Update On Project...

Well, since I am home from work now I will give a little update on the yard.  I will start with Hot Papaya(pictured above).  It is probably my favorite Echinacea right now.  This flower is ever changing.  From the moment it begins to open until it fades away, the color and shape continue to develop and  change.   

Side of house:  Hot Papaya Echinacea, Rub=dbeckia Cherry Brandy, Rudbeckia maxima, Stokesia, and a trellis that should have a Clematis or 2 on it.

Belamcanda Hello Yellow

Starting to middle going clockwise: Echinacea Firebird, Ech. Daydream, Ech. Tangerine Dream, and Ech Pow Wow Wildberry

Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy (this one came out a little double compared to normal)

Left to right: Rudbeckia Tiger Eyes, Canna Australia, Sedum Neon, Dendranthemum, And Crocosmia Brite Eyes on the far right.

Unknown Green Hosta, it was here when I got the house

Carex Bowles Golden in my favorite blue pot

The front flower bed

Front flower bed from the side

Echinacea Tangerine Dream

Daylily Unknown (found it at the farmers market)

Well tonight I am tired from planting a bunch ferns in my new fern garden!  I am very happy and excited about my new fern garden.  I will be even more happy and excited in about...2 years, when they really start to fill in the area and look good!  Here are a few picutres...

I have a spiral planter holder from my Grandma that I have always loved.  It has been getting rusty so I went to the local Big Box store and explored my painting options.  I found a color I really loved and brought it home.   I say "my" painting options but really Dave is the spray paint master.  Here are 2 pictures of the finished product

It is very purple now!

My Latest Project

 There was a definite area where the water flowed away from the downspout.  But it wasn't defined.  In fact this area was completely empty 2 days ago.  The brick border was the first step. it starts near the porch.  (I will show this later.)  Then I just had an idea.  The proverbial light bulb over my head.  Let's break things!!!  I love these kind of ideas.  So I broke several terra cotta pots and started staggering them front and back along the natural flow depression.  I will eventually fill it with white rocks and pieces of broken plate or glazed pottery.  That will add a little color.  I planted Regal Red Painted Ferns along the front of the new bed and will plant a Fatsia in the space behind the blue container.  

So I did the same project on this downspout as well.  Around this one I planted Itea Little Henry, two Variegated Iris and two Nepeta.  This blue pot has pink Impatiens and there is a pink Peony on the left side of the downspout.  

Here are a few photos of how things are filling in:

 Hostas, ferns, heuchera, and Camellia Hot Flash

 Radiance Abelia!

Front right: Hot Papaya Echinacea, Clematis on the trellis

New Growth!

Kerria japonica

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Feathers'

New growth, new leaves! Spring is so awesome.  Everything gets a fresh new start and looks so pretty and bright green.  I don't have a lot to say this time so here are some pics of my plants with new growth.

My broken pot project.  Green leaf Hosta planted in the top.

My Daffodil Project.  (It is looking so pretty)

Unknown Variegated Hosta

Intersectional Peony 'Bartzella'

Ahhhh!!! Scary!

This week we had some really nasty weather!  A tornado came through Mint Hill about 15 miles north of where we live.  At home we had at least 1 inch of rain, probably more because there is standing water all over the yard.   At work we had hail and rain and thunder and lighting.    I went out in  the yard today when the clouds finally cleared out to inspect the damage.  Unfortunately the big oak in the backyard didn't come down.  No limbs even fell.  I really am disappointed because this tree is rotting and diseased.  It really needs to come down but I don't have the money right now to have it taken down. 

While I was walking around the yard I started noticing that plants are budding out and popping up a lot faster than they should be.  Scary fast!  Our Japanese Maples are starting to bud out and get leaves.  Real leaves!  Also a hosta is popping up new leaves.  Almost 6 inches tall!  What am I going to do if there is a freeze?  I am a new homeowner, I don't think I have enough blankets to cover everything!  Something is going to get burned.  I just have to figure out my plant priorities.......Who gets saved?

I Love Yellow!!!

Regular old daffodil

I really do love daffodils.  And anything else yellow in the early spring!  Every year in January I start looking forward to spring.  New flowers and new leaves....every thing is so pretty and fresh.  Yellow is such a happy color.  It really helps bring up my mood during the cloudy, gray days right before spring starts.  I was really excited to start seeing the daffodils we planted last fall pop up.  Now that they started to bloom the yard is looking more like home.  I am already looking forward to planting more in other parts of the yard.  Also, I am interested to see how quickly the ones that are planted will spread out! 

Grape Hyacinth

Yellow violas

  I really like yellow and purple or blue together.  I planted some grape hyacinth and Tete a tete daffodils together to achieve this color scheme.  Tete a tete is a dwarf form of daffodil only grows about 6-8" tall.  In order to get a naturalized effect I scattered the bulbs on the ground and planted them where they landed.   They are coming up and blooming together so nicely.  My plan worked...Mahahahhahhahaha.

Tete a tete and Grape hyacinth

Another early spring bloomer is the Lenten Rose.  Here is the only one that decided to bloom this year.  I planted 5 and only this one bloomed.  Well this one and one other that never made it into the ground.  I am kinda disappointed with the others but they seemed weak when I planted them so I guess I am happy they even made it this long.  jerks...(muttered under my breath)  

Now I am just sitting back and waiting to see what comes up and blooms next!!

Play on Plant Names

Next Tuesday is Valentine's Day and we hope that you have plenty of love in your garden.  You will be in the 'Winner's Circle' if you take care of your 'Lovebug' by offering her some 'Midnight Wine'.   You might even make her 'Spellbound' with a 'Evergold' necklace.  Her heart will definitely be 'Frost Proof' when she sees how much you have done to make her Valentine's Day special.   And ladies, don't forget your guys!  Get him a new 'Mr. Bowling Ball' or let him get the 'Mohawk' he has been wanting.  

This is something that I wrote for work.  I have told little stories like this before, but they were much risque.  I may start writing them down as the stories pop into my head.  They would be fun to post!