A Walk in My Gardens

Cheryl at My Wildlife Sanctuary suggested that we all take time to enjoy our gardens today no matter the weather. Thankfully, the weather here was perfect. Sunny, a light breeze and a temp of about 60F. My kind of weather!

To all of you who are having bad weather-storms, blizzards and flooding, my heart and my prayers go out to you.



After doing some cleaning and clearing in the front garden beds and picking up sticks and limbs the recent winds blew down, I took my garden walk. And surprise! My vinca is blooming. I know we complain about this ground cover spreading everywhere and choking out other plants, but in the spring it is sooo lovely to see all it's delicate blue-lavender blooms. In a few more days I should have a cheery carpet of blooms against their dark green glossy leaves.

The daffodils are getting so close. I had hoped one would pop this afternoon so I could get a picture. I guess I will have to wait a few more days. Everyday, though I notice more are coming up. I think they are the ones we planted last fall when I had all the help from the kids and grand kids. Some may just be later, but I have a feeling some were planted a little deeper than recommended. Good help is so hard to find. :)

Lilacs are budding! I am so excited and can't wait for them to flower. I love the scent of lilac more even than hyacinths. This is the pale lavender that has the big blooms. Sorry no name.

This is the darker one that has smaller blooms, but oh such a heavenly scent! No name for this one either. I planted these long ago before I knew you were supposed to keep track of the names-silly me. I trimmed each of these bushes drastically last year. They were getting way too tall and all the blooms were high on the branches. I was a little worried they might not do to well this year, but they look great and are both loaded with buds all the way up.

This is oriental lily just pushing through the ground, reminds me of an artichoke!

The purple plum trees is also putting on buds. Soon the dark pink blossoms will appear and we should start seeing bees.

Does anyone else see the ragged edges of these tulip leaves as evidence of critters in my garden??? I shouldn't complain too much as I only saw a couple of these and the nibbles won't really hurt the blooms. But lets not make a salad out of my garden, please little rabbits!

This no name clematis is putting on leaves, another surprise. I hope it blooms this year so we can find out what it is.

The hen and chicks, Sempervivum Brannii I planted last year is a little worse for wear. But I think it will come back and fill in.

And now I need help. I think this was a pass along, but can't remember who or what it is? Anyone??

Same goes for this one.... I know I should have written down names and locations.

And finally we have this very healthy looking plant. It is coming up close to where I had the gorgeous blue delphinium last year. But is that what it is, or... is it just a very fast growing weed?

I hope you enjoyed the walk around my garden as much as I did. Spring is a wonderful time of the year-go on take a walk in your garden today!

New Blooms, and This and That!

It feels more like summer than spring here today. The temperatures were in the low 80's. But the sun was out ,the breeze was gentle, and to sit in the shade and sip a cool drink was heaven.

I have been embracing the weeds, but they are gaining ground! I am still trying to find places for plants, the ones I've bought and the seedlings I have left. And I am watering every evening. With the horrific winds of late and the hot sun, they've really needed the water. I'm already getting tired of that chore. Maybe, hopefully, it will rain soon. I've begun to wonder if I haven't tried to do too much too soon in the gardens. But then I see something new bloom, or a newly planted plant get new growth and I am thrilled. I will do what I can, when I can, and in the end it will all work out.

My new bloom... Wisteria!

The dove is still sitting on the nest in the wisteria.(if you enlarge you can see her better)

I know you are probably getting tired of my lilacs, but indulge me a few more pictures, please. These next three are at my mother-in-laws. I think I will try to get starts of them this fall.

Did you know there are over a 1,000 varieties and they can live for hundreds of years? Originally from Europe, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had lilacs in their gardens.

Another bouquet with all 5 kinds. .. her 3 and my 2.

A bouquet of fragrant lilacs is heaven!

Look what else is just beginning to bloom at MIL's. Poppies!

I had to hold this one up to get it's face. They look like crepe paper flowers.

I hope you enjoy this time in your gardens.

April, Full of Promise-Gone So Quickly!

I can't believe April is almost over. Where did this month go? Is it because we were so busy in our gardens that the days just flew by? Days of sun and warm breezes tempt us out to our gardens where time is lost to us. We clean and dig. We plant and pull weeds. We marvel at the growth of each flower and eagerly await the next bloom. Gardens are indeed, I think, pilferers of time. As time will go by anyway what ever we are doing, I would much rather have my time flee while I am in my garden.



Fat Cat is enjoying her time in the garden. The blooming vinca makes a comfortable bed while she awaits her prey. Today it was bumble bees.

Our ornamental plum is blooming and attracting it's share of honey bees. This tree always puts out leaves before it blooms. I think it is because the tiny pink flowers show up so well against the dark maroon leaves. Mother Nature has a very artistic side to her.

The blue bells are in full bloom(in my neighbor's yard). These were one of my Mother's favorite flowers. I have tried many times to get them to grow in my gardens, but have finally settled for seeing them next door.

I have long ago forgotten the name of this plant. It vines and I originally had it planted in some of my barrel planters. Like the vining vinca, it spilled over the edges and has become a perennial in several places. This is the first time I can remember it blooming though.

A new color of tulip has bloomed in the last couple of days. I wish I knew their name so I could find more of them. I love their color and their growth habit.

I am so happy with this part of the garden. It is a small 'rock' garden area. I planted creeping phlox in and around them a couple of years ago, using very small plants. Look how it has grown and mixed with the vinca. I love the color combination and the spilling over effect Just to the top middle is the fern leaf tansy. If you click on the picture it willl show it larger and in more detail.

The lilacs are on hold. I suppose it is the cooler temperatures of the last few days. Although the flowers aren't fully open their perfume is caught by the breeze and comes clear across the yard. I think I will cut a few stems from the back side of them tomorrow for the house. I still say nothing says spring like the smell of lilacs!

And finally, more wood violets. I have several small bunches of them spread throughout the yard and gardens and I leave them. They are lovely to see and always bring a smile. Maybe it is because they are so tenacious. They survive sprayings, pullings and mowings, still managing to spread and bring forth dozens of tiny perfectly formed flowers.

We had a good weekend, although not as restful as hoped, it was relaxing. And hubby's birthday was celebrated with family and good friends. He even got a call from his mother who is in the nursing home. That pleased him. We are sure someone reminded her and dialed the phone, but she knew him long enough, today, to wish him a Happy Birthday.

I hope your week is filled with sunshine, warm temps, and lots of blooms!

Heaven Is Gardening!

Summer came to our area these past few days. Temperatures in the 80's are not spring-like. But I enjoyed the gentle breezes and the warm rays of sun that were missed this past winter. My mind enjoyed...that is. By the end of the day, my body was not as thrilled.

My gardens have been neglected for years with only sporadic care and attention. Days, weeks, and even months went by without me being able to tend them. As I have mentioned, fibromyalgia has robbed me of the ability to take pleasure in the nurturing of my gardens. But because of LYRICA-a truly miracle drug for me, I am able to garden once again! Now when my body aches and my back won't straighten up, it is from hours spent raking, digging, pulling weeds and planting flowers. Just like any other gardener who has spent the winter indoors not using those gardening muscles. I'm in heaven!

With the warmth, blooms have opened and the bees have come. The dwarf ornamental cherry tree, that only a few days ago was beginning to bud, is now buzzing. Last year I remember only a few honey bees and mostly saw the black and yellow kind. Cheryl, at Wildlife Sanctuary is a bee's best friend. She plants for bees, provides bees with shelter in the winter(Mason Bees) and is spreading the word about the world wide population decline of bees. So Cheryl, this bee above is for you!

The lilacs are just starting to pop. Both bushes, the common(I think) and the darker one are full of buds. Carol at May Dreams Gardens has predicted a 'spectacular' year for them. I hope so. Last year we lost most of them to a late killing frost.

This is a not-very-good picture of my wisteria, which is also full of buds. But what I am trying to show is the bird nest in the middle towards the back.

A dove! I was trying to sneak around the back of the garage to get a picture without disturbing her, but she flew right after this shot. I will watch from afar now.

This poor climbing rose has given it's all and it is time to let it go to that great rose garden in the sky. Once upon a time it was glorious in it's width and height and it bloomed with abandon. That was its downfall I'm afraid. My dad loved it and wanted a start for his deck. So, a couple of years ago, he tried to divide it...with a spade. Do I have to explain any further?

Yesterday, I replaced it with a climbing Queen Elizabeth. I promise, no more dividing!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Me, I am going to let my garden-weary-body rest a couple of days and help my husband celebrate his birthday!

And Spring Has Come to Central Illinois!

Last Thursday, while taking my Dad to the VA clinic for a check up, we saw trees like this one in bloom all over the campus. To my surprise, I knew it was a Star Magnolia! Thanks of course to the garden bloggers. The thing I don't know is are there different colors of them? Most of the ones I have seen on posts look very white and this one definitely has a pink cast to it. I stopped the car and went to take closer pictures to post and find out if I was correct about the kind, and ...

to show the pink! I'm pretty sure my Dad thought I was a little nuts for taking the up close pictures.

Spring has come in a rush the last week. I am constantly amazed, as I walk in the gardens each day, to see how quickly everything is growing. The hostas look so pretty at this time of the year. This green one just says spring. I think it is time to divide some of them, but do I do it now? These were pass along plants and it seems I did transplant them early in the spring.

I finally have a blooming tulip! It is just the one, but several more will be opening in the next few days. Carol posted about not really caring for the red ones in her back yard, but I only have a few of these and they are early ones. But the time the pink and mauve ones bloom the red are gone.

Oh, by the way, most of the close up pictures today are courtesy of one of the granddaughters. She turns 15 this week, and she ask for and got a new camera. She and I had fun learning how to use it. It not only has macro mode- it has super macro mode! I want one, too!!

The dwarf flowering cherry on the south side of our patio is just coming into bloom. Friday, I tried to get a close up of the buds...not worth showing, but today, look! Blooms.

Isn't this a glorious picture!? She is really getting the 'eye'. I may frame this one.

And speaking of trees, the maple is starting to leaf out. This is the one we have a small sitting area under. It has a long branch that almost touches the ground, thereby affording us privacy right by the street. A few years back, someone gave us some of those round stepping stones and Hubby designed a small triangular patio under it with them. In the summer we sit there and cool off as it is very shady. This shade is where I have most of my hostas. I am working on finding other pants that do well in that deep shade and will tolerate the poor soil condition.

And one last picture, I promise, of the daffs!

The lilacs are budding and getting fatter each day. Maybe this year we will have some of their delightful blooms. Last year, at just about this stage of development, we got a killing frost. Of 2 bushes, I had maybe 3 bloom and they were small and had little scent. The forecast looks great for several days... so here's hoping.

This was the weekend with the granddaughters, so little in the way of actual gardening was done. This week, I hope to get lilies, perennial sweet peas and some summer bulbs planted. I received one of my on-line orders last week and need to get them in the ground. I wasn't expecting it quite yet as most of it should be planted after chance of frost. But the condition of the plants warrants an earlier planting. They are sprouting and look very pale. So frost or not, they must be planted.
Here's wishing all of you a glorious time in your gardens this week.