Friday, May 20, 2016

Down the Garden Path

This week in the garden we added the stepping stones. I still need to paint the landing blocks all the same color. The tallest plant on the right is bee balm. It's spread to cover quite a large area. Perennials eventually grow in width and can be divided rewarding gardeners with even more plants to divide and share with others or replant.

Here's another view, the orange is red hot poker and the yellow in the back is the same plant but in yellow. Each day they're sending up more and more blooms. Most of the perennials I've grown from four inch pots or from seed. Much beauty can be gained with a small investment. The dwarf Alberta spruce on the back right was one of the few plants already here.

When our home was built they cut into the back hill and it's almost bare rock. Over time some pine trees have struggled and gained a foot hold. Since they're close to the house we don't want them to get tall so we're pruning the candles off each season to keep them compact. They're larger than bonsai, perhaps a miniature pine tree size.

The catmint branches are full of blossoms and it will continue blooming all season long.

A few plants I'll add this year are geum, the bright orange, some basil for the season, and a pot of hens and chicks I'll divide and plant along the stepping stones.

The yucca blossoms are getting taller and taller but no blooms yet. To the left of this yucca is marjoram and beyond is lavender and then garden sage. Behind the yucca is a coral bark maple I planted two years ago. It's getting so much bigger. Eventually I'll shape it a bit but for now I'll let it go where it wants.

Each one of the yucca buds are shooting out; I can't wait for the spectacle. A few of my seedlings have come up but not as many as I would have thought.

The lavender buds keep swelling waiting for warmer weather. It's been cool and misting all day long. Pleasant weather to work in but plants require more heat to really shine. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

12 comments:

  1. Loving your garden.
    Hard work, which is rewarded. And solace for the soul.

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  2. Hi Elephant's Child, thanks, so true, I am going out there every day sometimes twice and enjoying all the growth the plants have rewarded me with.

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  3. So beautiful! I love bee balm. I wish I had more time for gardening right now.

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    1. Hi Michele, thanks, my studio has been neglected because I wanted to fill in some empty spots while Spring is still here. I'll have to move into extra high gear real soon.

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  4. Such a beautiful and peaceful garden...I can tell that the hard work is paying off :)

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    1. Hi Keith, thanks, it is very peaceful here so thankful I can still garden.

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  5. Love red hot poker plants---we seen them every where along the North Coast. Your garden is coming along very nicely!

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    1. Hi Charlene, thanks, I am afraid these red hot pokers are going to bloom themselves to death so I did fertilize them. I love them too and they are so easy to grow, pest free and drought tolerant.

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  6. Wow Linda, your garden is looking wonderful. Hard work certainly paying off. I haven't been by for awhile, so catching up. We are slowly getting our Idaho garden just the way we want it, we do a bit more each time we are there, to keep it maintenance free when we are not there.

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    1. Hi Barbara,thanks, oh I am so enjoying seeing the plants mature here they are like my children each one of them. Your growing zone in Idaho must be similar to here and I am trying to plant what comes back every year to minimize replanting.

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  7. Are there fairies at the bottom of the path? :)

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    1. Hi Lee, thanks, oh I am sure there are fairies here and they come up the path from the woods at night and wander among the flowers in the perennial garden enjoying the fragrances and colors.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment