The Secret Garden

So, I'll start by saying that I don't know much about gardening.

My H is the one who keeps our yard looking nice.

I enjoy planting flower pots in May and pruning the lilac and rose bushes. 

My small contribution.

However, maybe things can change just a little bit.
This space has been a good distraction during these days
- as well as a good starting point
to do some more dead heading and exploring.
It's been fun to choose plants and to see the results
of caring for them.
Maybe I'm a late bloomer. 

The sound of the fountain has added it's own beauty and calmness.

The purple flowers are called Lily of the Nile and they are finished now

but I look forward to them coming back next year. 

These tiny roses along the patio table area have had, what seems to me, two seasons already.

They were full when they were planted in May,

Once they were done, I cut them bare and they filled up again.

This little area continues on beside the patio.

The red roses are a bush we took from the old house,

roses grown from a stick off my mom's rose bush many years ago. 

Here's a view from farther back.

The big trees are one of my favorite things about this lot,

giving it an established feel.

Since the yard had quite a slope, we had retaining walls put in.

I've learned that lavender keeps blooming when you cut off the dead flowers. 

At least, that's what's happened around here.

In the front yard, the deer take off the fresh tops. 

(sawdust from the tree house construction) 

Back to the fountain now and going the other direction ...

I didn't get a good picture of the David Austin roses,
I just cut them back and have enjoyed the bouquets inside.
Then there is the globe thistle.
I had one plant in the other house and told the landscaper that I like it.
He put in a lot of them, just because I said that.
And that's how it went.

Black eyed Susans are in full bloom now
and there's several patches of them.



Zinnias are starting late.
Most of the plants are still small.
I'll see what happens ...
next year I think I'll dump more seeds.

Sedum has a beautiful long blooming season.
I love it green, but it's changing to its fall color.

I've always admired the lupines growing wild beside the highways in BC.

Now we have them in the garden.  I'll see what they do.
They may need thinning out after some time.

And this ends our little tour for now.

I guess it's not a secret garden anymore.