"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Monday, June 8, 2009

Uninterrupted garden time.

As much as I love my family there is something about working in the garden without interruptions that is really enjoyable.  It's very rare that I have these times anymore, but yesterday I had some.   My husband, being the great guy he is, took my oldest daughter to the yarn store of all places.  She is very into knitting right now and he told her they'd go get more yarn.  I don't think he even knew these types of stores existed, but he's just the type of guy to do that for his daughter.  The littlest gardener begged to join them, so the little white dog and I went out to the front yard to do some serious gardening.  I had been anxious to do some real work on the new "butterfly garden" and the areas around it.  This is an area I hadn't done much serious planning with so it always seemed unfinished to me.  

This is part of the butterfly garden I started awhile ago.  It's really begun to fill in.  I did lots of weeding today, especially along the lattice fence the neighbors put in.  For some reason that's always the weediest part of the yard.  I'm not sure how easy it is to see, but I planted the Clematis 'Peppermint' to grow up the shepherd's hook.  Once I unwound it from the trellis it came on it was close to 4 feet high already.


Variegated Wallflower (erysimum) has grown quite a bit since I planted it a couple of months ago.

A view from the front of the bed.  I realized that I didn't get the Geums that I transplanted to the front.  I had them sort of spread around and thought they would look better planted in a grouping.  The leaves to the left of the Lamb's Ears (stachys) are Threadleaf Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'.  To the left of them is where the Geums are as well as Baptisia which is looking great now.

I think the Red Valerian (centranthus ruber) is one of my favorite plants right now.  It seems to look good with whatever is next to it, at least it does to me.

The peony 'Festiva Maxima' is in full bloom with these huge flowers, I wish I could bottle the scent.  I could just smell it all day long.  This is the first time I remember it not pouring rain right after it bloomed.  They are front and center right now and I can see them from all of our front windows.

Persian Cornflower (centaurea dealbata) is really blooming now, there is blue salvia behind it and they look great together.  I did lots of weeding and cut back some of the columbines and muscari in this area. 

I always feel so refreshed after several hours of gardening.  I know non-gardeners think of weeding, digging and transplanting as chores but to me it's fun and rewarding.  I can't wait to see how these areas look in just a few weeks as more blooms start to open.
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35 comments:

  1. Me too (feel refreshed and invigorated after doing garden chores!). I can totally relate to how wonderful alone time can be in the garden also. Sounds like you got a lot accomplished. I like my Centranthus with almost everything too which is funny because I have a lot of pink. The red blends fine with it too tho. Your butterfly garden is coming along nicely. The birdbath in the middle is very attractive. Also neat that your daughter enjoys knitting and that your hubby is such a supportive guy. We are forecasted to have more rain this week ~ I think we've swapped places with your climate!

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  2. What a wonderful day! The garden looks great. I have to agree, I am in love with that red valerian. Did your daughter get lots of good yarn?

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  3. So lovely! I echo how wonderful it is to have uninterrupted gardening time. I love it.

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  4. It's real 'me' time.

    I think your garden'slooking lovely.

    That Valerian should seed itself about.

    Rob

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  5. How gorgeous! What are the taller pink blooms behind the lambs ear? I love your Peony too...Mine are just about to bloom and we've had rain for the past couple of days. I hope it stops so that I can enjoy them in the sunshine!

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  6. It all looks so beautiful! I just love the variegated wallflower. It blooms and blooms--unfortunately ours did not survive the winter. We lost a few other things in the hummingbird garden but haven't had time to assess and replant. I know just what you mean about uninterupted time in the garden. Wing Nut was home for a week right after breaking her foot and with taking care of her, running all the errands, doing all the housework and going to work the garden got very neglected. The first day she went back to work I spent hours in the garden.

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  7. It's always great to get uninterrupted time in the garden. Your Butterfly garden is looking nice & tidy with lots of delicious looking plants for all the wildlife to enjoy. :)

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  8. What is uninterrupted time in the garden? I so need some and think I will demand it here soon! I love your flower gardens.......makes me want to run right outside and get busy!

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  9. I guess The Muscle is also The Heart. Sweet story about him taking your daughter to buy yarn. I enlarged your photos and everything looked extra pretty. Your neighbors have some nice stone walls.

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  10. My husband took our boys to the movies yesterday (thank-goodness for the 5 Buck club!) as a reward for the oldest finally getting his room cleaned up (would you believe FOUR large lawn & leaf bags and 2 smaller garbage bags????) so I also had some time in the garden. I weeded the vegetable garden and didi some planting. It was very peaceful!

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  11. Glad you had some time to really concentrate in the garden. How great that your older daughter loves to knit. I am very impressed. I love all your flowers. Everything is filling in so nicely.

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  12. It is so fulfilling to get a lot of work done in the garden. I like when I can just move to one thing and another and see how great it looks as I work. I hate it when people call or people want to take breaks with me when I am in the middle of something, or neighbors think my time is free for the taking. Don't get me wrong, I love to help my neighbors but I do want to get my projects done. Your flowers are looking great.

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  13. Your garden looks lovely right now & should fill in quickly. I too especially love the quiet time at home in the garden with just the music from the birds. Now if I could just get those neighbor kids to quit riding the motorized scooter! Dang it all......

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  14. I never really paid any attention to Wallflowers until I started blogging.I like them but have seen mostly blue ones. Your variegated one's with the purple and pink looks so pretty . Looks like your lamb's ear is starting to bloom. I love the dusty foliage on them.

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  15. I read your first sentence to my husband, because that's how I feel. I don't even have kids at home, but we've had our grandson a lot, and now the 6 year old boy across the street wants to come over when he sees me out. I think we have an understanding now, that I don't need help when I'm in my yard, but when I go over to where he lives (half time) he can come garden with me. It's OK, but I really prefer gardening alone and uninterrupted. Well he does like to pull weeds, so it will be fine.

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  16. Your yard looks beautiful!! I am really inspired by how you mix all these colors/textures/heights and it looks perfectly pretty and natural. So many times you'll see a garden that's just tall->medium->short and that's boring!

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  17. Yea for you to get uninterrupted time. I know how rare it is. Great job on your garden. I love your butterfly garden.
    Debbie

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  18. I'm with ya on this one... I very rarely get some interrupted gardening time. So glad to hear you got some. The garden is looking awesome! -Jackie

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  19. Uninterrupted time in the garden - what a wonderful gift you were given! I enjoyed my day immensely as well. I walked with a friend, dug and planted a bit more in the garden of my young friends, and dug, weeded, etc., etc. in my backyard ALL afternoon! It's a good thing dinner was simply simple! ha. :-)

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  20. Thanks for all the nice comments! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who enjoys just gardening and no interruptions. It is great to visit or say hi to neighbors but it's great to be able to just focus and lose yourself in the garden too.
    My daughter got 4 skeins of yarn and new needles, more than I would've got her, so she's lucky in lots of ways that her Dad took her.
    Marissa - The pink flower all the way behind the Lamb's Ears to the right is 'Magic Carpet' Spiraea. The tall flower is Red Valerian, it has a bit of a pinkish tone to it too.

    Now off to visit all of you :)

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  21. I like weeding too. In fact my neighbor often has to shoo me out of her yard as I will go over there to weed too :) She promises she'll get to the weeds soon, but she doesn't realize that I'm there because I ran out of things to weed in my own garden, not because I think her garden looks bad.

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  22. Catherine - your vision is coming to life now, and butterflies are sure to enjoy it as much as we do! Red valerian, another one for my list. And your instinct to move things into groupings, that's something I need to work on! I always forget to do that. Glad you got some uninterrupted time in the garden! That's hard to come by but so sweet when it happens.

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  23. It's looking lovely. I love the Peony. I am sure the butterfies will love their new bed.

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  24. I always love looking at your gardens - especially when you do big group pictures. Although the singles are beautiful too and you can see more detail.
    I love Red Valerian too and have 4 now I think. Great to fill in with cause it's a nice size.
    That is so neat that your hubby does special things for the girls. They will so remember this. I say that because I do with my Dad. In fact for Father's Day I decided to give him the 'gift of a conversation' Bob and I had not long ago about how he was probably as close as one could be to being a perfect father.

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  25. You are so right! I can't do much heavy work physically in the garden these days- setting seed, potting on, taking cuttings,some clipping of topiary,training plants are my limits- but my goodness, is it good for you and refreshing.

    And unlike some gardeners I know,I can sit still for hours in the garden happily ignoring the weeds!

    I love your white peony and I so do agree about the fragrance: so heady and spicy!

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  26. There is nothing like uninterrupted time in the garden. I agree with Rob, it's real "me" time.

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  27. Catherine- your garden looks wonderful. I wrote down some of the things you have that I love together. I am a serious copycat, mine won't look like yours though, I usually kill some things before I get it right. Very pretty!

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  28. Beautiful garden! I want a Persian cornflower now:)

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  29. I know what you mean Catherine. Working alone in a garden is very rewarding.

    From your pics you can tell how hard you work in yours. Everything always looks so great.

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  30. Thanks again for all the very nice comments! Maybe we appreciate alone time in the garden so much because it's usually hard to come by. As long as we can get out there it's worth it!

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  31. Your butterfly garden is beautiful! I agree with you - time alone working in the garden is wonderful. I feel like I can completely relax when I'm out working in the garden.

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  32. Hi Catherine,
    You've really inspired me with my front yard this year... soon I'm going to post about mine (and give credit where due ;)
    David

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  33. What fun! I love cleaning up my garden space as it keeps my garden away from all worries! Your butterfly garden doesn't look unfinished, yea may be a few bare patches but, it's cool all the same.

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  34. Hi Catherine! You are absolutely right about Valerian, it is so pretty! I planted it only several weeks ago and it's already blooming, although the blooms are small. I hope Rob is right withregard to self-seeding. You have a great variety of plants and your garden looks charming (and it's only June!)!

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  35. Your place is so pretty, do your neighbors leave you notes of appreciation? I would if I was your neighbor! Geum has become one of my favorites.

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