Explosion of Blooms

The lupine that I posted about a couple of weeks ago is now in full bloom.  I counted 49 spires of blooms on it!!  (My husband thinks I must have too much time on my hands to have counted them.)    :)

My Mom's favorite flowers were peonies.  It's so special to me to see them bloom!

I love the darker pink color of this lupine. 

My pots are starting to get very colorful.

I spend several months a year (very impatiently) waiting for the good weather.  I am so very happy when it finally warms up and I can be out in my yard everyday! 

Thanks for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursdays

At the Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday



Dear Sun, I Am So Glad to See You Again!

I am so happy to report that we finally got nice weather this weekend!  And it wasn't a minute too soon!  This was the rainiest May on record in our area.  We even had snow on Memorial Day!  Where's that Dislike button??

So I'll take you on a stroll through my yard.  Many things are not blooming yet, but some are and after trying to be patient for so long, I had to show some pictures.  I'm sure once things are blooming like crazy, I'll be taking you on another stroll.  :)

These tulips were in bloom a couple of weeks ago.  They were just beautiful. 

These pansies were in full bloom a few weeks ago.  I went out one morning and they were all eaten by the deer.  But, they've come back nicely.  I had to get a picture before the deer figured out that they are available again.

 A friend gave me the burlap bag.  I love it and love the smell of lavendar by the front door.

The columbine seems to be doing ok in a hanging pot.  I know it won't last for long, but right now it's looking good!

The snapdragons, cosmos and candytuft are starting to bloom. 

There's a nest in this birdhouse and the cutest birds making their home in it!

I love lupine!  Here is a  plant that is ready to explode with blooms.  I can't wait! 

I'm pretty happy with the pond area.  We just put it in last year, so the perennials are still fairly new.  The sweet william are about the only thing blooming right now.  Daisies, coneflowers, daylilies, peonies, salvia, and rose of sharon will be flowering soon.

Here's another view of the pond.  The thyme is starting to fill in nicely between the flagstone.  The mesh across the pond is to keep our dog in his shallow area and not where the koi are.  It works.  :)

The people who lived here before us did an excellent job of planting ground covers all around the rocks.  I love the look of it cascading down.

Now it's time to sit and enjoy the good weather! 

Thanks for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

The DIY Show Off's Project Parade

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesdays Treasures

DIY By Design's Swing Into Spring Party

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday

DIY Curbing for the Backyard

Since we moved in to this house almost two years ago, we've added a lot more plants and trees.  There is a vinyl fence around much of the backyard which is very nice for privacy, but vinyl fencing is kind of ugly and harsh to look at!  I knew it needed to be softened up with some plantings. 

This picture was taken in early spring of 2010 before I'd planted anything new in the backyard.  It also shows how horrendous bare things can look in the winter!  :)




So off I went to Home Depot to get several arborviteas.  I was happy with the look of them, but knew I needed some edging to keep the grass out.  The rest of the yard was edged in curbing.  I called several places and the minimum for any of them was $150.  That was certainly more than I wanted to spend for 30 feet of edging!  I originally used some extra pavers, but the mower would hit them and move them around.  It wasn't the long term look I was going for. 



So last weekend, in the middle of all of our daughter's Graduation activities, (yes, we are crazy!) we decided to tackle the curbing job.  We used bender board that my husband cut into four inch strips for the back and three inch strips for the front.  We had to be careful not to make the planter too wide, as there's a wall on the other side and needed room for the lawnmower to fit through.

We needed to make sure to keep the width consistent, so used these pieces of wood as guides before screwing the stakes to the bender board.

Those 80 pound bags of concrete mix were lifted into the wheelbarrow and mixed by me.  Yes, that's why there aren't any pictures of me doing this project.  I was the 'brawn'.  I can't wait for a project where I get to be the brains!  haha

Lots and lots of smoothing of the concrete.

And it's done.  It really transitions well with the old curbing.  I mowed yesterday and there's enough room to get the mower through there.  I consider the job a big success, especially since it cost us $30 instead of $150!

Thanks for visiting! 

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

At the Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday
The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday