August 8, 2011

Peonies and Strawberries!

A Corgyncombe Country Garden!
The beautiful summer weeks have been full of goat tending, weeding, and harvesting.
Sometimes the only times we have to work on our Corgyncombe Courant blog is during rainy days, if it's not thundering. This year's peony season passed all too quickly as the rain poured forth with so much abundance that their beauty was short-lived.
The photographs above and below were taken several years ago.


Peonies gathered in a basket on the huge stone step.


Fresh strawberries and Tasha Tudor Welsh Breakfast Tea.


At Corgyncombe there are lovely wild Columbines that come in white, pink, and purple-blue.


A luscious bouquet of fresh cut peonies to enjoy with afternoon tea.
Diane's grandmum called peonies, pineys. 'Tis an old fashioned term.



Diane found an old copy of English Flower Garden at an old bookstore.
The cover with the gilt flowers reflects the candlelight.
In the front are words by William Wordsworth:

"Laying out grounds, as it is called, may be considered as a liberal art, in some sort like poetry and painting; and its object, like that of all the liberal arts, is, or ought to be, to move the affections under the control of good sense. If this be so when we are merely putting together words or colours, how much more ought the feeling to prevail when we are in the midst of the realities of things; of the beauty and harmony, of the joy and happiness of living creatures; of men and children, of birds and beasts, of hills and streams, and trees and flowers, with the changes of night and day, evening and morning, summer and winter, and all their unwearied actions and energies." - Wordsworth



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7 comments:

The BUTT'RY and BOOK'RY said...

Dearest Diane and Sarah.
The copy of English Flower Garden book does reflect the candle light so warmly. Hasn't August come upon us so abruptly?
Rain and much MUGGY heat has been a formula to neglect my garden, but the "pineys" made a brief appearance here before a hard rain pummeled them mercilessly to the ground ;-(
At the Agricultural Fair last weekend,I fell in love with the dearest sweetest pair of "lovie-dovie" Nubie Doe Kiddles and I thought of you Gals! ;-)
Wishing you Many many Blessings, Linnie

Marqueta (Mar-kee-ta) G. said...

Dear Diane and Sarah,

A truly lovely post, as always! We dote on pink peonies, and even more on red strawberries! The book looks delightful. I'm sure you'll get lots of use out of it with your beautiful gardens.

Love,

Marqueta

Gretel said...

I have just popped over from Jeri's blog and very glad I did - what a civilised and beautiful place it is here, and now I am curious about what violet jelly tastes like. Greetings from sunny England!

jerilanders said...

Dear Diane and Sarah, I swear, you set the most beautiful table!
My "Pineys" lasted about 3 days.. and that was at least a month ago. But I was so grateful they bloomed at all, seeing as they never had done so before! I am happy you can be out in the garden, ours has become a veritable jungle of wrangled weeds... I am mortified.
Beautiful words from Wordsworth, how very true.
Cousin Jeri

Christie Jones Ray said...

Your post includes our favorite elements...beautiful peonies, lovely tea setting, and a beautiful old gilded book...on flowers!! How it causes a smile each and every time I visit. Our peonies withered too fast as well, but it was the terrible heat. I must find some to plant here at rose water...for I heard transplanting peonies is misfortune indeed. Our roses are thriving, but the hydrangeas are struggling being planted so late. If they can survive, next spring will be glorious! Thank you for your visit...I can never create a new post until I have had a visit from you two, my dear dear friends:) we have an invitation over at grammy's house when you are enjoying your next rainy day...hugs to the kiddles...
Your dear friends at rose water cottage,
Christie, Eliza, the duckling, Daphne, and Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy mice

Jorgelina said...

The book looks delightful.

Kit1934 said...

Apologies for this late comment...I'm currently trying to catch up on all of your beautiful posts as I've only just been made aware of this very special blog. I had to comment on this post especially as my own dear grandmother always called peonies "pineys", as does my mother. I thought we were the only ones who did- I'm pleased to see others did as well.

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