Goodbye Summer

Fall is starting this weekend and I have been going through pictures of what happened in our yard during summer 2013. So come into our yard and follow me as I take you through the past season.

The little wrens were late this year, but we knew when they had arrived by their noisy chatter. Many birds had already picked out their houses, but when the wrens came...some moved out to make way for wrens.  I call them all Jenny male or female ...and here she is on top of the sparrow house thinking that she will take over.

 Then she decided to move into the plaster one in the front yard. Decisions, decisions...where do I want to live. After emptying them both...she decided on a couple of houses in the woods.Of course she needs two.

 Speaking of the woods....I will miss the wildflowers that bloomed this year.They were sparse, but enjoyed still.

 More seed will be planted soon...for more blooms next year.

 The rose bushes were really pretty this year. Japanese beetles were scarce, so they weren't chewed up by those thugs.

The Lamium was so pretty surrounding the roses.Right now it is just the variegated green leaves with on blooms, but still pretty.

 A new thing for me...Purple Hyacinth Beans. I planted 10 seeds and got 10 plants. This will be planted again...I loved it. Right now, it is filling the trellis and climbing toward the skies.

 Here are some pretty seed pods that will be saved for next year.

My son passed away in May, and I planted a little garden to remember him. Joe bought me the birdbath and I planted things around it. Now it is so full of flowers....I just pulled out the petunias to make room for a trio of small grasses to grow there along with two rose bushes, two lavender plants, the lilies, and spring bulbs.

 The porch clematis vines did a great job. They are the smaller variety...one is Princess Dianna and the other is Pagoda. They blend so well and we've had flowers most of the summer. The vine still looks pretty trailing as it does on the porch railing.

My little herbery has been so productive this year. Two tubs of parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil have kept me supplied with fresh herbs for cooking. I have a larger herb garden on the side of the house...that includes lavender, sage, and a huge Russian Sage. This isn't as convenient for me...so it is mostly just a decorative garden. I love herbs and their little blooms.... and the way they grow and require little care.....almost as much as plants that flower profusely.

 Another new thing this year....my hanging basket by the front door was planted with succulents. A big success...although it took the whole summer to fill in, but I have hopes for next year of being able to plant sedums etc along the outside to they seem to spill over the edge. These were very tiny plants when I first planted them.

 Checking in on my Mary's Garden. The garden is flourishing and some plants need to be divided already. The hostas did well in full sun...with watering so important. This is the only garden that got a lot of watering this summer...so that worked out well. I had a small sprinkler hooked up and just sat in my chair and watched the garden soak up the water. I also kept the roses watered. The side yard gardens didn't get any watering this summer. The containers got a sprinkling from my watering can. 

 Last but not least...the Black Eyed Susans. They fill this garden and come up in several places in the yard. I love them...easy care...or really no care. They along with the coneflowers provide such beauty in late summer. 

All in all...a nice summer in the garden. Everything succeeded and no failures. I didn't put a picture here of my new roses...Yabba Dabba Doo (3) in the front are disease free and ever flowering and the (2) New Dawn on the trellis in the back yard. Next year will be here before we know it and I will be out there moving things, deadheading, digging a little, planting a couple of plants, rearranging, watering, feeding and praying that my little gardens will be as nice as they were this year.

Balisha