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May 20, 2012

Watching and Waiting....

Watching and waiting to see each and 
every tree, shrub and plant bloom. 
Cranesbill (Hardy Geranium)
Last year these were blooming around June 14th
Although this is just the beginning we are a bit
ahead of schedule! I'm watching constantly
and amazed at what I'm seeing so early on.

Waiting for the Peonies to bloom...
they are full of flower heads!  Ten days ago
I put grow cages around them....The plant was
just barely through the top of the cages- They've
 grown twice as tall since then!

Waiting for the Delphiniums- they just got going too!

Another Cranesbill called "Lizabeth"
which is how my name is spelled, so I
had to have these! I should have tried harder
for a better picture! It was hot and I was
rushing! It's coming up nicely but I have a
feeling it's going to be a few years before
they get to be a nice size.  Maybe they will
double up this year?  I can always hope!
I'll watch and wait!

This Japanese Maple is doing well.  They make such
a nice contrasting color to the woods and our home.

This little corner is in front of the the
bedrooms and the living room addition we
added in 1996.  I've got a mix of things here 
including this "Coral Bark" Japanese Maple 
which is  S L O W to grow! Spireas in the
forefront, a tall grass and some Ninebarks to 
the right.
  We put lava down in the mid 1990's which
I now regret. It's a stinker to try to open up 
a spot to dig...and it's weird to walk on!
 My office is the smaller window with the
shade pulled...that's where I tap tap tap way on 
the keyboard!
 See, this is my view from there.  My island out front
has Stella d'Oro lilies that should start blooming
before too long. 

See the coral colored bark!  
Boy it was hot today and yesterday!
We hit 91 both days....lots of sun!

My Ninebark has a fungus-mildew.  I didn't notice
it until recently, but it's rather unsightly!  I have never
seen this plant get this before, so I was surprised.  I
have a feeling it's because of the warm up we had in
March, then the numerous frosts, causing moisture to 
stay on the leaves.  It has lots of aeration so I don't know
why else it would get it.  I am reading on it and there 
are a variety of suggestions.

Waiting to see these Dutch Iris bloom.  They
are real close! Again last year around June 14th
they were blooming! 
(Please ignore the grass that I haven't wed out!)

They follow the edge of a turnaround on the driveway.

This is my PeeGee Hydrangea that I am praying
will perform better this year.  Of course the year
I bought it- it was dripping with gorgeous flowers,
but last year I had only 3...I am hoping it's getting
comfortable where it is and will perform nicely!
PLEASE!!  
As you can see my Hostas are going to town
growing like crazy!

I bought this little statue last year and didn't
really have much of a spot for her.  I remembered
I have this gazing ball stand so I brought it over
to give her a spot to sit.  I turned it  upside down-
 but the bottom has a worn look.  I think it's going to
work, so I'll scrub it up!

We've been staining the deck and we got
the other side of the railing done just in time
because these ferns aren't waiting for anything!
They've shot up in two weeks to this height!

I've been waiting for this project for a long time
I came up with the idea in the fall of 2010. We
bought the wood, the little top pieces and even
stained the wood but didn't get it installed.
Last year we were a bit busy with a couple of showers
and a wedding for our son in Pennsylvania, so it 
fell by the wayside. 

 I'll show more on it soon.  I was taking a break
and watching Dan working on it and used my 
iPhone to take this shot...his poor head got
burnt from the intense sun so he grabbed a hat!
Makes him look like a farmer!  I've got a new hose
for the reel too! This one's a tired puppy!

Speaking of Dan, my handyman, husband,
always on his feet, and likes to paint guy!
We came up with a plan to salvage these
fiberglass planters that were really starting
to look shabby.  This is the first layer we chose
an enamel in almond to start with.

I think these are about 6 years old. This
was last year. The paint was coming of quite
badly.  I hated to spend money on more so
we chose to save them and I'm glad we did!

We used a spray "stone finish" paint from Lowe's
I love how the design shows up so much better 
now!  I hope to get at least 2 more years out of them!

I planted them this morning with a trailing red Supertunia, bright green sweet potato vine, and a burgundy 
colored spike.  
I can't wait to see the red fill out along
with the vine...it should contrast beautifully with
the new color on the planters!

Out back by the fountain I've just planted
these big cement planters.  They should look
sensational as they progress!  

Up at the "ranch" house I planted my window boxes
with these gorgeous Velvet Red begonias, lobelia
and vinca vine.  I love the color of this vinca vine it's called Wojo's Gem.

And just to the right is my new hanging basket that
I bought already planted.  I loved the yellow color
it had and the flowers they put in it!

Out my back door looking at my flowers...
the deck is still in progress...see the darker
railing...it's called "Italian Leather" by
Valspar from Lowe's.  We had a few things
hold us off from getting the floor boards done
including heavy pollen that has just begun. I'm 
anxious to get my furniture back on here!

I've got these potted (bought six colors of these "million bells" Calibrachoa-They will mound and fill out nicely!  up and they are waiting for their "soon to be painted wire plant stands" to set on!   
Yep another "Dan" project!  He does a much better job than I would so who am I to say "no honey I can do it"!   
I just realized I bought all these pots and my flying pig statue in Pennsylvania last year while we visited our son.  I didn't even realize I clustered them in the same 
area until now!
 Of course I had to find a local garden center!  The good thing is when I see these things it takes me back to some fond memories!  That's a good thing!

Well, that's a wrap as they say!!  
Thanks for coming by!
What are you watching and waiting for?




8 comments:

  1. Hi Liz,
    It was so much fun to see all your plants and compare them to the size of mine. I think we are about the same as far as climate for growing perennials. My hostas are just now showing, but they are under the deck and get little sun. Your large pots look beautiful and so do all the potting of annuals you did. I'm going to get my annuals this week, hopefully we won't have a frost! Have a wonderful week!
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. My Ninebarks have a few leaves with mildew this year also and I think you are right why it happened. Your containers look great.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your yard looks so nice with all of the color. The pots turned out fabulous. Hostas are wonderful too.
    Doesn't it feel good to see all of the flowers blooming?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow Liz!! Everything looks ready to burst open at any minute. I absolutely love the new color of your planters. Dan did such a nice job on those and the watering station too. He's so good at making all your ideas come to life. I love all of your plant combinations and I really can't wait to see those irises open. Keep on taking those pictures!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hope that everything comes to flower just as you wish.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everything looks fantastic Liz! You sure have been busy with arranging planters and will have so many blooms over the next month. I have three Ninebarks and I didn't realize they could get mildew. I hope you are able to save it. I'm glad to see you are able to grow Delphiniums. Not much luck here. Perhaps the winters are too harsh.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your garden is looking gorgeous! I love all of your containers, especially the hanging ones with the yellow begonias. So pretty! You've really been busy! Our weather is getting hot...went outside this morning and it felt like July. Not ready for that yet, I still wanted to paint the deck floor before it got too hot. Yours is looking good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have a lovely place, Liz. Your potted plants and hanging baskets are beautiful. Soon all your perennials will be blooming. My peonies were gorgeous but are done now after several windy, rainy days. I did show them in a post. I'm waiting for my Hydrangeas and clematis to bloom now
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments! I don’t always get a chance to reply but I do read them!




ABOUT ME



Welcome to Home and Gardening With Liz. I have combined my previous blogs “Infuse With Liz” and “Sit With Me In My Garden” into this new blog. I love interior decorating and gardening. I enjoy redefining interior spaces by moving things around and reusing decorative items already found in the home. I also enjoy creating tablescapes and an occasional crafting project. I'm so pleased you've stopped by. I invite you to follow me and I do hope you will keep coming back! Liz
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