Front garden clallenge..........................

Everything is late this year and it's hard going for me. I have been practically growing roots on the couch this Winter. I wanted exercize and I guess I now have it. I am amazed at how slow I am. I am huffing and puffing all the time. I need it right? Well lets see..........I have about finished the back for now. I can do more once I see what's going to come up yet. The Hosta are just breaking ground depending on the variety. So I can't really plant just yet. Probably good because the front needs so much attention. What needs to happen, but won't, is that I dig up the whole main bed and replant things where they would do the best. It is a mess.
This part under the pines needs little care, just pulled some grass and this is where the Ferns I pull will go. I moved the old Radio Flyer there and hope to fill it with something eventually.

What I will do though instead of buying more stuff is to rehome what I pull up. Some things like the Iris do not bloom, they spread but don't bloom. I also have a mass of Fern that I don't want to spread anymore. I do have a couple of places that I think the will like and I need ground cover so they can have at it. I was out today and not a lot of the Fern has broken ground but I dug some up and dug a hole under that pine tree and it will thrive or not as it wishes.
The Pine trees out front have grown and I must either cut them back or move some of the Day Lily. I think I can find new homes for the lily when I get to that main garden.

A lot of my garden ornaments broke last year so maybe I can persuade those who insist on Birthday pressies to send me garden stuff or vouchers. After this year I certainly won't be able to buy things myself. I have to be creative and once I get caught up outside thats what I will do.

So many things like my Forsythia have baby shoots that I can transplant. I must also try to do cuttings and root them. There is much I can do if I use my knowledge. Thanks Dad. Forsythia is just beautiful in Spring. In fact the Record Eagle photographer stopped and asked if he could take pictures of mine. I have not seen the picture I love it also because it reminds me of my parents house. It grew all over the front and birds nested in it. That was one reason Dad cut it down haha. He could not sleep in on a weekend with the windows open because of the Sparrows nesting under his window.
Since that picture I have planted my Zucchini and cukes.

My finger and toe nails will be dirty now all summer long, as long as I am in the garden.

The Apple tree is in blossom and so pretty. If I had my camera I could have taken a picture of Mr noisy Cardinal enjoying the sun and going at it full throttle.
His wife was in another tree and kept encouraging him.
I did get this Chickadee who was making a meal of the blossoms. Hmmmmm and then just sat and preened the cheeky little sod.





I just went to Home Depot and got two more Hosta for the shade by the deck. I left them in pots because the will go in the garden later when I know where they are needed. I don't buy too many annuals any more. I try to just get Perennials that will come back. But.......well its never done so I am sure I will pick up a few more when I have some money. I wish I could grow all the things I love but they don't seem to enjoy the shade so much and unfortunately a lot of my garden is in shade.
Hosta are my friends.


I guess I enjoy the back garden more because we sit out there with the Poodles. Bodi is getting old and can't walk so much now. She has arthritis in her hips and finds it so hard to get around. So it's nice to take her out and let her sit with us. The other three just enjoy people going by and yacking at them. Wish I could afford a fence. I Mean a real privacy fence. I just can't see that happening though. Maybe I can talk Gerry into that one year but it wont be soon. He enjoys sitting in the garden but not the work. I like pottering, but do not like this digging crap, it's killing me now the suns out and getting hot.

I loved that Petunia, it has spots.

I ventured onto Buds side of my house. Years ago he threw away a bunch of Tulip bulbs. I said just throw them under the grapevine. Well what with that and the Squirrel population I now have a lovely side garden that only he sees. There are Snowball shrubs under the kitchen window and a Quince that is beautiful. I don't get to enjoy though but it looks lovely in Spring.



The Tulips and Daffodils and Forget me nots gone wild. Its lovely.
I really enjoy Quince. Again, it reminds me of my Dad who had it growing over his garden shed.

I must get some more for my back garden.
So today I finished most of the big front garden, moved some Ferns and got ready to do the rest of the front. Taking a break tomorrow and going out with Edna for lunch. It is still looking bare out there. Things still coming up but I have at least made a big start and not a lot more to do. I like that, then I just do the fiddling the rest of the year until Fall. Phew.............more later.
I did sneak back to Home Depot but they didn't have what I wanted. They did have Hosta really good price so got two. I also got some Geranium for the front and side, also a good price and I may be able to over Winter those. The ones I kept last year look sad.
FOr the front step I got Petunias.


It looks like it's going to rain now. Just had my shower and tried to clean up my toes haha...........they won't look decent till the end of garden season.

Greening Up...................................

Mid May and it's beginning to get green. Today was a beautiful day. I have been working in the garden on and off and finally got in a full day. I found it was very hard at first, the beginning of the week. I had to do short bursts and rest. Today, I put in a full day and felt great. I am building stamina. So...........I had Gerry go get me some wood chips and some dirt so I could start a new side garden.
It's an area that has been an eye sore for awhile now.

I had an idea. The garden I put in last year did not do as well as I had hoped. Just not enough sun. I watched the side and found that for most of the day there is sun in a part of it. Up close to the house is shade but, the part further out gets sun. So what I did was use the part up close to the porch as my deposit for beach rocks. Make a path of wood chips bordered by some bricks and then another row of bricks. Then I put in some dirt and made a garden where I can plant my Zucchini this year. As I was working I thought there may be enough sun for some tomato as well.

When looking at the area I thought I would also put in some shrubs later. Too much to do for now but will see next month.


I asked Gerry to plant my shrubs and he did.

I just have a few more things to plant, This old chair with no seat I put a piece of wood and made a place for my wire basket. Need to fill it now with the plants that are sitting in the basket at the moment.

I planted the Hostas that I got to put in pots instead of annuals, they will come back again.

I have a few more things yet to plant and need a tray of annuals for the other baskets.


Poor man always thinks I am done. Never.

I love the paths that the Poodles have made and I keep those clear for them and make more. They can get behind the shrubs and stuff and I have planted the new ones away so they can always have hiding places. They love the secret places I have made for them. It reminds me of when I was a kid and had secret paths and dens to play in. My little trails are not big enough for kids but just right for tiny dogs.


I got the area by the shed cleaned up and need some more wood chips down for that area,but at least the junk is all gone now. There is a corner there in the back that I dump leaves and clippings. Now it's looking better. When the leaves are fully foliated you cant see quite so much of the outside world. Right now it all seems wide open. The Hosta's are not yet up in the shade gardens. I have a few more to plant there but until I see who will pop up where I have to wait. The Shade garden is filling in nice. I have found that most of the Hosta like some sun so back there they are late. The Trillium is up and blooming but is much smaller than previous years. I think the cold has stunted them.



Now as soon as I can I will get some colour back there. I am trying to get away from annuals by putting in shrubs that have flowers. So bought Azalea. The Holly is finally getting to a reasonable size but needs food. Maybe that will help. I must get some more shrubs along the fence line so that fill in more and avoid buying a bigger fence.
I really like this little tufty grass, Carex Evergold I bought 3 and I will get 2 more to actually plant in the garden. I am still waiting to see what comes up first

Some things do well in containers but not in the ground so have to wait to see what has survived. I think I will get zinnia or Petunias for some colour. When I get to the garden center all my plans go out the window. I just love the flowers. I always buy twice as much as I plan.
I now have several seating areas, one is sun and one is shade out back as well as my shade spot on the deck. Then there is an area at the front..........more front stuff later. My next project is the Herb garden and then the veggie garden.




Enough for now. I just hope it all looks better when it fills in and things start to grow and bloom but for today, looks good enough.

It's May.........................................

What a difference a day makes. I was out in the garden yesterday and took a picture of daffodils in bud. Today after a night of rain they are in bloom. When I see pictures of fields of them in England my lonely one or two are pathetic. They are all I have though so here is my lonely daffodil.

The Hyacinth was a tight bud yesterday and today is fully out.


Usually I will buy Spring flowers for the house and later plant them outside for next year. These little mini daffs were from years past

This Spring is late coming, so much snow. Now finally the last of it is gone and we have had rain. Our April showers came in May when the blossoms should be out. Well after this rain maybe that will happen. Maybe a nice drive this weekend? It will be nice to get out if its nice weather. Then again, I have so much to do yet. I finally got the pile of junk from the side of the garage moved. I had Gerry put the two wheel barrows (reluctantly) out in the alley. Just in time. A man came by and asked if he could take them. He came by last year looking for junk, like the old Rag and Bone man of old. He collects things he can sell for the metal or fix up and sell. SO he took those as well as all the old brooms and mops and buckets we put out, talk about good timing. Now I just have to clean up the leaves and I had forgotten the pile of broken blocks sitting there. I can use those. Got ideas yeah!!!

I can get in part of the garage/shed now since Gerry got part of it cleaned up and I can see what I am doing. I use an old ashtray on a stand for the birds to get water. Well it has about run its life out now the top is all rusted but, for this year, I have put a new top on it and the Butterfly can sip from it.


Another old Ashtray I also use for water for birds and critters. I often see Squirrels sipping from it.

This year I will have big sort out and I am throwing away all the broken and chipped stuff.......yes, I will. I threw out all my cushions that were old because I know I will not get around to covering them. There is no point in pretending otherwise. I feel bad throwing out the fairies with broken wings and bunnies without ears. Ah well. I certainly have a load to go through still. The deck has a load. I have a wagon load of glass balls to wash and place.

Some fairies have found a place already

The swings are up.

I have tried to plant wildflowers when I can get them and they are coming up now. So the woods should be pretty soon.

My Trillium is in bud.



Not a lot to show for a Spring garden. Sort of pathetic really. Soon though I can plant
Meanwhile Gerry and Cooper were raking up leaves

My two remaining fish are happy. I love my pond. I wish I could have a bigger one. The one fish looks fat. Dare I hope she is preggers?

The baby died last Fall and one disappeared never to be seen again so my original 3 became 4 and then 3 and now 2 again.



Well they did get the front raked and what a mess it is out there I don't even want to go and look. Cooper made himself comfortable and sat blowing bubbles after giving up on raking

All for now, I have cleaned all the bird feeders, found a bunch of them and fixed those so no need now to get new ones. Once clean up is done I can fill and place them in convenient spots. Supposed to be another storm tonight but at least it's rain yeahhhhh!!!!!