Spring in Review 2

Hubby and I have been working on a few garden projects this week, enlarging 3 gardens, to be precise.

Yes, I know, we're quite mad!

I have a hard time keeping up with the flower beds we have, so adding more doesn't seem at all sensible, but.........we had more things to plant!

Our church gave us 2 lovely hydrangeas in memory of my dad and we wanted to plant them close to the house so they'd be sheltered during the winter, so we made the "rose" garden bigger to accomodate them.

We extended the fence garden at the bottom of the driveway a few feet, mainly to make mowing easier, and also added a little bit to the top of the garden above it. You can see both of these gardens before the changes in the picture below.

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Kylie was very touched by all the birthday wishes and sweet comments you left on her birthday post. Here's what she said in her comment, "Awww, thanks Mummy. Those are lovely pictures. Thanks also to all of you who wished me a happy birthday. You sure are a nice bunch over here in blog land".

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I've been helping with work on Vacation Bible School (VBS) scenery this week at church, getting ready for VBS next week.

We're taking off tomorrow to spend a couple of days with our son, his wife and the little grandsons. We'll all be going to an airshow, which should be fun. The weather is supposed to be sunny and not too hot, thankfully.

We've had some very welcome rain this week and last. We need a lot more, but every little bit helps. Having to spend so much time watering keeps me from getting much else accomplished in the gardens.

Of course, if I didn't spend as much time running for the camera every time a butterfly flutters past, or a baby bird falls from the nest and needs to be saved from stalking cats (I save the bird first, and then fetch the camera :), etc., etc., I might get more done!

But for now, continuing with some more photos of our spring gardens...........

The fence and driveway gardens.

The yellow lilies look pretty with the blue harebells. Those are round bales of hay in the field across the road.

Pink columbine (Aquilegia) blooming in the fence garden

Maroon columbine

The alium lasted such a short time and there weren't many blooms this year.

I found these violets blooming beside a ploughed field among the dandelions.

Ross sewed these salad greens (and reds) in a cold frame in the early spring, and then removed the frame. The vege garden is chock-full now, and we've been eating lots of spinach, salad greens, radishes, and we've just had our first zucchinis this week. We'll soon have fresh peas, and perhaps some garlic.

I love to photograph the colombine!

And then came the poppies in all their splendor.

First the flamboyant reds..........

...........and then the lovely pinks.

The bees love them too!

Tissue paper petals

The lawn was still green then, and growing like crazy. It has brown patches now, but is looking a little better after our rain on Tuesday.

The shasta daisies are still nodding their bright faces in the breeze.

This is a passalong cranesbill geranium that I planted last summer.

This pink cranesbill is the one I've had for years. We've transplanted some to the front bank, by the road, and it's doing well.

I have to divide the clumps or it takes over. I'm always giving some away to friends.

The early yellow daylilies bloomed more briefly than usual, and the blooms were smaller....

........still pretty though.

A bit of the front view, with lupins and lilies.

This pink rose had more blooms on it this spring than I've ever seen before. Perhaps last year's abundant rains helped it develop a bigger root system. I've noticed all the rose bushes are doing well...except the new "Wild Blue Yonder" (planted last fall), which got bent by a naughty cat. It's OK though. I staked it up and it's given us one bloom so far (Picture next time).

Here's the stately Mr. Lincoln, looking delightful, and smelling devine!

And then there were peonies!

............accompanied by the lovely weigela.

This one is very fragrant

These 2 bushes have very large blooms.

At least they didn't get knocked down by rain this year. Last year they were drowned!

These bushes grow along the front of the yard.

Bees absolutely love the Evening Primrose.

Here's the first blossom on the Jackmanii Clematis (taken June 21st). It's absolutely covered in blooms right now. It gets the prize for the showiest plant in the garden!

Here are the early lilies and harebells again, with peonies and foxglove in the background. My Janice Brown daylily has begun to bloom, and is looking gorgeous, and the asiatic lilies are maganificent. But I can't fit any more photos in this post...so next time....

Here's Pepper watching a hummingbird. He didn't attempt to catch it, just seemed fascinated by it. I was taking a photo of him when the hummer came by and hammed in on the photo :) A lucky catch.

We had a fun Fourth of July picnic with family. Our son and his wife came for a couple of days with the grandsons. The little boys have such a great time riding on the tractors and playing with the kitties. They really love the farm and it's such fun to see their excitement and glee as they play with old toy tractors and farm equipment that used to be their dad's.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

"See" you when we return!

Hey, it's raining!!!

(accompanied by thunder and lightning)!