This has been a week of visiting with friends and a much-needed break from fiction writing. I decided to take some time off, and I probably won’t return to fiction writing until mid-July. For the past month, there was a mighty push to get Library Lost finished, and my batteries need a chance to recharge. Of course, I’ve been thinking about the third book, and I’ve even come up with a new dimension called Down Cellar, which sounds like hell but is really a place outside time.
Anyway, I digress. Today, my friend Gayle invited me to come see her gardens, and that visit was the cherry on the sundae of a wonderful week. Here is the sign that greeted me when I pulled into her driveway.
That sign made this nature lover’s heart leap with joy, and as to be expected, Gayle’s yard and gardens were green and welcoming, filled with bushes, trees, plants, and water—all designed to encourage creatures that scamper, jump, flutter, and fly.
Like me, Gayle has a lot of shade in her yard, but she gets enough sun for various flowers, including white roses,
columbines,
foxgloves,
and a lovely delicate iris.
Most gardeners are very generous, and Gayle is no exception. She even gave me a plant to take home.
This plant is called Brunnera, and it likes shade. Those white patterned leaves are sure to brighten a shady spot in my garden.
Many thanks, Gayle—for the tour, for the plant, and for providing such a welcoming place for wildlife.
So inspiring.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Lovely!
So lovely!
What a wonderful place to visit for humans too.
Yes! Funny how that works.
Loved having you visit!
You have inspired me! I am going to check into having a wildlife certified yard, and another one of my blogging friends is too.
Looks like a great place to visit! 🙂
Sure is! I can hardly believe we have a place this good in rural central Maine.
Lovely photos of a lovely garden. This post makes me want to look into becoming a “Certified Wildlife Habitat.”
I am going to look into it too. Gayle has inspired.
This looks like wildlife heaven, what a wonderful garden Laurie! Enjoy your break from fiction writing and a happy weekend to you all! 🙂💖 xxx
If only more people would follow Gayle’s example.
I love that fancy columbine.
It is a beauty.
A beautiful garden! It’s good that you are taking time out to sharpen the saw. 😉 I’m looking forward to Book 2 and now you’re enticing me with bits of #3!
Thanks, Eliza!
A true haven, well photographed. Enjoy your break from fiction writing
Thanks, Derrick.
I love to see shade gardens – those hellebore leaves look very healthy and the foxglove is glorious. Have a wonderful, flower-filled break.
Many thanks!
What a lush gorgeous garden…. so great to have places for wild life and for people!
You bet! And one of those little signs will be in my yard the end of the month.
Visting a garden to relax is one of my favourite activity. Lovely captures Laurie.
Thanks, Rupali. Mine, too.
Your friend has a wonderful garden! I am pleased you had a lovely visit there and came away with a Brunnera too! Enjoy your fiction-free fortnight!
Thanks, Clare! Although I was thinking I might do just a bit of fiction writing on the patio this evening. Just a bit. 😉
Hehe!
Thanks for taking us along on the garden tour and enjoy your break from writing! Lovely photos!🙂
Many thanks! However, I might do a little fiction writing in a notebook this afternoon. On the patio. We’ll see. 😉
Sounds like just what you needed, Laurie.