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July 25, 2012

Midsummer highlights.....

Greetings from "soggy" Michigan! Yep we're finally getting some much needed rain and I'm glad to see it! It rained all morning and I decided to jump out and snap some pictures!
 Our grass and plants have needed a lot of babying to keep up with the heat we've had.  I know some have had it worse but once you are in the 90's and higher it's tough to keep up with everything!
 Last year I planted an Annabelle Hydrangea
and the new Boxwoods that you see here.
I also planted Alyssum along the edge and to my delight it came back this year.  I'm always tickled to see an annual come back...it's a nice freebie!
The Annabelle Hydrangeas tend to flop over badly so I put some supports in there.  They say you can cut them right down each fall and the next year they will come back just fine and it should encourage even more sturdy stems!
Standing next to the Annabelle I took a shot of the patio from an angel I don't normally choose. We have a fire pit in the middle where the chairs are.
 Around the corner on the path to the patio is this little statue.  She's one of those Cicely Mary Barker pieces that popped up all over.  I really want one twice as large but the price tag is pretty high.  Maybe a Christmas note will be made for it! You can see my Astilbe popping through too!
I love the flowers from my hostas.  Some of them are exceptional and the hummingbirds love them too!
The Coleus in these pots took their time to fill out but they are finally looking good!  I kept pinching them to help them spread.
 In this little triangular shaped garden area near the statue is my Pee Gee Hydrangea tree.  I only had 5 small blooms on it last year and I am delighted to see it full of blooms that should be flowering soon!  It has some yellowing leaves with brown edges which I blame on watering issues.
Taking a look at my Hosta hill my Japanese Variegated Sedge grass has filled out nicely.  I decided to split up some plants and spread them across the border a few years ago.  It did not like being split and took a long time to amount to anything.  One thing for sure is it likes to be kept wet!  Not a great plant if you tend to let things dry out and not water a lot.
I could see from my kitchen window these tall hosta flower stalks which I thought seemed to be framing my fairy Iris.
The Impatiens plants really have filled in nicely.  I chose these because I wanted something hot and colorful that really feels like summer!

I put Caladiums, Begonias and Euphorbia-Diamond Frost in these cement planters.  
 Standing behind the fountain area.

These obelisk type statues were found at a garden/decorating store and I managed to get them for 75% off a couple of years ago.  They look heavy but are a blended fiberglass, stone product that come pre-aged!  I got two of them and often debate with myself whether they belong where I have them or not.
Back up by the deck I put these adorable Toto Rudbeckia in.  They will only be about 12" tall. 
 Just above them is my hanging coco basket with some hot red supertunias.
I put a mix of plants in it.  I try to find things that butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to!
In front of the garage are the large planters we painted this spring.  The Sweet Potato Vines are going crazy now and the Red Supertunias are filling in and around!
By the driveway I planted some Red Canna Lilies.  I still haven't seen a flower on them but I'm hoping for some soon!  These are taking too long and I'm not sure if I'll bother with them again!
Lucifer
I planted some Crocosmia-Lucifer near the lilies that I moved over to the driveway area.  They have such a great flower- so tropical looking!
 Turning towards my front yard on the island is my first Limelight Hydrangea that has just begun blooming!
There are some lime Spireas planted at the base on this side. I had to give them a good trim because they got really large!
 Sometimes a picture standing back is better than one up close!
 A new Cone Flower in a reddish pink...very fragrant from the "Big Sky" series.  I just planted them so next year and the one after I look forward to a larger clump of them!  My Shasta Daisies are hanging in there too- I see I should have deadheaded a few!
 Some new Bee Balm next to the Rudbeckia. 
These cone flowers were planted last year and they've doubled up in size already. The Delphiniums are going to bloom again!  YAY!
I've been adding more perennials this year.  It's always fun the next year to see how they come up and look more natural in the setting!
  I almost forgot about these "Sunday Gloves" Day Lilies....they have a lovely fragrance to them. I love their color and size...great plant!

 So that's a wrap of my midsummer highlights! 
Thanks for visiting!



26 comments:

  1. Your gardens are beautiful Liz. Everything looks so lush and blooming away for you. Nice tour through your different areas.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  2. Just beautiful, Liz. Your garden looks so meticulous. Lots of hard work and love put in it. xo

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    1. Hi Barbara- thanks for dropping by! Your one of my best cheerleaders!

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  3. Spectacular Liz! No one would ever suspect that you've been in a hot, dry spell just from looking at the pics. It all looks so colorful, lush and tidy!

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  4. Your yard is really just stunning. I don't know what else to say. So, so pretty.

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    1. Thank-you Cherry- I love seeing new faces!
      I'll drop by your blog too!

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  6. Certainly looks lush and unstressed up there! Such a welcome sight after all the heat and stressed out plants in my yard! I've been watering like mad and praying it all makes it through the next month since September is our cool off month. Glad you are getting that much needed rain and I hope its cooled off for you too. Your flowers are gorgeous!!!

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    1. Thanks Tess- as you know it is work to keep it that way! I hope August won't be too hard on you in Virginia!

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  7. Your garden is jaw-dropping! We recently built a home on a 5 acre lot that was previously a tobacco field-where to begin?? I'm a newbie gardener, and your pics represent everything I aspire to-if only I live long enough! Thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. Thank you Michelle! You are so kind! Hey 5 acres is a big new slate to start with!
      It has taken me since 1999 to get things the way I want in the yard. We did it all with our own elbow grease and no real formal plans. I have a cousin on 10 acres that divided their yard into a few areas- One big enough to play baseball....Another with a huge pond they excavated and turned into a mini theme park! Lots of ways to use the land!

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  8. Wow, Liz, your gardens look wonderful!! I was so excited to see how everything filled in for you! We are in the "frying" stage, here, in Texas...lol!!! With the drought/watering restrictions, most people give up this time of year. Our native plantings are still thriving; and my pots are still going strong. I only have a few things that have stressed out. It was so refreshing to see your plants looking so beautiful!

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    1. Hey Shenita! Good to hear from you! I know that the south has had a brutal summer and things are not in good shape. Let's hope for some better weather soon for your area! I'm glad your potted plants are hanging in there!

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  9. Your garden is looking amazing Liz!All your flowers are so beautiful. I'm glad you've gotten some rain. Our yard has been fried with all the hot weather here. We've had some rain, but the yard is baked in the heat.

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    1. Hi Pam- a lot of areas around here are brown from no water. It doesn't take long for the lawns to go brown. I guess even with watering if it's just too hot the lawns still get stressed. Good thing is it always recovers!

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  10. Oh, my! How gorgeous! Your gardens are just amazing! I could just sit and stare at your beautiful flowers all day! Stunning!

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    1. Thank-you! I just visiting your blog and your pictures from Spain were fabulous!

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  11. Goodness gracious, Liz....you have a garden to be envied!!!!!!! I mean, wow!!! Just fabulous! Everything looks so pretty and so lush! You have put a lot of work and love into your outdoor area! I would NEVER want to go inside! I need to come visit you so that you can rub your green thumb on mine and hope it transfers! :-) Toto Rudbeckia, huh? I'm assuming that refers to the fact that it grows a lot in Kansas? I LOVE that Lucifer flower!!! SO pretty!!! I'm still longing for the day that I get a bunch of hydrangea bushes. That was smart to prop them up like that! I guess they're kind of like peony bushes in that you can cut them down and they'll grow back the following year. All your hostas are really pretty! I don't know that mine are looking quite as spiffy as they could. This heat has taken its toll on just about everything. Some of the flowers barely have any color left to them at all!!! :-( You've done a fantastic job! Congratulations, and enjoy!!!!!!!

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  12. Wow Liz, you have me oohing and ahhing. We have been put on water restrictions and my plants are suffering. I am cutting so many things down to the ground because they just don't look great. My Limelight is a small tree. I noticed that the bottom leaves were shriveling up so I have started dumping buckets of water on it. It was gorgeous last year. Hoping to get blooms. I love all of the wonderful variety of plants that you have. you do such a fantastic job and definately have a green thumb. Love it!
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  13. Wow,wow,wow, my friend Liz, you have created a stunning garden..who would want to come inside and leave that regal garden alone??!! I would move a hummuck and sleep there too, lol..Your work is fabulous, like the best of professionals, with the statues and all. Such gorgeous flowers in one garden it's unbelievable! Congrats, you have created a lush and beautifulgarde sweet Liz. Have a happy Sunday in your great outdoors. Thanks for your sweet and kind comments on Victoria's Birthday.
    FABBY

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  14. Your garden is so wonderful - I wish you would come link to my Tea In The Garden post as this is perfect!

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  15. lovely garden, thank you for sharing. hugs from Italy, Alessandra

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  16. Your writing has impressed me. It’s simple, clear and precise. I will definitely recommend you to my friends and family. Regards and good luck.

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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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