the garden is what it is

 There are some unusual things about our garden this year. When have our winter pansies ever lasted so long? It must be all the rain and less than usual intense heat. We keep enjoying them. On the other hand, our beloved hydrangeas just aren't cuttin' it this year (no pun intended). Maybe all the rain has dragged them down, though you'd think from their name, they'd be dancing in the rain. They are hanging low, and in one bush, lots of flowerless new growth on top has suddenly appeared (see below by fence.)

Our bird bath is aged and needs to be replaced. But I rather like it's crackly, old personality. We weren't so thrilled when our neighbors a few years ago installed a fence, as it shrunk the park-like look of our back yard. But I have come to love it and it's a beautiful backdrop for a whole new section of garden. If you look closely between the rails you can see bits and pieces of the outdoor kitchen of the little girls next door. All kinds of delicious (mud) pies, cakes, jams and even salad dressings come from that kitchen!

Linking today to  Mary's Monday Mosaics.