SHADOWOOD GARDEN

Excuse the Weeds, Please

2011-09-08T20:51:00.001-07:00

Heather Garden update.

They seem to have taking a liking here and the best part is, something is always in bloom!

Afternoon Hugs :-)

2011-08-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

A Little Bit of Late August

2011-08-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

My August Flowers

2011-08-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

A Gift From My Garden

2011-08-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

I Heart Flowers

2011-07-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

Daisies

2011-07-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

I'm crazy for them!

Sundrops and Rosebuds

2011-07-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

YEAH to Color!

2011-07-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

Tall Garden Phlox

2011-07-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

'Laura'

Lilies

2011-07-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

I Really Can Grow Clematis!

2011-07-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

After years of trying and trying and trying...

Just A Daylily

2011-07-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Better late than never.

Flowers are very late this summer!

July Roses

2011-07-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

I Thought Summer Would Never Arrive...

2011-07-02T23:11:00.001-07:00

but here it is! :-)

'Ambridge' Rose

2011-07-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

Happiness Is...

2011-06-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Peony and Poppy

2011-06-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

Late Spring

2011-06-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

The Return of the Band-tailed Pigeons

2011-06-16T21:47:00.000-07:00

For the past several years, Band-tailed pigeons have visited us each spring. Sometimes up to eight at a time. Due to rodents eating through a bird feeder, we had to take it down so these birds never stuck around long. But each year - they've graced us with their presence. To honor our 30th wedding anniversary last month, we picked out a new feeder. Today, we spotted two of the pigeons back feeding outside the fence. As you can tell, they're rather large birds. Two of my favorite things about them are their timidness, and hearing the loud clap of their wings when they fly through the air.

Tuesday in the Garden

2011-06-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Darn Wind!

2011-06-13T21:16:00.001-07:00

Vacation has started off with...wind!

Keith mowed yesterday and the lawn looked so nice.

Tonight, not so nice!

Mulch Day, Saturday!

2011-06-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

We spent the better part of today mulching out front.

I'm so glad to have this job done!

More Color in the Garden

2011-06-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

More Rhododendron Opening

2011-06-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Dusk

2011-06-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

Siberian Iris In June

2011-06-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

A Garden Tour - Close To My Heart

2011-06-02T21:40:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Sonia & Bob, for having us over!

Last Saturday afternoon, Keith and I had the pleasure of visiting our friend's beautiful rhododendron wonderland!

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed our tour and visit!

Poppies!

2011-06-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Two blooms today. Lots more to come!

My Dirty Little Secret

2011-05-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

Doesn't everyone have one?

This is an area that has been so neglected. It's got everything going against it. The septic is there. It's narrow. I've overplanted the spirea. We've neglected this space since we moved in. It's not something I want to deal with. But, change will happen. And hopefully for the better. Only time will tell!

Someday...

2011-05-26T22:45:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to create focal points for these rhododendron. The blooms are not great this year but I visualize something pretty!

'Coppertina' Ninebark and 'Mango Lassie' Geum

2011-05-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

Last year I read where this particular geum is a companion to 'Coppertina' ninebark. Since I had them both, I decided to let them co-exist. I need to give them more time together before I make my final decision.

Ferns

2011-05-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

The ferns are doing well this spring. The Japanese painted ferns are varied in color depending on where they're planted. The other varieties of ferns I remember are Autumn, Black Wood, Maidenhair, and Tassel. I'd love to add an Ostrich fern at some point.

Fantastic!

2011-05-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

At my desk tonight sits one cutting of 'My Favorite Lilac'.

Love it!

'Carol Mackie' Daphne and a Crow's Nest

2011-05-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

The daphne have just begun to bloom. They're such a pretty little flower.

Last year this nest was assembled by a crow. Or crows. I'm not sure how that works. I'm happy they're using it again this spring.

OMG! She's Got a Muffin Top!

2011-05-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

Chloe loves being outside with us. I take a basket with me when I head out to work in the backyard. As soon as she see's I grab my basket, she's at the back door.
Today was chilly. But she didn't mind.

Tonight, she's back in her favorite position!

AJ's Rhododendron 'Regal'

2011-05-18T19:05:00.001-07:00

This is the rhododendron we bought in Ardis' memory last year. We were given a gift card to a local nursery from my work.

Peace, AJ.

The Shade Garden Mid-May

2011-05-17T20:23:00.001-07:00

Colette's Garden

2011-05-16T21:17:00.001-07:00

Waiting To Be Planted

2011-05-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

Some of what's left to be planted this spring.

I'm hoping to leave work a couple hours early tomorrow and get these in the ground. I've also got a few other perennials that sit and wait. And a few more herbs left to pot.

Wishing for sunshine, here in the Pacific Northwest!

Oops!

2011-05-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Do you see the candytuft plant second from the left?

I think I put the wrong variety in there. It's much shorter than the others. I'd better get that fixed this spring!

Strawberry Saturday

2011-05-07T19:24:00.001-07:00

Earlier in the week, Keith had purchased 4 pounds of strawberries and we needed to use some of them up.

I had puff pastry in the freezer, so decided to try making a tart. It didn't turn out perfect but pretty, still.
And tastes very, very good!

Early Evening Photos

2011-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

Bring It On!

2011-05-05T22:02:00.001-07:00

Finally - it's looking like spring!

May Tulips

2011-05-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Pieris

2011-04-26T21:18:00.001-07:00

Late April

2011-04-23T19:24:00.001-07:00

A Message From Our Birds & The Heather Garden in Spring

2011-04-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Late March

2011-03-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

Spring will, maybe, help me be a better blogger.

It's fun seeing color again!

New Year's Day 2011

2011-01-01T19:43:00.001-08:00

Autumn - It's Not ALL About Foliage

2010-10-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Reflections

2010-09-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

Views From A Garden Gate

2010-09-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Looking down the hill into the backyard.

Not a lot of color now and there's much work to be done cutting back old foliage and blooms.

I've still got a few plants I need to get in the ground. And there are always weeds to be pulled.

When I'm standing at my gate and looking up the hill - I get a nice view of the Heather Garden Keith and I created this past spring.

This garden has grown well. The winter blooming heathers are looking exceptional, considering the small size of them.

The groundcovers have also done good this summer. Some will be large enough to divide next spring. I can't wait to have carpets of moss and Corsican mint!

Late Summer Gladiolus

2010-09-11T21:19:00.001-07:00

Most of my glads are done blooming but there are few that are just getting started.

I cut a couple that had fallen and brought in the house.

A reminder to myself to get more supports in the spring!

Evolution

2010-08-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, I purchased a gate from Smith & Hawken.

For three years, the gate sat in it's original box in the garage.

It was fabricated to be attached to a metal arbor of the same design. I liked the simple, clean lines and when I saw it on clearance for $20.00 - I ordered it thinking I could use it...somewhere.

Friday afternoon, I felt a tug at my heart to at least take it out of the box and play around with it.

Keith helped me measure out this space to see if it'd work.

He bought some treated lumber over the weekend and dug holes to sink the wood.

Looking up the hill on the left side is the house. It's been neglected and unattended.

Our first project in the spring will be to move anything I want to keep and then kill off everything else growing there.

A clean slate.

Progress is impossible without change!

Keith's Bread & Butter Pickles

2010-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Someone has been busy making pickles!

He's got a dozen jars in the garage refrigerator now.

We're starting to see more pickling cucumbers in the stores and he's stocked up on more mason jars.

Another sign that fall is just around the corner!

Stokesia 'Klaus Jiletto'

2010-08-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

Stokesia is also called cornflower aster and Stokes' aster.

I thought I'd moved all the stokesia so it would bloom together, so I was surprised to see this open yesterday.

The white plants have budded but are in a lower location of the hill. It will be interesting to see what other colors bloom in that space.

I need to make a point to spend more time working outside and less time sitting and looking.

:-)

With Each Passing Year...

2010-08-02T21:55:00.001-07:00

'Limelight'

This hydrangea just keeps performing better and better.

A hedge of it would be oh-so-pretty!

Trumpet Lilies

2010-08-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

Rhubarb Crisp With Toasted Pecans

2010-07-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

We don't often have dessert anymore but while shopping at the produce market up the street today, I saw some deep red rhubarb that I couldn't resist.

I used two small gratin dishes and made just enough for us to get a couple servings of it.

Tonight, we indulged and split one. In a couple days we'll have the other.

It was super tasty!

Helenium

2010-07-30T20:51:00.001-07:00

'Mardi Gras'

"Never Stop"

2010-07-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

On my counter tonight, sits a small vase of 'Black Cherry' roses.

When I got home from work today, I found that Keith had cut them and left them for me with a message.

It wasn't until after dinner that I found a gift in my garden.

We were sitting around talking - and had been for quite awhile.

I got up to water and hadn't seen it.

I'd looked that direction several times and hadn't seen it.
And then...I noticed her!

I've admired this statue for years.

I'd never seen it in any store I'd been in. Only on the internet.

A few weeks ago, we'd gone to a local nursery.

I'd been given a giftcard to use there, from my work, in memory of my sister, Ardis.

We picked out a pretty rhododendron in AJ's honor.

That nursery was where I first saw 'Modesty'.

Tonight - she stands in my garden.

Thank you, Dear!

And never stop coming up with all of that love for me

Never stop coming with your faith in what a love can be

Never stop coming up with all of that love Keep on rising above

And never stop coming up on the world love wants to see

- Jackson Browne

Sea Holly

2010-07-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Eryngium

My sea holly has done well this year.

There are several things I like about it.

One, being it's height. It's just over three foot tall.

The color is subtle and I like the airiness of it. The fact that I can see through this is a pleasing element.

A little of this cut and added to a bouquet makes me smile, too.

I wish I'd have had the hindsight to put it in a space where something would be growing at it's feet.

Maybe next year.

:-)

Tree Mallow

2010-07-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

I ordered this shrub last spring.

Almost immediately, it grew a couple feet and started blooming.

I've not read good things about it. One description read "not entirely stable".

GRRR!

But this summer, it's beginning to bloom again.

It's one of those watch and see plants, I suppose.

So...I'll just sit back and enjoy what I see, for now!

Lavatera 'Barnsley'

Heather Garden Update

2010-07-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

Soon the summer heathers will be in bloom.

I've lost two since we planted in the spring.

I'm sure it was due to my own neglect once it started to warm up.

I'm being careful now and watering them at least a few times a week.

'Perle d'Azur'

2010-07-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

While sitting on the deck this evening, I spotted something purple across the yard.

Keith and I walked down to take a look and found that FINALLY, this clematis has opened.

It's planted next to a rose named 'Out of Yesteryear'.

This spring there were several vines twining through the rose.

It didn't take long for the rabbits to find them and chew them all close to the ground.

I was able to save one stem. Hopefully that will be enough to keep it alive.

I had visions of this big blue/purple flower vining in with the off white rose.

This is as close as it will come this summer.

But...I'll take what I can get!

Everything's Coming Up...Daisies!

2010-07-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

Flavorful!

2010-07-19T22:00:00.001-07:00

Roasted in a 275 degree oven for 2 hours.

YUM!

A Cool and Cloudy Sunday

2010-07-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

A Daylily

2010-07-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

This One Goes Out to the One I Love

2010-07-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all that you do!

I get some pretty crazy ideas in my head and you go with whatever I want.

Sometimes they work...sometimes not so much!

The first half of this year has had it's ups and downs.

And you've been there for me.

Like you always have been.

I know that I can be a bit of a freak about things at times.

A lot of the time. :-)

I just want you to know that I can't thank you enough for the support you've given to me and for the encouragement you continue to pass on to me daily.

You make me want to be a better person.

You have given me gifts that make every day of my life better than I ever thought possible.

Saying "thanks" is not nearly enough.

A Perfect Wednesday

2010-07-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today we headed north to Port Gamble on the Hood Canal.

The sky was clear and the temperature was a very comfortable 75 degrees.

Keith and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch at the General Store & Cafe.

Expecting to see a menu of homestyle cooked meals, we were pleasantly surprised to find so many fresh and flavorful dishes available.

Our server made an impression on me. As someone who genuinely loves what she does.

The town is very small...and friendly!

Each property was outlined in white picket fences.

On the drive out of town, we spotted this wedding pavilion.

It's little garden was very much in bloom.

We stopped at Valley Nursery in Poulsbo on our way. What a neat place to look around.

So much to see. I'm sure I'll return several times over the years.

I wish I'd have taken my camera inside.

Today In My Garden

2010-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

A Couple Varieties of Thyme in Bloom

2010-07-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

A Summer Bouquet

2010-07-09T20:56:00.001-07:00

I cut a few flowers before I watered tonight.

This Siberian iris was late to bloom this year. The rest of them were open in the spring.

In spite of the extreme heat we've had this week, the garden is fairing pretty well.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Oh, what a pretty thing you are...

2010-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

Several of this particular clematis blooms have opened.

I love everything about this one!

Independence Day

2010-07-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

'Ballerina' Rose & 'Fairy Tale' Veronica

2010-07-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Perennial Foxglove

2010-07-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is a one of three plants I ordered last year from Bluestone.

It's a winner in my garden!

Mixed Emotions

2010-06-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is a clematis.

This is a clematis which may actually bloom.

I've not had good luck with clematis.

I've planted many, many plants.

Rabbits like them. :-(

In the words of my sister, Judy.

THE END!

Summer Roses

2010-06-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

Enhanced With Kodak Fun Effects

2010-06-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Randomness

2010-06-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Honeysuckle Gone Wild!

2010-06-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted coverage on the chainlink fence but things are getting out of hand

The honeysuckle keeps growing by leaps and bounds!

"Simply Irresistible" - Flashback to 1988

2010-06-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the song and video by Robert Palmer back in 1988?

That's how Chloe looked after her haircut today.

We sat outside for a good while after dinner this evening.

A little chill in the air tonight, but she doesn't care.

As long as she's with us...wherever we are.

Torch Lilies

2010-06-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

Mid-June Heather Garden Update

2010-06-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

The winter/early spring blooming heathers have been pruned.

The summer/fall bloomers are getting a lot of new growth.

The shrubs are spreading out at a nice pace.

The many groundcovers are creeping into cracks and crevices.
Just as intended.

The Blue Star Creeper is opening to a nice pale lilac color.

The entrance to my North Garden is starting to take shape.
In the next six months, I'll start to consider what to use for a walkway down through that garden.
In the meantime, there are weeds to pull and flowers to tend to.
And plenty of relaxing days of summer to come!

I'll Have My Cake & Eat It, Too!

2010-06-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

'Nicole'

The roses are doing ok this year. Not great, but OK.

I've reduced the number of them this month. It's been a very wet spring.

Only those that are doing well have been allowed to stay.

I'll continue to grow some of them only for the fact that, although they hurt me (in more ways than one) and cause me bodily harm, there are very few plants that give me this much joy.

Roses, peony, iris, and a few select others - are like the icing on my cake!

Hindsight

2010-06-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

Ranunculus

Had I known how easy these are to grow...

'Blythe Spirit'

2010-06-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

Colette & 'Vineyard Song'

2010-06-15T21:56:00.001-07:00

Parade of Peony

2010-06-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

'Minnesota Snowflake'

2010-06-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

I somehow ended up with two of these mock orange shrubs.

I'm not sorry I did!

Ceanothus

2010-06-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

Otherwise known as - California Lilac.
As blue as blue can be!

Fun With River Rock

2010-06-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

Between The Showers

2010-06-09T21:24:00.001-07:00

A Rosey Monday

2010-06-07T20:14:00.001-07:00

Weekend Photos

2010-06-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

L-O-V-E

2010-06-05T21:26:00.001-07:00

Just June

2010-06-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

This past week I've been laying a paver border around the North Garden.

Today was a perfect June day to get that project completed and to enjoy many hours of sunshine and blue skies.

Happy Anniversary, Mary & Terry!