One of the first attractions when approaching St. Walburg Monastery is the Angel Garden at the base of the Infirmary Entrance stairs and door. White hydrangea trees frame the statue and are complemented with shrubs and colorful impatiens. Several years ago, the garden was an anniversary gift to Sr. Emmanuel from John and Maria Martini. See photo
In our Vegetable Patch, cucumbers and basil are currently being harvested and served daily; tomatoes and peppers are promising and green beans will take some time to be ready.
The patio at the back door has had the loving attention of oblate Joan McAlonan and is very colorful with petunias, vinca, lavender, marigold and a variety of other flowers.
The courtyard patio has color in every season. As the blue stokesia died out, the sun found the raspberry color impatiens and they are coming alive. Yellow lilies lost their blossoms, as behind them, the white butterfly plant blossoms open up. Roses, among the first to show their beautiful colors in the spring, continue to delight us with new red, pink and crimson blooms. Perennials, including purple phlox, boxwood, pink hydrangeas and fuchsia hibiscus add depth and volume and form a backdrop for the Sacred Heart statue and smaller plants around two sides of the courtyard. And our river-gravel garden, featuring terra cotta pots, showcases healthy, multi-colored coleus.
As many of the readers know, this has been a very hot and rather rainy summer. Growing conditions are good for plants, bugs and birds. Currently, I am watching for box tree moths. The garden columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Christ McKeown, has issued a warning just this past Sunday, about this invasive insect and I follow his advice. I believe he also gave me the tip on “slug traps” which work very well.
As for the birds, we have robins year-round with a nest in the verbena but it’s always a special delight to have the hummingbirds come in the spring and feed in the courtyard ‘til fall where the sisters can watch them. There is something about their “flightiness” that is fascinating and makes us smile. I am busy filling the 2 feeders for them and trying to keep the ants under control around the sugar syrup reservoirs.
That’s all the news for now; if you’d like an in-person tour, let me know.
