Fish

I just love watching my little goldfish in the pond! And I found the "Big-Eyed Fish" statue at a nearby garden center and had to add it to the pond for fun!

Bed with funky birds

This little bed is near the pond - Color Guard Yucca (first time I've tried to grow yuccas) and Moonshine Yarrow. 

Pond Path

 Just started working on the flagstone path around the pond. I try to get a few stones laid at a time - quite the process!

Side garden

Finally got this big raised bed mulched! That's 100 bags of mulch down and 10 more to go! The middle picture includes my masterwort plants. Not last winter, but the year before, my plants didn't make it - all dead. But as I was cleaning out this garden last fall, I found all sorts of new seedlings. This year they are big enough to bloom! Hope they continue to seed - they are a great plant that does well in part-shade and doesn't need a lot of moisture.

Not shown - two of the three hibiscus that I planted last fall made it through the winter. That is a first for me, as every other one I planted never made it through the winter.

Late blooming

I don't think it is normal to have peonies (Sara Bernhardt), roses (Sven) and catmint (Walker Low) blooming at the same time, but I'll take it!

Fairy Garden

Additions to my fairy garden! The name of the tiny hosta is Limey Lisa - planted in honor of my niece! And the plant on the right in front is a tiny goatsbeard. Can't wait to see my grand-daughters' reaction. 

New Flowers

This pretty peony was a gift from a neighbor. First time it has bloomed - love it!

This is a Thunder & Lightening Knautia - just planted this spring & I really like it!

Pond update

This is water forget me not.  I added goldfish to the pond and after hiding for a couple of weeks, they are finally beginning to come out and dart around the pond. They love when I go in and stir things up, because there are interesting bits of algae to explore! Today when I emptied the skimmers, there were a few baby tree frogs - no bigger than my thumbnail! - and they hopped away.  Some of my pond plants are sending up new growth. I just realized that they have been looking a little sad because they moved from a shaded greenhouse to my unshaded back yard - a bit of a shock! So it was good to see that new growth. I moved a couple to new spots - hope it helps!

Arbor Rose - William Baffin

It's up to the top of the arbor! Soon it will work its way down the other side. No dead branches after our very cold winter - that's one tough rose!

What's blooming?

 

Irises, salvia and peonies, oh my! And don't forget the perennial geranium!

Climbing Rose

This is a reminder for me - while this is supposed to be a red rose, it looks more pink! Next year, try the hot pink annuals!

Hosta Garden

This project was the only one that I worked on last summer - taking out all the hosta and dividing them and replanting this bed. Now I am working on getting it mulched and am about half done.

Trollius

 

Well, hello pretty lady peeking out from under the hosta leaves! Bought this plant last summer - it is a woodland plant that I hope to move to the pond area.  I had to move it earlier this spring, as it was in an area that was getting too much afternoon sun and it would wilt. You supposedly have to wait a few years to get blooms - guess I got a "mature" plant.  

 

Front border

 

A few pictures of the front border. Love the contrast of the variegated dogwood with the Tannembaum Mugo pine. This year, we put plant supports around the baptistas (they are the plant in the bottom picture with the purple flowers). Not sure they make much of a difference, will see how they do.

Bridal Veil Spirea

 

I just love the shape of this shrub. Even when it is tiny, its branches still arch. And when it blooms, it is gorgeous. It is a shame that the blossoms last for such a short time....

Alliums

 

Alliums are so much fun! I love how tall they are and how they add color in early spring. They are an easy to grow bulb that is planted in the fall. There are different sizes and you can find a few different shapes and colors. I just learned that it is best to cut down the flower stalks when they are finished blooming so that the bulb can store energy for next year. I haven't done that consistently and have noticed that some of my alliums haven't come back. so I need to remember to do this.  I think the dried flowers could be painted and used as fairy wands....

Sidewalk garden

 

I have been adding dark purple petunias to this area - they contrast so well with the lime green spireas. One of these years, I want to try a hot pink!

 

This area gets hot sun and little moisture and is a challenge to keep looking good. This year I found some Gomphrena Fireworks and thought I would give them a try. They are tall and are supposed to do well in hot and dry conditions. I'll post more pictures as they grow.  I added the regular variety of gomphrena to this area, too. The common name is globe amaranth. They grow well in dry areas.

Pond Plants!

Jake from AquaEden (our pond installer) came with pond plants last week. Some water iris, water lilies (not pictured) and some underwater plants. I made a special trip to Cook's Water Gardens to buy more plants to add to the pond.

 

I added some dwarf horsetail reeds - love the bright pop of color it adds!

 

This is called a water fern - it looks like four leaf clovers. Just love this little guy, but he is not hardy here. Might have to think about bringing him in for the winter......

 

This is a pickerel rush (Pontederia cordata) native to Minnesota. It get a small purple flower in July and August.

 

 

This is a bog bean. It will grow out over the water and is hardy for zone 4. It gets a white flower in July and August.

 

 

Now that the pond has plant life, it is time to add some fish!

 

Weeping Caragana

 

I added this little Weeping Siberian Pea tree to the pond near the waterfall. Its branches will grow longer so that it looks more like a weeping tree than it does now. I bought the same little tree for my sister's pond some years ago - but I think the deer really ate it down in the winter, so I may want to protect this one.

Pond Edge

I have been trying hard to get the front yard weeding and mulching finished, but on Memorial Day, I decided to treat myself to a bit of play in the pond. The top plant is an umbrella plant (darmera peltata) whose leaves will get to be about two feet across. Right now, it is pretty small, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will really grow fast once it gets established. On the bottom is a lysimachia (the tall spikes) and a variegated sedge. All of these plants need consistent moisture and I planted them so that their roots could make their way over the pond liner and to the water.  I am also going to add a perennial geranium that will scramble over the rocks to the bottom grouping.

Native Phlox

This native phlox is a spring bloomer and perfect for gardens with a bit of shade. It is in my hosta garden, adding a nice splash of spring color!