Memorial Day in the Front Yard

 The Gardenia at the back corner of the house is really putting on a show this year.

 Here is a view I don't normally show, from the driveway looking back to the porch and on to the Sunny Border in the back ground.

 Here are two shots of the Sunny Border from the sidewalk.

 The Red Knockout is reblooming. Behind you see the Shasta Daisies and Yellow Daylilies.

 Echinaceia Green Envy.

Shasta Daisy Becky.

White Mandevilla beginning to bloom.

 This is the third year for the peonies, next year hopefully they will bloom.

 The Clematis Snow Queen is coming back quickly from my hard pruning.

Here is the gate going from the White Garden into the Gondfish Pond Yard. The local photographer recently used this setting for a bridal portrait. I was really pleased that she liked it, and the picture was beautiful.



English Pillars added at the White Garden

 Here is the front yard from the sidewalk. At the rear is the entrance into the White Garden. Below you can see the new 7 ft tall English Pillars that I have added for the Artic Queen Clematis.

 Isn't there a saying about planting Clematis..."face in the sun, but feet in the shade." They seem to like it out here and I think they will show up great from the street.

Below you can see the buds coming back quickly from where I bit the bullet and pruned the plant back.

Here is the bloom that I had to prune away. I think the pillars are much nicer than the tomato cages I was using. We have a friend - the local photographer - who uses the yard for engagement and bridal portraits. I am hoping she really likes the White Garden.

Sunny Border May 2, 2012

 I squeezed in several blue Salvia plants that were in the back yard and kept reaching for the sun. We've got alot of sun out here ladies, good luck!

 I pinched them off hard in hopes they will fill out and be lush and cool looking come this Summer.

 The white mandevilla are growing like gang busters. I can already see some flower buds forming. They should be beautiful.

 The Shasta Daisies are just about to pop. May is going to be their month. the close up below shows it, they are ready.

 I still love the pink Knock Out rsoes. they don't seem to do as well as the yellows or reds, but i still love them the most.

Finally, my first Peony bloom. I cannot wait.

The Circle Yard

I have no fancy software for meshing my photos to show you the whole yard, so here are two shots shown as close as I can get them. The Circle Yard is really trying to become a White Garden. I hope it fills in this summer. I am searching out white perennial plants every where I go. The tomato cages are protecting the Arctic Queen clematis. I hope to replace them this month with 7 ft tall columns. I also need to do some serious work in the bed under the big magnolia. It has lots of weeds, the gas meter, tree roots, about one hour of good warm sunlight each day. Sounds like it should be a great success as a lush flower bed right? I am already saving cardboard to start some softer beds. The magnolia tree molt until June so there is not really any reason to start work in there until I am out school.

 Variegated ivy

 Angelonia Serena White

A Trip around the Front Yard

Here is a view of the Front Yard I don't often show. The trees were planted around 1901. They tower over the house and suck all the life - and moisture - out of that yard. I don't think people should park in their front yard. Enough said about that. This photo also shows the table on the porch, we eat out there quite often.

 Around the corner from the picture above is the New Dawn rose. It rained last night so they are heavy and droopy. So sweet though.

 The Guara seem to like their new home near the driveway. I may have to replace the other one, this one gets more sun.

 The gardenia bushes near the front porch are loaded with buds. They smell so good when they get warmed by the sun. That was the whole reason for planting them there.

The lavender is blooming. I still hope it is going to take off.

Sunny Border / Front Porch / Additions to the White Garden

 Sunny Border Late April 2012

 This is the red Knock Out rose that my wife got me in a silent auction.

 This is a close up shot of the pink Knock Out that I love even more than the red.

 We purchased three new mandevilla vines - Giant White -

i didn't pull the old ones this Winter and they did not make it. i sure was sad.

New mandevillas make me happy.

 The Shasta Daisys are ready and waiting for May 1st looks like.

 The Peonies at the end of the border look very healthy.

 Here is the new clematis in the White Garden. Arctic Queen.

It broke my heart but I pruned it back - hard -

info from the web says prune it now while it's growing so it will be fuller and more lush later.

I am patient - I can wait and see.

 Pots near the front steps

 Lavendar Munstead is looking good by the front steps.

 We are trying out some ferns on the front porch.

Asparagus Ferns are the only thing we can leave out in the hot burning sun.

Good Luck to the fern on the table.

Today the town had a town-wide yard sale and the local garden clubs had plant sales.

i found several things for the White Garden. The plant below is Angelonia Serena White.

It is supposed to like the heat and light and get to be about 2 feet tall and wide.

 Bonnie Plants Cabbage from school. It looks good for the white garden.

Phlox David was a pass along from the nice garden club lady. I had seen the phlox as we walked around the yard sale on the Square here in town. By the time we got back around they were gone, and when the lady figured out what I had wanted she offered to let me come to her house and she would give a plant to divide.

Thanks for stopping. David