So Many Pretties...............

There are so many pretty flowers in the garden right now. I can't stop taking pictures.
The day lillies are blooming. I forget how many varieties I have right now but I must get more.



The daisies are also one of my best bloomers. I have white and lemon yellow as well as a peach colour. (above) Again, I think they are something I must get more of. I just wish things would last longer than they do.






The BlueJay family are still coming to the feeders. I think they built their nest so close to take advantage. With it being so hot I am keeping water on hand for the critters in fountains and dishes.



Our Poodle Bijou didn't come back in after going potty so I went to see what she was up to. Found her sunbathing in the chair.



More Day Lillies..........I must get more variety. They are all so beautiful.



I just loved the yellow Day Lillies and some other things are beginning to appear but not quite at their fullest yet.



I am once again linking up with Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House

Indigo Bunting.................

On a recent day out we saw an Indigo Bunting but not close enough for a good picture. You can at least appreciate how pretty it is. We had gone to the Sleeping Bear dunes and I had only just said that I had seen my first Indigo Bunting there. Then low and behold this one appears.



I have to show you some good pictures of this bird because its really beautiful. I got them by searching on the web and have no idea who took them. I prefer to use my own pictures and apologize to the people who got these wonderful shots. Maybe one day I can get closer.


These sort of birds do not come into town. Not that I see anyway. They live out by the sand dunes.

My friend Jo lives out that way and I think they see them now quite often.



I will make sure I take my camera next time I am there. They also get the Baltimore Oriels and many other birds we do not get in town. A lot are passing through the area on migration routes.

Monarchs.............

I finally got a few pictures of Monarch butterfly's. I have milkweed growing in my garden to try to encourage them. So far no luck.




I am hoping the milkweed will spread and when it does I will plant some among my flowers. They are pretty and smell divine.


We got these pictures out at Manitou Gardens near Frankfort.





The details on the Monarch are impressive.

Tuesday in June.............

We had one heck of a storm last night. Loads of rain and wind. Lucky we didn't get trees down here this time but just out of town they got hit pretty bad. Some poor Pizza delivery guy had a tree fall on his car, he was unhurt.
Today was a lot calmer and this evening I went out to take some pictures. I try to get some every day just to show the difference a day makes.
Well to begin with I had to reprimand a squirrel.



Then Mr Chips had to be evicted, he was so full his face was twice its size. I really filled all the feeders this morning and now those on the deck are empty again.


The butterfly plant is really blooming nice, I have it in Orange and Yellow.


I almost like the yellow one better???? There is one more variety to bloom yet.



The Icelandic Poppy produces different colours on the same plant. I love it. I do so hope it comes back next year, if so I will certainly get more. Many more.


I am excited to see the Day lilies are all in bud. A few are already out.

A few more roses..............

Many many years ago, Laura bought me a rose bush for Mothers Day. It was so thorny that I moved it between some shrubs and they grew around it. I cut it down every year in the Fall and every year it comes back bigger with more flowers. It's awesome. the shrubs are evergreens and have grown huge. The rose has spread all through them and grown taller each year. It would be a great climber.

Another group, they are not single blooms but grow in bunches and are all over the place.


See how its spread through the whole area. It's looking nice. The Geraniums on the deck look down on them.


I don't have much luck with roses, as I have said before. This year I fed them a bit more and will do so again. I have had more blooms than in a long time. This is the first bloom on this one. I put this baby in a large pot last year. It has this one bloom, its quite pretty I thought. With a good prune I bet it will do good next year.


Isn't she pretty it starts off two tone.



This one too has only one bloom, but it did at least come back. I replanted a few small bushes this year and at least they survived and that's a start. These were the mini ones from the food store. They revert to their normal size when planted in the ground it seems.


Well these are the most recent I have to show............I do believe the others, even though they have leaves are not going to make it. I think I will dig them up and plant somewhere else. Maybe I will baby them in pots for a couple of years. Will have more to show later I hope.

In a garden............

In a garden green and gay
All my troubles fade away
Sweet contentment here I find
Joy of heart and peace of mind

A little poem by Patience Strong, this says it all for those who love to be in the garden.



An English garden is full of roses, it smells sweet. Night scented stock's and the heady smell of roses in the air.
The flowers seem to bloom all year and the more moderate climate makes it possible to have that colour going on all summer it seems. Enough rain to keep it all green of course.
This garden is Chartwell in Kent.

The English love their gardens. If their property is not large enough then they will use containers and windowsills. The public parks are fantastic and one thing I really miss here in the States. There are lovely public gardens to walk in, to have lunch in and take a break from the rat race. As a child I loved the two we had in Dunstable. One in particular had an areas where one went down steps into a low garden with stone walls, plants hanging over the rocks and shrubs and trees making it a hidden garden where one might see a rabbit or two in the early morning.



One thing I did love about Canada they seem to have retained that English love of gardens, and especially Public gardens or Parks as we call them in England.

A few Herbs..........................

Some of the herbs in my garden turned out to be quite pretty. I love this Sage.





The Chives are a favourite. I just have to let them bloom.

June........

June is busting out all over...............
Will this year be better for my roses? So far they seem to be doing well. That is encouraging. I love the pale pink one.
Here are a few pictures of this pretty pink. This is a Blushing Knockout Rose. They told me it was an easy keeper. This is its third year and it is finally coming into its own. (Rosa Radyod)


A close up.

and another

She is really blooming this year.

Some of my Scarlet rose.Rosa florabunda "Impatient"

This one evades capture of the true colour but the one above is close.

She must have liked all the rain. I did feed them too so I will have to do that again.

My Blackberry is blooming, the blossoms are so pretty



They make such a pretty picture

My flowering bush and the Iris cover the Air conditioner. It muffles the outside noise.


The grasses by the pond make for a nice picture too. The Pansies have made a valient effort since it cooled down



They wont do well now its warming up again but for now they are loving it.

The cat is now confined indoors because she has her eye on a Blue Jay nest in my Snowball bushes so until they fledge and leave the nest she is again and inside cat.



The Deadly Nightshade made a comeback. I am reluctant to destroy it because its so beautful. I know at some point its going to be a pain in the butt.

Here's Tristen enjoying the outside.


Here is Gabby and Bodi enjoying the sunshine




View from the window.

The basket still doing well. Its been lovely.


Bodicea says "When are you coming in Mum"

Bella added her voice. " We want to go in"




So my life is ruled by four poodles and a small boy and a cantankerous cat