The past two weeks were devoted to end of school mothering activities including ASW’s eighth grade graduation. My head is full of many things including the fact that my boy will be attending high school next year, and I’ll be driving only Bear to school every morning. As everyone says, time has flown, and not so very long ago, he was just my little boy. Now, his voice is deep and he’s becoming a man.
Yesterday, on her last day of school, Bear had a field trip with her “little chum” to the bowling alley. I’m a chaperone, which sounds funny if you ponder it. He’s six, and she’s ten. I think, with over 100 children, I was just there for crowd control.
This morning, with all school activities fini, I’ll be in the garden mulching everything before our trip to Chicago and the Garden Bloggers’ Spring Fling. I can’t wait to see my old friends, I met last year in Austin, and to meet those friends I know only through their written words. Since I’ll be so busy this weekend getting ready, I want to share some of the garden with you as it looks today.
Above is a little fountain grass I bought last year, which has come into fruition. It is Red Bunny Tails, a/k/a ‘Red Buttons.’ It grows about two feet high, and I have it planted in a triangular shaped, mixed bed with red daylilies, a native aster, and a red Coreopsis which is new this year. The Coreopsis isn’t yet blooming, and the daylilies are only beginning to send up scapes. Because of the cool spring, they are a bit late.
On the other side of the garden, we have greens and blues cooling their heels in the shade. As the summer moves on, I’ll show you more, but I love these space saucer-like blossoms on the Euphorbia. The Euphorbia‘s regular foliage is such a blue green, and it contrasts so nicely with its lime green blooms and the maidenhair fern. The fern has black stems, which I just love. If I added some of that black grass to the picture, it would be even better. Perhaps next year. I’ve blown my budget for this spring. To the left of these is the ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea arborescens. I did move the other ‘Annabelle’ to the other side of the arbor. They should be blooming mid-June.
We finally have some heat, and the insects and lizards are all very glad to see it. They’ve warmed up their wings and bodies and are going about their business in the garden making a happy, humming noise. Well, the lizards aren’t humming (at least not where I can hear them), but you get my meaning.
Speaking of humming, I was planting a Geranium ‘Sweet Heidy’ in one of the tiered borders yesterday, and I heard what sounded like a giant bee. Already feeling skittered because the neta fin hoses sounded like snakes hissing when they started, I nearly jumped out of my skin. My first, crazy thought was that a giant wasp was coming to get me from the nest under the house eave. Instead of running away (which was the worst thing I could do in either event) I took a deep breath, held very still, and guess what I saw . . . a hummingbird on the wing. He was visiting one of my Penstemons. I wish I had a photo of him, but, of course, my camera was indoors. Like a helicopter, he hovered for a moment and then flew away. If you’d like to know more about Penstemons, I wrote a post about them on Examiner today.
On that note, a couple of weeks ago, I went to the National Wildlife Federation and had Rosehaven certified as a wildlife habitat. It wasn’t difficult, and it helps the NWF, along with educating yourself and others. I received my sign yesterday, and I’m looking for the best place to display it.
Snakes, insects, birds and lizards abound in a garden. Who is visiting yours?
Wasps abound here. Don’t like them. But I have a pet frog! Out at the garden ponds. He is not afraid, not one bit. I named him Fred.
Thanks for the reminder about the Wildlife Habitat.
xxxooo
CurtissAnn´s last blog post..The Winner is…and the Great Pantyhose Poll
I’ve got to look into getting my garden certified … after I get back from Spring Fling, though! I’m still trying to decide who can be trusted with watering chores, no easy decision. EM & H will both be home but neither of them has proven all that capable in the past!
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I love your Fountain Grass. I am wanting more for my garden–it’s so graceful and I love the movement it brings to the garden–the gorgeous color and blossoms on your Red Bunny Tails are just frosting on the cake!
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Dee, The garden looks lovely. I have Fairy Queen and love it as much as The Fairy (she expired, not sure why) It was observant Mr I Don’t who saw the first hummer visiting the penstemon here. It was a still a wonderful experience! penstemon is wonderful for bringing in the pollinators, too. See you soon! I am too excited and have checked the weather everyday! gail
Gail´s last blog post..Blooming Friday~~ Phlox Pilosa Practically Perfect!
As I’ll be away from home on the same days as you, I also have a lot to do in the garden right now. And how lovely your garden looks Dee, flowers everywhere!
I love the idea of having one’s garden certified as a wildlife habitat but i don’t think we have anything like that here.
I love penstemons and grasses. Glad you got your yard certified. I did my old garden, but this one isn’t ready, yet. We have all the usual visitors- insects, birds, snakes, lizards,plus a crafty little squirrel and four raccoons.
mary´s last blog post..Everything!
Love the bunny tails and the tiny mice. It’s hard to see how ‘Tiny Mice’ is different from ‘Bat-face,’ though. Do you know what the difference is?
My kids won’t be out of school until after Spring Fling. I can’t wait to see you in Chicago, Dee, in just a few days!
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Wonderful pictures! I enjoyed reading about your garden today. You will miss the days when your son was little. So smart of you to cherish them. My boys are 28 and 26. My how time flies.
Anna/Flowergardengirl´s last blog post..Elizabeth Clarkson Gardens
Dee your garden is looking stunning, just gorgeous. I love that rabbits tail 🙂
Brit’ Gal Sarah´s last blog post..Have a great Memorial weekend
My Kiddos are out of school and in the garden this year already. Hope you have fun in the windy city.
don’t know much about Penstemons, but your photo is amazing and I saw mine are blooming today.
wayne´s last blog post..PK’s Iris comes to the forefront
Your garden looks like it is blooming up a storm. It is funny that everyone that is going to the SF is trying to accomplish as much as they can before leaving their garden next weekend. I am of that group. I think it funny that leaving a few days during spring brings out that urge to get things done.
Hearing about your son growing up reminded me of when my son went into high school. I was quite shocked at the idea. Of course I knew it was coming. Some seven years of schooling should have prepared me for his entrance into high school but that fact seemed to slap me into reality that my child was almost grown.
Lisa, I think it was that way for me too. I couldn’t believe he was almost grown. The Diva is going to be a junior next year, and I’m a bit sad about it. I’m so glad I still have my bear. Yes, we’re going to be gone for longer than SF, but my nephew is living here watching the house for us. I just don’t want to come home to a bunch of weeds in the veggie garden.~~Dee
Wow, Dee! What beauty! Love the P. ‘Red Bunny Tails’!
Wait, what am I saying – I love everything! Your roses are absolutely scrumptious!
Hummingbirds are so magical – I think they are the ultimate garden sculpture. Who needs statues and stuff like that when you have hummers flitting about?
The other day I spent about 10 minutes watching a hummingbird feasting on the bloomspike of my agave. It was so close I was afraid to move, and I could see it’s little needle tongue flicking out to get deep into the flower. I was holding my breathe so long I almost passed out! It was an amazing moment – thanks for the penstemon tip!
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We don’t get lizards “up north” here, too cold in winter, I guess. I was pleased to see a toad the other day. And lots of bees. And though I haven’t seen a hummingbird yet, my neighbor has, but they put out feeders for them.
I’m also looking forward to seeing everyone again, or for the first time in just a few days!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Let Us Weed With The Let-Us-Weeder!
Your photos are amazing! I have so much to learn. Happy weekend to you and thank you for sharing your love for the garden.
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Bren, I’m blushing. You know, it’s just trial and error and not being upset with there is both. 🙂 ~~Dee
Dee, I’m so glad you got your yard certified! I got mine about a year ago myself. And ordered the sign. Right now it’s sitting on the fence, as so much is going on back there. I must find the best place to display it, as I’m proud of it. I haven’t got any fountain grass right now. Mine from last year didn’t come back…
Brenda
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Hi Brenda, yes, one of the writers for BHG suggested on Facebook that we get certified, so I did. I’ll find a place for it soon. Glad yours is also certified, Brenda. You do such a good job with your backyard.~~Dee
Lovely, lovely blog, with beautiful photos! Thanks so much for sharing.
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Oh, Susan, thank you so much. I love your books too. I’m just getting into the Beatrix Potter ones, and they’re superb.~~Dee
Loving your red border–and I’m not usually a fan of red!
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Thanks, DP. Here, in the hot Oklahoma sun, red is usually sunfast, unlike the beautiful pinks I have elsewhere.~~Dee