Patriotic Hosta

Big Hosta divided.

Did this actually on Memorial Day Weekend last year! 
But just getting to post about it now.

When working on the front garden beds remember the big hot mess it was?
Trying to tidy it up and make room for the catmint, 
had me needing to work something out.

Well, I worked it and removed a huge hosta, I think it's called Patriotic Hosta.

I divided it into 7 pieces.

Yup that's right!

I got 7 new hostas to grow from one!

Yippee, nothing like free plants, eh?

Thinking about Window boxes...Christmas

You know how I feel about my window boxes. I have been intensely wanting them to look beautiful and plentiful for the holidays. The last couple years I tried big ornaments and Christmas birdhouses etc. Nothing seemed right. Until this year...

This year I got clever, it takes me awhile. Garlands and fresh greenery were so expensive at the nursery. I looked at the prices and was appalled. Then my thoughts drifted to the our own trees and bushes in the back. "DUH!" How did it take me so long...? So I went and started trimming...see the results. Did I get carried away after I finished the boxes?

Made in the Shade

How Does your Garden Grow-2014

Last year I took you on a tour of some of my favorite gardens, if you would like to visit them go here and here and here.  I visited a new one this past week. It is gorgeous.  It's a neighbor in the next town over who sells plants from his garden when he needs to divide his perennials.  Seriously, this is a work of art and love.

This was in the middle of the morning. There was a gentle breeze and sweetest aroma of fresh cut grass and Viburnum.

What's Bloomin?

Bloom Day May 2014

It's the 15th of May and so time for a little lookie-lookie at what's in bloom in my garden. If you would like to see more from last year's garden, or some of my favorite gardens, last year I featured "How does your Garden grow Mondays" you can also look here and here.

There is lamb's ear that is off to a good start and lupine newly added not taking very well.  If you look past some of the weeds, there are columbine sprouts that have emerged.  It's a late start but a start all the same. The garden here is zone 5 is at least a month behind, sadly that doesn't mean I am anymore ahead in weeding. "It's all good."

Mr. Wooley Thyme is bright and fuzzy, many know I love texture. My garden as you can tell is no different. Isn't it sweet!

Beautiful Spring Day

It was such a beautiful day. Lucky me -took some time to spend a lovely morning with a friend, sipping coffee, chatting and swapping plans of our gardens. It was a special morning, Mr Hummingbird came to visit too. I'm grateful for moments and times like these. I'm grateful for so much.

What do you like do to on a sunny spring morning?

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I can't believe this is Spring?

Had been feeling so optimistic this past weekend about the weather, the garden plans, got to some spring chores.  I was so excited I put up our new feeder. Isn't it pretty? Even made hummingbird syrup for the new feeders.  They are getting closer and thought they might even be here in a few days. Did you know you could track their migration, here.

And then...

This was the scene this morning. 

Seriously? Can you see the lines above that is how hard it was falling and still is.

If only it felt like this?

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They are not doing well but still hoping...

Here we are in 2014 and last year this time I was watching my orchids take off and had a sweet little fern that was doing well. 

This year, perhaps I overwatered, but no orchids at this point, and unlikely at all.  There are no leaves, all gone. And the roots above, all dried up and were brown. Just pitiful. 

I took the root ball and aired it out a bit and cut one of the roots and placed in a second container and then repotted the remainder.  I tried to allow for air and used a mixture of moss/perlite and the original pellets.  The roots below were white and some greenish, but a little soggy. I gave a tiny bit of orchid food and no extra water or ice at this point. Now we wait. Hopefully I did it right, orchids are finicky.  

How does your garden grow Monday-New Additions to our Indoor Garden

Hope you all have been enjoying the summer.

Here are a few of our late bloomers this year, our white Liatrus and one single Daisy is left.

  

                                       

Here are a few Dahlia's that are still about. 

Love these, will have to dig them up soon and store them away for next year.

My new Hibiscus given by my sweet neighbor before they moved, 

hasn't bloomed but is doing well. 

Will have to spray it before bringing it inside. 

Sadly, I had to move my beautiful Boston Fern outside and am not holding out much hope for it. 

Problem was I moved it in the first place.

New lesson, if your fern is happy, don't move it! 

Especially for the whimsy of home decor.  

I moved it from a spot in the hallway, to the bathroom, 

Admittedly, it did look gorgeous in there, for a little while.  

I thought it would have more humidity but as it was next to the wall,

 it clearly didn't have the air circulation it needed and one side died, followed by the remainder seen.  

Our indoor garden will miss the fern, if I can't nurture it back?

What we will have left, of course, 

our orchids, which are headed into hibernation mode, 

an aloe vera, and a lemon "not" tree, I'll get to this in the future.

But for some history you can check here and here and here.

Now,

on to our exciting news, 

we have also a three new additions to our indoor garden.

Two Venus Flytraps

and a Purple Pitcher Plant!

(Try saying that three times fast, found a new tongue twister)

They came in these plastic box terrariums and we took them outside and slowly adjusted them to the patio table.
They ate some, which was quite exciting, but then the flytraps started to turn black?

Concern/dismay and then after some reading, 

we came to these conclusions either the flytraps are digesting,

too tender to stay outside, or they got sunburned?

We decided to bring them back inside and make a new terrarium.

Was going to buy some apothecary jars, but I couldn't justify the cost, even at $12 each.

Decided instead to use round low vases, costing less than $5 each and  

 then cut the tops off our spring water bottles, lidless.

They fit perfectly, one inside and one on the outer edge of vase. 

These are working great.

I do plan on adding pebbles and moss to the bottom and eventually transplanting these fellows,
but figure they have been through enough stress, thus far.

If anyone has advice on the helping my fern or

 keeping these flytraps/pitcher plants healthy, 

share away.

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How does your garden grow-so beautiful?

Sharing with you a garden I see almost daily.

There is so many things to look at in this garden.  Here are two of my favourites. 

First, this flower. So delicate and elegant. 

I'm actually not even sure what type of flower it is?

Almost trumpet in shape, or almost like a cardinal flower but the stems are not upright?

Any ideas?

Second, are these Cacti.

We are in the Northeast and I really have never seen any here.

How does your garden grow?

Well, mine is not doing so well, between the bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks eating everything in sight, (sigh). Then we have the earwigs, the mosquitos out in full force and other such creatures to contend with, (more sighing), then the incredible heat-waves that are like waves that keep slamming us and the endless humidity, which is almost the same during the night.  I actually enjoy this part somewhat, after-all,  it is July and we are blessed to have air-conditioning. 

A prayer goes out for all those without it.

I recently visited my folks (further North) and had to run out to the car during the night, even though the weather was the same during the day, I had forgotten how cool and sweet the night air of my childhood was. It felt good. I miss those simple times, I miss many things about that time. 

I also missed posting on Monday, you will see one of my favorite gardens this upcoming Monday. It is a neighbor and I am not the only one who stops and takes pictures of their yard. So beautiful.

Meanwhile, back to battle of the weeds. (sigh)

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Views of Sweetness

I've mentioned to you before being at one of my favorite gardens. 

The order and simplicity and beauty of it. 

I think I tend to over-think it and don't pull enough weeds.

 So there are two main beautiful trees that up here in the Northwest are not typical in the backyard garden. The lemon tree, you all know my affinity here. And, an enormous fig tree, which has been trained sideways to make picking the fruit, that much easier.

  It is just beautiful. He told me he covers it fully to protect it from our harsh winters. 

I will make sure to get a picture of it in its winter clothes. 

Here are two other really lovely features.

Organic and simple, and lovely.

A gourd used as a bird nest, and it is utilized.

Then an old stump turned planter, with respective mushrooming.

LOVE IT!

Here you can see the gentle curve of the pathway, the aged overhead trellis 

and veggie garden on one side and flowers on the other. 

So lovely, a garden loved.

So...what aspects are your favorites in your garden?

What would you like to add?

How does your garden grow?

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The Rock Garden

As I said before, I started early this year, I could not wait to get out there.  I am not a skilled gardener, but I'm learning. I love flowers, I love seeing them sprout and become fuller year to year.  I remember my parents garden's past, and my Yiayia's little garden, all so beautiful to look at, the softness of the geranium petals and the air around us filled with sweetness. I love the memories flowers bring back.

                                                                                                         

These offer a little taste of the flower gardens of my childhood, my parent's back and front gardens from many years ago, these pictures do not do them justice and certainly do not show you the roses!