Elisa's Eye on the World

Return of the Hostas

Love these hostas which a neighbor gave to us a few years ago when dividing their plants. These make a great border on the raised bed surrounded by spreading Vinca.

Garden Views 3-23

Finally, here's some pictures of the garden taken outside, instead of through the window.  Spring is on the way!
The Elf has been relocated to the "fairy flower" area with columbines and foxgloves.

The violet colored blooms are Vinca groundcover, the tall shrub / herb  is Rosemary.

A big bag of compost spread in this area, after some diligent weeding was very rewarding.

 

Dusting of Snow

From the morning of March 7:
A few objects of garden whimsy are viewable here. The orange golf ball and red with tan garden elf with mushroom combi. This was all gone by mid-day.

Here you can see the end of the lawn dart.

Garden View Early March

I tagged "bulbs" here and must note this means the emergence of bulb activity. The Garden Elf has been repositioned for spring where soon, he will be surrounded by fairy like flowers and plants. Ah Spring!

Back to the Garden

While taking out the recycling and such I put the camera in a pocket and snapped these on the way back in. My hands were cold. But the weeds are growing and spreading and I know it's time to get back to the garden and set a clean foundation for the warmer weather.

Signs of early bulbs too. The grasses will get trimmed later in the month- President's Day was suggested to us - past the times we get the chance frigid stuff.
Hubs spread a nice blanket of brown leaves from our trees over this bedding area. Even this time of year there's a nice green mix and contrast with the fence. Yay!

...have to finish spreading the woodchips on this path

One of the corner lines of the lower rock wall, aka The Nook

Early August Garden View: before the sunflowers take off

 

Early July Garden Views

Do you see the new element of garden whimsy along with the rays of lights? It's a "Whiligig" with a metal propeller blade and movable base with a Maine lighthouse, fisherman, boat and fish.

Another view where the lighting looks great on the ornamental grasses.

The foxgloves, or Digitalis are in full force now, with a harmonious blend of pink, purple and white flowers.

The blue tipped blade of the Whiligig is somewhat viewable through the fountain grass.

Garden elf, post arm surgery amongst Sedums, Bleeding Hearts and Columbines.

 

White Around the Garden

Low growing Hebe

Mounds of Scotish Moss ground cover

A ground cover that looks like little white parachutes

Another ground cover growing over a rubble wall with a mixture of other plants

The Pea Patch. They start with white flowers which turn to green pods.

Sunday Garden Stroll

Return of the Rhododendron.

 
Lupine, moved last year so it would have more room to sprawl. One of those plants with fantastic leaves and flowers.

Peony standing by to bloom (please please please!)

  
The triangle areas between the paths are really starting to take shape after 5 or so season. So much better than all the decking the dominated the yard when we moved in 17 years ago this weekend.

Tulips, Heuchera, Fox Gloves with a background of mixed Sedum and Ornamental Strawberry.

South Fence Side with New Raised Bed

The glacial green area marks the area called "South Beach" to the left is the rejuvenated fern, trimmed down in February and now has interesting growth emerging. The rain barrel and then the small glacial green area which is nice for the cafe table set or hammock.

Then on the left  is the new raised bed, now home to 2 dozen mixed color Gladiolus and 4 White Thyme ground covers. This is where the fence was replaced and it was about time go it planted. In the fall, tall but narrow shrubs are planned to give year round interest to the area.

Garden View From Back Steps

Taken around 6 pm tonight - note emerging bulbs and partially concealed garden whimsy.

Garden View from the Laundry Room

Kind of crazy, but one of the best views of the garden is from the laundry / half bath. I swung open the window and took these to show the lovingly trimmed and reshaped shrubs and ornamental grasses.

We were lucky to get a nice electric sheers at a neighbor's downsizing sale a few years ago which make quick work of an otherwise endless task of snipping.

Here Come the Tulips

Here are some early signs of spring bulbs after a near frosty morning.

Early February Garden

This is the view from the window to my left as I type this entry. Hubs just cut back the Fern, as recommended by Garden Guru L for early February. Not very impressive right now but this area which faces the New South Beach lounging area is set for a spruce up.

I've been in the kitchen making clam chowder, but opened the window to take these as the drizzle dripped outside.

There's a nice view of the strech of fence that's on its last legs, and pending replacements. We already flipped over the boards so the pained brown side is not visible but the posts are failing and it's too high in some places, short in others and gotta go.

Hubs dismantles the former wheel barrow planter for proper disposal. This is from inside, the green rock is the New South Beach the nearby area has lots of early spring bulbs that will be rocking out by the end of the month.

Mid-January Garden View

Mid July Garden Candy

Here's another picture taken with the new camera: Tickseed Coreopsis (yellow) Dragon's Blood (red) and other sedum (green with red) in a recycled concrete rubble wall.

First Garden Photos with the New Camera

Foxglove close-up

Leopard lily close-up

Blue pansies with flowering sedum

Collage of Backyard Garden during a Downpour

I used Picasa's Collage feature to create this image from four photos, taken on the back porch during an afternoon downpour. Seven years ago we took out the old deck, decaying fiberglass swimming pool and deteriorated railroad-tie retaining walls and started over.

A Sunny Day to Check on the Garden

Foxglove Village

Nice sunflower starts by the Glacial Green path.

Sun deprived tomatoes soak up the rays.

Looking up the lower rubble wall.

Very Wet Wednesday

I was just getting ready to run some errands on foot, but stayed inside once I saw a fast moving squall turn to a full force storm. For every plant that's been transplanted I am joyful and for every eradicated weed I am grateful, because there is still going to be more to do when this extended period of rain is done.

In Memory of Mrs. P.

Here's a flower photo essay in honor of a wonderful woman who lost her valiant battle with the evil C. R.I.P. Mrs. P.

 

White Flowers and Groundcovers

Free flowing ground cover

Foundation plant: Hebe

 
I have to poke around to find the names for these plants, most were part of the remodel in 2005:

Precious Pansy: survived the winter

A groundcover that is commonly blue

Shades of Spring Green

Euphorbia

The different shades of green which emerge in spring are too numerous to count. In these pictures alone the range of hues is immense. Light colored Hebe, chartreuse Euphorbia, mid range Poppies, mixed with red Sedum and Heuchera. They all make a fantastic backdrop for colorful flowers and plants, but the dark brown of decomposing leaves and gray of the broken concrete wall also brings out the fantastic array of texture and color.

Low Growing Delights

This sweet little area long the Glacial Green rock covered path looks more delightful each day. If you like the pinkish ground cover read this post.

Late March Color along the north slope

This nice set of complimentary plants caught my eye in the garden this afternoon. Heuchera (Coral Bells), Euphorbia (spurge) and low growing, nicely spreading green shrub.

Lower North Slope in Second Year

We started over last year in this area, adding a group of plants around the perimeter to take advantage of drainage along the slope. The rosemary mass has been there, but the reddish Heavenly Bamboo, or Nandina, was added in the fall.
A reddish / burgundy ground cover (on left) was added the the other plants were already in place where the lower wall ends. Near the fence are a pair of Arctostaphylos. The chartreuse gem is a long living Euphorbia that's just starting its colorful showing. Behind it is a sage green Hebe and a slow growing shrub added in 2006.

Vibrant Vinca

Here's an example of the lovely matted growing habit of the ground cover Vinca.

Ground Covers and Sedum in Summer

The Amaryllis Gang

Here garden whimsy is added with Ali, Frank and Annie on daytime guard duty of the Amaryllis. This will be its first outside bloom. Before, it was forced to bloom inside in a container. The red bulb was planted alongside the pathway to the top of the garden. Along the way sedums and ornamental strawberry surround the stones and ornamental grass mark the top. Raised beds with the vegetables are in the background along with a few soon to be blooming iris plants.

Late Afternoon Sun on the Tulips

Anne Greenaway Lamium

This is a lovely mint-green and chartreuse ground cover borders the emerging tulip bed. The botanical name is Lamium maculatum.

Ground Cover Project Starting to Show Promise

What a nice surprise to find the ground covers transplanted to this area in front of the rockery has taken off! I have to say I copied the combination from other yards.

The West Wall before Bloomtime

By now the blade shaped foliage of the Iris are established; ready for another great spring of blooms. Soon enough a pole-like green stem will shoot up from the foliage, and then the flower. The colors are all mixed up along with varieties. The retaining wall has lots of Hens and Chick sedums growing in the crevices. The shrub on far left is Nandina or Heavenly Bamboo, which is not a bamboo plant at all. Go figure. Euphorbia or spurge and Elephant Ears add depth and drama to spaces atop the wall.

Early Stages of Late Summer Garden

The plants here are small, but set to take off once summer kicks in. Meanwhile it gets regular watering from the rain barrel.

Hollyhocks are the tall plant, with a series of Hebe shurbs in the background along the property line. (I'm not sure what the yellowish green shrub is on the neighbor's side.)

Up front are Sedums, which add year-round color and texture.

Smallish plants include Lupines, Columbine and the promising start of some Sunflowers and Pumpkins.

Shades of Green in Garden

What a crazy combination.

Fox Gloves, Columbines, Sedums and Bleeding Hearts!

No flowers but great textures and shades of green.

Garden Elf Among the Sedums

Surrounded by an expanding area of Sedums, Garden Elf adds a vibrant color contrast and lighthearted touch to the back yard.

Ground Covers Spreading and Growing

The strip next to the square raised bed was amended with compost around the four ground covers planted last fall.

Hopefully next year the area will be a step-worthy strip.

Spring Combination View: Late April

Hubs captured the best of spring here, and the view will only get better as the season progresses, and the plants grow even more. Here are Heuchera, Foxgloves, Sedums and Grape Hyacinth backed by Cat Mint.

Euphorbia Myrsinites, or Donkey Tail Spurge

Be technical and call it Euphorbiacae or Euphorbia Myrsinites, Some prefer the easier to pronounce Creeping Spurge, Donkey Tail, or Myrtle Spurge. No matter what it's a beauty this time of year when the light is low.

Subtle Color

The light was low but I took this shot of Dragon's Blood sedum (red) and a green ground cover. Subtle but nice touches of March color.

Emerald Carpet or Ground Cover Bramble

Rubus calycinoides, or Emeral Carpet / Ground Cover Bramble is dark green, with puckered round leaves with creeping stems. White flowers from June-July according to its ID stick from T & L Nursery.

Dark Blue Star Creeper Ground Cover

Dark Blue Star Creeper, with small distinct flowers is the latest ground cover planted in a grouping for light foot traffic.

Pratia pedunculata or "County Park" was placed between the stone pavers that climb to the garden top from the pathway. Photo forthcoming.

Another view of the lower rock wall groundcovers

Here is another view of the Platt's Black Buttons planted as a groundcover in front of this seating wall.

Irish Moss Ground Cover

Right after planting, ground covers are not impressive - but in a short amount time these Irish Moss plants will start spreading out to form a lawn like replacement by the upper right stone wall.

Look close- do you see three green dots? I placed bricks along the planting boundary so we don't stomp on them before they are settled in.

Ground Cover Gem: Platt's Black Brass Buttons

Cotula squadila - These are the plants used in front of the lower stone wall, in the previous post. Most garden centers identify walkable or "stepable" groundcovers that can be used as a lawn replacement.

Before: Walkable Ground Cover Project - lower wall

Shown here is prepared soil for six ground cover plants, to fill in the area in front of the lower stone wall. Along the fence is a pleasing ornamental grass, which I've divided to fill in the corner area.

Watering cans filled from the two rain barrels stand by to soak each plant before and after planting.

Garden Elf

Surrounded by sedums and some drought stressed plants, Ziggy the Garden Elf stands guard near a small path in the back yard. Thanks Mom!

Vinca

I've had better luck with the 1 gallon vinca plants than the 4" plants.

Favorite Groundcover

Finally got a nice picture of this darling groundcover while it was blooming with little balloon like blooms. Can't find the ID stick now...anyone??