I'm not the Great Emancipator, I am the Great Botanizer; and I have brought forth on this continent a superb garden, conceived in marvelousness, and dedicated to the proposition that I am amazing.
I've done a tremendous amount with the the front of my place since my last post. The result is something approaching perfection.
There is still more to do, but there in rough form is my plan for the front. The impatiens around the front door really add to the cottage style of my place. I've added a rhododendron with white flowers to the spot vacated by the hydrangea that I moved around the side of the house. I will probably put in another one next year when I decide what to do with the other hydrangea. I've incorporated some annuals via the planters that there are now room for in the bed. Finally, I've almost finished trimming the whole bed in concrete block. I still need more mulch. I'd also like to raise the slab that the hose caddy is on to keep it well above the level of the mulch.
Before we take a closer look at the front, let us marvel at my glorious chives plant, moved out front to take advantage of the superior sun and to show off its blooms.
Here is a close in shot of the hanging impatiens bags on either side of the front door. The one on the right stays in almost complete shade, so it will be fine, but I am somewhat concerned that the one on the left will get too much sun and melt. We shall see. If that turns out to be the case, I have several good spots in the backyard for it.
A close up of the planter I did on the steps. I tried something different this year. I like the color combination of the orange flowers and green vase. In the back you can see some Wishbone flowers destined for the back yard. They are probably my favorite annual. For some reason, I had a tough time finding them this year, so I had to settle on ones a bit smaller than I would have liked.
Here is a view of the front garden from by the steps. I have to admit, I'm afraid visitors will be mesmerized by view and be unable to actually enter my house.
Another view. The concrete bricks really help the garden to appear much neater.
The Rhododendron is about a week past its glory. I look forward to the annual really spreading out.
That is one handsome dog. The Westminster people beg me to enter him.
Looking down the side of the house. The Rose of Sharon is starting to take the tree like form that I have in mind for it.
Continuing down the side, I wanted to do a little bit more here, so I purloined a cutting from a neighbors hosta and planted it here. Thus far, it is thriving in the low-sun environment and providing some marvelousness to a previously plain area.
A close up of the hosta together with an astilbe.
I transplanted some Black Eyed Susans from the back to underneath the Rose of Sharon to take advantage of the better sun. No doubt they will grow with vigor here.
Now around to the back. This is the last spot that will need some more concrete bricks and then the border will be done. The transplanted hydrangea is doing excellently here.
The Azelea in the back here was faltering badly, but I've been able to bring it back from the brink and its future looks bright. In the foreground is a cutting from one of the hydrangeas that had gone to root. It is settling in nicely and will really start to bring some life to this area in the years to come.
Here we are in the Shangri-La that is my back yard. It is somewhat of a mess from the droppings from the big Alder tree in the back yard and the torrents of rain we've gotten in the last few days. Of course, it is still marvelous, and I will be tidying up once the sun comes back out.
A close shot of my dianthus. It has taken off nicely since I moved it into this pot. If it continues with this superb growth, I may find a spot for it in the ground in the front garden.
On the bottom there is a Shasta Daisy that I overwintered from last year. I'm not sure how much vigor it has in it, but anything I get from it is a bonus.
Sadly, it doesn't appear that it will flower this year, but this Colossus shames that of Rhodes.
This Astilbe may need to be moved if the Climbing Hydrangea continues its rapid advance.
Branch number two from the wild Hydrangea I took a cutting of last year. It has settled into its new home.
The Bansai Bench. That is some fine alliteration for you.
Its comeback secure, the Sand Cherry awaits its return to the ground.
This back garden has been ravaged by a deer or some other pest. Some of the Winter Creeper was eaten, the smaller Sedum is completely gone, and so is all of the Spiderwort. Only the one Sedum and the Astilble survive. I will need a new plan to return this area to maximum marvelousness.
The Creeping Phlox has had a nice run and is beginning to near the end of its season. Once it goes dormant I may give it a spot in the now-vacant back garden.
Lo, this mighty planter is back for its second year. I decided to do only white Impatiens this year. I think the mono color will be a superb look.
The Petunias are starting to fill out.
Coleus brings some of its wild color.
This Hydrangea is starting to fill out. The variegation is spectacular and this guy has great flowers.
Another tremendous loss. The great Astilbe located here was done in, presumably by the 3+ feet of snow which piled up here this winter. The Bleeding Heart here survives, but only in the pathetically microscopic form just evident at the top of the bed. This was my most mature bed, and its lost has been a cruel blow to the marvelosity of my back yard.
This planter and its usual impatiens.
A new addition, a mint plant to supply fresh mint for Kathy's mohitos.
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