Lots Happening

6/15/14

back yard garden

     There is a lot of growth going on in my back yard garden and in the plants that surround the electrical box.  Here are some photos of what is growing in the back yard garden.

The roses have suddenly burst into bloom.

The astilbe have flowered.

The Asiatic lilies are set to open soon.

Brightening the area under the pink dogwood is the ghost fern.

My  hardy begonias have made their appearance.  It looks like they are spreading with lots of tiny new leaves away from the originals.  Their lovely pink flowers will arrive in August.

The seashells cosmos reseeded from last years planting.  For some reason, I have never had cosmos reseed until this year.  Hard to believe they survived the brutal winter we had.

A new garden angel graces the back yard garden.

The plants that surround the electrical box are growing rapidly.  Daisies are in the front with the tall  milkweed behind them.

Here is a photo of the back of the box when the scotch broom bushes were in bloom a week ago.

The milkweed plants in front of the box are just about to open.

     We have only had a few hot days so far.  And even though we had flooding rains again all week, this weekend was dry with low humidity and gorgeous sunshine.  But this week the forecasters say we will have a string of 90 degree days.  That's fine with me.  I like hot summer days.

Around the Yard

8/13/13

crape myrtle

    
      The crape myrtle tree in the side yard is full of blooms.  I am not a fan of crape myrtles, and I've never had one in any of my yards until we moved here.  But I must admit this tree is beautiful.













  

milkweed plants

     The milkweed Tussock caterpillars are gone from the milkweed plants.  The caterpillars ate lots of leaves on some of the plants.  Now all that's left are the follicles.  When the follicles ripen, they will split open.  Inside will be brown seeds with white, silky, filament-like hairs called coma, which make it easy for seeds to be blown around by the wind.

arbor over gate

     My husband finally finished building the arbor top over the gate into the backyard.  I plan on getting a Carolina jessamine vine to plant next to the gate in hopes that it will grow along the fence and over the arbor.

deck planter flowers

     The diascia that was in this deck railing planter was not doing well, so I replaced it with a red geranium and two ornamental pepper plants.

     We have had so much rain and cloudy weather here.  It is downright depressing.  We have not had a rain-free weekend since Father's Day.  Mushrooms, fungus and other weird things are growing all over the yard.  These are photos of the two I found most interesting.