I am savoring these long summer days when you can sit out at night and enjoy the cool breezes. This is always well appreciated when temperatures in the daytime recently have been up in the 30’s. The garden at this time of the year always goes into a lull but at the same time roses and some of the perennials are on their second round of blooms. I have been very busy entertaining family mixed in with my grandson’s birthday and assisting with another wedding shoot. One of the things I enjoy most about wedding photography is you get a glimpse of amazing wedding venues. This time the wedding was held at a private property up Indian Arm near Deep Cove with a Canadian/Australian theme. The home overlooked the ocean and the wedding ceremony itself was held on the large dock with guests arriving by boat (very novel).
Each time I am away from the garden I come back and discover new blooms including a two tone pink dahlia, the intense blue gentian, osteospermum and variegated phlox. I love the combination of the cup and sauce campanula with rudbeckia.
Gardening jobs lessen at this time of the year other than continuing to deadhead my containers and baskets as well as cutting back faded blooms in the garden. I love to sit back in the hammock and take in the views. Eventually all the hard work does pay off. The peaches are quickly ripening and I am harvesting plenty of tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers from the vegetable garden. The lettuce is tasting bitter now so I have replanted some new seedlings. I am also starting to dig up some of the garlic and have an abundance of herbs to pick that love the hot summer temperatures.
Peaches Ripening 
It is always a challenge at this time of year to keep up with the watering, ever conscious of watering restrictions. As I walk round the garden I am already seeing late summer flowers developing, i.e. the sedum autumn joy. The lacy leaf weeping maple by the pond is also changing in colour. As I walk through Fintry Provincial Park I am already noticing the intense red rose hips and snowberries forming. Is this a sign of an early fall /winter I wonder.
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer days and getting a chance to relax.
Until next time…..