Walk Around The Yard and Gardens

I did a walk around the gardens and snapped a few photos.

 My Dwarf Korean lilac topiary tree continued blooming and since it was the best I've ever seen it I just couldn't resist taking lots of pictures.

The fragrance has been amazing.  Butterflies have been visiting it and I'm very thankful to have enjoyed it's beauty this year!

On the side of our driveway where I planted things to create an alcove of privacy these  Donald Wyman Lilacs have done their job.  They're a very late bloomer and have a nice fragrance but only if you come up to them closely to smell.

These Summer Wine Ninebark shrubs are coming up very poorly this year. We had a somewhat dry spring early on but these have been here for 3 years and they're supposed to be somewhat drought tolerant.  

 The island out front.  These are some spirea (Lemon Princess or Gold Mound) are a great filler next to the Limelight Hydrangea. I cut that down severely last fall and crossed my fingers that it would come back okay.  So far it has leafed out nicely so I'm hoping for the best!

 The peonies are ripe!

These hardy geraniums (Max Frei-Cranesbill) are the best- so reliable and not fussy.

 There are daisies coming and the purple salvia has started to bloom.

The Zagreb Coreopsis are getting larger every year which I love.  I think it will be a few weeks before they're in full bloom.

This hosta is called Orange Marmalade.  It's been a slow grower but always looks nice.  

The columbine are blooming.  

Butterfly weed will be blooming and the Stella D'Oro Lilies that outline part of the island are coming along nicely.  The blue oat grass is always reliable.

The giant blue delphinium is coming along nicely but a ways off before blooms.

This weigela was getting very unattractive with it's shape so last summer I really shaped it up after it was done blooming.  It's not loaded with blooms this year but it's shape is far more attractive.

The iris have been blooming very nicely too.

Nearby my frog planter is filling out nicely.  This guy makes me smile!!

Out back I re-arranged this area a bit.  The old wagon got moved to the right side and the garden bench that we finally had re-finished is now sitting by the maple tree. 

We had it sand blasted, welded back together and powder coated so the finish should stay good for a long time now.  This is a cameo back garden bench circa 1910-1920.

The impatiens are just starting to grow and so is the ivy.  Should be looking good before long.

I'll give your eyes a rest and end this here though I have more pictures to come!

I am joining:
Dishing It & Digging It 
Share Your Cup 

Happiness is....

When your lilacs are blooming! 

 I know many of you are past this point but it's our time for lilacs and it's such a joy to see!

The fragrance drifts and draws you to it.  I just want to stand there and bathe my nose in it!

For me today....happiness is....lilacs! 

I've pretty well finished with my fairy garden which I'll show later this week.

Right now I'm just taking in this moment....

A walk through the backyard...ready for Memorial Day

Hello everyone! 

Are you ready for this upcoming long holiday weekend (those of us in the U.S. that is)?

I'm ready to putter around the gardens and have some grilled food and relax. 

 I've been running some sprinklers since it's been so dry lately.  We finally got some rain last night.  The hostas are filling out fast.  

The Jack Frost Brunnera have gotten a lot larger but aren't covered in as many blooms as they usually are.  I've always enjoyed this plant because it continues to grow larger and bloom for about a month.   

These are already getting larger .  The patio is messy- well everything is.  The trees have been dropping their seeds and there's pollen on everything.  We should be getting more rain on and off over the next few days so perhaps it will wash away the pollen.

The turkeys have been fun to watch but have been destructive.  I picked up a cheap roll of wire fencing and Dan and I made sort of a random pattern around these hostas.  They've been clawing so much they've sort of shredded these hostas.    I'm going to have to be less welcoming to them from now on.  

Look closely at the bird bath-  they dirty it up the something awful- even leaving feces!  Yuck... I took this before I got my planters filled last weekend. 

This lemon yellow Lantana is great for attracting butterflies.  I found this German Ivy at the store and decided to try it.  It's already grown a lot so I think it will be an easy one to take care of.  

Further back you can see the "Hosta hill" has really taken off.   The Sweet Woodruff is blooming like crazy.

 I took this late in the day yesterday.  That's a Sum and Substance Hosta in the forefront, an On Stage hosta on the left with the yellow and green mix, and at the back is the Empress Wu that keeps getting larger each year. These are my largest hostas.

I planted this red/white star impatiens along the border.  They had gotten a little leggy and are just starting to bloom again.  I'm looking forward to seeing them take off and start blooming like crazy!

This miniature iris seems to have a mind of it's own.  It's moved up the hill as the years have gone by.  The Creeping Jenny has moved in all over the place.

I made a path for the garden cart to wheel in and out of several years ago and I lined the one side with a bunch of these "June" hostas that I had found super cheap at Home Depot.  They've continued to do well and have gotten larger.  The Sweet Woodruff has moved in along the path- I just pull the cart right over it and it doesn't seem to care. If I was a perfectionist I'd be yanking it out...but I'm not.  I love to see things naturalize a space.

Looking over towards the fountain.  I think we can finally turn it on because I believe the trees are done dropping their seeds.  We'll get to it this weekend.

I took these pictures early this morning- aren't the ferns pretty!  I love how they've spread on their own. Every so often I have to remove some but it's not hard.

I found another coleus I mixed in the center of my big dairy planter.  It's so interesting how many varieties there are of coleus.  

 I showed this the other day.  Dan is going to clean up the 2nd plant stand I have and I already filled another copper planter so it's ready to pop in it when he's done.

This one will sit by the house where it will get party sun/shade.

Last December when my brother in-law passed away I brought home this planter from the funeral which had some household plants in it.  They were doing pretty well but it was always my intention to re-plant it and have it outdoors.  I think it's sweet.  There is a blue ageratum in the center, with some violas along the side and this Wojo's Jem vinca vine.    I think of Jim each time I look at it.

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Have a great weekend and take time to remember those who sacrificed the ultimate for our country.

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Turkey Entertainment

Good Saturday morning! 

Old Tom Turkey and his ladies came out of the woods to visit.  He is trying desperately to get their attention.

 Oh good- a response... 

Darn... I guess not

Ladies.... see me!!!  Hello..... 

Hmph....they're ignoring me

Let's head off this way- maybe he'll get the message and leave us alone!

 I see you...come back!

 Darn it all!

Hmmm..... perhaps I need to perfect my skills!

I'm going out to clean up more of the beds and enjoy a nice day.

I hope you have a great one too!

Happy Spring!