Happy Halloween!!

Euphorbia X martini 'Baby Charm'

Wet Chicks

Water droplet

Stone Face

Sedum

Ladybug, ladybug

Peony Envy!

What's not to like about peonies!

Dissing Plants!

I've been reading a few blogs tonight on what plants some gardener hate. It got me thinking about what plants I don't like. To be perfectly honest, I had to think awhile. There are few plants that I've met and didn't like. Hence the overplanted garden.

To me, I might not like a plant because I've had it in the past and it didn't perform well or it has hot colors that just don't go with my color scheme. Though I am starting to like orange and hot pink together. Not for my yard but I've seen it in others and it looks great.

People asked my opinions on plants all the time. Alot of time it comes down to personal preference. If you only have so much garden area then you are going to want plants that give you the biggest bang for your buck. (I have mentioned that I'm cheap right?). Good foliage, long bloom etc.

So back to the plant hate list. We can't all like they same plants because it would make gardening very boring. Same as how we decorate our homes. Thats what makes us unique. Another thing.....these comments are not meant to offend or insult anyone. It's just the way I see it.

Pretty,pretty!

I have no idea who this is. I just thought the horse was lovely and I was in need of something pretty to look at.

It's not that I'm having a bad day...it's just...somedays ...some people just disappoint me.

What to "Be"?

I was never one of those people who knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. Though I always have admired people who did. I pondered many things, but in the end I have been content to be a good wife and mother. I have a wonderful life. I love my family, I have a job that I enjoy and it affords me the freedom to be a mother first and creative at the same time. I love to garden and it is satisfying seeing it grow into the place I had envisioned.

Some wouldn't be content with this I suppose. Some people seek success. But what is success? Fame and fortune? I have never been a seeker of a spotlight. When I rode horses I never entered a show. My garden has never been on a garden tour. I do things because of passion. Obsession maybe? Or is obsession and passion one in the same?

At the end of the day I think I am successful at being"Be". That's what I am now that I am grown up.

Red tips

Hens and Chicks

Snapping Sedums

It's a windy day in the garden. I've decided to play hooky from work today because leaf raking and the wind are counter productive. Taking macro shots of flowers on a windy day isn't that productive either. With that said I decided to find something that the wind couldn't easily blow around. Hens and Chicks was the plant of choice today. Here are a couple of shots I took this morning.

Fuzzy chicks

Misty chicks

dangling

Raindrops on Web

Resting

Hanging out

Bargain Shopping

I love a good sale. Especially when it is 40% off plants. Being that my garden is so over planted and not to mention the plants still in pots, I couldn't resist just a few more. I headed for the expensive ones that I couldn't bring myself to pay full price for when they came in. I bought a Japanese Tassel Fern(Polystichum polyblepharum), a pink oxalis and a Filipendula rubra'Venusta'. I also saw these cool basket and hangers for 1/2 price. Sunshine potting mix was on for 18 bucks so since I was running low I grabbed another bale. Not bad considering I went to buy apples, carrots and celery.

Hanging by a thread

Vaccinium2

Vaccinium1

October in the garden

Red on Green(Terry E)

Acer palmatum'Fireglow'

Mirror on a Fence

Fading Hosta

Miss Mucking about

The other day I walked past a tack store and could smell the delicious scent of new leather and other horsey smells. I couldn't resist, I had to go in. I just love tack stores. All those new saddles, bridles and shiny black riding boots. The leather seat jodpurs and the crisp clean saddle pads.

I have been thinking about riding alot lately. Ever since I went to Mike and Lorna's and saw their new fillly. I used to love riding on nice fall days. I loved doing my chores and cleaning my tack. Unfortunately my reality just doesn't include a horse right now. Even if I could find a decent half lease I wouldn't have the time. Work and other things always get in the way!! I really need to win the lottery. Ahhh to own a waterfront farm with an indoor arena, with a live in nanny/dressage coach. A lovely big buck dressage horse...A girl can dream.

Last leaves on Kousa

Orange Leaves

Tsuga Cone

Gunnera put to bed

A Day in the Garden

Finally a day to putter in the garden. Perfect weather, perfect day.

I have really missed working in my garden. It has either been raining or I have been raking maple leaves for hours on end at work. During leaf raking season I am just too tired when I come home to work in my own garden.

I don't know if age has mellowed me as far as my gardening goes. Before it would have drove me crazy looking at the garden in a not so perfect state. Now I just take it in stride and realise that it all will get done in the end. Some times clean up just has to wait until later in the year or early the next. There has been plenty of January days of puttering in the garden.

Some chores to note while they are still fresh in my mind.

1. Move astrantia in sunnier location. Maybe trade with anenome'Prince Henry'
2. In spring pot up Veronica'Georgia Blue' and give away. Time for a change.
3. Give away Itea'Little Henry'
4. Give away orange poppy that was suppost to be red.
5. Give away white liatris or take to work.
6. Divide ajuga'Caitlins Giant' and take to work.
7. Dig up funky creeping willow. Give away or maybe try it in pot.
8. Move Acer aureum
9. Move Magnolia Seiboldii
10. Pot up helebore seedlings
11. Move purple aster
12. Prune up rhodos in shade area along fence
13. Tie up clematis on hemlock tree

Wet Mum

Rain,Rain go away!

This rain is really starting to bum me out. I have so much to do in the garden and it is just too wet. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to get out there and move some plants around.

Acer japonicum 2

Bright leaves

Purple Penstamen

Mum in the Rain

Larix decidua

 

Allium

Miscanthus

Still Blooming

Berberis'Rosy Glow'

Red Roses

A Nice Surprise

This morning while by husband was doing the grocery shopping, I was reading blogs with tea in hand. I read Zoey's post on the lovely flowers her husband had brought home for her. I started to think when was the last time mine brought me home flowers? Just then my husband came home with groceries and flowers in his hands. It made my day!!!!!

Colors

Seedhead close-up

Clematis seed head

B/W clematis seedhead

Parahebe

Aster