Several of our neighbors have silver maples which shed at this time of year....many refer to them as "helicopters"....but shed they do and most of them seem to fall in my yard and hide behind every plant and flower in the garden. So today, along with planting everything new around the mailbox, a flat full of impatience, more pots I also raked and rid the yard of a boat-load of helicopters, just in time for the honey locust to shed their stuff. I have a feeling there will be many delicious moments of tiredness ahead.
I have a concern this year, the impatience (the workhorse of the shade garden) has developed some kind of an airborne fungus this year. Well actually, I guess it started last year. The fungus gets in your soil and does ugly things to the impatience...kills them. I guess "they" are saying you have better luck if you keep them in pots. But I risked it and planted some in the ground. Not as many as I usually do, but still some. These fungus' and bugs are doing major damage in our area. I am sure you have heard of the Emerald Ash Borer that is killing all the Ash trees. Well, guess what, I think it got mine and it definitely has attacked my neighbor's tree. Another tree removal on the horizon. Mine isn't large and it is at the very back of my backyard, so removing it will not cause a big difference, but my neighbor's is huge and shades their whole back yard and most of mine as well. That will definitely be a change in the scenery. Unfortunately they have both been unemployed for many moons (not sure how they are keeping afloat) so the chances of them having the tree removed are slim to none...$$$. Oh well....!!
I love red geraniums on the front porch in the summertime...to me they are a summertime icon.
And the patio is complete....yes, a delicious day!!
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time." ~ Sir Jay Lubbock
Hope you have a delicious day.
Until next time.....
Oh my gosh, I could have written this! I love a good honest day's work in the yard, roses, and actually gave up on impatiens... I also adore red geraniums and your patio is gorgeous! Love your shade garden too - I have one also :)
ReplyDeleteYour patio looks like such a wonderful spot to relax awhile. Love the geraniums too! I planted some pink ones this year...a variety I've never seen before, they kind of look like roses.
ReplyDeleteHate to hear about the trees having to come down. Your new patio looks great though! After all your hard work in the garden this looks like the perfect spot to relax. Enjoy! Oh, and beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteDeanna your yard is beautiful, I was just telling my sister this morning about my troubles with pests in my yard. I had a desert rat eat around a brand new bbq cover and make a nest inside the shelf of the bbq. That was a $49 cover that I had 2 weeks. Then I had planted a brand new 5 ft 6 arm cactus out in the front yard a couple of weeks ago and something ate through one arm. I really thought maybe the landscaper had damaged it when planting it but then this morning I go out and another arm is almost eaten through. Oh how I hate the animals here in the desert. Of course in CA I had gophers that would just suck a plant down in the ground so I guess there are pest everywhere to spoil our landscapes.
ReplyDeleteI hope nothing spoils those impatiens, they are one of the old standbys and usually do so well.
thanks for sharing your beautiful spot - and all your hard work. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot about the impatiens blight when I ordered mine from the youth fundraiser this year. It is unthinkable that I wouldn't have them! We'll see how they do. Our ash tree split in half last year, and one half fell on our house, thankfully not doing any damage. So it will be easier to let it go since it is only half there anyway. I love those trees--it will be sad when they are gone from our neighborhood. I'm so glad you've enjoyed some time outside!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely and delicious, Deanna! I, too, love red geraniums! Too bad about the trees. My yard is still flower-free, but it looks nice - the mowing service just left!
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely garden. Your patio is so peaceful and quiet looking. I can imagine just sitting and enjoying the end of the day there. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour patio looks marvelous, Deanna! Very inviting :-) and I think that after a hard day's work it's absolutely legitimate to rest in one of these wonderful chairs!
ReplyDeleteLove your patio! Can't wait to meet it.
ReplyDeleteoh, i love your red flowers... gorgeous patio ... so nice & very inviting!! i think i will come & chat a while ... i will bring tea to drink. maybe something yummy (dessert) to eat too. it looks very red, white & blue ... so patriotic. ( :
ReplyDeleteYour yard and patio are quite gorgeous. My husband's grandmother used to have geraniums each and every year. The right of passage into summer was a trip to the nursery with her to pick them out and then put out around the front and back porch.
ReplyDeleteI do love that tired feeling at the end of a good day of outdoor work. I haven't had a chance to plant yet - I hope to this weekend. Your yard is beautiful. Now it's your turn to lie on the grass and gaze up at the clouds.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden and love the entry to your home oh and that patio is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to just sit and relax in your garden! What a delight!!
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