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

Friday, July 16, 2010

Down the path in July.

I was out doing a little watering this morning and realized I hadn't taken any pictures of the path garden for awhile.  It's looking much more lush than it normally does in the middle of July.  I don't think the ground has dried out as much as it usually does.  We've only had one hot spell of weather, otherwise we're staying mostly in the upper 70's which is just perfect to me.  I've hardly had to water anything other than containers and some of my new plants.

Looking through the arbor you might be able to see that Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' is growing up and over, but no flowers so far.  Something seems to be eating the leaves.  Linaria is still blooming on the right.  To the left is the Oakleaf Hydrangea just beginning to bloom.  The other pink flowers are Geranium 'Wargrave Pink' which have self-seeded all along this area.

This is at the very end of the path where the Hydrangeas seem to be lighting up the area.  I've never had the Scotch moss do so well around the stones.  Many years ago I planted lots of it and it all dried up and died.  This has all self seeded from somewhere else...

Turning right at the end of the path leads you to the gate to the raised beds in the side yard.  There is Blue Star Creeper and Baby's tears growing around the stones here.  Solomon's Seal and Corsican Hellebore are to the left under the rhododendron.

Turning around and looking back down the path you might be able to see the Littlest Gardener's tools.  She's been "working" which means she and her big sister are digging holes and bringing lots of rocks over to build something.  Hydrangea 'Pia' is growing on the deck, it is just beautiful this year.

Back at the end of the path is the view of the pond, well the plants around the pond.  Maybe next year it will be framed with blooming Clematis.

This time of the year there are mostly different shades of green along the path, which gives it a nice cooling feeling.  Since we have so many large trees that shade the backyard it's the perfect place to sit when the sun is hot and you want to enjoy the view.
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39 comments:

  1. 70s? Can I trade my 90s for your 70s? Your path looks great!

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  2. Your paths are very pretty. I remember how you put up the arch last year. It is looking so good now, even without the blooms of the clematis.

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  3. I'm in love with this part of your garden. The pathway is so magical, what an incredible use of space. The moss stones are gorgeous and the blue hydrangea at the end of the path is like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

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  4. Just returned from visiting your beautiful state. Oh how we long to live there one day soon! Beautiful garden! I am now living in 110F and struggling to keep my container plants happy. Have a beautiful weekend. I miss your weather! Enjoy!

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  5. It's a beautiful bit of garden - it must be a lovely cool place to relax after a hot day's work.

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  6. What a beautiful stroll Catherine. That hydrangea at the bottom of the path is such an intense colour. I love the stone path itself and all the little cracks filled in with the moss - it reminds me of the paths my granddad had around his gardens.

    I would love to have your temperatures - high 70's is a like having a great scottish summer. As I type this its only 54 here..... our summer has been a washout so far in July. I think you have the perfect conditions for those flowers this summer.

    Have a lovely weekend :) Rosie

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  7. I love your garden! Thanks for sharing:)

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  8. I love to follow a path to see where it will lead and that hydranga is the perfect treasure at the end of your one. The arbor frames the pond garden nicely, even without the clematis blooming!

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  9. How lovely! A path is so often boring when it should be, like yours, full of interest and delight.

    Compare to me here in this part of England, we have role reversal: our hydrangeas grow pink in the open ground. If we want blue like your fabulous one we need to grow it in a pot!

    Johnson

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  10. Your parhs are very beautiful !!! i like your garden...so wonderful............it all looks great !! wishing you a happy weekend........love Ria....

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  11. Wow Catherine, it's all beautiful! I especially love that vibrant blue hydrangea at the end of the path. Everything is so peaceful and lovely. Your weather sounds 'perfect'. I can hardly get outside to do anything because of the heat and humidity and we really need rain.

    Enjoy the beauty you have planted and are lovingly caring for. It's always a joy to visit your gardens.

    FlowerLady

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  12. I always enjoy the stroll down your path. The purple hydrangea does pop! Just wonder what your gardening helpers are building next? I wonder if your moss is doing so well because it's been cool and damp? I love the look of it.

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  13. Your pathway is just lovely and the arch makes it look so welcoming!

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  14. Goodness your garden is so beautiful Catherine! Your pathways are just lovely. You must spend lots of time in it as it looks so big and not a weed in site! I bet it's just wonderful to walk through there to see and smell all the beautiful flowers!

    Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!
    xo Catherine

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  15. Beautiful. If I close my eyes, I can almost imagine a path like that at my house...almost. :)

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  16. What I would give for your cool temps! Your garden is just gorgeous. You do, most assuredly, have a very green thumb. What a good mother you are to be a role model for your young little gardeners!
    Brenda

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  17. I'm torn between loving your pond and loving your path the most.

    Just beautiful. Thanks for getting the photos of it.

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  18. Wow! Love that moss growing between your stepping stones. A flagstone path is an unimaginable luxury to me. Maybe someday. Your hydrangeas are absolutely stunning!

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  19. I know I have said this before but I love your path and love your arbor. How refreshing to walk along your path.

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  20. I always like the views of your backyard, with the nice path for strolling under the mature trees. The plantings are lovely, and the arch makes a terrific frame for viewing the garden. Your Hydrangea has such an intense blue colour. I feel a little wistful that those type don't really grow here. How fortunate that the Scotch moss decided it liked the location between the path stones, since it really looks good there. The baby's tears are another nice effect on the other path.

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  21. Just so beautiful and inviting. Rather than a "stairway to heaven" A Pathway To Heaven.

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  22. So peaceful and inviting. I have a path of stones that leads up to the garden...but nowhere near as beautiful as yours...how did you plant the scotch moss between the rocks? Did you have to dig up the rocks and put it underneath?
    Accidental Gardener

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  23. The path of your garden is lovely and very serene! It's definitely looking lush for Summer. Have a great weekend Catherine! :)

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  24. Your garden is BEAUTIFUL!! It makes we want to pull up an adirondack chair and tall glass of tea and stay for a while. I am also loving this 70 degree weather. :)

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  25. Your garden is beautiful. I garden in Florida where it is hot and humid. Your garden looks so fresh and cool. Looking at your photos I imagine it is 75 - 80 degrees with no humidity. I would never leave!

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  26. It's really beautiful Catherine. The hydrangeas makes a spectacular focal point at the end.

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  27. It looks so cool and inviting. Maybe all that rain paid off. :-) -Jean

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  28. I love the stones and moss! I'd love to have pathway like that in our garden. It all looks beautiful - very pretty and relaxing.

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  29. Everything looks stunning in your garden. And your blog loaded really quickly for me.

    Love that pathway...one day for me.

    Jen

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  30. While blogging, I'm listening to the 10:00 p.m. news, and they just said the temp is 80, but the heat index is 102! It has been high during the days, but I didn't realize it was that bad after dark.

    I love your path and everything planted around it. Your place is so beautiful! My 'Pia' is in the ground, and doing well this year, too. Its first two years of blooming, it only had one clump of blooms.

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  31. Hi Catherine, I think it's very interesting about the moss seeding itself. You know, I have to water mine during the summer or else it would be MIA. Well maybe not so much this year but it's definitely NOT a "sustainable" feature in my garden. [I'm so not politically correct, LOL.] The look is, like you said, so cool and inviting, such a respite from summer's blast. Your garden is just beautiful. I love that the "Littlest Gardener" is "working" especially with her bigger sister. Very sweet.

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  32. It is a gorgeous path again this year. You are so good with your placement of plants. I like the walkway material and all the great colors.

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  33. Those are some amazing July temperatures! Reminds me of our cool summer last year. I'm much happier this summer with the heat even tho 100 is getting a bit on the warm side.
    I'm glad you posted new pics of your path ~ it's just beautiful. So serene looking ~ my favorite shot is the one with the hydrangea at the end. Very nice.
    I saw your daughter's tools and thought they must be doing some more fairy gardening!! It's so great they like to play in the garden.

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  34. Thanks for the tour of your garden...it's always fun to see what others do and to get more ideas.

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  35. What a stunning garden - those hydrangeas are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing:)

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  36. I adore your scotch moss pathway and how well the plants work together on both sides of it. What material did you use for the pathway?

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  37. I find your mature tree's bring such an grand and noble presence in your photos. I love how the new and the old weave throughout your gardens!

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  38. Shauna - I just dug little holes between the stones and pulled pieces of the ground covers off the plant I bought. That way I got lots of plants for the price of one.

    Linda - We used paving stones we bought at a rockery near us. We paid by the pound and that was much cheaper than by the stone. Plus there are much more choices in types of stone. I don't remember what the type of stone we have is anymore.

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  39. Good morning Catherine. Love your flagstone walkway. That hydrangea looks so dark blue. It's beautiful.
    Marnie

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