Summer is fading fast! I mean, how the heck did we get to Labor Day weekend already? Wasn’t it just Memorial Day, the unofficial gateway to Summer and now we’re at the unofficial gateway to Fall? Not that Summer wasn’t around heat and humidity-wise … whew!
I visited Emily Frank Gardens way back on June 12th – it was my first visit for 2026 and clearly, the Gardens were not ready for prime-time yet and no, it wasn’t because the steadfast group of “Garden Angels” was slacking off. This band of volunteers works tirelessly from March through November to keep the Trenton Cultural Center looking beautiful for anyone who happens by. They also maintain MacArthur Park’s pollinator gardens just down the road. Lest you think the group only tends beautiful perennials and annuals, they also plant, maintain and harvest a huge produce garden in which all produce is trucked over to local senior centers for those who might not get out to fresh farm markets – “growing to give” is their motto.
I knew as soon as I got to the Gardens, I had visited the venue way too early and I should have known better. We had an over-long Winter, a cool and rainy Spring and in the days just before Memorial Day, our meteorologists were warning those who planted in-ground flowers and veggies that those tender plants needed to be covered.
But, there are always things to see at the Gardens anyway, even in mid-June.
The days are already getting shorter – and, as I write this post the end of July, we’ve already seen our last 9:00 p.m. sunset. Yes, slowly we’re creeping toward Winter – ugh.
Good day sunshine!
In the middle of the Gardens is a sundial and …
… it displays the message “Count Not But Sunny Hours”. I’ve enlarged the top of the sundial below so you can see it better.
I’ve been going to Emily Frank Gardens for about five or six years now and I always thought it was just yard art, something interesting to plunk in the middle of all the beautiful blooms.
But, on a whim, while writing this post, I decided to Google the image and see if this sundial was the “real deal” and, to my surprise, I learned a few facts about sundials in the process.
Well, it certainly was sunny that afternoon …
… and I was getting warmish with my sunhat, long-sleeved sun protection clothing and my heavy fanny pack strapped around my middle, but I stopped to pose for myself anyway. 🙂
I saw the birdbath and yes, that cool water sure looked inviting … if you were bird-sized of course. I had already had a two-hour walk at Lake Erie Metropark before coming here.
A quick stroll around the area, found none of those tireless Garden Angels at work – in fact, it appeared they had departed for the day, a watering can where it was last used and flats of flowers awaited planting.
I knew I would be back as Summer stretched on (and on) and the flower beds would eventually be filled in, but surprisingly, I never made it back until late August when their Sunflowers were at peak.
In the meantime, things still looked a little sparse.
I strolled over to the Moonglow Garden. This is one of the venues in the annual Moonglow Garden Walk every year. Many white flowers are planted in one area of the Gardens. I am sure it is spectacular to see them on a moonlit night. Last year, I spotlighted the Moonglow Garden, albeit in the daytime, with this post.
These flowers were early bloomers in the Moonglow Garden, the beautiful White Asiatic Lilies and …
… this Zinnia.
There are various painted rocks and signs about the Moonglow Garden Club – this is one of them.
Stunning white flowers may be appreciated, but who can resist taking a photograph of a perfect rose?
I strolled over to the area beyond these gardens to see what else was there to photograph.
I saw this birdhouse, but no bird activity that I could see as I peered in.
I saw no real bunnies, just this cement bunny tucked amidst the Hostas.
I must have lost my touch with squirrels as this black squirrel saw me and scrambled up the nearest tree.
I’m sure St. Francis is watching over the critters that frequent the Gardens.
Once the Sunflowers arrive, there will be Goldfinches flitting around, alongside the bees and butterflies.
I’ll bet St. Francis was watching over that little ol’ House Sparrow as I was photographing my fine feathered friend posing on the heart-shaped wreath.
If wishes were fishes ….
By now, you have been scrolling through this post, past 20+ photos, perhaps wondering about the title “Oh Boy, Koi!”
The pond at the Gardens was filled with Koi and Pond Lilies as well. There were no blooms on the Lilies yet, just a single bud for now – the delicate flowers would emerge later in the Summer.
The Bald Eagle and Heron know enough to leave the Koi alone, despite my featured image photo to the contrary.
The pond and its small waterfall are very peaceful.
Who’s up for a little whimsy?
I always pop over to the Children’s Garden near the big red barn. There I saw these two whimsical fellows. I’m always up for a little whimsy for my blog since “WHIMSY” is part of the title.
This is the entrance to the barn. All Summer there are daily crafts for children to do and the barn also serves as a place to host art sessions for adults, like painting and they have a craft show here as the holidays near.
Just a wild guess here – fingerpainting must have been on a recent agenda at the art barn. I agree – hands down, this is the best venue to visit for color, beauty and a peaceful interlude to your day!
A final touch of whimsy … I’ve enjoyed experimenting with ink-and-wash paintings this Summer. I did this pond with Koi during a real hot spell when staying inside just made more sense than walking in the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, there have been way too many of those days.
I’m looking forward to cooler days to help boost my steps and images on the camera card!
Terri does not have a Challenge today due to the Labor Day holiday, so I will link this post to Terri’s Flower Hour tomorrow. It’s not much of a hike at this venue as it’s a street corner filled with flowers and veggies, but I’ll link to Pepper’s One Step at a Time Challenge as well.
Linda Schaub
Most beautiful post. Thanks. Happy I read your beautiful share. Yes. We’re all looking forward to cool days and glorious autumn scenes. Farewell to summer.
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Thank you Selma! I know I will complain in Winter about the weather … the snow and ice, more than the cold. But then I should remember how I complained about this never-ending heat and humidity too. No pleasing me sometimes!
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It must take a huge amount of work to keep that garden presentable.
I imagine that If humans were not around Nature would take over. It would be a very different garden then!
Love your painting of the Koi btw.
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It does indeed Wayne – there are many volunteers there on a daily basis. I do think they take Sundays off as I’ve been there on a Sunday and been by myself. Last time there was a man playing a recorder. It was very peaceful, just him in a corner and me walking around the gardens. It is a beautiful place to visit, just a large corner of a main street. I visited again recently, about three weeks ago and the garden had filled in nicely and looked spectacular – some nice pond lilies as well. I was a little early for sunflowers, as I only saw about 10, so I have to go back again. I agree with you. It would be a lot of rosebushes and perennials growing wildlike! Glad you liked my Koi!
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I’ve always found human made nature to be too tame
I prefer the wild stuff myself.
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I wish you were still on Facebook Wayne. I am following this little Bobcat kitten that is being rehabbed there. If I thought the baby Beaver getting burped was cute, well this kitten is even cuter. It has all the mischief of a regular kitten, only double the size and these mesmerizing light-blue eyes (which I understand will darken as it ages).
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they are cute at that stage, aren’t they!
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Yes, so sweet! Another video had it sticking its paw out between the cage bars. But it was not trying to scratch someone; it fell asleep that way. They have moved it into a big room and removed most of its cage covers to everyone can interact with it. Before, it was too scared and cowered in the corner.
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You put your indoor time to good use – the koi pond painting is lovely, so peaceful, cool, and refreshing. It looks like you had a rare nice time in the Emily Frank Gardens. I know you’re much taller than me so I marveled at your ability to peer into the birdhouse! Love those whimsical bugs in the children’s garden.
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Thank you Barbara! I took that one week to do some painting awhile ago, then put away everything thinking I’d be going out more (which has happened some, but not as much as I normally do due to the weather mostly). I also have all my posts done through November 11th. I’ve never been two months ahead before. I have some sailboats that I’m going to include in a November post as well. I did return to Emily Frank Gardens about three weeks ago and the gardens were all at peak and looked great. The sunflowers were out, not many – about ten, so I have to go back again soon to see them. Those bugs were very whimsical and I had not noticed them before. I was taking pictures of that sparrow on the heart-shaped wreath that I featured as a Wordless Wednesday awhile back and saw them out of the corner of my eye.
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Your artwork is lovely!
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Thank you Kate! I sat down and did several paintings back in our first run of very hot weather, thinking it will cool off eventually, Then, the second run of hot weather in July, then again last week, I’ve been doing blog posts up to November 11th. I’ve never been that far ahead before.
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Well that was a nice walk even if things weren’t yet at their peak. I usually miss the peak anyway. Pen and I went for a long walk yesterday. It was such a beautiful day. I hope your Labor Day is beautiful too! PS: Love your koi painting!
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Thank you Dawn! I thought I would do a fun Koi painting for this post and over the Winter I’ll try and do a pond lily with a flower to go with some photos I took at Lake Erie Metropark. It was a beautiful long weekend after such severe weather last week, perfect for you two to get out for a long walk and hopefully get a lot of pics too. Our city had our second tornado this year and I was lucky to be unscathed, but the damage to Memorial Park was just amazing. It was on the ground just one minute, but felled many of the trees, split other ones in two or took off huge limbs.
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I had a cool time reading this post on the porch. It was a relief to have less heat and humidity. I always enjoy your excellent photographs.
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Thank you Anne! Glad to cool you off! We had a nice Labor Day weekend weather-wise after last week’s heat and humidity and severe storms.
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You deserved good weather after all you’ve gone through this year.
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Anne, we had an EF-0 tornado a block away from me Thursday afternoon after two rounds of severe weather on Thursday afternoon. I’m pretty shaken by this and seeing the damage. Two tornadoes in our city this year, but the park where it went through is pretty much destroyed, whole trees uprooted and many trees split in half, all old and established trees. I felt sick seeing all the damage.
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What a shock! That was too close for comfort! I presume you heard it clearly.
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Yes, I was terrified as I was in the basement and I could hear debris hitting the house and I did not know there was an actual tornado or that it was that close, but the both City sirens were going off and I have a weather alarm, which I really like as it gives advance warning as to “watches” then as to “warnings” when it becomes severe. This bad weather was not going to hit this area until 7:00 p.m. but came early and there was no “watch” alert this time on the weather radio – it went right to “warning” and the tornado was 15 minutes later. I’m still pretty shaken up about it after seeing all the devastation and I have a large dead tree behind me which, if it fell, would take out the house.
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The whole experience was sobering! Worse than sobering!!
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Yes, you’re right Anne. I have really said a lot of prayers of thanks the last few days. You know I am a weather worrier to begin with, but this just gives me more weather-related angst!
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What a pleasant outing. Loved the whimsical creatures, and your painting is wonderful Linda! You do have talent….for color and form…..especially for a beginner!
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Thank you Joni! Wait until you see how the gardens looked in August, two months later. I stopped by and took a lot of photos then, with a few sunflowers too – maybe 10 of the plants were in bloom and I hope to get back to see if there are more as they have so many varieties of sunflowers there. I’m glad you liked the painting. I thought it would be fun to do a whimsical-looking, ink-and-wash painting to go with the post. I still have some sailboats I haven’t used, plus a couple more that I painted and can’t decide whether to use them or not. I really am liking the ink-and-wash as I don’t have as many blending issues as I do sometimes with this new artist I have subscribed too. She is okay, but her tutorials are looser, less structured, not like Julia’s (my original artist/teacher whose courses I took).
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You’ve come a long way since you started such a short time ago!
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Thank you Joni! I look back at the first flowers I did and can see it … that makes me happy and I really like the ink-and-wash paintings as my painting is less apt to blend badly. While I don’t want to say that I’m looking forward to Winter, I am looking forward to taking the time to sit and paint more than I have this Summer. I painted that one week, thinking I’d be out a heck of a lot more than I have. Now I have heard that the heat will not take a hike mid-month, but the end of the month. I give up!
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Linda…..I sent you a short email on Thurs, in reply to your photos of the storm, but today gmail said they were unable to deliver it to comcast. The message was from yesterday, 24hrs later. Is your comcast still down? I sent a new message this afternoon, Sat 4pm, let me know if you get it? Joni
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Hi Joni – I did not get your e-mail from Thursday, but I did get your e-mail today passing along the info about the undeliverable e-mail. I am very frustrated right now. The guy has not contacted me since Friday afternoon about coming to remove the huge tree limb that is stuck in the utility wires. I want it removed, not only because it’s affecting my internet, but it sure isn’t good for where it landed between the two, large, 60-year-old Firebushes. I’m surprised it isn’t affecting my landline too, but I am not having any issues with it as of now. When the landline has a problem, it blinks and is dead and I’ve gotten my share of junk calls in the past week. Thank you for telling me about the failed mail. I saved your message in case I have to deal with Comcast. I just got a new modem and all new Comcast wiring the morning of the tornado.
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Beautiful photos, as always. This looks like a lovely park to stroll around in! I especially like the pond with the waterfall and the koi pond, which you captured nicely in your painting. The sundial was interesting as well. I can’t believe it’s September already! I know this summer wasn’t ideal, but I’m always sad to see the end of it. Here’s hoping fall will be pleasant and mild!
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Thank you Debbie about the photos AND the painting! I thought it would be fun to do a little ink-and-wash drawing of the koi pond. I’ve been back to the gardens since then, when they were at peak and they were exquisite. I’ll roll out that post in Winter when we need some color and flowers to brighten our day. I never knew those facts about the sundial and just thought it was some yard art. Thanks Google AI for enlightening me! I got some more pictures of the pond, with some gorgeous pond lilies and took photos of that and will try to paint this sometime over the Winter. While I was there that last time, in the morning, there was a guy playing a recorder (an instrument I never heard of until a few years ago when a blogger mentioned having played one in school) … anyway, it was very peaceful to hear. I am just so done with Summer and this severe weather. I had severe weather last week, multiple bouts of it, the culmination of that extreme heat and humidity Tuesday through Thursday. We had an EF-0 tornado Thursday afternoon in a park just a block from where I live and the devastation is beyond words … I am quite shaken by it and I was so very fortunate to be unscathed.
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I’ll look forward to those posts, Linda! 👌Your weather sounds awful, and I’m glad you survived the tornado unscathed. Toronto had a forceful storm that caused a lot of flooding and damage, but thankfully, Oakville was spared. Just a lot of rain here.
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Thank you Debbie! It was terrible and I hope we ease into Fall soon, but Fall, if it’s warm, may cause dangerous storms too, hopefully no tornadoes. I was watching videos of the Toronto storms and all the flooding – it was terrible. I think they were the day before our first round of storms on Wednesday. Wish I was still in Oakville that’s for sure!
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Those whimsical figures are cute! So much personality in those faces. I can’t believe that this weekend was Labor Day weekend. It just feels like we had Memorial Day. That’s the best time for me: Right when school gets out and we head into the lull days of June. This June and July was nothing lull since we had the summer class and my mom’s constant emergencies. I didn’t think I was ready for fall but I don’t mind getting into the routines of school and other schedules. We went to Target today and Halloween decorations were out already and school supplies were on its way out. Time goes too quickly!
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I thought they were whimsical too Esther – perfect for my blog. I am glad for Summer to end as we had several rounds of severe weather last week, plus three days of very high temps and humidity (“real feel” of 102) … just horrible and it fueled all the bad weather, including a nearby EF-0 tornado. I’m just so done with Summer and can’t wait for Fall, my favorite season to begin!! I did see some Halloween decorations and costumes, etc. at my grocery store when I was there two weeks ago … they’ll be putting up the Christmas trees soon as well! I hope you get to enjoy some Fall weather too … plus a little more R&R after your hectic, trying Summer!
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What a great variety today. It’s too bad we are so late in the year. Everyone could have used a boost from a koil spring. 🙂
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Thank you JP – yes, a boost from a koil spring would perk up everyone’s spirits for sure. 🙂 I have much nicer pictures from when the gardens were at peak and will keep them until Wintertime when we need a big boost when Winter drags on and on (and we all, me included, wish we hadn’t protested about the Summertime temps so much).
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I love the bird posing on the wreath. Your koi painting is beautiful!
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I liked that bird too Linda – it was my favorite part of my visit that day. I’m glad you liked my painting too. I thought it would be fun to add a painting to this post and it was easier to paint than the little bird. 🙂
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I love these pics that make me want to visit there, Linda. Where is this garden? 😊
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Hi Pepper – thank you! It probably looks larger than it is, in case you are perhaps thinking it is like visiting Proven Winners Trial Gardens located around our state. This is basically a house on a piece of property which they call the Trenton Cultural Center and it is located on a street corner, 2427 West Rd, Trenton, just off Fort Street. Most of the property there is not flowers, but is encompassed by a big red barn and beside the barn is the Children’s Garden (toys for kids to play with in a fenced-in area) and all the produce that the volunteers grow.
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Thanks, Linda. It still sounds like a fun place to experience if I am in the area. 😊
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Yes, you would enjoy it … I wanted you to know that was not a very large venue. 🙂
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I don’t mind small places. Beauty can be found in the smallest of places sometimes. 😉
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Spoken like a true macro photographer!
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hehe! I had not even thought of that. 😁
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So many beautiful flowers, Linda! What a wonderful walk. I enjoyed seeing the whimsical fellows from the Children’s Garden and your lovely whimsical painting of the Koi and Pond Lilies. Our weather man keeps referring to a “cool spell” as our temperatures being 92 instead of 99. I, too, am looking forward to a real cool spell. 🙂
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Thank you Rebecca! When I returned there in August, all the flowers were at peak and the gardens looked so beautiful and there were some pretty Pond Lilies in bloom, so I’d like to try and paint them over the Winter (hopefully). I am having fun with the ink-and-wash painting and the Koi and Pond Lilies was fun to do. Your temps of 92 instead of 99 wouldn’t be too enticing to me either. We had that hot weather last week (real feel of 102) which brought multiple rounds of severe weather, including an EF-0 tornado a block from me. So many trees uprooted, split in two at Memorial Park and I am grateful for no damage, although there is a big limb from a dead tree caught in the wires which is giving me some angst but we had 300,000+ power outages and more from a storm this morning, so they won’t be by to remove the branches tangled in the wires for about a week. Bring on Fall!
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I look forward to your garden and lily paintings to come. You have artistic talent and seem to have fun with it. I’m so glad the tornado missed you. I know one that close by had to have been a harrowing experience. I’m sorry to hear of the damage at Memorial Park and of the power outage. Hoping that all will return to normal around you soon.
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Thank you Rebecca. I’m thinking it is a nice quiet past time and hope to hone my skills more as time goes on. Yes, it was harrowing and it was just too close for comfort. I know tornadoes are commonplace for your state – I truly don’t know how you deal with it so often as this has left me quite shaken.
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I can imagine that you would be. It would be nice to have a house with a basement. We really don’t have a safe place to go except an inside hall. Fortunately this year has been pretty mild so far. I’m hoping it stays that way.
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I hope it stays that way for you too Rebecca. My favorite meteorologist says to always put on a bike helmet to protect your head, so if I’ve not shared that with you, that is a good tip. I no longer have a bike I ride outside, but I have put on that bike helmet too many times this year already.
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I’ve not heard that before. Good idea.
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Yes, I thought so too Rebecca.
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Lots of green summer memories here, Linda, and it sure flew fast. All those flowers! Love the koi pond. Your painting turned out well!
We’ve had 4 days of rain, mostly overnight or afternoon mountain showers. We’re thankful for cooler air and the hints of autumn!
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Thank you Terri! When I went back last month, the gardens were just brimming with beautiful flowers everywhere. The Pond Lilies were out as well, just gorgeous. I will try to paint the Pond Lilies over the Winter. After the EF-0 tornado a block away last Thursday, I checked all around the house, grateful for no damage, but today when I went out in the yard, I noticed a long limb from the dead tree in the yard behind had impaled my Fire Bush and the branches from the limb were tangled in the wires – yikes! I felt sick after seeing it … I called my energy provider and they will come within a week, hopefully sooner! I never noticed it last Thursday and asked my neighbor today and he said “sure, I saw it!” I was concentrating on the house, not the back garden … that’s the only bush left after the rest was burned back in 2022 from another tree limb that landed on the electrical wire and started a fire.
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Oh no, I’m sorry about your bush! Darn weather! Hope it turns out well for you!
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Thank you – I hope the bush survives and I hope nothing happens with this wire like before. I am just so done with Summer and severe weather!
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Miss Linda……………………………………………..my but your “ink and wash” paintings are very pretty and delicate looking…………………………..You do have a great talent in painting!……………………………….I enjoyed your blog today…………………………..
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Thank you Ann Marie! I am enjoying the ink-and-wash painting, a little easier to do as I have issues with blending colors sometimes. Emily Frank Gardens was somewhat in bloom back them, not at peak, so I went back in mid-August and it was gorgeous. A man was playing a recorder in the garden – it was so peaceful!
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St. Francis presides over our garden as well (like Santa, he seems to be in many places at once). From the koi pond photo, I had no idea turtles come in blue/purple/pink instead of shades of dull green 🙂 And zinnias sure make for a nice compact bloom, which is my preference. The South is full of magnolias by contrast, which as you know make for big, messy blooms. Not a fan.
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That St. Francis does get around doesn’t he Dave? They have two St. Francis statues in one garden. I had one in my garden too – now it is in the garage awaiting whether I put in another perennial garden or not. We have unique-looking turtles here in Michigan don’t we? 🙂 I’ll bet it is painted to glow in the dark for their annual Moon Garden Walks. I went back to Emily Frank Gardens in August and they had so many zinnias, all ablaze in color – it was a gorgeous sight and I took a lot of photos. I’ll keep that visit’s post for Winter when everything is gray and blah outside to give us a much-needed lift!
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I have to tell you something funny about Zinnias. So over the summer I got the gardening itch. I decided to start small with some flower seeds. I wanted something that would return every year so when I saw “annual” zinnias I thought “perfect!”. Well you see the issue. I mistakenly should have got perennials. But I have some zinnias about to bloom out back I can enjoy for a couple months. I’m watching them like a hawk, eager for my first ever planted flowers to actually bloom. The first thing I didn’t destroy with my opposite-of-a-green thumb. 😂
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I went back to this big garden in August and they had zinnias in every color – they were gorgeous. And a man playing a recorder in the middle of one of the garden spots. I have never planted zinnias, but they attract pollinators, so I think you had a win-win situation in the end. Look at it this way, if we have a harsh, snowy Winter then you don’t have to worry about the plants coming back. I lost my entire butterfly garden, including butterfly bushes which are supposed to be hardy, after the Winter of 2013-2014 when we had a Polar Vortex that lasted a long time. I never replanted after that.
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I love your perspective on this! So true.
I am sorry about losing your butterfly garden though, so sad!!! I get why you wouldn’t replant though, gardening certainly is time intensive.
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Thank you Mackenzie. I decided after losing the garden as a result of the first Polar Vortex (2013-2014) I would not start over. Then I lost all but two bushes out of my back garden after a downed wire fire in December 2022 – that solidified my decision. A few weeks ago, we had an EF-0 tornado one block over. My neighbor behind has a very large dead tree and one of its limbs fell down in the 70 mph winds right into the back garden, between the two remaining bushes! I can’t imagine how it didn’t kill them, but it’s been removed and I hope those Fire Bushes are red and beautiful as they have been the last six decades. Now, if I want to see pretty flowers I go here. I went back in August when everything was a peak – it was gorgeous. I also go to the Botanical Gardens, a lot less work and worry!
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It really does feel like we blinked and went straight from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. That summer heat and humidity certainly made things heavy this year. Reading about your trip to Emily Frank Gardens back in June makes me think of how tough it can be to stroll around when the air is that thick. When the humidity gets high, our joints can actually hold more fluid, making knees and hips feel stiff. I have found that taking very slow, deliberate steps where you roll your weight fully from heel to toe helps pump that fluid out and eases the stiffness. It is a simple way to keep moving comfortably. Hopefully the cooler fall weather brings some relief.
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Dan, this has been an awful Summer (in my opinion) and, it is the season in which I do most of my walking and photographing for my blog, but this heat, humidity, smoky skies, incessant rain and ever-present windy days has made it kind of tough. I went back to Emily Frank Gardens a few months later when everything was at peak and took lots of pictures for a Winter post when we’ll welcome the colorful blooms. The volunteers work tirelessly, no matter how hot and humid it is, which makes me say to myself “and you are complaining about walking, not endless, sometimes backbreaking garden work!” I’m hoping Fall will bring cooler weather. I actually put on the furnace today as we’ve had temps in the 60s and an all-day rain.
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