Did You Think My Garden Was Perfect?

In case you thought that everything in my yard/garden was neat and tidy, think again. This poor tomato, my one and only, was planted a couple weeks ago and the prospect of it bearing fruit that wins a prize at the county fair is not lookin' good. My dad told me to stake it but my husband suggested the cage, so I did both. The green plastic pail contraption was my dad's invention for retaining moisture. Leaving the weeds to surround the plant was entirely my idea. The tomato is a Wisconsin 55 and they've been around since the 1940's. It has a good sweet flavor. The plants are very productive and thrive in a wide range of growing conditions, so "they" say. We'll see.

Here's a messy unmade bed. I don't think I've ever gone this long into June without having it planted, but this year the weather has been a factor; cold and rainy and lazy. Wait, lazy has nothing to do with weather. Ornamental grass and russian sage in the back and last year the rest was filled with spreading lantana and a few zinnias and I loved it all. Also an aster and a butterfly weed in there among the weeds. My plan is to add a few more perennials plus the lantana.

Phlox Plant Bugs, I think that's what's going on here. I've never ever before had trouble with bugs on my phlox, but something needs to be done and in a hurry. It's on my "to do" list for tomorrow. Ugly looking, right? And I do love my phlox.

Something pretty to end this post with, a photo of more nameless hostas. They are really my favorites because of how they light up that part of the yard, especially in the early evening.

Hooray For The Hosta

So many hosta plants and I know the name of not one of them. Why didn't someone tell me that those plants tags might come in handy some day? I'd like to be part of the hosta cult, but don't think I qualify now. These photos are all in the front yard. There are many more of them in the backyard where they get a lot of sun. They don't seem to mind the sun and actually get bigger than the ones in the front.

I enjoy the wider shot photos in other blogs, so I'm going to start including some of those. This was taken from the front porch. The orange Oriole feeder has been replaced with this hummingbird feeder and the Orioles still come to it along with the hummingbirds, although not at the same time. Nice shot of the neighbor's house. I wouldn't mind having their front porch.

This was originally the NFL garden and not my idea. It had to do with the colors in the NFC Central but has evolved out of that and I'm not sad about it. The small plants coming up around the tree are the black-eyed susan or as some of you may prefer, Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum', and I probably didn't get that right (but I keep trying). They are the love of my garden life and if I could only have one perennial, this would be it.

More nameless hosta plants.

Hostas with Ferns & Astilbe

Even more hostas with a small pot of Fushia tucked in for color. Daylilies in the background.

I'm posting this in a hurry and hoping it makes sense. You're probably thinking that it doesn't seem any less thrown together than all my other posts and you'd be right.

Picking Phillip up at his summer school Spanish class at 9:45 (45 minutes away), bringing him back here for the day until it's time to drive him back for soccer practice. I'll watch practice and then bring him back here again where he'll spend the night and then I'll drive him to Spanish class in the morning. Doing a favor for his parents and the reason I'm in a hurry this morning.

A Dose Of Pink & White

The annuals are doing well including this Geranium (Designer Peppermint Twist). I always plant a few Geraniums because they never fail to bloom spring, summer and into early autumn and are somewhat drought tolerant. They're pretty to look at and hummingbirds like to visit them.

These Double Impatiens (Fiesta Apple Blossom) are a very pale shade of pink that shows up nicely in the lightly shaded area where the pot hangs. The plant hook was nailed to the tree years ago and now that we're older and smarter, I doubt we'd put a nail in a tree. Although, I've read that it would take a lot more than a nail to harm a mature, healthy tree. More serious sources of damage would be things like lawn mowers, string trimmers, soil compaction, tree topping and improper pruning. So, I won't worry about this particular nail and will instead enjoy the flowers.

Yesterday, I drove by this Bridal Wreath Spirea and it looked so amazing that I pulled the car over, put the window down and took this photo. For as long as I can remember, this shrub has been a favorite of mine. The way it's covered completely in tiny white flowers with its arched branches curving all the way to the ground always makes me take a second look.

Back in February, we had to cut down the big oak tree that was in poor health. It was a sad day. The good news is that last week I found one of its "babies" growing in an area where it couldn't stay, so I dug it out and put it temporarily in this pot. I don't know a darn thing about growing trees but with my grandson's help, we'll transplant it in his yard. They have three acres and only two autumn blaze maple trees and a handful of evergreens. Plenty of space for the mighty oak.

Purple Cauliflower

If you have purple cauliflower in your garden and don't know what to do with it other than eat it, here's an idea. Beth at ArtCricket2 makes art from its juice. Go take a look at how she does it.

In a couple hours from now, I'll be volunteering at the Green Bay Botanical Garden's annual Garden Fair. My friend, Debbie, and I will be working in the plant pick up area. I hope to drag my camera along while moving plants around for people. Afterwards, we'll have a couple hours to visit all the vendors. It's Members Only Night, so we won't have to fight the crowds of people who'll be there Saturday and Sunday.

Garden of Life

This is Maddie.

One of the prettiest flowers in my Garden of Life.

These photos were taken a couple days ago before she and her friends graduated from the 8th grade. These five girls all came to the house for dinner and to get dressed before leaving for the ceremony. Makes me happy that she has a home where her friends are always welcome. Maddie is the one on the far right.

There has to be at least one silly photo.

Can't forget the shoes!

Maddie is our step granddaughter and we've known her since she was five years old. She has two grandmothers who live nearby and love her very much, so I don't play that role in her life. But I am her friend, I love her, I'm interested in her life and always wish the best for her.

Hooray For The Weiglia

We have three of these Weiglia bushes that are full of pink trumpet shaped flowers. It took a few years for me to train my gardener (aka husband) to prune them right after they're done blooming, like he does the Lilacs, and not to touch them after that. It was worth the wait.

My mother bought this Japanese Painted Fern for me a couple weeks ago and yesterday I finally got around to planting it.

The Morello Cherry Lupine that I planted this spring is doing well. The plant tag says the flowers will be a dramatic cherry red, but it's looking like pink to me.

This Foamflower (Tiarella 'Pirate's Patch') was planted late last summer. It's thriving and even blooming. Each leaf should have a dark center patch resembling a "pirate's patch" but, so far, there is only a tiny hint of that.

When it comes to annuals, I rarely buy a pot of flowers already planted but these Impatiens New Guinea were too pretty to pass up.

House plants are not my specialty but I do have this Croton (Codiaeum 'Petra') and have moved it outside for the summer.

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day - June 1, 2009

"It is better to be a young June-bug

than an old bird of paradise."

-Mark Twain

These "young June-bugs" really know how to have fun and enjoy the moment. It's hard to get all three of them to stand still for a picture, so I told them to jump. Phillip & Caitlyn got into it but Joseph was not about to be told what to do.

In this photo, Phillip is jumping with all his might, head thrown back and eyes closed. Makes me think of this quote by Vladlen Kuznetsov.

"Close your eyes - and open your eyes.

You have one second.

This is all your life.

Is this long enough or just too short?

It depends.

Every one has it different."

Enough about the June-bugs.

The Dwarf Korean Lilac bushes that grow next to our deck are close to being in full bloom. We're glad they're near the house where we can enjoy the fragrance. There is nothing not to love about the DKL; easy to grow and maintain and beautiful.

I read recently that the lilac is sometimes referred to as the "apple pie of shrubs." That's certainly true here in Wisconsin.

Jumping right from soft lilac lavender to bright orange. My son and his wife have both a cornfield and natural areas bordering their 3 acres. In the spring of 2008, Phil planted some wildflowers in the natural area and had some nice success considering he did nothing but sow the seeds. This orange flower is the first to bloom this year and we don't know what it is. Can't find it any of my wildflower identification books. Any ideas?

Thank you to Carolyn at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago for starting Garden Bloggers' Muse Day. I always enjoy it and hope you do, too. Carolyn has been busy preparing for and hosting Spring Fling which was held this last weekend. I'm looking forward to reading about it and enjoying all photos.