A bluebird story

We are lucky to live in an area where
bluebirds also live.  Earlier this spring, two bluebirds were determined to nest in our newspaper box.  I would take out the straw that they laid in the box and tried to block the openings with plastic pots.  Sometimes they would knock the pots out.  They were so sure that the newspaper box was a great place to raise a family!  Finally, they gave up.  They must have found a good spot, because we had baby bluebirds flying around.


We purchased a bluebird house and now it is installed in one of my borders, so we are ready for next spring.


One of the funny things I have noticed is that the bluebirds like to check out any available real estate.  The one in the picture is checking out a house sitting on our porch railing.  They fly in, leave a couple of blades of grass, maybe take a nap? and then fly out.  They do this on a regular basis with all of the houses that we have - perhaps leaving a deposit for next spring?  I love to watch them "house shopping"!

Summer song

Bees buzzing happily,drinking in nectar.
Dogs dozing in the long evening shadows.
Birds singing and flitting about.
Clear blue skies and a gentle breeze.
I drink it all in and my heart is content.
Appreciation for the beauty of the moment
Fills my eyes with tears,
Blurring my vision
So I can better hear
The final calls of the birds
As the sun sets.

Fiesta rose

I just love this cheerful little rose!!

How am I doing on my list of things to get done?

Here is my list from April. 

1. 1. Finish mulching around the vegetable garden.
2. 2. Build a retaining wall on the east side of the garage.
3. 3. Lay fabric and mulch on my path to get rid of the grass, finish edging with rock, and create a seating area as a destination.
4. 4. Move trees!!!
5. 5. Find permanent homes for the techny arborvitae and cottoneasters on the east side of the garage.
6. 6. Shade garden on north side of garage.
7. 7. Plant cutting garden!!!
8. 8. Put down corn gluten on lawn to help cut down on weeds.
9. 9. Move lilac.
10. 10. Add lights to front walkway.
11. 11. Add new water feature to front garden.

So far, numbers 7, 8 10 and 11 have been completed.  I have been working on the border around the vegetable garden and soon it will be ready to mulch (1) and I moved the cottoneasters (5).  My next project will be the retaining wall on the east side of the garage (2).  That needs to be done before I can plant the shade garden on the north side of the garage (6).   I'll need soil to fill in behind the retaining wall, so I'll take out the grass that is growing on the path in front (3) and use it for fill. 

New containers

This lovely planter is from Ballard Designs - I fell in love with the shape and bought two of them - one for each side of the path as it widens out.  They are planted with Mystic salvia, soft yellow daisies, and blue wave petunias. 

New mulch

I tried a new mulch/compost mix this year called Erth Food.  The gardens always look so much nicer once they are mulched!  Although the bags were wet and heavy, the mulch did not clump and was easy to apply.   It looks good and adds important organic material to the soil.

Redbud!!

This new redbud is on the back side of the vegetable garden.  There should be some protection from the northwest wind, although this is a Minnesota variety, so it should be OK in our harsh winters!  I love the heart shaped leaves - and I can hardly wait for it to bloom next spring!

Vegetable garden border - front view

This border continues around the vegetable garden to the driveway.  There is a Honecrisp apple tree and some cottoneaster shrubs.  They will add some interest in the fall.

And I added some Queen of the Prairie in this border.  To keep it from spreading, I planted it in large pots that I sunk into the ground.

This border will line up with the border on the other side of the driveway - so the border will stretch from one end of the house to the other, with the repetition of blue evergreens (sub alpine pines, dwarf blue globe spruces, blue swiss stone pines, and gray owl junipers), hydrangeas (Twist and shout, Tardiva, Pinky Winky, and Annabelles) and shrub roses.

Vegetable garden border

In between the rains yesterday, I got a lot of planting done.  There are spirea, a blue swiss stone pine (that won't get taller than 8 ft), some annabelle hydrangeas, and at the fence, some diablo grass and joe pye weed.  You can see (barely) the hose in front.  I'll mulch from the fence to that edge, and this will look so much better!  Oh, and there is also a Sven shrub rose.  I plan to add another one in the empty spot.

Cutting garden planted!

It doesn't look like much now, but there are a variety of perennials and some annuals planted in this garden. I managed to pick up a bunch of perennials that were clearanced - only a dollar a plant.  They are looking OK.  Here is the list of what I planted:  Rosy Returns daylilies, a red and a white peony, a red monarda (bee balm), yellow oenothera (evening primrose) - transplanted from the front garden and in bloom - some penstemon, coreopsis, and blanket flowers.  Stargazer and yellow and white lilies, and some cosmos and bachelor buttons.  And I sprinkled in some poppy seeds. 

Cocoa bean mulch

This morning I weeded the rose garden and put down cocoa bean mulch. I love the way it looks, the wonderful chocolate smell, and how easy it is to work with. One caveat- keep your dogs away! It can be harmful if they decide to eat it.