New gardens

The new herb garden is coming back to life after it's first mild winter. Surprisingly, the Rosemary died, yet the Gallardia survived. I have some newcomers thanks to Helga, hardy and very sunny primroses.

This is a new garden by the patio, with strawberries, Gladiolas, Canna Lilies, Verbena bonariensis, Rudbeckia, Fever few, Lovage, Foxglove, sedums and a rose.


This is the newest of all, a dry garden with Asiatic Lilies, Oriental Stargazer Lilies, Coneflower, Penstemon, Rosemary, Yarrow, red thyme, 'Earliblue' Blueberry, Honeycomb buddleja, Echinops/Globe Thistle, Sedum "Red Cauli", Fairy Wands, Coreopsis, Monarda (lilac color), Hyssop, Iris and black Watchman Hollyhocks that Thomas Jefferson grew at Montecello.



This area was a bit neglected before, it's on the back a hill away from the house. But I discovered it's sunny and has rich soil...so I've started to plant bunches of flowers here. I have Bergamot, Tansy Crispum, Violet Lupine, Centaurea, Saxifraga, Daisy, Aster, Campanula, Foxglove, Forget me not, Oriental Poppy, California Poppy and Red and Pink Hollyhocks.

The hammock has changed positions and so the plantings has to comply with foot traffic & sagging butts encroaching into the flowers. So I framed the grass with a rose hedge of 'Peach Drift', leaving a walk way with red thyme to the hammock. Mexican hair grasses were transplanted here to hopefully fill in a meadow-like area underneath that promises not to poke any sitters!

Cold Frame!

Thanks Dad! I love my birthday gift, a 6 foot long cedar cold frame.

Bird Watching

Like I needed another hobby! Watching the birds has become obsession around here. We just love them. These Evening Grosbeaks just appeared this week, possibly traveling through, but I hope they stick around. We counted at least 25 this morning, flocking & eating together, scaring all our regulars.

Leaping

It's going to be an awesome year in the garden. More birds, frogs and hummingbirds are lingering. Everything is growing like crazy, filling in and really taking shape. We are on year three, I believe. Isn't it year one weep, year two creep and year three leap?






The chartreuse euphorbias have taken the attention this year, they look great with the blues and pinks.

The back yard is also starting to really take off.



The rose hedge is incredibly healthy looking. I hope this is the plant strength and not left over chemical treatment from the grower.

The moon garden with blooming coral bells, the hummingbird loves these.

The South hill garden has knitted together this Spring. The Lupine and sedum are especially nice.


Japanese Maple with new Variegared Iris.

It's name is Iris Palladia, and it smells exactly like grape soda, sometimes like PEZ. Delicious.

Shell pink rhody with astilbe, yarrow, Spruce, lavender and many flowers coming from seed.

Looking a little crowded, wouldn't you say? I guess this is the leaping part.

Winter creeper, starting to take off this year.

A step back to see the big picture.

Pink Dogwood in the front yard.

Carol's Garden

One of my favorite PNW gardens, belongs to my friend Carol. Her garden is inspiring, and so beautiful! She has been generous to give me some starts from her plantings.