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Wednesday 17 September 2008

Sighs and a Sumac

Sometimes the sky just makes you sigh .. I'm not sure why .. good grief, no ... I'm not a "poet and don't know it" .. it has just been a few odd days.





It has been a weird few days lately. I haven't been able to get out in the garden. I think that frustrates me and I just spiral down a bit. I took some shots last evening .. clouds .. sun "sitting" on the wrong side of the house .. so a bit overly bright in the back garden. Colours wash out and I'm not sure how to adjust them. But I love my glorious Sumac for looking so unusual because I planned ahead of time .. to prune it a certain way .. and it actually worked out .. I have never seen one done the way I wanted this one formed .. so it is kind of special. I think gardeners are like parents in a way. We want our "kids" to be healthy and happy and grow up to stand out in the crowd. A lot of the time things don't go as planned and we make detours in our thinking ... to be realistic .. to come to terms with how life 'happens" out of kilter. All this thought and over a Sumac ? .. no .. yes .. maybe ? .. Its just been a few odd days.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

You didn't climb up that high to take that third picture did you? :-) That's a lovely shot of the garden.

Anonymous said...

We gardeners, in my opinion, are simply artists with a canvas that is a landscape. So yes, I fully understand this notion. And it is gorgeous.
Brenda

Pat said...

Your Sumac is beautiful. Nice job!!

Sometimes things work out as planned then there are times that sh__ happens.
Last year was the most horrible year of my life and I wouldn't wish it on anyone...but I'm a survivor and that's good enough.

So that's really a sumac with the red pointed things on top?
Never saw anything like it before.
Very cool.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Patsi .. funny how we almost voice our bits of out of wack life on here .. I can understand what you have said about a very bad year in your life.
And yes ... s*** does seem to snowball and happen.
This Sumac is a Staghorn cultivar .. but not seen often as such a tall single standard .. they are usually like tallish shrubs that are in colonies .. so making this one almost look like a palm tree .. was FUN !

Hi Brenda .. yup ! you got it : )
But even more extraordinary .. ours is a living canvas which is a lot trickier than "static" oils or water colour .. so I think we are ... special ! LOL

Hi Louise .. nope, but I was in my pajamas, on the deck like a clown taking pictures ! LOL

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I love the prunning job too. Mine is spaced out and I guess you would say "airy"? Now will your leaves change? Mine turn a dark red/yellow/orange color.

Anonymous said...

I really do like the way you've pruned and sculpted your staghorn! All neat and tidy and nicely formed. :) The cloud photos are lovely -- and a sky like that really does make you sigh.

Gail said...

Joy,

I am just crazy about your Sumac. It is a wonderful tree that I wish I had in my garden! it has a lovely presence. The sky photos are wonderful; fall and winter skies are often more beautiful then summer skies. Since I am so behind in visiting, am hoping that you are back in the garden! warmest, gail

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Gail .. I'm trying to have a garden day tomorrow .. lots to do !
I think that is true too .. the skys in Autumn and winter are really dramatic .. so I'm trying to keep an eye out for some good pictures .. hey .. don't worry about catching up .. it will come when you are ready ? : 0

Hi Nancy .. that Sumac is the only thing that may look formal in my garden .. but it was something I was "driven" ? to do .. I went on instinct totally .. yup the sky is a fascinating thing to watch .. you never know who may be looking back at you ? LOL

Hi Cindee .. a BIG YES ! to change of colour in the leaves .. sumacs are gorgeous leaves to see change, so I'll be watching mine intently and hoping to get good pictures too !

Megan said...

I'm so happy to see your sumac! As you saw, I recently lost a sumac I used to see regularly, so its a sight for sore eyes.

WiseAcre said...

I like the 'tropical' look on your sumac.

Me, I told the kids to get out of the crowd when they start to arrest people.

I have some more shrooms ready for ya soon.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Dear Mr. WiseA** .. Yes : ) it does look slightly like a plam tree to me , so tropical .. hubby goes to Cuba late November every year with some hockey friends .. so I try to ready him with tropical views ?
Hey .. people are going to talk about "us" and the shrooms my man ! haha

Megan .. YES ! I read that story and thought wow .. I would have felt the same way EXACTLY .. bitter disappointment .. hope mine helps a bit especially when it changes colour ! : )

Viooltje said...

Joy, how beautifully said. I often sigh at the skies too. But then I look around and most of the people are too busy to look up or even let out a sigh. Their loss! I absolutely love your Sumac. Beautiful shape and a credit alone to his mummy. My neighbor has an ancient sumac so high it sends its babies all over the neighboring gardens, I had many babies popping out in the veg garden, but my dad never gave them a chance. I'm sure one look at your prideful son and he would change his mind instantly! My compliments.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Violet !
Skies are so beautiful and dramatic to me .. I think I could day dream all day watching the clouds float by. I'm sorry that a lot of people can't find some tiny scrap of awe in them when, or even if they look .. I think gardeners have that in them naturally .. I think of fardmers too .. being so concerned with the weather .. they are so dependant on good weather.
We can enjoy it but not worry like they do thankfully.
I saw some astounding Sumacs (and other trees/plants) in Holland .. ancient looking is how I would describe them too .. everything in Holland was amazing to me. I'm so glad we had that opportunity.
Thank you so much for the compliments girl ! : )

Anonymous said...

Great skies and sumac! Love the "aerial" shot - nice overview. A serene feeling, overall... Deb

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Deb .. thanks ! .. yup , it does seem to have a serene feeling to me too : )