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.