Thursday, June 8, 2017

Here Comes The Sun

After a very rainy, cool spring, we woke this morning to gorgeous blue skies and abundant sunshine. 

Yayyyy!

Everything is lush and green around my house, but without some sun and warmth, the veggie garden will never even get off the ground. 

The flowers are definitely showing some signs of wear and tear from all the heavy rain, but they will rally back, no doubt, with the warmth of the sun. 

Naturally, after I fed the birds, I had to run back inside and grab my camera - the morning was just too gorgeous not to capture it!

In a post far different than my previous post, today I will share with you the beauty I see in the garden, rather than the challenges. 

Welcome to my heaven on earth - enjoy your visit!


The first thing I see each day, when I step out my kitchen door. 


Perhaps the deck will get some more use now that the warm weather is coming. Can't wait!


This little vignette greets me at the top of the stairs every day when I come home. 


And this well worn urn is filled with what looks like sunshine, even on a cloudy day. 


Speaking of sunshine....


I used a lot of red, white and shades of blue with pops of yellow here and there throughout most of the garden. I hadn't used red geraniums in a few years, and I missed them!


 Garden Gate Magazine's cover says to use more blue in the garden to attract bees. I guess they're right!


White really pops in the shadier areas of the patio and garden. 


The sunshine hadn't hit the veggie garden yet, but I'm sure the tomatoes and zucchini will be happy when it does. 


The garlic doesn't seem to mind either way!


On the arbor at the entrance to the veggie garden, the roses are reaching for the sky.


Up at the garden cottage I went with pink, blue, and white flowers. 


The softer pinks and whites glow in the dappled shade of this garden bed. 


I've been introducing some more perennials in this bed, such as this gorgeous purple Ajuga, and some Hostas I transplanted from another bed. 


One of the reasons I stick with pinks up here is because of the Bleeding Hearts and all the Peonies I planted in this new garden bed

The Peonies all came up this year, but no blooms just yet. Perhaps next year, as it will be their third season.


I also added some bits of Dead Nettle I stole from the garden steps. The light color will help brighten up this shady corner, as well, and hopefully smother some of the weeds that keep popping through. 


The Rhodies are still putting on quite the show, and the evergreen shrubs next to them have some great new growth this year. 


Back in the front garden, my new tree that I absolutely love so much just glows in the morning and afternoon soon. 

Did I mention how much I love this tree?


The Lemon Candy Ninebark and Tangelo Barberry by the new fence are coming along nicely - what an amazing color combo this will be when it grows up!


I chose the Ninebark for its foliage, not its flowers, but it's getting ready to flower for the first time. I'm excited to see what they look like as I have no idea what to expect!

I also ordered a rambling rose to plant along that fence line, at Sweetie's very good suggestion. 

Via
This is the rose I ordered, from Heirloom Roses. I order all my roses from them, they're wonderful. 

The new rambler is called Super Dorothy, and is supposed to bloom continuously from spring through fall. 

Via
It should be here next week, in a gallon pot. 

Now, how am I going to dig a gallon size hole in this rocky soil? 

Oh boy. I feel another backache coming on!


You know what else should be here next week? The Peony blooms! 

The Peony at the bottom of the garden steps is just covered in buds this year - what a show she'll be putting on soon!


The perennial bed will be an explosion of color before long. Every morning and afternoon I walk around, thoroughly inspecting every plant for buds. 

I might be a little bit crazy. 


My older daughter said she isn't reading my blog these days because it's all about the garden. 

She'll never be a gardener. She has zero interest. 

I think my younger daughter will. She'll take after her mom. 

That's ok, to each his or her own. 

That's what makes the world go round!

34 comments:

  1. Debbie, It is so pretty at your place. I love all the unusual things you are growing there. I like your red decorating accents. I know you work to keep it nice and beautiful there. Hope your days are sweet. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, Yesterday and today were great days but there are hot sticky days ahead, yikes! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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  2. Everything looks so beautiful! We've been blessed with the most beautiful weather here the past couple of weeks; just absolute perfection with crystal blue skies, sun and a cool breeze. (Though we do need rain now.) However...we are going to be socked with heat starting Saturday. Mid - high 90's through Thursday. And then in the high 80's after that. Too hot, too early! This weather will be more like July-August.

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    1. Aren't you lucky, Melanie? We've had a couple of nice days and now that hot sticky weather is heading our way also - yuk!!

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  3. Your garden is so lovely. :) Rambling roses are some of my favorites. I really want to install a fence in our front yard near the sidewalk and plant those kinds of roses there but hubby says it will be harder to mow the lawn and since he is the one who does the mowing, I will have to yield to him on that one. ;)

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    1. I guess you do have to give in on that one, Debbie! Can you plant rambling roses somewhere else?

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  4. It's just beautiful, my friend. I can't wait to see it with even more blooms :)

    It's been so hot here everything has been suffering. I hope for rain soon.

    Enjoy that gorgeous deck of yours!
    xoxo,
    rue

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    1. I am looking forward to more blooms also, Rue! The first Iris opened last night, I'm so excited to see them in full bloom - they have always been a favorite! Enjoy your weekend, sweet friend xo

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  5. Lovely. Isn't it nice to know peonies will be blooming soon! Enjoy all that surrounds you. -Jenn

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    1. Thanks, Jenn! I was hoping the other, newer peonies would get at least one flower each this year, but fingers crossed for next year. I put in 10 new peonies last year and 9 out of the 10 came up. Not too bad! In a few years I should have peonies like crazy in June!

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    1. Thanks, Ellen - I'm kind of like a crazy gardener lady, ya know?

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  7. Ahhhhh swooning Deb. Love that view in the morning. Gorgeous. Happy Friday. Have a great weekend.
    Kris

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    1. Me, too, Kris! When the sun is shining it's just like heaven up here! Hope all is well with the new place, I have to catch up on blogs.....if only my laptop would cooperate. I'm replying from my iPad now, the laptop is being most annoying today!

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  8. Oh - I just love peonys - their blooms are beautiful, but their scent is luscious! Please post a picture of the ninebark when it blooms. I have never seen nor heard of that one before. BTW, I don't think you are crazy - I check my plants for blooms all the time too! Have a great weekend in the sun!

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    1. I will, Vickie! I think I ordered those from Wayside Gardens. It's a dwarf version, as apparently the regular ninebark can get quite large. I just love the color, and next to those orange barberries the combo is just awesome!! Makes me smile every time I walk around my garden!

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  9. Your pictures are so pretty. Wonderful flowers! Your right that we need to focus on the positive in our gardens. Enjoy yours each day!! Nancy

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    1. I'm sure trying, Nancy....although I did spend an hour in the perennial bed this morning yanking out tansy, grasses, bindweed, goldenrod, and some other weed that I don't know the name of. It's a never ending job! There's still tons more in there, but I couldn't get to it without trampling the perennials. I plopped in a few stepping stones this morning but still can't get to everything, oh well!

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  10. Oh Girl!! You have as many gardens as I do, but your's are much bigger. We have a little over an acre and a third. A lot of it is under wild. A big part of it has wild rhodies on it and they don't bloom until the end of the month. At the end of our driveway is the one and only wild Mountain Laurel in the area. I have been babying it since we started our home 8 yrs ago. I love my little place in the woods.

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    1. I bet you have your battles with weeds, also, Cindy! Mountain Laurel is lovely - I think we are too cold for one, though. we are barely in zone 5A. Just this spring I discovered two trees along my driveway that appear to be apple trees - I'm super excited as they are covered with what I hope are apples! I always wanted an apple tree....of course it will probably be just one more thing to attract the bears, yikes!

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  11. Love your gardens, Debbie. And yes, I love that Japanese maple. I have one too, and the sun shining through it - especially spring and fall - just amazing.

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    1. I'm sure glad I swapped out the dogwood that was there previously, Rita - it never so much as put out one bloom! Now it is in my parents garden down in the valley and it blooms for them. I'm happy with my Japanese Maple - I always wanted one like that!

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  12. Hi Darling! Oh, I just love seeing your beautiful 'outside'! We have had weather like yours too - cold and raining and are just seeing the sun for the last couple of days! You really have the garden touch and I love it! Thanks for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. It really went from a cool rainy spring to a hot sticky summer overnight, didn't it, Shelia? Yuk!! Oh well the tomatoes and zucchini need it, they weren't growing at all with all the cool rain.

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  13. I can definitely see why you call it heaven on earth. You did not exaggerate! I am glad you love your Japanese Maple I have one in my front yard and love it too. But I hate how slow it grows I guess I need more patience, but it does bring fantastic color for most of the 3 seasons I get to enjoy it.

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    1. It sure does, Christine! I'm ok with how slow it grows, I didn't want a tree that got too huge in that spot. However, I bought it only last year, so you can see I got one that was already a nice size. It put on a lot of growth in just one year, I was actually surprised!

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  14. Everything here looks so pretty. I want that red chair!!!
    I have a purplish blue butterfly bush that attracts a lot of bumble bees.
    Lisa

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    1. I planted a butterfly bush in the new garden but I think it's getting suffocated by some of the other plants. I should move it. Those red chairs were here at the house when I bought it....I had the rust scraped off and got them repainted. Love them!

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  15. Oh Debbie, you have a beautiful paradise up there on your mountain! I hope the sun shows up soon and gets your veggies to growing! I love all the beautiful flowers you have planted. Your deck looks amazing, such a delightful place to spend these lovely summer hours! My kids don't care much for gardening now either, but I think that will change when they get older, lol... have a blessed week ahead :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Marilyn! The sun showed up, the veggies are taking off, too bad it was too late for the cucumbers....I lost all but one plant. That's ok, the ones I sent home with my sweetie are doing well, so we will have more than enough cukes, no doubt!

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  16. Everything looks fabulous, Debbie. Japanese Maple is such a lovely tree. Beautiful color. Your deck looks so inviting. I bet you love spending time out there. My son just turned 40 and has been bitten by the garden bug (no pun intended). I'm excited, as we now have long chats about what to plant in his zone, and he calls me from the garden center for advice. Does my heart good! xo

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    1. That's so nice, I really hope to have those conversations with my daughter some day! I definitely got the 'bug' from my mom, she is still an avid gardener and her gardens are enormous!

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