“Old Buckethead” in better days.  With unseasonably warm weather these last few days, the snowman that the kids built is no longer in good shape.  Let’s just say that he’s off to the North Pole to return again someday!  But how cute the children are!  There is nothing cuter than kids dressed head to toe in snow suits!

I was ever so tempted to get rid of this planter.  I’m glad I didn’t.  Although the plants in the pots overhead are not trailing as in their name “trailing verbena” and the potato vine hasn’t really trailed either - that’s some simple tweaking for next year.  Picture pots overflowing with trailing, flowering plants.  Not so bad huh?

What was once a really unattractive area of the yard is actually becoming attractive.   In a few years when the Annabelle Hydrangeas that I ordered from Michigan Bulb last year grow in the area will be filled with Hydrangeas.  The bigger Hydrangea plants that you can see - to each side of the planter were picked up from Home Depot for just $12.50 a few weeks ago.  They were on their last legs.  Looking at the pole of the planter the one on the left is doing really well, the one just to the right of the pole (hard to see as there is only one flower you can see in the photo) is not doing as well but I think it will make it.  Next year it should be pretty.  Fingers crossed.

Meet Moose.  He is so still in this photo.  So unlike him.  I just like how he looks in this photo and how pretty all the Hosta flowers look.

Patio Garden.  And I use the “patio” word lightly.  It’s not so much of a patio nor is it really a Florida room.  It’s more of an eyesore.  The structure was at one point a Florida room - really a rather nice attribute back in the 1950’s and 1960’s I’m sure.  It was wired with speakers and a sound system of sorts and electricity.  Off to the side (out of picture range), near where the vegetable garden is remains the remnants of a small pond.  A neighbor tells me there used to be fish in it and everything.  Now all that remains is rock and concrete.  And man, is it hard to break that stuff up and get it out of there.  They built it to last.

Our short term goal is to rebuild the roof and supports over the foundation, fix up the cracks in the concrete and use the space as a patio.  Long term goal is to build out and add a family room in this space.  For now it has an old fiberglass cover which will remain until money falls from the sky (or wherever it comes from).  My vote was to pull the roof off, my hubby wanted to leave it on as it provides relief form the rain (or snow) when you access the garage from the house or when we let the dog in and out.  Guess who won?  He did.  As unsightly as it is, there was an even more unsightly patch of dirt directly in front of the “patio” that was the very first thing you saw when you walked into the back yard.    That I could fix.

I added a Spirea japonica “Frobell”, a Yarrow plant, three Rose Coreopsis plants, some transplanted Hostas  some container annuals, transplanted some rocks and added 2 solar lights.  The patio itself is still not a pretty place but the view is adorable.  At least when you wak into the backyard you are greeted with a little pretty.  

I have admired the Spirea in other gardens and have a Spirea “Little Princess” in the back.  The “Little Princess” lives up to its’ name though and is small and compact.  The Spirea “Frobell” should get a nice 3′-4′ spread and height and fill in nicely.  Plus the “flowers” look pretty enough to snip and bring inside to enjoy.

The Yarrow was an impulse purchase.  I would have bought more but this was the only one in this color, the rest were “Summer Pastels” and multi colored.  I heard from Nicole that htis has a tendency to spread.  I hope it does, otherwise, I will be adding more in the future.

View as you walk into the yard.

All in all, a quick, easy and fun fix to an eyesore.  All accomplished in an afternoon.  Looking at this post, I have to go out back now and remove that piece of wood that is falling down behind the garden.  I started to do it and was distracted, until I saw it now in the photos.  Hope the whole darn thing doesn’t come tumbling down (or do I?).

Dianthus

I promised more photos from the garden, so here goes.  The Dianthus is a new addition to the garden.

The Endless Summer Hydrangeas are blooming beautifully.  The Salvia annuals clash pretty strongly next to the Hydrangeas.  I had the annuals left over after planting up my pots and didn’t want them to go to waste.  Even with them clashing, having had no color in the yard for so long - I still think it looks nice. 

Pretty, simple Marigolds in the Florida room.

More Florida room fun.

This Pieris Japonica “Valley Rose” or Valley Rose Pieris is along the side of the house by the fence.  It will eventually get 3-4 ft high and 5 feet wide - a good screen for the garbage cans kept behind the fence.  It is an evergreen that blooms in the spring with pretty pink, bell-shaped flowers. 

The side garden is mostly Hostas, with this Astilbe which is growing nicely.  This is the third summer for this Astilbe, it had another planted right next to it which was not as healthy looking.  Last year I moved it to the other side of the house where is is thriving.  Go figure.

And this is what happens when I don’t write down - RIGHT AWAY - in my garden book or file what the name of the plant is.  I think this is Angels Halo or something like that - I can’t find the tag - it was purchased at the Garden Club sale, as was the little wrought iron tri-fold ($1 SCORE!).  I have to find the Popsicle stick with the name written on it.  It will have little yellow flowers on it.

My neighbor’s Phlox has crept over to my side of the garden.  I do not mind at all, it is very pretty and I hope it spreads some more. 

Some pretty annuals in containers up front.

And would you believe I just divided and thinned out the day lilies by the front coach light last year?

It looks too crowded.  I think I need to thin it out again later this year.  If the rain ever lets up I can get back out to the yard and continue to tweak.  I know the rain is good for the plants and that since we have some new additions to the yard the rain is great for helping to establish good roots, but come on.  Oh, and with the new grass in the back yard I am mowing twice a week some weeks.  I’m not complaining, the fact that we have grass in the back yard is great.  I’d love to be playing on it more though.  Looks like we may have some better weather coming.  Come on summer, we are waiting!

No idea

So this pretty little thing popped up a while back - thing is I have no idea what it is.  The only things that I planted that haven’t poked up yet are Coneflowers and Coreopsis.  I don’t think this looks like either so I’ll wait and see. 

Allium

The Allium is coming up nicley as are all the Hostas.

Bachelor Buttons

The Bachelor Buttons which were a transplant from my cousin Carol’s backyard in mid May have already flowered.  The flowers are rather droopy, hence my finger in the photo - oops! 

"Little Princess" Spirea

The “Little Princess” Spirea has greened up nicely.

"Autumn Joy" Sedum

The “Autumn Joy” Sedum, planted last year has grown nicely.  I look forward to its blooms this summer.

Purple Fountain grass

The Purple Fountain Grass is new this year and should get rather tall.

The Bishops Weed is quite invasive so I’ve heard and spreads underground.  It was here when we moved in 7 years ago, right now it seems contained - I’ve heard it’s hard to get rid of.

Peonies

The Peonies (no idea what kind)  have buds on them.  Hopefully they will bloom more than the 3 or 4 flowers we had last year.

I spent the day potting up some annuals my hubby picked up - a very random bunch of yellow Marigolds and orange Marigolds, red Salvia, and other random choices.  Ah well, the heart was in the right place.  The marigolds actually look striking in a lime green pot and a white pot with orange (and other colors) in a band.   I’ll have to get photos.  I also weeded the beds on the sides of the house and the rear of the yard.

Tomorrow I’m off to choose more annuals to complete my pottings.  I still have to turn over the soil in my garden area as well as ammend it, and lie out the plants to decide what goes in the ground, what goes in the pots and what might need to go in a new bed.  I was feeling a little behind not having it done and then we had a frost last night.  It was nice to be able to move the plants in the garage for safe keeping.

I’ve got my work cut out for me tomorrow and the next couple of days but then it will be just maintaining.  I got all my housework done this weekend so that can coast while I garden.  I love being outside and getting things in the ground!

Grass.  Not a familiar term when speaking of my back yard.  At least not until now.  We have grass.  Lots and lots of grass.  This may not be a big deal to you but to me WE HAVE GRASS!!!!  For years two huginormousbig trees dominated the backyard.  That and dirt. Oh and weeds too.  Last summer the trees came down.  We had the yard tilled and added seed.  And more seed.  And more seed.

We are still lacking foundation plantings, which will be coming soon for at least along the back fence.  But for now…we have grass.  The kids have been enjoying the back yard, for the first time they can really run around without the danger of being hurt or being filthy!  The temporary fence we had put up to keep our dog from the back while we were seeding came down.  Moose ran around like a puppy and was rolling in the grass.  So everyone is happy.  See, it’s the little things.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Not much to look at now but you just wait!

Above, from Left to Right Front - Aglo Rhododendron (Rhododendron Agle”) many Hostas  - 2nd row,- 3Endless Summer The Original Hydrangeas (Hydrangea Macrophylla “Bailmer”) - one on either side and one in the middle, blooming (bought bigger) - climbing clematis - not sure of type as those and Hostas have been here forever.   The Hostas are so big you can barely see the Hydrangea but in a few years that will change.  I thought the Rhododendron had died because shortly after I planted it all the beautiful flowers died.  But look at this next photo - all the green is new growth so I’m sure it’s just fine.  Maybe transplant shock or the bloom time was just over.

Rhododendron

See - looks like it will thrive next year.

Lilac

Common Lilac ((Syringa Vulgaris) planted in the corner next to my neighbors yard.  They have 3 lilac trees on the other side of the fence so this will fill an empty space niceley and make a bigger impact when viewed as a whole.

Viburnum

I thought I had a full size shot of this Raspberry Tart Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum  “Rastzam) but I only have this closeup.  It’s a little bigger than the Rhododendrum right now, it’s supposed to get “showy Raspberry-red fall foliage”.  Should be pretty.    Right now it has these pretty white clusters.

Here are my munchkins enjoying the sunshine and the yard.  I have a lot of work to do still in the back yard - the area with the Hydrangeas needs to be cleaned up and mulched.  I also need to dig out the weeds in  the garden bed along the back fence and in the vegetable patch (not pictured because right now it’s just nasty).  I’ll share some photos of what’s blooming along the back in my next post.  Hope you enjoyed the backyard tour.  Oh and hey, did I mention?  We have GRASS!!

I think when a two year old takes her own diaper off because it is wet that it is time to start potty training.  Lately, Francesca has taken to stripping.  She takes her clothes off wherever she can.  She has never liked shoes (who can blame her - I’m a barefoot girl myself in the house) so she has always whipped off her shoes and socks at every opportunity.  Pants and shirts are optional too.

We have been at the park district and she has started to pull her pants down.  Now she undresses and takes her diaper off when she had wet herself.  We were by Nicole and Brandon yesterday visiting little Eleanor and were all in the backyard.  Francesca started with her shoes and socks and was running in the grass barefoot.  A short time later her pants and diaper were off in a flash and she run squealing through the yard.  I wish I had a photo but we were all too busy laughing.

I think it’s time to pull out the old potty chair and begin the potty training.  Goodbye Huggies size #3, hello training diapers and potty chairs!

Everywhere I turn these days I am seeing such gorgeous Daffodils.  I don’t know why I haven’t considered them before for the garden.  This fall I want to order a bunch of bulbs for a nice showing of Daffodils next spring.  I see a lot of the yellow ones but www.michiganbulbs.com  has this pretty pink variety called Pink Charm.

photo from: Michigan Bulb 

I like the yellow too - maybe I’ll plant some yellow along the side of the house and then plant the pink ones in the back yard.  They are such a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dreary early spring garden.

On the plus side, my Hostas are popping up - they almost look like little asparagus spears poking their head out - I never really closely looked a them before now.  It looks like my purple Alliums are coming up too, there are little green chive- like shoots coming up.  The daylillies and the Autumn Joy Sedum are poking their heads out too.

My Hydrangeas are still looking sad - just a brown twig at the four spots where I planted them but the twigs,  under the brown -  way down by the soil is green.  Hopefully they are still alive and will grow.

I also have some things popping up that I am not sure what they are but they do not look like weeds.  The only things I planted in that area were the Alliums, Purple Coneflower and Coreopsis.   The leaves popping up don’t look like any of those plants.  I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what pops up!

 

General Ramblings today.  I’m slightly unfocused and scrambled today.  So you get some Random Thoughts.

We have sprouts!  The Roma Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Basil and Shasta Daisies are sprouting.  Ever so slightly and probably not even picture worthy.  Once they’re poking up a little more, I’ll post photos.

Favorite part of Barney (and I.do.not like Barney - but alas, Francesca does) is at the end when he sings his “I love, you, you love me” song” where he says “with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you” - Francesca walks up to everyone in the family (including the dog and cat) and gives us each a big hug and a big kiss!  So very sweet - it makes Barney appealing.

Want to see a five year old boy smile ear to ear?  Get him a bicycle helmet and knee and elbow pads.  Long after he was done riding his bike today with his brand new safety gear, he still had the knee pads and elbow pads on.  He finally removed them shortly before bedtime.

Why oh why do cats like to eat houseplants?  I am a much better nurturer to my children and to my outdoor garden than I am to houseplants.  That is why I never have any.  Ross received a spider plant from his old daycare way back before Pre-Kindergarten started, so back in April or so.  I finally got around to removing the rooted plant from the container with water and putting it in a pot and placing it on the kitchen windowsill.  The cat promptly nibbled on it and ate most of the leaves.

Sisters can be so loving and yet so cruel to each other.  I met an old friend and her two daughters for lunch today and then we stopped in Target.  Her girls are 11 and almost 10.  The ten year old wanted to buy a purse.  When her mom told her it was a little too expensive and we pointed out that it was an “evening bag”, her sister said “Yeah, it’s for going out on a date and you’ll never do that!”  The 10 year old proceeded to sulk for the rest of the shopping trip.

If you stand close enough to Ross when he is in a toy aisle, you will hear him say every so often “Santa, Can you get that?, Santa, can you get this?”  Apparently, since Santa can see you all the time, there’s no need to actually make a list - he’ll just tell him what he wants through the year.

Planted the rest of the flower seeds today.  Hopefully those too will be sprouting soon.

Day three of constant watering.  I reseeded the back yard on Monday and have been watering like a fiend.  Trying to get the grass to grow before all the birds and animals eat all the seeds.  Sam said to me the other morning “You should have heard all the birds chirping this morning when I left for work!”.  Yeah.  I bet they were telling all their friends.

Francesca is finally talking more and more.  She does not say alot but then every once in a while she surprises me.  For the child who barely says one word here and there, today she said “No, it’s MINE” at the top of her lungs when Ross tried to take her ball.

I can no longer take a shower by myself.  Pretty much the last place I could go for privacy was the shower.  Francesca loves water so much that when I grab a towel she starts taking her clothes off and wants to take a shower with me.

And lastly, perhaps it’s time to start potty training Francesca.  At 27 months, she is now in the habit of removing her own diaper when she pees in it.  I always catch her in the act, but maybe it’s time to get proactive (haven’t used that word since I was working - My God, how overused of a word that was at work) and start sitting her on the potty.  Her pediatrician wanted me to start at 18 months.  Yeah. Right.

Okay, so those are my many ramblings today.  Will return with a more cohesive post soon.