Backyard bloomers on a day of nothing.

Yesterday was the first day of nothing we've had in a long time.  Nothing had to be done other than just hangout and enjoy not having to get in the car and go somewhere.  The littlest gardener and I went out and got the watering done early before it got too warm.  We enjoyed blueberries and noticed that a couple of tomatoes are turning red, which is a good month earlier than usual.  Later in the evening I went out and did some deadheading, cut back a few plants that were finished blooming and weeding.  I love doing that type of work in the evening when it's really quiet and the temperature has cooled down, we didn't come in until almost 9 o'clock.

 This is some of what is blooming in the backyard now:

Blue Pickerelweed has fully opened and more buds are on the way.  I've noticed this plant, which is actually in the water, droops when it gets hot.  I guess that's a sign of warm weather when pond plants droop.

Agastache

Echinacea 'Magnus' which I moved here years ago.  These were seedlings from some that grow near our driveway.

Ligularia dentata 'Othello' just starting to bloom.  It will have several of these orange flowers when this bud finishes opening.  This plant has been suffering in the dry heat we're having, very wilty and needs lots of extra water.

Hosta

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) 'Pink Delight' is one I thought I'd lost this winter.  It's blooming, but not as good as usual.

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' is reblooming, although it's second flush of flowers aren't quite as large as the first.

My favorite discovery was this Oriental Lily that was from a mixed bag.  I wish I knew the name of this one.  The inside is butter yellow, and smells delicious.  A few years ago I planted several groupings of Oriental Lilies, the clumps haven't multiplied much but at least they are returning.  I think next year I'll be adding lots more.

Another warm day is predicted, and the girls and I are heading to the beach with friends.   

A deck in progress...

It all started 10 years when we bought the house.  The current owner showed us this large deck that had been added by a previous owner.  It runs about half the length of the house and takes up a lot of space.  This yard isn't very deep, but pretty wide.  To me when I first looked at it I felt like I was trapped on the deck by all the railings, the deck is only about one step up from the ground so they didn't really seem necessary.  We knew re-doing the deck was going to be a time consuming project and with Sweet Pea only 6 months old, there were other projects inside that needed to be done first.  

The next summer my husband decided we'd better clean and stain the deck to at least maintain the wood, since it obviously had been neglected.  He went to the store and came back with stain.  I knew as soon as I saw it that I didn't like it but didn't make a big deal about it, after all I'd probably chosen a lot of what we did inside.  Once the stain was on it felt like a big red prison, but we had other things that needed doing first.  Every year or so he would clean it and re-stain it because to try and change the color would be a major job.   

This summer we decided we'd finally tackle the deck.  The first thing I did was to get rid of the old patio furniture.  The table was far too large and we didn't need so much seating, it felt too crowded.

Here is the red deck before.  I think it looks like the Japanese maple is in jail too, it had railings around three sides of it.  At least they built the deck around it.  The cute little bistro table and chairs are the only furniture we kept.

Last Friday while my husband was at work I got the Sawzall out, that my sister suggested, and started cutting off the railings.  My sister and I are always encouraging each other to do all sorts of big projects while our husbands are at work to "surprise" them.  I think they get worried when we talk about ideas we have.  Sweet Pea took this picture with my phone so she could send it to her Dad at work to show him the "surprise".  No turning back now!

First thing the next morning "the Muscle" had to go over any nails that were sticking up and hammer them in.

Sweet Pea and the Littlest Gardener helped sweep off the mess from the big Pine tree.

Next my husband sanded the deck with a big drum sander.  I tried to use it, but felt like it would pull me right into the house.   The real fun started on sanding the two sets of steps and sides of the deck.  Sweet Pea insisted on helping with the palm sander.  We were all sore the next day from the sanding.  We spent 8 hours sanding Saturday, then at least another 4 or 5 hours Sunday.

Here is how the deck looks now.  We ordered patio furniture and hopefully it'll be here soon so we can sit and relax.  I've been trying to put the containers back and plan to add a few larger ones with perennials and maybe a small shrub or two.  The deck on the other side has a large planter with a hydrangea in it, but that's it so far.  I keep trying to convince my husband that a hot tub would be great, but so far he hasn't gone for that.

Watering the yard is already so much easier than dragging the hose over railings and getting caught in the patio furniture.  The lighter color and removal of railings makes the yard feel so much bigger and open.  

Veggie garden update.

I thought I would do a quick veggie garden update.  One reason it's quick is because there aren't a whole lot of veggies growing.  Tomatoes and potatoes seem to be the easiest for me, and since I moved the blueberry bushes to this area there just isn't as much space for vegetables.  There is quite a bit of fruit growing here.  The 'Desert King' Fig tree is covered in figs, the strawberries are on a break right now, and of course lots of blueberries.

Here are some of the veggies:

'Anna Russian' tomatoes given to me by Molly at the only SAGBUTT (Seattle Garden Bloggers United to Talk) meeting that I made it to so far.

The one and only Jalepeno.  I had one year where we got tons of peppers, never since have we had that many.  I'll let my husband enjoy it, since it was something he asked me to grow.

'Brandywine' Tomatoes I started from seed are getting huge.  I gave my Mom and sister each a plant and they said they're practically taking over the garden.

Red Onions are blooming, the honey bees have been all over these.

Bush Zucchinis have the starts of some small zucchinis.  I'm afraid the aphids are going to take over, I'll need to try some soap spray.

The first of the red potatoes with some of our rosemary made delicious oven roasted potatoes.  We always add lots of garlic too!

Our one and only head of broccoli so far.  Some years we have great luck, but I think it's just been too hot for it this year.

Tomatoes in our garden aren't usually ready until further into August, although with the heat we've had maybe some will be ready earlier.  Besides the two I showed I have Grape tomatoes and Great Wall of China.  I don't think we can ever have too many tomatoes.  I've also got one pumpkin vine that so far has no sign of a pumpkin, it's produced flowers but that's it so far.  I guess we'll be buying those this fall.