Life in a winter's garden

This morning I took a quick stroll around the garden to see what was happening, if anything.

The primroses are still doing their best to put on a show.

A daffodil is pushing it's way upwards looking for the sun.

The forever hardy pansy is still showing color.

Allium are well on their way

The white pansys sure are showing how hardy they are. They have been blown around by the strong winds, rained and snowed upon and eaten by the bugs, and they still continue to bloom.

Tardy, Tardy

Yes, I know it has been quite a while since I posted anything. But there really is not anything going on in the garden except for lots of dead vegetation which I should clean up., but the weather has not been the best for garden work.
I did notice one little primrose galantly showing one pretty pink flower. Primroses sure are hardy plants.

Do any of you out there in bloggerland still have any flowers blooming?

October 21st

The vibrant colors of summer have almost faded away. The hostas have turned yellow and almost all the annuals have finished flowering.

The daylily is still throwing up a few flowers as are the primroses, and the ferns are starting to dry up and wither ready for sleeping through the winter.

The deep greens of summer have faded and most all the plants are looking rather weary.

My favorite pot by the front door is still looking good but the first frost will take care of that.

A touch of Autumn

I found this Pretty sedge (prairie fire, below left) while wandering the garden center and decided to have an Autumn pot of plants on the front porch.


The grass has lovely yellow and bronze tips.
The pansys seemed to say *take me home, I am just the
right color you are looking for.*

Not to be outdone the coral Diascia also called my name.

I am done planting spring bulbs!

5 Galanthus, or I think they are also called snowdrops, are now in the SHADE garden.

50 Easter baskets assorted tulips planted among THESE plants in the front garden.

30 Allium of assorted colors were also planted in THIS garden

7 blueberry frosting tulips for the Blue/purple yellow garden. I just love the eyecatching petals of these blooms.

5 fragrant hyacinth for the Blue/purple yellow garden

10 Ruby Giant crocus for the Blue/purple yellow garden, and the other 10 in the front garden.

Bulb planting time

Three different kinds of spring bulbs in the ground ready to be covered over.

Chionodoxa, Muscari, Narciccus

Just so the rabbits won't be able to dig the bulbs up, I placed chicken wire over the bulbs before adding another layer of compost.

The little stinker just had to come and investigate but soon hopped off when he found out he could not dig through the chicken wire.

A feeling of fall in the air

I have spent time these last two days spreading compost over three gardens I have. The leaves on some of the trees are starting to change color. Some of the flowers are past their best, while others are still beautiful.

Nice rich compost spread 4" deep over entire garden

Nasturtium

Elephant Ear

Nasturtium

Pansy

Nasturtium

A beautiful rose indeed.

The hydrangea was growing too large in the front of the garden

I dug it up and moved it to the rear, and am hoping it survives the move.

Another project almost finished

I had started arranging rocks around this garden months ago.

Today it is going to be completed.

After a visit to our friend's landscaping business, to bring home a few rocks in the trunk of my car, the project is almost finished. I am waiting for a load of compost and topsoil to be delivered sometime this week to fill in the new garden spot. Then I have to decide what to plant here. I think for starters spring bulbs would be nice, especially daffodils because bunnies do not seem to enjoy the taste of daffodils and I really do not want to fence this garden.

A little trimming needed

The front garden was not getting enough morning sun and some of the plants, as they grew, leaned towards the light.

The oriental lillys along the fence grew very tall, about 4' and grew towards the light. There are also other plants towards the back of the garden, which will benefit from a little more light.

This holly tree, and ornamental plum haircut, should make the leaning plants happy next season.

Another plum tree and bamboo were also making too much shade.

Now that is a little better, though I would really like to top that plum tree to be level with the roof of the house and I think the bamboo will be thinned out a little more.

What's New?

These lovely hostas were given to me by my dear friend Hostagirl. I need to decide where I want to plant them.

The Purple Threadleaf sure is doing well. It is so beautiful and interesting with it's curled leaves being purple on one side and green on the other.

Purple Threadleaf June 1st.

Blue/purple and yellow garden.

I have been working on my *Yellow and Blue/purple* garden this last season. I plan on planting yellow Gladiola, blue iris, and some of the yellow and blue spring bulbs so I will have color all through spring to late fall.
As always, click on pictures for larger view.


The red hydrangea, (in front of the angel) I still have to decide if I will move it or not. It seems to be happy growing here, so it may be the only plant which is not blue/purple or yellow.
I still have the usual chicken wire around the garden to keep all those long- eared furry friends of mine out of the garden.




I think it is about time for another trip to the garden center. this is a great time to by perenials, as many plants are on sale at the end of the season.
These pansys are quite lovely.










I have three salvias all of a different shade of blue





Perhaps a few ferns and hostas would look nice in the shaded part of the garden.