Lazy Cloud at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Today in my own garden I continued organizing and cleanup for the fall.  For the last two years I have let a wild grape vine climb and grow over my remaining camellia all summer because they like to be in dappled shade, and we have lost ours where the camellia is planted.  It is too large and old to move and until we have big trees to the West again, it gets the late afternoon , hot sun. The grape vine seemed to protect it last year, so I let it happen this year as well.  This week I have cut the grape vine back, and pulled it out.  I don't think I lost too many buds off the camellia, and I now have a lot of grapevine available for craft projects.  It is stored under the house and as soon as the leaves dry out I will strip it and use it to make wreaths.

My bok choy, carrots, beets and peas continue to do well, but the starts of spinach seem to have disappeared.  There are only a couple of plants left.  There has also been a nocturnal critter digging around in baby bok, so I have lost a few of those.

I also made my trip to Petals From The Past in Jemison, AL to pick up my new shrubs.  I purchased 6 small Osmanthus, or tea olives and 4  Myrica, or wax myrtles otherwise known as bayberry.  Both shrubs are endemic to most of Alabama, and both are fragrant and good food sources for birds.  Both also have appealing natural shapes and don't need a lot of pruning and are evergreen. They grow well in sun or partial shade, wet or dry areas  and are not real fussy about soil types.

The wax myrtle's berries have been used since colonial times to make candles and you have probably enjoyed the smell of the candles, especially at Christmas time.  The clippings are also a natural flea repellant, so are good to put on the floor of dog houses. 

The shrubs will be used around the edges of the property as the start of a natural fence, and to camouflage one of my neighbor's fences.  They will have to be babied and carefully watered for most of the next year, until they get established, then will be mostly care free.  Next fall, I will add a  few more.

But  now , onto Lazy Cloud. My sister, Sandi, is one of the innkeepers at Lazy Cloud Bed and Breakfast. It is located in beautiful Williams Bay, where Allen and I lived before we moved to Alabama.  You can look it up at www.lazycloud.com/.  Lazy Cloud is a romantic getaway with 2 rooms and 8 suites.  Rates range from $139.00 to $249.00 and there are no children allowed.  The suites have double  whirlpools and fireplaces, and each has an individual name and decor. They also have romantic garden areas and here are a few pictures.

Yes, this is a very large chess game.

 The following pictures are of the Geneva Lake shore path at Williams Bay.  I used to walk this almost every day.  Sometimes even in the winter snow.  The shore line of Geneva Lake is over 20 miles long, and there is a local law requiring property owners to provide path access around the lake. It is a beautiful walk, and I have done the whole thing in one day once in my life when I was in my late 20's.  Other trips have been the half way around or only to the next village variety. I used to love to walk from Williams Bay to the village of Fontana to have breakfast at Lucy's Donuts.  We used to occasionally do the trips in an organized group and then have a picnic following the walk.  Walkers must stay on the path and are not allowed to use the private beaches or piers, or bother the homeowners.  This path is a treasure, and I still miss living near the lake.  Our house was only a couple of blocks away and when the leaves were off the trees we could see the lake from our second story bedroom.

Starting out at the lake shore park in Williams Bay

 The rocks in the area are all rounded like these.  The area was covered with glaciers and this is the result.  They make for beautiful landscaping  additions.  This was at the dock at Gage Marine.

 Just a little reminder . 

One of the little spring fed streams flowing down into the lake.

 Mums and marigolds!

 Hydrangea.

A group of piers, which will soon be up on shore.  They are all taken out in the winter, and stored up on the shore, or they would be broken up by the winter ice..

Some property owners pave the path, others leave it natural. Most all have planted gardens down near the lake.

 The next entry will feature the nature preserve in Williams Bay.
 My wish is to be able to live in Williams Bay or Fontana in the summer, and in Alabama in the winter.
  Happy fall planting to you!
Susan