The last few days have been busy ones in the garden. First lots of fresh garden soil was brought in and shared amoung the beds. Yesturday at Karen's suggestion, we brought in the mulch. Reams of it. I still hurt! I didn't doubt that it would make a difference, I just had not realized how much it would help. Incredible. The plants seem to leap from the beds now. The neighbors, at least the ones that don't stop by to comment on the smell of the ceder, all said how much better it looks. So, today I am reveling in the aroma and the look of things and next week and beyond I will be working on adding plants where plants need to be added.....the fun never ends.

The side bed after the mulch. Such an improverment!

The back corner garden after the addition of the mulch. So much better contrast. Thanks Karen....

Mulch mulch and more mulch. Do you suppose this is enough Karen?
Freshly mulched front bed in front of the porch between the two properties.
Husker Red Penstamon
She has bloomed and bloomed and bloomed. I have never seen so many flowers all at once.

 

looking up the slope...thinking of puting a wee rock garden on the bottom part of the slope and leveling the top part. We need somewhere level to put the fire pit that my brother bought for the kids....
A new side bed at the property line. The neighbor is annoyed with me now as I have put the composter so close to his property. As it turns out, it is just behind the red chair on which I sit quite happily with no nasal distress. He is sure he has flies on his deck from it, but when I open it and stick my head in, there are no flies nor any odour other than that of wet earth. We also have the city green bins which take all the meat etc. and his sits just under his deck. I'm not so sure that I am in the wrong....

 

more of the side garden
these are hte steps that Hud had to move back.Still pretty much a mess!
Nice sloping spot that last year was able to hold all four adirondak chairs. this year not so much with out losing someone down the hill.
Looking up the steps....

 

Climbing Hydrangea on the side of the shed.
Side garden that once the trees are out will be in absolute shade for the most part.

 

Purple Finches that I had not seen yet this year.
The shade garden at the back of the yard.

 

Progress is being made on a daily basis in our tiny little yard. New beds are being put in with some help from Hud, and new plans are always evolving. I'm running out of space, but there is always the joy of going vertical as well. Vines here we come! As the plants mature and bloom I will post some wider pics of the gardens at large, but for now close ups will do. Not sure why some are uploading larger than others but anyhow, you get the idea....

The climbing hydrangea is opening up more everyday. I can't wait to see the end result.
A wee little cinnamon fern. I was so glad to finally spot some sign of life. I'm not sure why it is so feeble looking but I will continue to cheer it on and hope for the best.

 

Violets from a dear friend in the valley. They come back better every year and remind me of all the good times spent gardening each others yards.


This fern died back last year mid-season so I was thrilled to have it come back in force this year.I'm thinking I need to do come more weeding.

 

Japanese Quince
Finally a tulip!
Balloon flower that I thought was not coming back. there are two more just like it, so really I didn't lose any.
Almost there...Solomon's Seal from the old farmhouse.

 

The newest visitor to the garden....

Finally open

I love the soft delicate look of the compact rhodedendron. This is a recent purchase, and I think I have put it in just the right spot between two trees on the property line.

The excitement over the buds on this climbing hydrangea is overwhelming. Apparently they take about three years to bloom and this is only year two. I'm thinking that I need to get another one.

Ever faithful lungwort. A wee piece given to me by a friend when we moved has grown immensly and now takes up an end of the bed.

The beginnings of a fabulous columbine. This particular plant has done so much better than the others.

A mourning visitor.....