goodyby garden

Tomorrow Wayne and I are leaving for Europe.  18 days in Switzerland and Italy.  I'm full of excitement, anxiety and dread about the trip, but that's the way I always feel before a big event.
I said goodby to my own garden today, deadheaded the spent flower heads, crushing a few scarlet lily beetles, and picking the last wild strawberries.  I will miss most of the day lilies in bloom, as well as the few lilies I missed pulling out. 
I got to enjoy the first Japanese iris.  The rest will bloom and fade without me.

I brought this rose bush with me from Chesterville Ontario when we moved to PEI 17 years ago.  And every year it has rewarded me with fabulous blooms from July until frost.

This malva is about six feet tall and full of flowers.

I hope to take pictures of some Swiss and Italian gardens, and post them when I get back.