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

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I'm still in the garden!

 I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted!  It has been so busy around here, I've barely had time to go on the computer let alone take pictures or blog.  Our weather has been just gorgeous, very summer like and it's hard not to be outdoors when it's like that.  After two awful springs in a row we are all celebrating all this sun and warm weather.  The Littlest Gardener has already been out playing in the sprinkler.  Last year I think it was July before that happened. 
I tried not to go overboard on the pictures, but it was hard not to.  There is just so much going on outside!

 We've been working on getting more planted around the picket fence out front.  I think it's going to look really pretty this year.  The Pink Dogwood ended up having a great bloom!  It's still covered in flowers.

 Deutzia 'Pink Minor' near the front door.  I moved it last year and it seems to love it's new spot.

 Some containers near the front door.

 Clematis 'Asao' is in the wine barrel planter in the previous picture.  The flowers are huge!

 The two raised beds out front are beginning to look like real veggie gardens!  Besides herbs there is spinach, beets, radishes and all kinds of squash plants in this one.

 The other bed is full of kale, chard, basil, peppers and hopefully carrots.

 The Lilac 'Ludwig Spaeth' is having it's best year ever.  The color is so bright and really grabs your attention.

 From the other side of the bed you can see how full it's gotten.

 The neighbor kitty found a nice shady spot under the pear tree.

 Alliums are coming up everywhere!

 Spanish poppies have a really pretty scent, bloom like crazy all spring and summer and I love their tissue paper appearance.

 Gracie found a warm spot on the gravel to plot her next escape.  Here Clematis, rose, Delphiums and phlox are filling in.

 A container I put together last year.  Lewisia is blooming.

 In a shady corner Clematis 'Miss Bateman' is covered in blooms.

 The shed garden is just packed with flowers!

 One of my favorite Columbines.

 The variegated Rhododendron has been here for three years and finally decided to bloom this year.

 We've had herons visiting and so the fish have been hiding a lot.  There is only one so far that I can't find.  After the last time we had heron problems I put an old plastic crate in the pond with plants on it.  It's a perfect hiding spot for the fish now, especially since it's covered in algae.

 The path garden has also taken off.  You can hardly walk down this part everything is so big.  I'm still hoping the Clematises will one day cover this arch.

 For now there are a few 'Nelly Moser' flowers blooming.

 A view of the path from the other direction.

 The raised beds on the side yard are full of Blueberry bushes.  I hope we get lots of berries this year!

 The chicks had their first night outside last night and did great.  I had been putting them out during the day and they loved it so much and hated being put back in their brooder.

 They are growing so quickly!  Now the house is empty of seedlings and chicks and it can get put back together again.  We are all enjoying the chicks.  They are so relaxing to watch.

Hope you lasted for the whole tour!  I realize I forgot to add the driveway garden.  I'll do a post on just that garden next time.  
How's your spring so far?
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

35 comments:

  1. My spring is much like yours! Things are just going gangbusters out there. I thought I had plenty of time, and now I feel like I am running out of time to get things done. Some of my planting may have to wait till fall now, I count on the spring rains to water everything in, but I had to drag hoses around yesterday. I just hope we don't get temps in the 100s like we had a few summers ago, so far this spring is turning out rather similar to that year.

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  2. After seeing your photos I'm desperate to have my move over and done. I can't believe I will be gardening in Zone 8. Everything looks wonderful.

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  3. The variety of shape, color, texture & features make this a most inviting place to visit. I always love coming here.

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  4. Wow! Great beds! I'm jealous of your lilac blooms. Mine is healthy but no blooms this year. :( I think I might have pruned at the wrong time.

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  5. your garden is looking fantastic and I am happy to hear your experience with the chicks has been a good one...if I could offer one piece of advise I would say handle them often to ensure they don't get nippy! Last year I got 6 chicks and gave 3 to a friend, his kids are older than mine and often handle them as a result his girls have never nipped or bit. My children are much younger and were happier feeding them through the fence then picking them up as a result two of my 3 bite, but I still love having them and watching them, I'm just careful when I hold them! I spent last weekend lanscaping their coop...you can see some pics on this link

    http://www.myattemptatgardening.blogspot.com/2012/05/coop-update.html

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  6. Fantastic Garden. You are doing real well. Loved the Tour.

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  7. What an incredible garden!! I can't believe how many plants you have on your property and how many gorgeous blooms. All of your clematis are stunning. I'm really in love with the path garden and with your container garden out front...what do you have in that wine barrel and in the big white container? Your combinations are so fantastic - I'd love to know what you did....those bright lime greens and the deep reds look great together.

    I also love how you've given the fish a protected area...lovely to have herons visit, but nice to keep the fish safe too. :) I am hoping to find out tomorrow whether or not I've been accepted as an apprentice on a cooperatively-run chicken coop here in Brooklyn. My fingers and toes are crossed! I'd love to learn all about them, spend time with them, and maybe get a few eggs! Your coop looks awesome! Glad you're enjoying the girls so much.

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  8. Your garden has filled in so well, it is just lovely! Love that variegated Rhododendron--- really pretty, so glad it is blooming.
    My spring is about over and we have moved into summer...then the rains came. Have a big washout. (see the pic on FB). Glad I am going out of town to the Spring Fling and not have to worry about it for a few days.

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  9. I should say you have been busy...love the chicken coop and all the blooms...just lovely!

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  10. It is always hard to be inside when the weather is so nice! You can even garden until around 8:30 right now. Loved the walk through. This spring has been very pleasant, and I'm enjoying it very much.

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  11. Oh my gosh Catherine, The garden looks fabulous, so lush and healthy. I was a talk this evening on Clematis and she mentioned all the ones you have growing. Happy gardening.

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  12. Your garden is looking wonderful Catherine, what a gardening retreat, I would never leave!! I love what you are adding around the picket fence, I can't wait to see it all grown in...beautiful!! Also, hasn't this weather just been to gorgeous for words! The boys and I ate breakfast outside yesterday as to make the most of it! Yay for sunshine, gardening and beautiful spring days!! Cheers Julia

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  13. I envy you your good weather, so far in England it has rained throughout April and May and it is still cold enough to be wearing coats on most days so I've not been able to plant much out as yet. It's all lining up on my patio. I'm hoping for imminent warmer weather as we go on holiday next weekend, a choice I made as May is usually so nice. Your garden is looking lovely.

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  14. You weren't kidding about your garden filling in so quickly! Everything is beautiful, fingers crossed that your get a truck load of veggies... It looks as though the chicks have been eating their vitamins too!

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  15. Wow ~ I just love your spaces and love what the picket fencing has done for your front yard. Your raised garden bed, the paths, all the plants, it's just wonderful. I always love seeing your gardens any time of year. Now you have added a coop and chickens to the mix. Fantastic.

    Enjoy ~ FlowerLady

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  16. Oh... I love to see so many pictures from your garden! And it surely looks great!
    Spring in south Sweden is almost the same as yours, there are only a few things that still needs some more sunny days to get there =) It´s quite cold this spring but it doesn´t really matter since it makes the springflowers last a bit longer - and I enjoy every day!
    Hugs or Kram as we say / gittan

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  17. Your garden looks wonderful I'm not surprised you havent been near the computer. Loving the clematis

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  18. Catherine, that white fence makes such a difference, adds an atmosphere to the whole garden. That is the neatest chicken coop I have ever seen.

    Eileen

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  19. Everything is looking amazing! I can just imagine what it's like in person. Beautiful!

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  20. I don't blame you for not blogging during awesome weather. I have the same trouble! Your garden looks FANTASTIC! Love how the second year of your changes is coming together. So jealous of that pink dogwood ~ it's gorgeous. Also, you just gave me an idea of what to do with the Lewisa's I bought ~ I hadn't thought of mixing them with succulents, but it looks great. Good idea ~ thanks!
    Your containers looks great too. I just decided never to put a clematis in a container again but then look at your 'Asao' ~ proved me wrong! Maybe it does better there tho because you don't have such cold winters??
    The chickens are growing so fast! I love seeing them. Enjoy the nice spring!

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  21. Catherine, Your garden is looking very lush and beautiful. Your dogwood is gorgeous! I'm always interested in seeing what you have in bloom, because you are usually several weeks ahead of my Maine garden. In southern Pennsylvania, where I'm currently finishing up the school year, we have quite a bit of overlap with you: alliums and poppies are blooming here (along with peonies and the first blooms of siberian iris), and although they're starting to fade, I still have blooms on my bleeding hearts and columbines. Dogwoods and lilacs bloomed early here, though, and are long gone. Enjoy your lovely spring, -Jean

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  22. An amazing garden and very good photography. I can see the stamens clearly.

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  23. Your garden is looking just as fantastic as I would expect! :-) We've had the same gorgeous weather here and I just can't stop gardening so I know what you mean. Your chicks look great. Ours are getting close to being put outside with the big girls. Happy gardening!

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  24. I'm so jealous of your warm weather and all the vibrant growth and colour in your garden! We've had a rather cold Spring with hail and rain. Your garden looks really great, enjoy the great weather! Kelli.

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  25. I love seeing how everything is progressing. How long have you been working on this garden (trying to get an idea of how many years it will take before mine gets full like this)?

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    1. We've lived here 13 years, and it looks so different from when we first bought the house. Lots of things have changed several times over the years. I would say after about 3 years you really start to notice big changes.

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  26. Your Dogwood really did put on a show, didn't it? Amazing pink! I might have more roses in bloom than you have but you've definitely got more Clemmies in bloom. Your Asao is outstanding and 'Nellie' looks lovely as ever. Aren't you just loving this weather? We're so overdue! I was noticing what I think is your fuchsia by your pond. Did it leaf out from last year's stems? All of mine did this. It's the first year in I don't know how many that they didn't die all the way back. They're going to be really big this year. Your garden is total eye candy. Love it!!

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  27. Just look at all of that color going on in your garden. I wish I could smell those pretty lilacs. It felt like mine went to fast this year. Catherine I love that columbine. Your chicks have really grown. Enjoy your time out in the garden.

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  28. Wow!! Your garden is incredible! You absolutely have a green thumb! Where do you live where so many plants grow so well? I struggle with mine here in the desert of California! Thank you for showing all your lovely photos!

    http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/

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  29. Oh my, you have been busy!!! Good idea on the crate for the fish to hide. You gardens are looking so good. The veggies sure like those beds and your path and pond look great as always. The chicken coop is really a nice place for the girls. No wonder they don't want to go back to the brooder.

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  30. Hi Catherine! I feel your pain or should I say joy with the great gardening weather and being so busy outside that there is hardly time to get photos and blog! My last post was on GBBD too but I'm putting one up tomorrow. Anyway, I just love so many of the things you've shown. The clematis 'Asao', and 'Miss Bateman' are two of my favs. Did you get them from JoyCreek in Scapoose? I notice they are showing pics of both right now. I also love the Spanish poppies, the dogwood, the columbine...would you happen to know the variety of the columbine? I love it! The chickens ARE so big now compared to the last photo I saw. Good to know you are enjoying them and all is well in your garden. Keep posting, I love to see what you are doing!

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  31. Hi Catherine,

    Just found your beautiful garden today! How long have you been gardening there? My garden is only 3 years old. When we moved in, there was nothing but weeds.

    S
    xo

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  32. Oh! what a lovely garden.I too love my garden

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  33. Looks like spring is in full swing!! Love your use of space.
    Thank you for sharing your bounty:).

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  34. Hello, Catherine! I'm first time in your blog. Lovely garden! I love your poppies "Princess" and Columbine.

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