July 2012

 bee visits Heliopsis 'Lorraine Sunshine'

 best reading nook in the neighborhood - 

the heliotrope, lemon thyme and lavender are fragrant.  

plus in a few years I might be able to pluck green grapes between chapters - 

just add my favorite cushion and a cup of rooibos, mmmm.....

 grapevine climbs - higher every year

 fiery colors - california poppies with nasturtiums

 wild beauty - crocosmia faithfully attracts hummingbirds

 heliotrope

 hydrangea

snail and ladybug found a hideaway in a high perch!

back in business

Early May in the garden.

So many buds and sprouts, one of my favorite times of year.

 My one remaining tulip that actually blooms from the Costco bunch.

 Ace visits us again!  He likes succulents, but it's the catmint that attracts him.

 Lemon thyme makes the garden bench a fragrant resting place.

 The rogue ivy had artistic flair in mind during this winter's growth!

 Jupiter's Beard, early bird of summer-flowering perennials

 Anemone de Caen

 Fleabane - comes back and takes over every year without fail.

stanley park beauty

ever-changing faces of the garden...mid-July

Although I expected my favorite corner of the garden to change as the season progressed, I think that it will actually remain the same throughout the growing season. I just can't help but pat myself on the back for planting the later blooming yellow coreopsis in the spot where it can take over from the May-June blooming one, just where a pop of color is needed, amidst the purples of the back plot.

The baskets I planted with some dear friends right before Mother's Day are finally coming into their element!

While taking photos I came upon this scene and had to laugh. This is life! In the little jar on the crate there is a experimental mealworm (from Grade 2 science) awaiting burial. A broken helmet on it's way to the garage. Several 'boys' who have forgotten to put away their shoes. Life happens here!

Hello Sunshine...appropriately named 'Lorraine Sunshine'

The lilies are blooming...fiery red! They seem really healthy and are multiplying. I will probably have to divide them in Fall, so if anyone would like any leave me a note!

Crocosmia is also blooming now, and attracting my little hummingbird friend several times a day. A few nights ago the hummingbird was fluttering within one foot of my face...it was dusk and I don't believe it could see me, for some reason. Even at that distance, its wings were moving so quickly I couldn't actually see their form. Amazing.

This is my GIANT snapdragon. It fell over, we gave it a pole to climb. And climb it did! It has passed 5 feet tall I believe. Must've been all the rain we've had this summer!

the ever-changing faces of the garden...early July

The sweet pea tower has filled the void left by the rain-tumbled delphiniums. They are ruining the color scheme of the garden, but they are so elegant and fragrant that they are immediately forgiven.




Hello Yellow!

June 2011

The miracle plant that survived the harsh winter after being thrown mercilessly on it's side in the corner of the woodland garden. Rewarding it's thoughtless owner with such beauty!

Favorite new acquisition in the rock garden. Blue eyed grass I believe.

My favorite spot in the main garden right now...purple, yellow and bits of red.

The back yard as it is mid-June 2011. Such a transformation from when we bought the house 5.5 years ago.

I'm late, I'm late!

Spring has sprung. And life here has been so busy that it nearly took me by surprise. Not so normally! I ache for spring all winter long, eagerly anticipating, planning gardens, looking at plant catalogs. But this year was different...busier. So the gardens are awakening under a cloak of wet leaves leftover from winter. There is clean up to be done, bulbs to be dug up that did not produce beautiful tulips or daffodils this year, soil to be amended, plans to be enacted. Yes, I did some planning just within the last few days, after being inspired by my friend Denine's cliff-hanging garden. So Spring I welcome you! You hold a long long list of tasks and plans and ideas for the garden, just as almost every other area of life it seems. But what would be the fun of living life with the list all completed and nothing to look forward to and dream and plan for?
It's an odd feeling to be writing this post, realizing that I'm probably the only one who will read it! And so I will stop for now...

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' looking healthy and promising

Primulas brightening up my doorway

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine' coming up out of the ground...miracle

Small woodland creature demonstrating one of the reasons the garden jobs have not been done in a timely manner.

Rock garden plants looking vibrant...I especially love the Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' (gold colored) and the white rock cress

August blooms

a new friend swapped me this plant this spring.
not sure on the name of it.


I love the detail in the petals of this flower.


Dahlia from my Oma, who passed on last year. A small part of something she loved lives on in my garden.




Echinacea


Thistle




Papery thin poppies - they pop up every year.


It is the first year that I have appreciated the unique beauty of the dusty miller. I attribute this to increased gardening maturity, related to my new appreciation for shrubs and foliage plants...
The preceding images have been carefully planned in order to NOT show the actual state of the garden this year. There are weeds here, there and everywhere. Lettuce that has overgrown into tall columns, parsley that is taller than my tallest child. Nuts the squirrels have planted are sprouting haphazardly and morning glory has choked our new shrub by the birthday bench. It is a sad state of affairs, but I have resigned myself to let it be (for the most part) this year, and have higher aspirations for next year. The exception to this might be a labor induction weeding session coming up in the next week sometime. We'll see how that works.

late july garden 2010

I like this combination...now to keep it alive in the heat



passion-flower



another favorite combination...it's bloomed steadily for 2 months and loves the heat instead of wilting