It's warm, but the sky is rapidly clouding up and turning dark. Getting ready for a summer shower with "severe thunderstorms", as warnings come in via the emergency alert system. Time to duck inside and take cover. Looking out the kitchen window, trying to keep an eye on the sky, I notice our glorious 'Glory Bower' has burst into bloom and thought some of you might like to see it. The fragrance of the flowers is sweet and drifts in through the windows and open backdoor. The perfume, I think, is a cross between petunias and gardenias although maybe a bit more subtle. The leaves however, when crushed, have a strong scent of peanut butter. Hence the nick-name "peanut butter tree." Perhaps you've known it by that name. It's the first thing I introduce people to when they enter the garden for a tour. Kids seem to especially enjoy this funny quirk of nature.
The flowers are late bloomers, small and dainty and seem to hang on until the very end of the season. The bees and butterflies are busy fussing over the tiny pink and white petals, fluttering and buzzing everywhere on the breeze around it. Fortunately, the deer don't bother it at all, except maybe to nap in the shady shelter it provides or to drink from the birdbath it towers over. Always a funny sight to see.
This tree has really grown since this post written in 2006 when I still had the cages around everything. (Click on those pictures to enlarge them.) And here it is in 2009. It seems to have finally reached it's full potential. I love the shape, it's like a gigantic bridal bouquet.
Elsewhere in the garden we have more lovliness.
And here's the greenhouse the Mister built. I love it! It's the perfect size. He actually began working on it in the garage over the winter and had most of the frame-work finished by spring. Then it was all carried out in sections and the girls helped him put it together. (I just stood around and cheered and clapped and hugged him.) The greenhouse, and the rest of the garden, lawns and trees are all on auto-drip irrigation (another project he has worked on and added to over the years), so everything pretty much takes care of itself where watering is concerned. He thinks of everything!
Here's the Mister's lunch salad he picked fresh from the garden just minutes ago. Roasted beets are one of his simple pleasures. Beets are easy to grow, and Grace plants a steady crop especially for her Dad. Once a week, he bakes a few drizzled with olive oil and and then stores them in the fridge to add to his salads. I never used to think I liked beets until I tried them this way. They are sweet and delicious and full of healthful benefits. But you knew that.
And that is what is happening in my garden right now. Pickles are next! Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I'm going to sit in my cozy chair and storm-watch while I stitch up more hexies and watch Ziegfeld Girl playing on TCM.
We have storms coming our way too in NC:) I adore your little greenhouse!! What a sweet hubby.
I tried pickled beets a few weeks ago and they were a delight. The ones you had sound wonderful!
Posted by: Sara | August 10, 2013 at 04:35 PM
The peanut butter tree is an amazing grower. I could not believe it! It is also a very attractive tree to have in the garden. Stay safe now and enjoy the show!
Posted by: Vee | August 10, 2013 at 05:19 PM
Lovely tree...both names are new to me. It looks familiar, so I will have to keep my eyes peeled while out walking.
This August my phone has been silent with severe thunderstorm warnings. Last August, we were getting them everyday, all day, for nearly two weeks. August finds us with monsoon like weather around here. Being married to a outdoors man found us driving up to Big Bear in the downpour. He loved every minute. I just prayed we did not get hit by lightning.
Thanks for sharing your lovely garden.
blessings, jill
Posted by: jill | August 10, 2013 at 07:13 PM
Thank you for sharing your garden. Wish peanut butter trees grew in my garden zone. I think I am a bit too north. Speaking of weather-back in early July we had 2 tornado warnings-pretty rare for Mass and pretty terrifying. We ended up not having a tornado but the sky opened buckets and poured SIDEWAYS. Felt like I was going to Oz. Annie
Posted by: Annie | August 15, 2013 at 07:40 AM
Your Glory Bower is stunningly beautiful Vicki. I'm going to have to look around. I don't recall ever seeing one around our neighborhood, but I'd love to smell it.
It looks like this summer has been good to you!
xo
Posted by: Account Deleted | August 19, 2013 at 07:04 PM