Watching and Waiting....

Watching and waiting to see each and 
every tree, shrub and plant bloom. 

Cranesbill (Hardy Geranium)

Last year these were blooming around June 14th

Although this is just the beginning we are a bit

ahead of schedule! I'm watching constantly

and amazed at what I'm seeing so early on.

Waiting for the Peonies to bloom...

they are full of flower heads!  Ten days ago

I put grow cages around them....The plant was

just barely through the top of the cages- They've

 grown twice as tall since then!

Waiting for the Delphiniums- they just got going too!

Another Cranesbill called "Lizabeth"

which is how my name is spelled, so I

had to have these! I should have tried harder

for a better picture! It was hot and I was

rushing! It's coming up nicely but I have a

feeling it's going to be a few years before

they get to be a nice size.  Maybe they will

double up this year?  I can always hope!

I'll watch and wait!

This Japanese Maple is doing well.  They make such

a nice contrasting color to the woods and our home.

This little corner is in front of the the

bedrooms and the living room addition we

added in 1996.  I've got a mix of things here 

including this "Coral Bark" Japanese Maple 

which is  S L O W to grow! Spireas in the

forefront, a tall grass and some Ninebarks to 

the right.

  We put lava down in the mid 1990's which

I now regret. It's a stinker to try to open up 

a spot to dig...and it's weird to walk on!

 My office is the smaller window with the

shade pulled...that's where I tap tap tap way on 

the keyboard!

 See, this is my view from there.  My island out front

has Stella d'Oro lilies that should start blooming

before too long. 

See the coral colored bark!  

Boy it was hot today and yesterday!

We hit 91 both days....lots of sun!

My Ninebark has a fungus-mildew.  I didn't notice

it until recently, but it's rather unsightly!  I have never

seen this plant get this before, so I was surprised.  I

have a feeling it's because of the warm up we had in

March, then the numerous frosts, causing moisture to 

stay on the leaves.  It has lots of aeration so I don't know

why else it would get it.  I am reading on it and there 

are a variety of suggestions.

Waiting to see these Dutch Iris bloom.  They

are real close! Again last year around June 14th

they were blooming! 

(Please ignore the grass that I haven't wed out!)

They follow the edge of a turnaround on the driveway.

This is my PeeGee Hydrangea that I am praying

will perform better this year.  Of course the year

I bought it- it was dripping with gorgeous flowers,

but last year I had only 3...I am hoping it's getting

comfortable where it is and will perform nicely!

PLEASE!!  

As you can see my Hostas are going to town

growing like crazy!

I bought this little statue last year and didn't

really have much of a spot for her.  I remembered

I have this gazing ball stand so I brought it over

to give her a spot to sit.  I turned it  upside down-

 but the bottom has a worn look.  I think it's going to

work, so I'll scrub it up!

We've been staining the deck and we got

the other side of the railing done just in time

because these ferns aren't waiting for anything!

They've shot up in two weeks to this height!

I've been waiting for this project for a long time

I came up with the idea in the fall of 2010. We

bought the wood, the little top pieces and even

stained the wood but didn't get it installed.

Last year we were a bit busy with a couple of showers

and a wedding for our son in Pennsylvania, so it 

fell by the wayside. 

 I'll show more on it soon.  I was taking a break

and watching Dan working on it and used my 

iPhone to take this shot...his poor head got

burnt from the intense sun so he grabbed a hat!

Makes him look like a farmer!  I've got a new hose

for the reel too! This one's a tired puppy!

Speaking of Dan, my handyman, husband,

always on his feet, and likes to paint guy!

We came up with a plan to salvage these

fiberglass planters that were really starting

to look shabby.  This is the first layer we chose

an enamel in almond to start with.

I think these are about 6 years old. This

was last year. The paint was coming of quite

badly.  I hated to spend money on more so

we chose to save them and I'm glad we did!

We used a spray "stone finish" paint from Lowe's

I love how the design shows up so much better 

now!  I hope to get at least 2 more years out of them!

I planted them this morning with a trailing red Supertunia, bright green sweet potato vine, and a burgundy 

colored spike.  

I can't wait to see the red fill out along

with the vine...it should contrast beautifully with

the new color on the planters!

Out back by the fountain I've just planted

these big cement planters.  They should look

sensational as they progress!  

Up at the "ranch" house I planted my window boxes

with these gorgeous Velvet Red begonias, lobelia

and vinca vine.  I love the color of this vinca vine it's called Wojo's Gem.

And just to the right is my new hanging basket that

I bought already planted.  I loved the yellow color

it had and the flowers they put in it!

Out my back door looking at my flowers...

the deck is still in progress...see the darker

railing...it's called "Italian Leather" by

Valspar from Lowe's.  We had a few things

hold us off from getting the floor boards done

including heavy pollen that has just begun. I'm 

anxious to get my furniture back on here!

I've got these potted (I bought six colors of these "million bells" Calibrachoa-They will mound and fill out nicely!  up and they are waiting for their "soon to be painted wire plant stands" to set on!   

Yep another "Dan" project!  He does a much better job than I would so who am I to say "no honey I can do it"!   

I just realized I bought all these pots and my flying pig statue in Pennsylvania last year while we visited our son.  I didn't even realize I clustered them in the same 

area until now!

 Of course I had to find a local garden center!  The good thing is when I see these things it takes me back to some fond memories!  That's a good thing!

Well, that's a wrap as they say!!  

Thanks for coming by!

What are you watching and waiting for?