This blog is about my garden and the outdoors. I am new to photography but I am trying to show some of the pretty things that grow here in Michigan. I love the wild things who visit me and I dont mind if they eat a bit here and there. I like it more if they let me take their picture. As time goes on I think I will try to show you around the beautiful area that I live in as well as my garden. I try to use my own pictures as much as possible but will also use pictures from the web. If I inadvertently use your photo or work without permission please email me and I will remove it or give credit if you prefer. I will give credit when I know who the owner is. I would ask that anyone using my pictures do the same.
... I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.......Psalm23:6
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Saturday, May 6, 2017

Filling the gaps.........................

I was writing about filling in areas of my garden last time. I want the areas to be distinct.
Well today I went to get my mammogram and bone density tests, so, after that I stopped at Meijers garden center. I did not intend to buy anything but.............I did. I saw some Boxwood that were not a bad price and quite big. I really like Boxwood. When it gets bigger its nice to shape and trim. So I bought 2 of those. I got a larger Hydrangea for a corner that is bare and another shrub like I bought last year. I really like that. I forget the name but think I may get another. I like how the leaves turn red at the top.
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I put that in the wooden tub so that it stands a little higher than the others. The two Boxwoods they went either side of the swing. They should grow and fill in a bit so that the back "Shade Garden" is more secluded from the front portion (of the back yard). So far the back garden is divided into 4 sections. The very back, shade garden. In there is a lot of Hosta and a seating area, it has Ivy and Holly.Not much in the way of flowers. Usually I put a couple of baskets of Begonia. The side of the garage has old stuff hanging on it, Old tools and pans etc. There are Poodle paths going throughout the area. The girls like it back there. High in the trees are small wind chimes. They tinkle sweetly.
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It's nice to sit back there when its hot. I had a stalker, Bessie followed me all around the garden as I did my chores. As she was sitting on the fence a Cardinal came in for a look so Bessie climbed the tree.
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We have an area back there where some of our pets are buried. There are mainly Hosta's in that garden and a bird bath. I am beginning to realize my garden is bigger than I thought it was. Trying to fill it out is taking much more than I ever planned. It used to be grass back there but being in the shade it was never very nice so I put down wood chips. That gets expensive so I need to expand the garden parts if I can. The Ivy is gradually moving out. I need to collect more large rocks, I love rocks. I put glass balls around to give colour. Tristen has broken so many that I have few left now. The bottle trees give some focal points in other parts so I need to find something to go back there but glass ornaments are sooooo expensive.
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The Trillium is blooming and it seems to be spreading slowly. I will be interested to see if my Jack in the pulpits will come back this year.
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The very back, Poodle path goes along the back fence and they go under the Forsythia. I think they have this whole scenario going. I think Rabbits come in there.
I found me a Gooseberry Bush and put that opposite the Boxwoods on the edge of the Pond area.
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There is a walk way behind the pond area. The garden there is wild now. Has two Holly bushes that are doing quite well. That one has ivy in it and other things that have taken over. Unless I dig the whole thing up thats going to have to stay as it is. So much work. Each year I should concentrate on one area at a time. Sigh..........
The garden with most sun has grass and the grass seems to be doing better this year. No kids to play on it. I have some seed and will put that down before the next rain.
I took the old fountain and stuck that out there. Not sure what I will do with it yet. Was thinking flowers but it doesn't drain.
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I put in two new Hydrangeas in the garden by the grass to fill in. Nothing much grows but maybe now I used the Dairy Doo and stuff it will help.
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The other areas are the patio by the pond and the new area that will be a veggie garden again. All got to be worked yet...........then I have the front to tackle after that. I picked up a couple of rose bushes. One is a climber. I am not yet sure where to put that one but I am thinking of the fence by the drive. I will haveto dig up the bramble I put in there. That didn't work well. So that will come out and I will give the rose a try. There is one rose growing there that is happy and gets bigger each year. SO I will see.
There are a LOT of Violets and they spread like crazy. I really have to control those and dig a load out each year.
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The Hosta's that I have in pots really do well and they come up sooner than those in the ground. The ones in the garden are only just popping up
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The new Hydrangea is a traditional one and I hope it will grow quickly and fill in under the Lilac bushes. The lilac is not doing so well so I am going back to Meijers and getting another Lilac that blooms all summer. I think its a French Lilac. That will finish that area off.
I am hoping to finish off out back tomorrow. I think the next weekend I can get the seeds in and plant my Tomatoes. So thats my day today, got a lot done and still got tomorrow to finish up. Yeahhhhh!!!!!

1 comment:

Magic Love Crow said...

Wow Janice!! Everything is looking amazing! I don't know how you do it! I think I told you before, but I love rocks too! I just went rock shopping about a week ago. I'm not planting any grass this year, so areas it wasn't coming up, I put flat rocks, throughout. You got to have fun! Don't look at gardening as a chore! I love the pictures of your cat and Mr. Cardinal! Big Hugs!