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Friday, June 19, 2015

The Lazy Gardener

Don’tcha love summer! I do. The sun, the gardens, the beach and free time to do projects that have been patiently waiting while we finished our school year. They can wait a little longer. Today, I am enjoying the gardens.  Join me for a walk around the yard.

Grapes growing in the back and raised beds for veggies just behind the fencing. The dwarf spruce took a hit this winter.
My backyard is home to many flowers and plants. I am a kind of a gardener-by-default. When we purchased the home we inherited all sorts of plantings although they had been neglected for almost 3 years before we moved in. There was a lot to do. I didn't have much gardening knowledge but I have learned. *(Most of what you see was already there just hidden and needing tlc.)

Truth be told, I am a lazy gardener.  I like to plant it once and be done so because of that perennials are the way to go for me. I do use annuals in a couple planters and in hanging baskets on the porch.



Roses grow intermingled with bittersweet onto the arbor gate Mr. built for me at the front of our house. 


I love the hosta that spills onto the path.
Along the driveway close to the house grows periwinkle and an azalea that fills in with beautiful pink flowers in late April, early May. By the end of June the bed changes color as Rose of Sharon (at least that is what I think it is) exhibits a sunny yellow.



Ten years ago Mr. purchased four Endless Summer Hydrangeas for a Valentine’s Day gift for me.


Actually, he went to a local garden center and purchased a gift certificate for them that could be used later that spring. It is too cold in February to purchase or plant hydrangea.  I must say that was the best purchase of Valentine’s flowers ever. Roses die in a few days but my hydrangea come back every year and remind of his thoughtful gift. Two sit in the front beds and two on the south side of the house.
                                                           


We have hosta and day lilies, galore! The hummingbirds like the flowers that the hosta produce. Some other bird friends have made their homes in bird houses Mr. and I made.

House wren
Sparrow in the sunflower bird house.

My absolute favorites are the peonies. I have a row of about ten plants along the fence in the back yard. They usually open just before Father’s Day. I love to cut them and put them in my grandmother’s shallow silver flower vessel.  Despite the large, voluminous blooms these flowers really are rather delicate. For weeks I watch the buds and the ants that busily work around each promise of a flower.  It takes one warm day and BOOM! They open up and I run for my camera. I usually get one week to enjoy them-that’s it. It never fails that rains force them to the ground (in spite of caging them) and the petals fall from the blooms like tissue paper.


The gardens are such that there is always something in bloom. On the rare occasion even my cactus will delight us with a blossom. Soon the black-eyed susan's will be making there debut. I enjoy them and they don't mind sticking around for a while. Amidst all the pretty things you will see herbs like chives that grow next to the cactus, thyme grows by the dwarf Alberta Spruce, sage sprawls out next to sedum, and there is mint among the black-eyed susan. A real gardener would probably tell me I should not grow all those things together but I am not a trained gardener. I do what I like and if it doesn't work I move it. If it dies I divide something else and fill in the hole. So far it is working for me. 






























I do delight in seeing all the beauty as each flower comes in and then dies back giving way to something else. Each one is unique and perfectly crafted for often no other reason than to offer beauty that makes me think about it's Maker. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes; "There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice."~John Calvin


Isa 66:2  All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.

Thank you for walking the gardens with me today.During the growing season my posts will document changes in the gardens so please drop by again soon and see what is in bloom.




 *UPDATE
Linking Up To These Parties:
French Country Cottage, The Shabby Nest, Chic On A  Shoestring, Craft Dictator, Just Us Four, My Romantic Home, The Cottage Market, The DIY Village, DIY Vintage Chic, Pieced Pastimes, Whipperberry, The Creative Girl, Craft-o-maniac, Nifty Thrifty Things, Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home, Finding Silver Pennies, Thoughts From Alice, Inside The Fox Den, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Huckleberry Love, Plucky's Second Thought, Karen's Up On The Hill, DIY Showoff, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Coastal Charm, Skip To My Lou, An Extraordinary Day, Sand and Sisal, Creatively Living, The Dedicated House, Create With Joy, Carrie This Home, Between Naps On The Porch, Strangers and Pilgrims On Earth, A Stroll Thru Life, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Our Home Away From Home, Cozy Little House, Just A Girl And Her Blog, Elizabeth and Company, Savvy Southern Style, Simply Designing, DIY By Design, Crafty Allie, Live Laugh Rowe, Lambert's Lately, Grace and Good Eats, Common Ground, From My Front Porch To Yours, Joyful Homemaking, Jann Olsen, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Too Much Time On My Hands, AKA Design, The Charm Of Home, Life With Lorelai, Craftberry Bush, My Flagstaff Home, Must Love Home


***Featured on The Charm of Home,
 My Pinterventures   My Flagstaff Home  Elizabeth and Co.



32 comments:

  1. Hello, I am visiting from Cup of Joe. Your garden is gorgeous-- I especially love your porch and flower laden arbor! I am so excited because my garden finally has a spot shady enough for hydrangeas. In my part of Texas, they can only take 3 hours of morning sun, so that has been a challenge but I finally planted 2 bushes--yay! Blessings, Cecilia

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    1. Cecilia, I am so glad for your visit. How lovely to finally have a place for hydrangeas. I hope they do well for you.

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  2. I'm a lazy gardener, too. Your garden is lovely and I love the decor.

    By the way, I'd love to invite you post on my new blog hop—the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home (www.myflagstaffhome.com). It begins on Thursday evenings and lasts all weekend, if you're interested.

    Jennifer

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    1. Hi Jennifer! Thank you for stopping by and leaving me such a nice compliment. I popped over to your blog and enjoyed reading about your gardening endeavors and crafts. The basket is beautiful. I will definitely be back for the blog hop. Thank you for the invitation.

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  3. Peonies are my favorite flower---and yours are beautiful!!
    --Brittany
    www.diyjustcuz.com

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    1. Thanks Brittany and thanks for visiting! Going to check out diyjustcuz.com!

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  5. My heavens, how much land do you have? I'm wondering since the photo showing flower beds and house way up in front or looked like it to me. Your yard reminds me so much of ours in KY. I miss our house and yards so much, had so many plants that grew on their own, was so pretty and always green. We had 1 1/2 acres of established trees, plants, so pretty. Our son bought house, completely redid house and outside of house, front porch then sold to us. Seemed like longer we lived there the more plants I found growing happily on their own as we kept cleaning out old vegetation.
    One year at Christmas I decided I'd go out to find some vines to wrap around tree, had bird's nests, birds on tree. Found lots of dried vines and had best time wrapping the tree all way round from top to bottom. Was sure different and loved it. When hubs came home he wasn't too sure about it at first but grew to enjoy it. He was trucker gone all week and sometimes longer so I had lots of time to myself to craft, paint whatever came to mind. Had to keep busy somehow. After 5 yrs. we had to move back to west (west of Grand Junction, CO) as I was so allergic due to climate. I have allergies, asthma, arthritis, not good in damp climate. I still miss that house and our wonderful front porch and yards, old trees. Don't know where you live, looks like maybe back East or Midwest. Happy week

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    1. Hi! Thanks for sharing with me.Your Christmas tree sounds like it was wonderful. Some of my favorite plants are ones that just popped up on their own-like the bittersweet on the arbor. While I am sure you must miss Kentucky I also know Grand Junction is a beautiful area. I used to live in Colorado and it was lovely. I know live in Massachusetts. Mr. says we have about 2/3 of an acre- most of it houses our septic system which the neighbors affectionately call Mt. Flushmore!

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  6. These flowers look gorgeous! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  7. You think you are lazy - I convinced my garden-crazy mom to tend to my flower wants for me! ;) I have a black thumb anyway, but now I have a pretty English garden! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful garden with us on Merry Monday Link Party! Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty

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    1. Megan, glad for your visit. I must say the whole 'getting someone else to do the work for you' thing is genius; kind of a Tom Sawyer thing! Thanks for hosting Merry Monday Link Party!

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    1. Thanks, Audra. The house wren seem to like them as they are back every year.

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  9. Love the moon and the bird. This is one of my features this week on Merry Monday.

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    1. That's great, Sherry! Thank you and thanks for the visit! I will be sure to pop over for the party!

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  10. Thanks for bringing this post over to the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home!

    Jennifer

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  11. Just wanted to let you know that this post will be featured at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home (www.myflagstaffhome.com) starting on Thursday! I hope you'll stop on by to see it and link up more posts.

    Jennifer

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! I will be sure to stop by and see what everyone else is doing.

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  12. OH! I just want to come and mosey through your garden for hours! So pretty! Thanks so much for taking the time to link up with us at the #HomeMattersParty - we hope to see you again on Friday!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kristen and thank you for hosting the party! Glad you enjoyed the visit.

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  13. Your gardens are beautiful!! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  14. For not knowing much, you really have created a lovely garden! I think you know more than you realize. I love gardening and a garden stroll is one of my favorite things to do! Yours did not disappoint. Love the whimsical birdhouses, your gorgeous arbor, and Hydrangeas. Peonies are one of my favorites as well. I usually get 2 weeks out of my plants. Thanks so much for sharing with Share Your Cup. Happy to be a new follower!
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Hi Jann, thanks for the visit. I am glad you stopped by and happy that you liked the visit to my gardens. Thanks for hosting Have A Daily Cup.

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  15. Love your garden!! Will feature this day at the Home Sweet Home party!

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  16. Your garden is absolutely charming Jolena! I especially love the rose covered arbor. Featured at Be Inspired this morning. Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. Yay! Thanks for the visit, Sharon and for hosting the party!

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  17. SOOO pretty......... I need to read your blog more so that I can learn this stuff. :)

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