Summer time is easy

I found this little map and thought I'd post it so you all can see what the east end of the north fork of Long Island looks like. We have beaches on both sides of us ( Peconic Bay to the south and the Long Island Sound to the north.)
So besides gardening, and baking, I've been swimming. Okay, I do clean house once in a while.
I wish summer would never end.

I have circled my town, Jamesport.

This is the bayside, South Jamesport beach. The water is warm and clear, most days.
An $8.00 float from Walmart and life is good!

 Puffy clouds just float on by...

  The garden seems to be flourishing, lots of new growth! I am still pruning and constantly weeding.

This next shot is showing some bare patches. I have been removing an invasive plant, 'Coronation Gold' Yarrow. Horrible Bamboo like runners..

This next shot is from an upstairs window...

I like that the garden is quite far from the house, it makes it feel like a "get away".

Crested Celosia is just coming in..it's an annual that I'm in love with. I will dry it for Christmas decorations.
I have planted the seeds, which I've collected from previous years, in several locations in the garden.
I will be sure to post photos when it matures. Not much bothers it, and it is a beauty!

The first Mammoth sunflower is curving into a bowl shape, so it looks like I will be able to make the basket I spoke of in the last post! YAY!

And last, Whats that you ask? Have I been baking anything yummy lately?
So nice of you to inquire, lol.
Blueberry-Peach Crisp!!!

Lots of yummy ingredients...

So easy to make...

 Sooo easy to eat.
Doesn't even need ice cream.. unless you have some Hagan Daaz Vanilla that has to be used up soon.
I would love to hear what summer time things you are up to!

A few of my favorite things - August

                                    Big bunches of basil from my garden being turned into pesto!  YUMM!!

                   Lots of Romano cheese, garlic and olive oil ( didnt have pine nuts in the house-darn).

         Finished pesto will find its way into brown rice pasta dishes, and maybe even stuffed mushrooms.
                                    Having fresh pesto in the house is definitely one of my favorite things.
                                                                        Made about 3 cups.

                             Okay, I do realize that baked goods have nothing to do with gardening lol..
                                          except when I get tired of  pulling weeds, I turn to baking...   
   Triple chocolate cheesecake: Oreo crust, chocolate cheesecake and Guitard Chocolate
                                peppermint ganache, topped with Guitard chocolate peppermint shavings.

          So, many of you already know I love to bake, but I don't eat this way. I've been on a cheesecake
                     baking spree for some time now and this seems to be a hit with the recipients.

                                                                Okay, back to the garden

                                                                This dragonfly was stunning! I LOVED him!
                                 He (or she) had leopard-type spots and metallic gold veining, on glass like wings.

           I am loving the old-fashion-ness of this Pee Gee Hydrangea tree in my Potting shed garden.
                                  I only wish it would grow a little faster. Ah, impatient me.

Somehow this Hibiscus reminds me of a costume skirt! It makes me smile and always gives me a little joy
                                                     when I come into the garden in the early morning hours.

             Sunflowers bought at a farm-side stand. I love stopping at markets and farms for their specialties. Goat cheese at one, flowers or herbs at another, peaches or berries just coming out of the field at a third.

                        My first Mammoth sunflower has bloomed, Isn't she pretty? She's about 12 ft. tall!
                                                            If it curves into a bowl shape,
                       I will turn it into a moss-lined basket with a twisted vine handle for decoration.
                                              Hopefully, I will post about this in the near future.

                                   So, What are you loving? What are some of your favorite things?

A beautiful place to live

Okay, I'll admit it.
I LOVE Long Island.
It is one beautiful place to live.
The farms are plentiful, the beaches beautiful and we have so many quaint towns filled with charming shops.
Every where I go different things catch my eye. And this week was no different.
Right in the middle of a historic town, not far from my town, a community garden has sprung up.
River and Roots Community garden.

Participants receive an 8' by 4' raised bed to plant in for $25.00 per year.
This is the garden's first year and it looks great!
While I stopped to capture these photos, I met a retired police officer and his young daughter checking on their tomatoes. It is the first time they have ever had a garden! Love that!

This piece of land that is owned by the town  was sitting idle and encouraged vagrants to hang out.
Now it is a lovely garden that has a picnic area, compost pile, tool shed and lots of veggies and flowers!

Next is a field that is on my way home that always makes me smile!

                                                   "Always turn your face to the sun"!

                                                       Another scene at a near by farm stand

                                                                       And back home again

Because the gardens in the back yard are almost more than I can keep up with, We keep the front simple.

Entertaining myself...Somebodys gotta do it

Well, I am in full swing with the pruning/trimming, off with their heads program. Wheel barrows, clippers, loppers and large garbage pails are all getting a work out. Not to mention the head gardener (okay, the only gardener).
Me.
Toiling, sweating, heavy lifting, machete like chopping, me.
So, when I see something of delight, a small flower, a vignette, cast of light...a glimpse of glory, I take a moment.

This is the rear south side of my yard. The evergreens are along my property line with the Buckthorn trees on my neighbors' property. It reminds me of an old oil painting. The birds that live in this wooded area are always singing...I especially love the male Cardinals.

Have lost the name of this grass, but the plumes are very airy with a purple cast echoing the Japanese 'Bloodgood' maple.

The Harry Lauders Walking stick tree has filled out nicely this year as did the Stachys byzantina, 'Silver Carpet' Lambs Ears. This statue of "kissing Cousins" was given to me by my mother years ago for my birthday. I love this scene, it has the same purple/green combo as in the previous photo.

A Canna leaf unfurling ( this is a Canna- right?) hahaha.. some Master Gardener I am, lol. Whatever it is, I love it. Purple and green again. The bloom is in the next photo.

                                 I think this bloom is supposed to be vertical, but I'm glad it grew this way.