawn of each season around the world exemplifies change and surprises for everyone, if we but take the time to look, listen and meld with our surroundings.

So join me as I celebrate this new season of change or what I call “dolce far niente” that pleasant idleness, sweet nothingness that comes from a lazy summer day in the shade with a glass of iced tea.

 

I hope you enjoy the lovely flowers of summer as it begins in my garden….many spectacular blooms to see, and so many new blooms yet to come.

 

 

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Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
John Lubbock

 

 It will be joyous to watch the clouds roll by as the hum of the cicadas melds with the birds and the bees, and I drift off to sleep for a lazy afternoon nap.

 

 

 

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Long stormy spring-time, wet contentious April, winter chilling the lap of very May; but at length the season of summer does come.
Thomas Carlyle 

 

Thankfully summer will come and with it I am reborn with time to spend in the garden…hours if I so choose to tend the delicate vines laden with sweet peppers, eggplants and tomatoes ripening, and then partake in the cooking of a fresh meal with these vegetables and herbs grown with love.

 

 

 

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Oh, the summer night, Has a smile of light, And she sits on a sapphire throne.
Barry Cornwall

 

 I adore a summer’s night with moonlight shining on my white garden.  Listening to the frogs calling, and breathing in the perfumed evening air.   We stay up late, and sit around a fire gazing into its hypnotic dance.  And fireworks seem to happen every night, as we celebrate the season.

 

 

 

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Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine

 

Having time to sit for what seems like hours to watch the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds will be heaven.  Quietly slipping into their world to quench my curiosity, and perhaps capture incredible memories of the peace of nature.

 

 

 

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Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.

Russell Baker

 

And I will labor in the garden under the heat of the day to feel its healing warmth upon my skin, drink in its energy and feel renewed.  With wonderful bike rides exploring the scenery with nowhere in particular to go, and all the time to get there.

 

 

So how are you celebrating summer or whatever season is upon you?  Do you get that wonderful summer lazy feeling too?

 

If you want to join in the celebration, check out the Come Join Us section below with all the details of how to participate in this meme.

 

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There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.  ~Louis L’Amour

Summer seems the perfect time for me to begin again…as the garden is in full swing needing my attention and I hers.  It will be a glorious reaquaintance.  I hope we will step back into that delightful natural rhythm I have so longed for.

 

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Come Join Us:

Seasonal Celebrations is a time for marking the change of seasons and what is happening in your part of the world during this time.  I hope you will join in by creating a post telling us how you celebrate this time of year whether summer or winter or something else.  Share your traditions, holidays, gardens and celebrations in pictures, poetry or words starting June 1st.

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 fall 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 (the 21st 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 equinox 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 (which I still have to create).  The badges here can be used in your post.   So won’t you join in the celebration!!

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Next up on the blog:  Monday is another Gardens Eye Journal as I recap this crazy May and spring.

I hope you will join me for my posts once a month at Beautiful Wildlife Garden. See my most current post now.  Next one is up on May 28th.

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

All original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View, 2010-2013.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.

67 Replies to “Seasonal Celebrations-Summer Surprises 2013”

  1. Congratulations on your career. The quotations you chose for this post resonate well. Enjoy your garden this summer. Susie

  2. I am so happy for you! I know you will enjoy more time in your garden and the rejuvenation it will bring. The quotes you choose for this post are perfect! Enjoy your last days of work and welcome to freedom!

  4. Welcome to the wonderful world of retirement! Now you’ll have so much more time to spend any way you choose and I bet quite a bit of it will be in your wonderful garden. What is that fabulous plant in the second picture?

    1. Christy if you mean the one growing up the rain chain, that is clematis “Avant Garde’…I am so excited to get to so many things I have been meaning to do in the garden, with the blog and other writing projects. Thanks for the warm wishes.

  6. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. This will be an excellent time in your life, and I’m so glad to be your friend. Summer in a northern climate can’t be beat. Enjoy, Donna!

    1. Thanks so much Beth…I think I will just hang out and enjoy the heat, scents and colors of summer as if I were 10 years old again 🙂

  7. Congrats on your upcoming retirement. I like that you see it as an opportunity rather than as some people say here “being put out to grass.” Beautiful pics of lovely flowers.

    1. I guess maybe it is because it is a choice for me…some think I am too young but I say, I have so much life to live and work is in the way!

  9. oh joy – some pictures of summer. What a momentous time for you coming up Donna and your garden will positively burst with all the extra attention if will get.

  12. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! You will so enjoy your garden this summer! It’s beautiful. Love that clematis.

    1. You are so sweet to say so Beth…can’t wait to enjoy the flowers and really tend to the veggies and fruits.

    1. Ah time to relax…sounds like a dream…that red clematis is a late bloomer and so prolific every year.

  15. I can only wring my hands looking at all these flowers Donna, we are so far behind you here after one of the coldest springs on record. I agree there is nothing better than hours immersing yourself in the garden. Lovely quotes again and I always marvel at how you keep finding them!

    1. I really enjoy the adventure of finding those quotes…we have had some unusually hot weather that has really kicked my blooms into high gear suddenly.

  16. Congratulations Donna!! I’m thrilled for you, and it couldn’t come a moment too soon!! So looking forward to hearing you breathe a sigh of relief, one project completed and another opening right up for you…..I’m a little envious….You go girl, grab it with every fibre of your being:~)) X

    1. Catherine, thank you….you have been such an incredible friend and supporter…your words brought tears to my eyes…I intend to grab hold and ride this new wave in my life with great excitement…. :0

  17. Retirement is a wonderful change! Just be careful because even though you have more time it is harder to manage it–so easy to put off until tomorrow what you can do today! Lovely flowers! So many too!

    1. That will be the challenge Tina…from a regimented schedule to one I will have to adjust to and explore to find the right tempo.

  18. Donna, what a wonderful change in your life! Congratulations!!! I bet your garden is very happy and thinks: Now, she is all mine! There are lovely flowers in this pictures. I wish you the best!

    1. Tatyana thank you so much…my garden is going to be very greedy with my time as it needs so much loving care.

  19. Congrats on retirement! I retired several years ago after 34 years and it was the best decision ever. You are surrounded by beautiful garden sights and will have a summer to enjoy them like never before as you transition into a new life. Best wishes!!

  20. Donna you will love being retired, you sound so light hearted and excited about it now, so pleased for you, both you and your garden are blossoming, Frances x

  22. To me the garden in summer means abundance and there are already lots of wonderful blooms to enjoy. I love the heaviness of the air and the smell at night. I have been working on a white garden around my patio and it is starting to look like something.

    1. Oh Carolyn that white garden sounds wonderful…can’t wait to see it…I love the smell of the summer night…it is dreamy!

  23. You have already written whatever I feel and was going to write :-). What are those flowers in the first and second picture (with Fitzgerald and Lubbock)? They are so absolutely lovely!!!

    1. I do hope you will join in still…the plants you refer to are both clematis…the first is Belle of Woking and the second one is Avant Garde.

  24. Hi Donna, love how you started this post with the quote from Fitzgerald. So perfect for your meme and timely as The Great Gatsby is in theaters! Love the clematis and all the bright colored blooms in your garden. Your garden looks wonderful and I can’t wait to read more about what you do this summer. Congrats on reaching the major milestone of retirement! Cheers!

  27. Hi Donna, I hope your retirement is full of long lazy days enjoying your beautiful garden as well lots of good new things as you design a new life for yourself. Lovely quote from ‘Dandelion Wine’, which is a great book.

    1. Wonderful Katarina. I look forward to adding this lovely post to the wrap up on the 21st!! Thank you for joining.

    1. Holley thanks for linking in with this great SC post. I love your decision about the garden to add more lilies…and thanks for your kind wishes!

  31. Congratulations on your retirement … you will love it! All those things you wanted to do but didn’t have the time … they will have to wait because you still won’t have the time! Busy, busy every minute, enjoying life!

    1. Oh you made me laugh…I have that feeling I will be busier than ever but doing things I have longed to do….thank you for your good wishes!

    1. I am so glad you were able to join in Michelle…I am looking forward to some idleness though I think I will be busier than ever…but I don’t mind that if I am doing what I love.

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