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

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

A walk through the back garden.

Has it ever been windy and rainy here!  The winds have finally calmed down but the rain keeps on falling.  These first few windstorms are always good for helping the evergreens to drop most of their dead needles.  Most of the deciduous trees still have their leaves here, although many have started turning shades of red and yellow.  It will be at least mid November before most of those trees are bare.  We've had so much rain here this year that people are saying now they would just rather have snow because at least it's something different to look at.  I'm feeling the same way, although I'm sure we'll be thinking differently later in the winter.  I just hope I can get the bulbs planted before too long.  I might just have to tough it out and plant them in the rain.

 The shed garden is looking pretty good.  The color of the Japanese maple is so pretty now.  The Hellebores, Heuchera, Bergenia and the variegated Rhododendron will give it a little life over winter.

 Facing out from the shed the garden really filled out this summer despite the lack of warm weather.  It probably was a good year to get these plants established since I barely needed to water them with all the rain.

 Still lots of color around the pond.

 Last year at this time it was bare and brown down the path.  I'm surprised at how green it still is and that some plants have bloomed again.  The big Japanese Maple has just begun to turn yellow.

 About half way down the path.

 This little corner of the path is popular with the birds.  They're always hoping around the ground here under the shrubs.  A pair of Wrens had started a nest in the birdhouse early in spring but moved on.  Maybe some will stay next year.

The side yard with the raised beds is littered with Cedar needles.  It's tricky raking them up from the pea gravel.  I wouldn't use pea gravel again in this type of area, crushed gravel is much easier to deal with and is what we've used as a path around the pond.  The Blueberry bushes have such pretty fall color now.  I had wanted to paint the pavers, but just didn't have time.  I still like the idea of painting them bright colors to add some fun to this area where the kids like to play.

I've still got plants sitting on the back deck waiting to be planted, they make me feel guilty every time I look out there especially since some keep getting blown over with the wind.  As much as I love gardening I don't really love doing it in the rain, especially when it's windy as well.  I hope I'm not the only one that's still got plants sitting around needing to be planted.
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46 comments:

  1. Good morning Catherine! I just enjoyed strolling around your garden in the rain! :-) I think I wouldn't mind gardening in a bit of "misty" rain, but the wind is really a pain isn't it? I didn't think the wind blew in your area that much? I love your little blue shed, is it your garden tools and such? Hope you get your bulbs planted when the wind calms down. I think your garden is lovely. Were' leaving for Seattle next Saturday for a short trip. I'm planning my "layers" ! Have a great morning.

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  2. Beautiful and very nice garden, I enjoyed the photos!

    hugs and kisses, Zondra Art

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  3. No you are definiately not alone having more plants and bulbs waiting! Among gardeners here in Sweden it has a special name: "the plant queue" or perhaps "the plant line" in american english.

    Thank you so much for showing me around in you garden. What a lovely place you have got:)

    Take care,
    Charlotta

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  4. Catherine, we have been extremely windy also, had to hide all of my mum baskets behind tghe shrubs.

    I think a favorite of mine in your garden are your pathways. As the garden dies down, they really show up.

    Eileen

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  5. Such beautiful fall colours Catherine! I love the way the raised beds look with the circular stepping stones, really lovely. I know how you feel about plants falling over, I don't have any at the moment (the ground is pretty frozen now :( ) But I do feel bad for plants that I'm excited to buy, but then neglect for a while before planting.

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  6. Everything still looks so healthy Catherine. Wish oh how I wish we could have some of your rain...

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  7. Once again another lovely tour of your gorgeous gardens. Everything still looks great in spite of it being fall, and the wind and rain you've been having. Hope the weather calms and clears so that you can get outside to plant.

    Happy Gardening ~ FlowerLady

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  8. Wowwwwww....great walk!! .......love Ria....

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  9. Catherine, No, you aren't alone in having plants and bulbs that need to get in the ground. I do too! That was some crazy wind and rain we got the last few days, isn't it? Reminded me of the Nor-easter that greeted me a couple of weeks ago when I arrived in Massachusetts for a family visit. I was accused of having brought the rain with me, but maybe I brought it when I came back here.

    I got the seeds you sent me, thanks so much! I owe you some too, I'll get them in the mail today.

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  10. Lovely Catherine! I so envy your being able to have such tidy 'bishop weed free' flower borders. I love the pond area and along the stone path is enchanting. Blueberries do give us wonderful fall color. ;>)

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  11. Dear Catherine, You really do seem to have had non-stop rain for weeks now. But, your garden looks none the worse for it....indeed it looks very pretty indeed. Your Bothy garden as I like to think of it is so attractive and has really established itself so quickly. I love the blue which you have also carried over to the container. It really sings out in the rain!!

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  12. Lovely walk round your garden Catherine - and some great colours. I love that Acer.

    Unusually for me I don't have any plants or bulbs to get in - mainly because I din't have time to buy any this year! I did have a Japanese tree orchid that lived in a pot outside my back door for 3 years before I finally got round to planting it this spring though!

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  13. Well Catherine, I don't have nearly as much space as you do. So I think I'm about planted for now. Got my white tulips in last week. I so yearn for a nice Japanese Maple! On my wish list, definitely.
    Brenda

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  14. I adore walking around your garden since I know we have the same weather! Just think either the plants that arent planted will be stroger due to abuse, or they will die and you can buy more! Win-win!

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  15. Catherine, your garden still looks wonderful for the end of October. We had quite a bit of rain here too, although the last couple of days have been dry thankfully. Our redwoods still have lots of brown needles to drop though, and rather than needles, an entire evergreen dropped yesterday, across our road! Like you, we have more rain on the way. Perhaps we'll both be planting bulbs in the rain this weekend!

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  16. Catherine I enjoyed my walk around the garden too. I don't fancy being out in the garden in the rain or wind either - bulb planting is hard enough without having those elements added aswell in my opinion.

    I have Heucherella "golden zebra" and Heuchera "Mahogany" still waiting to get planted since last weekend as it has been too wet and windy here aswell.

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  17. Hi Catherine, What a beautiful tour around the garden. We have been very dry for many weeks, but we are getting lots of rain today. Yesterday we had very strong wind and really warm temps. I always disliked planting in the rain, especially with our Georgia red clay. It would be so messy!!! Sending along my best to you and your family.

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  18. Thank you for inviting us into your garden. It was a delightful visit.

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  19. Catherine,
    Everything there does look greener than last year at this time. Your garden is really maturing nicely.

    By this time last year I'd swept up 20 gallons of acorns, they are in a two year cycle we are so delighted not to have them again.

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  20. It is always nice to see your garden, whatever the season!

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  21. The fiery coloured Japanese maple makes a good focal point for your shade garden. Everything is filling in so quickly in that garden. You have nice view from the front porch of the shed.

    Although I have everything planted now, it is mainly because it's more urgent here, as this week's snow proved. However, sometimes when the weather warms briefly in late fall, I get the urge to plant again. You'll be raring to go on a nice sunny day.

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  22. I love the way the rain becomes part of the show in a fall garden - whether the sound and look of the drops splashing on a pond, or the shininess of wet flagstones.

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  23. Everything looks great Catherine. I too have plants sitting on the patio needing to be planted. It's just been too dry. Luckily today we received much needed rain. Now if my backache would just go away I might be able to get them planted.

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  24. The garden must be happy with all that rain -- it looks wonderful.

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  25. Great garden Catherine! The rain is probably just what your new plants required. I love your paths and the pond is perfect! I'm sure you are not alone in the need to set out a few more plants. Hopefully the weather will permit in the near future. Take care.

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  26. Hi Catherine, your garden is looking none the worse for all the rain. How strange that we are in such different parts of the world and yet the weather this week has been so similar. Rain, cold winds and for us bright sunshine when its not raining. I, too, have a lot of plants and bulbs waiting patiently to be planted. I hope the rain stops so you can enjoy planting! Christina

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  27. I enjoyed the walk round the garden, its nice to see areas I havent seen before. It all looks good and I'm sure you will get a window of opportunity soon to plant the bulbs

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  28. Wish you could bottle up some of that rain and ship it to NE Indiana! I always enjoy the tour of your yard/gardens!

    Painting your stepping stones? How colorful that might be!?!

    Seeing your Japanese maples so healthy makes me yearn for one or two here. Not sure if our soil is right.

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  29. Nice yard...inviting.
    Don't have plants to be planted but still haven't got a replacement shrub for the one I killed.

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  30. I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You :-)

    ~Ron

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  31. What a colorful tour, Catherine. And that garden shed ... priceless.

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  32. I always shake my head in amazement when I hear you say that it was so rainy this summer that you rarely had to water. We get so dry every summer, that it's all I do! I've only lived here in Columbus for six years, so I still don't know if this is the norm or not. Thanks for the poppy seeds, I just went out and sprinkled them about. I read somewhere recently to seed them out in fall, so I figured what the heck! I don't know where I read it, or if it's true, but that's what I did! I thought your poppies were red? This envelope says Pink Imperial Poppies. Sounds gorgeous!

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  33. So lovely! I can almost feel the perfect temperature in those pictures!

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  34. Every thing looks wonderful in your back garden. I still love your little blue garden shed.

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  35. Beautiful! I just love the pond, and also your blog background ;->

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  36. Hi Catherine, too much rain can be a pain but I guess not enough is even worse. Thinking of you planting bulbs in the wet :-)

    Your shed is looking great and I love the vista views of your garden. You have so much interest everywhere you wander, very nice. I also love your pond. I’m sure you all really enjoy your garden.

    I’m thinking now of your girls running along the paths just as mine used to do! Enjoy your weekend :-D

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  37. It's lovely to see how the plants have filled out, and I do like to see photos of plants in the rain and wet too! They have a nice atmosphere.

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  38. I always love a tour of your gardens. Thank you. It has been rainy and windy here, too, in the Northeast. And like you, I still have bulbs to plant. I may also have to tough it out and plant in rain and mud - yuk! Here's to a little sunshine for the both of us!

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  39. Catherine, your garden right now has a definite feel of fall, but still with lots of green and lots of color -- a perfect combination. I especially love the way the area around your pond is looking. -Jean

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  40. Stopping by to wish you and the girls a Happy Halloween! Enjoy!

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  41. Still haven't painted that trellis yet either! LOL I've got plants that need homes and bare ground that's waiting for plants. It's always something.

    Your garden looks really, really nice despite all the crappy weather.

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  42. Your garden areas are looking so good. The rain and not the snow really has preserved them. I remember being out there as a kid and it rained more days than the sun shining. We had unusual amounts of rain this year also. We broke records each month which usually is hot and dry most of August and Sept.

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  43. That Japanese maple is so pretty especially this time of year. Love that little reflection in your pond. Such a gorgeous garden.

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  44. I loved the feelling of almost strolling in your garden - first time I have visited this blog......I will be back!

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  45. I'm glad I read this far back. I always enjoy seeing photos of your yard.

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