Backyard Garden Tour For July

I sure am glad I checked this post last night. I had only posted pictures but no description. Can't believe I forgot that but it happens. I've been busy cleaning the garage, downsizing things, and making other things for my garden so this post really wasn't on my mind. Nonetheless here I am. The above daylily is 'Fooled Me'. It is a wonderful bloomer with lots of flower buds even though it is a recent purchase by way of Walmart.

I normally don't fill these pots with anything but with the master gardener tour and meeting over here in June I thought I probably should pot up some flowers. I found a great way to keep water in the baskets--hidden in the pot and covered with Spanish moss are pots that hold the impatiens.

This is a long shot across the yard looking past the patio toward the 'Limelight' hydrangeas. I adore those hydrangeas so much.

The Sunny Perennial Garden looking toward the Rear Center Garden and the back of the yard are quite full of plants. Next year I vow not to plant marigolds. It's always a hard thing for me because I get in a garden mode and just start annuals and cuttings and all sorts of stuff. I plant the plants out in the spring when the perennials are small hoping for a quick fill in. Unfortunately I not only get a quick fill in but an overfill by this time every year. Marigolds in the forefront are the offending plants this year as they have overwhelmed this part of the perennial bed.

I took this picture from my deck. The water movement adds a great deal to my garden. Unfortunately my one and only goldfish who had lived in this pond for several years just went belly up. I am not sure why as the water is crystal clear and there have been no issues with this pond recently.

My summer mosaic is looking good behind a seating area. This mosaic is oriented so the summer sun (which is high in the sky) shines through. I also have a winter mosaic oriented toward the south when the sun is low in the sky in the winter.

Now to the lovely 'Limelights'. Remember this area used to have a swimming pool in the center of the path just two short years ago. If you'd like to see the changes click here for the making of these gardens.

A shot from the deck near the house. Can you notice the Joe Pye Weed behind the hydrangeas? There are also Tartarian asters and cup plants planted in this area. This is the look I sought for from my deck. The plants had to make a big impact and be tall because this area is in a low spot. I like to bring the plants up to me. Some other plants in this garden are: cannas, 'Adagio' miscanthus, peonies, skullcap, irises, agastache, daylilies, a Japanese maple, astilbes, hostas, Annabelles, lilies, coneflowers and probably more I can't think of.

'Diamond Frost' euphorbia is my absolute favorite annual! It blooms all summer long and goes with everything. I think I will for sure keep this one around even if I do get rid of marigolds. I use my 'Diamond Frost' as an overplanting for Pink Ladies which begin to bloom at this time. Unfortunately I just transplanted about 40 bulbs into this area under the 'Diamond Frost', and the bulbs just do not seem to have the strength to bloom this summer. No worries as next summer I am sure they'll bloom nicely.

My two iris beds were built specifically for bearded irises. You see irises like to be high and dry with no mulch on them. My gardens are full of mulch so while some bearded irises do well in my gardens most don't. Here I have made ideal beds for the 35 or so special cultivars my good friends have gifted me with. I am very excited to see the rainbow next spring. The only drawback to these two beds is that they are just too small. I see I will have to do lots of dividing and will have to divide often. Dividing is something I hate to do.

Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) is blooming but not as well as it usually does. The drought has probably affected these plants a bit but it also might be too much shade.

Another look at the Sunny Perennial Border and the marigolds. There are mainly daylilies in this bed and my vision was to edge the bed with short marigolds. Ha, that was funny because 'Pesche's Gold' marigolds are very tall and robust marigolds. The marigolds have overwhelmed the daylilies but that is okay. There is always next year right? The silver leaved plant is night blooming jimsonweed. It was a gift from Geri a few years ago in the form of seedlings that had self sown in her garden. Each year since then I have a couple of seedlings come up in the garden. I leave them alone as this plant is not hardy here so self sown seedlings are the best way to get jimsonweed. It is a night blooming fragrant flower and a lovely plant for a moon garden. 


That's it for the backyard. I have prepared a July tour for the frontyard that will be coming up soon too....


in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Through My Fathers Eyes

By SKEETER My parents recently visited my Georgia Gardens. It has been 2 years since they have seen my gardens other then in pictures or on this blog. That horrible flood and having to deal with renovating their house kept them away until now.
My dad strolled around the gardens with his camera and snapped all the pictures you shall see today. In this shot, you can see Rye Grass growing where the pool stood all summer long. I do believe his focal point was that banana tree. He kept talking about it when sitting at the patio. I find it interesting to see the pictures he snapped as I had no idea he was out strolling about.
Until seeing this picture, I never realized how country this little area looks.
I did not see any pictures of the Semi-Formal Garden but this shot of the entryway. I don't believe he entered the gates and I do not blame him. It was a mess at this stage and not very inviting. I have since done a lot of work in this garden and it is looking so much better now.
I showed you the swing and arbor filled with Cypress and Cardinal Vines a few days ago. This shot shows other beauties as well. As you can see, the chairs have been moved around at the table of the patio. No "staged" photographing by my dad. We had many laughs while sitting around that table with both mom, dad and my brother which was kind enough to bring them down to visit with us. While sitting at the table my dad said, "I see color in every direction I look." I was a happy gardener at that moment as that has been my goal for some time now. My mom said she wishes her mother were still alive to see my beautiful gardens. She said my grandmother would be so proud of me and would probably move in with me! I tell ya, it was enough to make a gal misty-eyed.

Mom sent me these pictures after they returned to Tennessee. It was fun seeing THROUGH MY FATHER'S EYE'S, In the Garden...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Rock Garden; Spring & Summer

By SKEETERI enjoy "Before and After" picture's in my Georgia Gardens. I can see the progress from season to season. In these photos, you will see the Rock Garden during Spring then we shall jump to the current time, being Summer. This picture above, shows you the area before the Rock Garden began.
Here is the Rock Garden the day I created it a year ago. *Click HERE to see how the Rock Garden began.

In the above picture, we have Spring of this year. The Month was April.
The same view in Summer. Everything has filled in nicely.
This recycled birdbath was a planter last year with its deep bowl. The bowl was broken when a limb fell on it while the Saint cut down a large oak tree last fall. I left the broken bowl on the ground as some of the plants stayed intact.
I replaced the bowl with another recycled one but it is too shallow for annual plants. It has cracks in it and does not hold water so it cannot be used as a birdbath. I am thinking of making this a little cactus garden but not this year as it is too late in the season.
I had lots of hosta in this garden last year and they did really well. They popped up this spring as healthy plants. Summer however, is another story. With the large oak tree gone, more sunlight hits the garden. Therefore, I had to move the hosta as they were burning up from the sunshine and extreme heat we had this summer. The Elvis Lives Hosta lasted longer then any but as you can see, he has also started to burn. He must be moved out of this garden as well. This will make the 3rd time I have moved poor Elvis. He keeps trying to die on me. Click HERE to see how Elvis began in my garden.
In April, you could see a lot of the Lava Rock in the Garden.
Same view now, reveals little lava rock.
In April, the hosta were still in the Rock Garden.
Once the Hosta were removed, Volunteers of Coleus and Perwinkle that seeded them self from last year, popped up. I added Serena Angelonia and Spider plant seedlings to fill in the holes. The low growing plant to the right is a mystery plant to me. I will talk more about this plant on Thursday... Long view towards the back woods and patio in Spring.
Same view in Summer. Notice the darkness of the woods as they are thicker now then Spring. Also the added canopy to keep the heat and sun off the patio. Self seeding plants now blooming. I do miss the shade from that huge missing oak tree, sigh.
I was happy to see the Ivy survived our cold winter with a Ice and Snow blanket in January. Two Lily's in this garden survived their first winter with me as well.
The Ivy did not perish to the sun this summer as I thought it would do. I added a Tropical Canna from that big sale at McCorkles Nursery back in June. Click HERE and HERE if you missed those fun post's. I was careful to keep this area watered during our drought to keep the new plants happy. In the background, you can see the Wishing Well Garden. Look at that happy Banana Tree! I want to connect these two garden some day with a little wooden bridge. Only time will tell on that idea... I had the garden hose and sprinkler set up about every 3 days in this area. The Canna is happy as she gave me a shoot!

A beautiful Bloom of a Shoot indeed! There are a lot of whimsical items in this garden but they are currently hidden by the tall plants. They show during the winter months when most of the plants are dormant, thus keeping this garden full of interest year round.

With more sun in this area, I am learning what works and what does not work in this garden. I shall pull this or that and add this or that as time goes by. I enjoy my little ROCK GARDEN; SPRING & SUMMER, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

The Gardens in July Part Deux

The Non-Pool Garden one year later. The big planning and planting for impact turned out just as I had planned. The hydrangeas are splendid and love the new location.

NonPool Garden right side.

NonPool Garden left side. Conditions between the two sides of the path are quite different due to shade and trees so while both sides are similar they are not exacting images.

Looking from the Secret Patio to the north.

Another view of the hydrangeas.

Looking up toward the house at the right side of the NonPool Garden.

The Natural Garden has evolved into something different from what I had planned. Here we have a Japanese maple 'Bloodgood', Blackhaw viburnum, spicebush, several hostas, bouncing bets, mums, cannas, a hydrangea, toadlilies and Great Blue lobelias.

Another angle of the Natural Garden. The yellow hostas are a great pairing with the red Japanese maple and carry the garden even without blooms.

Looking toward the north and the NonPool Garden.

Looking toward the house past the Secret Patio and main patio to the deck and house.

Finally, a long shot of the Sunny Perennial Garden (right side) and Rear Center Garden (left side). There is not much color here now that the daylilies and spring bloomers have passed by but soon the asters and mums will be blooming and I'll have color. Until then I'm content to have green-because last year there was only dirt due to the severe drought. This year has been better but it is still a trying summer for gardens...


in th garden....


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Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden