Garden Island Updated

 I decided to expand the front island so first I sprayed a line to follow.  Dan used an edger to create the initial line.

 We used the front end loader of our John Deere tractor to remove most of the sod.  Some hand digging was necessary.

The whole reason for this was that the blue spruce tree has gotten so big that it was taking over my space for the flowers.

 This was the island last year.

Here is a close up of the coreopsis, daisies, cone flowers and more.  Most of these have been moved.

 I began by digging and placing the perennials in different spots in this corner.  Some I transplanted from the right side of the garden and some were just packed in so I loosened up the look.

 I added some new Veronica, Shasta Daisies and two variegated sedums that I moved over from my "Forgotten Garden"

This area is my Forgotten Garden- I dug a bunch of plants from here (this is last year's image) and moved them over to the island.  It has become so shady here that things weren't doing well.

 We stopped into the garden center and I was blown away by this lily.  It's tag read O.Lilium "Carbonero"  It's about 3 ft tall and loaded with deep raspberry silky blooms.  I also bought a hydrangea shrub called "Little Quick Fire" to put out front.

 Now we've put the mulch down and I'm pretty well done with the plants.  You'll notice I put what looks like tomato cages in place.  That is where I intend to move my peonies this fall.  I have read that they don't like being moved but they are being shaded too much and fighting for light near the other side of the blue spruce.

 That's a row of coreopsis behind the cages.  They are sort of stuck there as years ago I put down a narrow strip of landscape fabric to help keep the grass back.  Well as time went by they grew right on top of the landscape fabric.  So I decided to leave them right where they are.  

 The Little Quick Fire hydrangea is on the right side now.  It should only get to be around 3x5' both width and height.  

Here's a panoramic of it.  

It was a big job and I have to thank my hubby for without him this would never have gotten done! 

I’m  joining:
Love Your Creativity Link Party #2 

Metamorphosis Monday 

Tulip Time!

It seems like it took forever but the tulips are finally in full bloom!

We dressed the beds with cedar mulch last weekend so everything looks real tidy!

I'm quite fond of this one which is called "Design Impression"

This is how it was described: Deep green foliage with narrow lime-yellow margins.  Large flower of radiant rose and muted golden flushes.

A quick view including the fairy garden area.  The newly painted fence shows up much better now.

This is the picture of the tulips below from the Breck's catalog I ordered from.  The red is spot on but the purple is more of a fuchsia and the soft pink is marginally close.  Either way I like these tulips and how sturdy they are. 

These are a Darwin hybrid tulip 

Loving my little "tulip time"