Spring Projects

For several years, I've talked about replacing the brick pavers that lined this bed with rock to make it blend better with the rest of the yard.  I hadn't done anything about it, but when we were picking up one more scoop of mulch to finish our mulching, and David was willing to haul rocks home, I couldn't resist.  I love the way it turned out.

 We had plenty of rocks, so I finally built a little wall around this hosta bed which I'd wanted to do as well.

 We spent two long days raking up old mulch, leaves, and pine needles and replacing it with new mulch.  I forget from year to year how much work it is, but it sure looks nice when it's finished.  This year, it took us 7 cubic yards to do the job.

 If we could convince a certain four-legged family member not to kick after he does his business, it would help the mulch stay in place. ;)

 We haven't had tulips in a while, but this year we had a dozen blooms.  So pretty!

 The pansies that I planted last fall have come back extraordinarily well thanks to a mild winter and wet spring.

We are so glad to have the tree planting and mulching project behind us!  Now we just get to enjoy our hard work!

New Trees

Earlier this year, we had the three dead and dying pine trees in the back yard cut down, and then had another guy come to grind the stumps out.  Even though two of those trees were really just big trunks with no branches left, the places they'd been still looked so bare.

 On a nice Saturday in February, we did some preliminary tree shopping at our favorite tree farm.  We headed back a few weeks ago to pick out some trees to replace those three.

 I'm lucky that David is willing to do all that work and heavy lifting to get our new trees planted.

 Here are the bare spots where the new Vanderwolf Pines will live.

 And here they are!  We named all the trees we've planted, so we didn't want to leave these guys out.

 Meet Alvin, Simon, and  Theodore! ;)

 They're a really pretty bluish pine that should provide a good screen from the street.

Whew!  Watching David do all that work made me tired.  Hammock time!

October

We've had a really beautiful October, and it seems like the flowers would agree.

September

On my birthday, we went pumpkin shopping and came home with these beauties.  I added kale (I think that's what it is) in a little green and cream saucepan this year.

 The walnut is looking pretty good, despite its drastic haircut.

 These pumpkins grew voluntarily on my parents' property this year.  The one on the left is a funky misshapen guy, but the one on the right looks like someone lovingly turned it each day so that it would be perfectly round.  I keep taking pictures of them, because I'm fascinated by the way the afternoon light looks.

 The yellow mum was a birthday gift.  The mum in the red bucket will be orange when it blooms.

 The first flowers have found their way to the milk cans that David bought at an auction.

Early August

 This has been a big year for walnuts...maybe too big.  We lost two very big branches due to the weight.  We were lucky that neither did any damage to the house, although the one above left a few marks as it slid down the corner of the house.

 As much as I hated to lose any of our big shade tree, it does look nice now that it's all cleaned up.

In other garden news, the tomato plant is growing taller and has lots of small tomatoes.  Hoping they'll ripen before the critters get to them!

 The cucumbers are doing great!  We'll soon have more than we know what to do with and will have some to share.

 I'm a big fan of the ivy geranium this year!  It will be a repeat performer next year and may even try to winter this one.

 Here's the a view of our yard from the fence.

How Does Your Galvanized Garden Grow?

We picked up some galvanized treasures this weekend at an auction, so I'm contemplating what to grow in them next year.  I think I'd like to expand the tomatoes to include a few varieties, and maybe try lettuce or spinach.  I haven't done bell peppers for a few years, so maybe a red and a green pepper too.  In the meantime, we're enjoying our first two cucumbers with our dinner tonight, and have had two edible tomatoes!  That may be a record for me in the tomato department. ;)

What's Growin' in the Garden

 The cucumbers are doing well.  I harvested our first cucumber tonight!

 I've picked one tomato and there are few more ripening.

 The drought seems to be over, and everything (except the grass) is still nice and green.

 Here's our little tomato!  I love this lantana.  It does great in the heat of summer.

 This is my favorite combination for the front.  A red impatien, a white one, and a Caladium.  This one grew from bulbs that I saved from last year.  I'm hoping to preserve them again.