Enchanting Essex

Tag: Garden Flowers

  • Summer’s Ruffled Gowns

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    The Peonies most of us enjoy in our gardens came to North America from China, making them non-native, herbaceous, perennials. They’re one of the showiest flowers in most gardens and, ‘though the individual blooms have a relatively short lifespan, the overall display on a single mature plant often lasts a full month. Two Fun Facts:…

  • Vetchling’s Variation

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    There’s no happier surprise than to walk out to our garden in springtime and see a clump of Vetchlings in full, glorious bloom. Spring Vetchling is an herbaceous perennial in the legume (pea) family. It is native to European and Siberian woodlands. A couple of fun facts: This beauty is a self-feeding phenom! Its roots…

  • Great Garden Showdown

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    Great Garden Showdown Rozanne is a sprawler, a lazy-day queen,The longest-lived bloomer you ever have seen!She lounges in borders, her purple eyes bright,And hogs all the sunlight from morning till night. But Rock Cranesbill scoffs from her cracks in the stone,And rules her dry kingdom completely alone!With leaves smelling sweet and magenta so loud,She doesn’t…

  • Winsome Wisteria

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    Way back in the early 2010s, and after much thought and debate, we resolved that Cam ought to request early retirement.  His pension had fully vested and, prior to Cam, the Perrault men had all died around age 70 due to one form or another of heart disease.  We wanted more than five years together. …

  • Waltz of the Flowers

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    Cosmos are an herbaceous, annual, wildflower that is native to Mexico.  ‘Though most Cosmos in Ontario are cultivars, there are increasing numbers of re-wilded Cosmos.  Interestingly, the seeds are informally known as hitchhikers — they have tiny hooks that can catch on animal fur and the animals (squirrels mostly, in our area) carry them to…

  • Sage is the Bee

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    Sage is the Bee A chubby bee hums in the sun,To find the sweetest purple prize.She lands upon a velvet leaf,And hugs the sage in glad surprise. She tickles every fragrant bloom,While dancing “The Bumblebee Jive”Then whispers to her purple friend,Before she flies home to her hive. ‘Til next time, y’all…

  • Happiest Faces

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    Primroses (or Primulas, in the English vernacular) are an herbaceous, non-native, cultivar, perennial.  They’re a hugely popular species of low-growing plants, because of their resiliency and their wide variety of vibrantly colourful blossoms.  Their scientific name (Primula) comes from the Latin primus, meaning “first,” because they are among the very first flowers to bloom in…

  • Sunday Stills: Hope

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    Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,And sings the tune without the words,And never stops at all,* “Hope”, written by the divine, American poet Emily Dickinson circa 1861, uses the metaphor of a bird to represent hope, which persists in the human soul and provides comfort during difficult times without requiring anything…

  • White Wistfulness

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    This morning a white rose — aptly named “Honor” — blooms in our small courtyard garden, planted to honour my beloved dad and his grand rose garden (150+ species) at the wee house on Joy Drive. It is a sweet, sentimental flash of white petals that brings back happy memories. White Wistfulness A little splash…

  • The Flower Hour #42:  Six Steps Through the Alphabet Garden

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    A lens, a challenge, a creative quest,To find the blooms the alphabet blessed.Right in the middle, where letters align,Six pretty frames of botanical design. The journey began with the letters of J,Where wild Joe-Pye Weed was swaying away;Beside it, the Japanese Peony grows,With layers of silk in a stunning repose. An herbaceous perennial of the…

  • The Flower Hour #41:  Hardly a Planter to be Found

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    Welcome to the Dead Plants Society.† Full disclosure:  I have two “black thumbs” — I’ve managed (usually quite rapidly) to kill the plants in any and every planter we’ve ever had.  Forty-two years’ worth!!!  Ergo, there weren’t many pictures to choose from but yes, Terri, I do dare! This is a scan of a photograph…

  • Lens-Artists Challenge #406:  The Lazy “Daze” of Summer

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    Summer Daze Summer is the flutter of a painted wing,Where sleepy pollinators and beetles sing.A rustle in the stalks of emerald corn,As raindrops reflect the light of early morn. Summer is feathered, marine and furry folk,Within and beneath the shade of ancient oak.Where petals proudly unfurl in vibrant hues,And painted boats go cruising Lake Erie’s…

  • Ballerinas

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    Watching the breeze ruffle the petals of our Rose of Sharon blossoms, I thought how much they resemble the layers of delicate tulle in a ballerina’s tutu. Ballerinas Beside the lane, a quiet stage,Where summer turns a graceful page.In skirts of pink and mauve so deep,The dancers waken from their sleep. Upon the branch, they…

  • The Flower Hour #39:  Orange you glad?

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    Orange is the happiest color. [Frank Sinatra] Knock, knock.“Who’s there?”“Orange.”“Orange who?”“Orange you glad Terri picked this challenge?” [Sorry! Couldn’t resist.  Favourite childhood joke, bar none.] Thanks to Terri for our weekly glimpse at floral beauty – quite the loveliest weekly challenge of all, IMHO.  Please take a moment to view Terri’s post and admire her…

  • The Zing of Zinnias

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    ‘Though many consider them boring and ho-hum, nothing makes my heart zing more than the sight of the first Zinnia blossoms of the summer.  I tried to capture the joy of these oh-so-vibrant flowers and their oft-overlooked charm. The Zing of Zinnias Some call them simple, stiff and plain,But they are magic in our lane.Bright…

  • The Flower Hour #38: DEF – initely a fun challenge!

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    Daisy:  Becky Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) Echinacea:  Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Foxglove:  Foxglove (Digitalis) Thanks to Terri for another enjoyable weekly floral challenge.  I’ll bet there’ll be lots of Echinacea this week!  Please take a moment to visit Terri’s site and enjoy the three beautiful pictures she’s featuring today:   The Flower Hour #38:…

  • The Flower Hour #37: Patriotic Florals

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    Thanks to Terri for this sweet and timely prompt. Please visit her site to see her lovely take on Patriotic Florals: The Flower Hour #37: Patriotic Florals ‘Til next time, y’all…

  • Purple Passion

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    Purple — is fashionable twice —This season of the year,And when a soul perceives itselfTo be an Emperor.† The Flower Hour #16: The Shapes of Flowers Please take a moment to browse Terri’s post with her great “shape” images:https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/02/03/the-flower-hour-16-the-shapes-of-flowers/ ’Til next time, y’all… †Emily Dickinson, her poem “Purple — is fashionable twice —” — page…