Already Too Hot To Garden

One of our water lilies this morning.

I've already done my gardening for the day (maybe I'll go back out in the evening). It's so hot and steamy already. Like a jungle. I did get two roses planted though: Alexander Hill Gray (which is so very special after hearing Trish from Ashdown's story of how she grew and babied him!) and Baronne Henriette de Snoy. Don't you just love rose names?

Yay for rose planting progress!

More Wishes

I want a pumpkin patch. Wonder if it's too late for this year?

I would also love a strawberry patch.

And blackberries. I want blackberries.

I really want/need a farm. Maybe someday.

Weekend Update

The rain finally stopped, and now it is hot and humid here. Pat was motivated by the I-work-for-rich-people pond man to finally finish it up himself. We went for more rock yesterday. He's building up the top for a biofilter. Then we'll finish rocking the waterfall. Hopefully, the added filter at top will help clear up the water. Then he's gonna fix the UV part.

Over 2200 pounds of rock Pat (I helped load smaller ones until I smashed my finger!) loaded and unloaded yesterday.

We definitely have a frog! Still haven't seen him, but he talks to me when I'm sitting by the pond. I've named him Fred Mertz. I hope he'll get used to us around and maybe come out once in a while. I so want to get a look at him!

So for the planting update. I dug holes for two roses this morning, but the ground was so wet. I'm going to let it dry out some and maybe plant this evening. I did get Creeping Jenny planted between some rocks at pond edge. Also, on Pond Hill, I planted two 'Provence' lavenders and a wooly creeping thyme. I repotted two water lilies (one was just stuck in some rocks) and fed all the water lilies. I had to put my hands in pond water. Blech!

Exciting Frog News

Pat saw Fred the frog!

Other Garden Wishes!

(image from www.lancasterfarms.com)

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' (Eastern Redbud) - Saw this at Farmhouse Gardeners. Gorgeous colored leaves! Redbuds have always been one of my favorite trees with those heart-shaped leaves. I must have one of these. Was $75 at F.G. Maybe in the fall.

(image from www.botanicalarchive.com)

Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria

(image from www.waysidegardens.com)

Weeping Redbud ™ Covey
Cercis canadensis var. canadensis Covey

After we get a big problem solved with our creek bank, we want to do a border garden around the perimeter of our backyard with small trees, shrubs (Beautyberry is one I want for sure) and large shrub-type roses. I love that look.

Another thing I have been lusting after for years is Black bamboo! I saw it first at the NC Zoo in Asheboro. It's so gorgeous. I love bamboo. It's very expensive though. But Pat knows someone who's going to GIVE us some! It's a noninvasive type of bamboo. I want to plant it near the pond. I think that will look great.

On the perennial front, I'd like to have more cottagey-type flowers, like foxgloves, hollyhocks, more salvias. I can't tell you how many times I've planted foxgloves. I have no luck with them at all. I know they like some shade. I've tried everywhere! Maybe someday.

Also, I MUST have a Himalayan Blue poppy.
Meconopsis betonicifolia

(image from www.dutchbulbs.com)

Front Garden

I'm putting in 4 garden-related entries from my regular (as it can be, anyway) journal. I know you've seen these before!

From 5-10-05



My front garden. (This little garden is on the right side in front of garage, looking at the photo of my house.) The roses there aren't really blooming yet though. The Azuro rhododendrons will bloom very soon. That is climbing hydrangea on the wall. Beautiful white blooms in a few weeks.

Two more angles of front garden.




One of my hill gardens and pond in backyard. A few roses blooming.




I think I will paint this scene "en plein air" when the roses bloom around her.

Some Backyard

Pride isn't a word I use very often. I admire humility in people. I pray for humility in myself. BUT (you knew there was a but) I am PROUD of my gardens. Here's why: When we built our house 9 years ago, it was in the middle of a pasture. Nothing. No trees. No flowers. No nothing but grass. Everything you see here, I did. I planned everything. I dug (almost) every hole. I planted every rose, every flower, everything (except for the big trees). I did it. I worked hard hard hard. I worked in the NC summer heat. I sweated. I got dirty. I loved every second of it. And look what I have now! Pat does help me with weeding. I don't want to leave him out! The pond is his baby (but my idea, ha!). He works like a dog on it. I will post photos of it when we get it all cleaned up for the summer. He did all the concrete step making and the patio paver laying and the gravel pouring. He does the "hardscapes," as he calls them. Oh, and he mows the grass!

This will probably sound extremely corny, but making beautiful gardens feels like my gift back to God.

This rose is Mutabilis. It's also called The Butterfly Rose. The single blooms start out yellow and go through color changes to peach to pink. It really does look like a bush full of beautiful butterflies! It's an ancient rose from China. It loves the South (like me!) and gets huge.

Another view of Mutabilis through the arbor that leads to the pond (going through the other way). Growing on the arbor are Cl. Souvenir de la Malmaison and Cl. White Maman Cochet.

Cl. White Mama Cochet


Mrs. BR Cant. Don't look at the mess around her! Some of Pat's pond supply castoffs. I have so much cleaning up to do!

Clementina Carbonieri. One of my very favorite roses. I wish you could smell her! Lucious.

My back porch! Everyone has a red geranium, right?

Coming up next: Peeks at my secret garden.