Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land is hosting a garden party! For once in my blogging life I wanted to join the party on time so I had to give up having EVERYTHING just so in order to do that – ha! Kimba is also very lenient in her rules for what constitutes a garden party post. So link up then sit back and enjoy all the fabulous garden inspiration out in the blogosphere!
Love this clematis that climbs the mailbox to greet you. You will usually find a bird perched on top to complete the look. Can you tell by the finish on the mailbox that they like to hang out there. There’s a project lurking in my brain for the mailbox…
Come on up past my overgrown bushes. Lots of rain in Arkansas the past couple of months. Great for growth not so great for planting and maintenance. Pay no attention to the 4 pots of unplanted ferns, 2 pots of unplanted arborvitae, empty pots and bag of potting soil on the porch!
Remember this project? It’s filling in nicely, eh?
We’re going out back – that’s where most of the action has been as of late. Come on in through the foyer into the kitchen. Take a quick look at this pot that I snatched up a week or so ago. It’s just perfect to hold yet another rabbit foot fern! See that color in the background?
It’s this tangerine canna lily – stunning! I bought a little pot of it 2 years ago and it has multiplied like crazy! Makes me happy!
I love to experiment with my containers. This is my favorite so far this year. We’ll see how the others fill in. This one is my ode to ye old red, white, and blue. Red star flowers, white lantana and begonia, and blue sweet potato vine. The spike in the middle was one of the BEST purchases ever. I bought it 3 years ago in a little square pot for $1.29. Actually I bought two of them and they have come back in the center of my pots each year! I also have an asparagus fern in another container that keeps coming back! If you look closely in this picture you will see the right toe of BBC’s rubber boots…
He’s a great helper in everything! I love that he believes he can do anything and wants to learn. I think that is so important. Isn’t he doing a lovely job planting these white begonias?
OK – this is the big project for now. We have been busy adding perennials to our butterfly garden. We are on a budget so we have to buy small and be patient. This bed is 3 years in the making and each year we add to it. We also add small so we don’t disturb the oak tree. I can’t wait to get our free milkweed in and planted. The plan is to put it to the left where that unplanted boxwood is sitting. BTW, isn’t that birdbath gorgeous? My BFF gave it to us as our wedding gift – LOVE that!
A closer view of the plants over here. I try to add interest with rocks and unique stuff like this dried out tree root. We found it at Kendra’s mom’s home after the creek flooded. I knew it would be interesting. When I first brought it home, I had it sitting a little closer to the edge of the grass and DH thought it was a snake – it kinds of looks like one on this side.I could go on and on – there are four other beds that didn’t even make the pictures. I love to garden and wish I had more time and discipline to do it right. Thanks again Kimba for hosting the party and thanks to you for stopping by!
June 16, 2009
Love your lovely garden! I like that whatever you call it on your front door.
June 16, 2009
It all looks beautiful!!
I didn’t buy many plants this year, now after looking at everyone’s pictures, I think I’ll be hitting the nursery some more! LOL
~TidyMom
June 16, 2009
The butterfly garden will be so lovely when things fill in and it’s fun to watch things grow and take shape!
The urn plainting looks so pretty! I bought an asparagus fern last month and I’m glad to hear that they come back!
Manuela
June 16, 2009
So pretty and yes, I remember your awesome door project. Love it!
June 16, 2009
Very beautiful. I love your door wreath most of all! Great job!
June 16, 2009
Looks great! I love your favorite planter, too!
June 16, 2009
Very pretty! :o)
June 16, 2009
I do love your front door wreath!
June 16, 2009
Everything looks wonderful :o)
June 16, 2009
Beautiful landscaping and pretty plants. I love the door wreath and esp. like the fern in the very unique pot.
June 16, 2009
Love your clematis on the mailbox- so pretty!
June 16, 2009
great job with your container garden! beautiful yard, hope you enjoy it all summer.
June 17, 2009
You have a knack, sister! Looks great! All of it!
June 17, 2009
I do adore that birdbath. Very special.
June 17, 2009
It all looks so pretty! I love cannas. They spread like crazy! I should be having some yellow ones bloom soon.
June 17, 2009
I love, love, love your birdbath. And your flowers are looking good.
June 17, 2009
How do you get your spike plants and your asparagus fern to come back every year? I’d like to know – that could save me a lot of money every year if I didn’t have to keep buying them!
June 17, 2009
Kara,
I’m not sure where you live but I haven’t done anything special to get the spike and asparagus fern to come back. I just leave it out there over winter. My pot is insulated and I’m not sure if that makes a difference. Then I cut back the dead foliage and they look good as new again come spring. Good luck!
June 18, 2009
Just beautiful! I really love your clematis. They always make me think of my dad. He loved them too.
Kimba
June 19, 2009
I came over from Kimba’s and I’m so glad I did! I can’t believe you have even more beds that you didn’t picture here. I have been so lazy about gardening; now you’ve given me inspiration to get out there and get to it. Do you have any tips for what would work well in containers on a shaded porch? I’ve limited myself to coleus, but there has to be more than that. My front porch doesn’t even get enough sun to keep impatiens blooming, but surely there’s something. Your containers look so good, I thought you might have some ideas!
June 19, 2009
What beautiful pictures of your garden!
June 19, 2009
what a pretty butterfly garden you have and a cute little helper too.