July Garden

Welcome to my garden in July.

It's been warm and things are really growing in the heat.

This is the walkway to my front door.

Mostly sedums, daylillies, hostas.

This corner flower bed is up by the hot gravel road. It's a long way to bring a hose, so what ever gets planted here, has to be pretty hardy.  I'm proud to say that I have finally gotten to the point where I do not have to buy any annuals for this bed.  William Baffin climbing rose, Russian sage, lily, Shasta daisy, and two kinds of sedums.  I'm trying to grow a front border alternating the two kinds of sedums.

My sedum collection.

Not sure if I like this layout.

One of the few annuals that I do buy are red geraniums.

I always put them in large containers since I don't like to water too often.

Can't have too many Stella D'oro daylillies.

Starting to get some color in the big flower bed.

Achillea "The Pearl" is becoming invasive.

Next year I am going to sink it into a pot to control if from spreading so much.

Two of my favorites in the background, "Carl Forrester" reed grass and "Marshall's Delight" monarda.

The back of this bed is pretty much a row of "Autumn Joy" sedum.  I find using this large sedum across the back of the bed helps to keep the bed upright and makes a nice line of repetition in the background.  The dark perennial in front is a new one, "Black Scallop" bugleweed.  Again, the petunia is in a big barrel.  I don't like to water!

Across the center is one of my favorite sedums, "Matrona".

You cannot have too many sedums!

Around the patio is "Dragon's Blood" sedum.  Right now it is blooming bright pink.

Another great perennial, coral bells or heuchera.  These come in many colors, from lime green to this deep burgandy color.  Like most of my perennials, I don't know it's exact name because I probably got it as a little plant from another gardener.  That is what makes gardening so much fun, sharing extra plants with others and collecting new plants from my garden friends.  Enjoy!

Lunch on the Patio

Nice afternoon for lunch on the patio.

Great Grandma's old copper wash tub makes a great water feature.

Paxton loves to play in water.

June Gardens

 Perennial garden by the lake. Doesn't lool like much this early in the season. I've finally gotten to the point where I give lots of plants away in early spring.  As far as annuals, all that I buy are red geraniums and a few other annuals for color.  I divide my plants a lot.  I'm a "cheap" gardener!

Looking down on the patio area. 

Here you see mostly spirea bushes and hostas. 

I love these smaller hostas that border this north side bed.  Sedums behind the hostas.

The paper birch is now as tall as the stairway.  When we purchased this house 10 years ago, there was one tree in the front yard and no other landscaping!

 

Hosta collection in the north side bed.

 I plant almost all of my annuals in large pots or barrels.  Less watering!

My sedum collection.  These were just transplanted, so I'm sure they will look better as the growing season progresses. Sedums are the easiest perennial to grow.  Just pinch off a piece, put it into the ground, keep it watered, and you have a new plant!  I'll share more pictures as the season progresses!



After 34 years, a change...

My goal is to write on my blog weekly.  Well, it's been three weeks but I've been kind of busy.  Friday was my last day of school, after a teaching career of 34 years.  Cleaning out my classroom was more work than I thought it would be.  Bob and the girls had a little retirement party at the house with family friends and co-workers.  Lots of good food and consversation.

The double chocolate cake was delicious.

Here's to the next 34 years!

It's finally spring.

The dock is out.

The tulips are blooming.

Spring is finally here!

Piper and Liam came to visit Grandma.

Piper, 3 1/2

Liam, 1 1/2

One of their favorite things to do at grandma's house is to play in the porch.  This little play cupboard was made by my dad in the 50's.  It was in the "girl's playhouse" when I was growing up.

The five girls, Sandy. me, Teresa, Sue, and Cathy.

Woodticks are out!

I found a woodtick on my earlobe Thursday night.  Pulled it off and treated the dogs with Frontline.  Friday my ear became swollen and "weepy".  By Saturday morning the left side of my face started to swell.  Ended up at the walkin clinic with a major infection.  All because of a little woodtick bite! 

Spring is here!  Everyday something new comes up.

It's amazing how this weekend is so different from last weekend.  Last week snow, today it is in the 70's.  We even mowed lawn this week. 

Paxton came to visit on Mother's Day.

Why do they make blue M&M's?

Is it May Day or Christmas?

Couldn't believe my eyes this morning, snow!  Even the dogs didn't like it.

The daylillies are just starting to come up. 

Yesterday we spent the afternoon putting down 35 bags of mulch around the house.  When we came to the last few bags, they were frozen solid.  I left the last one to thaw and I'd spread it later.  I don't think that will happen today. 

I guess you have to look at the bright side.  I was going to repair the dozens of dog spots in the front yard today.  You can't see them with the snow on the ground!