No Distractions.

8:30 and it's already getting dark.

Thank goodness for a good camera.

A storm is coming our way this evening. I wanted to document the beauty of the gardens before the storm has its way with them. You never know what may happen. It will be a year before the lilies are at their peak. Lets savour them now.

My favourite annual is at its peak now too. Verbena Bonariensis. I love the structure that the stems give to the garden.... like a grid.

There is a riot of colour now.

The phlox give a punch of vibrancy to the scene. It's like they are saying, "Wake up!!"

If you pay attention, there are signs that the colour is coming to an end. If the rains don't wreck the flowers tonight, they may just hand them a lifeline, an extension of their colour. But, isn't there beauty in their decay too? So many different colours and shades in the bottom flower as it twists and turns its petals. Very light yellow to very dark bronzy red.

I zoomed to spot a few ripening tomatoes. We've harvested around 20 so far. Nice and early for us. Can you see the virus that is infecting the leaves? In a month there will be very few leaves left. There are always challenges when gardening. This virus entered our garden in 2008. No matter where we plant the tomatoes, the virus finds them.

The earliest elderberries are looking good.

This is a beautiful lily. But, it has a problem, IMHO. Its colour doesn't play well with the yellows and pinks in the perennial gardens. So, it's been delegated to living in the woods near the ponds. It is shining there. Glorious surprise to come across.

Since we cut down around 25 dead and dying ash trees, there is a lot more light in the woods. These rudbeckias love it!

It was getting pretty dim when I made it to the back corner of the gardens. It is very dim here in the living room as I write this and listen ( on repeat) to a song that is new to me. What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding. I think the dimness of the light is the perfect accompaniment to the words of this song.

This post is sponsored by What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding.

No distractions.

As I walk through this wicked world Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity I ask myself, is all hope lost? Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside There's one thing I wanna know What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Oh What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding?

And as I walked on Through troubled times My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes So where are the strong

And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Oh What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?

So where are the strong? And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Oh What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Oh What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?

Sharon Van Etten & Josh Homme