Peachy Pink Rose

One of my rose garden stand-outs.

Blueberry Experiment

We put in a few blueberry plants last weekend in a new gardening area of the yard. They will be a bit of a challenge because blueberries like acidic soil, and our soil is naturally alkaline. We added acidic compost and sulfur to the garden soil, and I'll sprinkle more sulfur in the fall. And we'll have to get to them before the birds do :)

Honeysuckle

An easy-to-grow-vine in our climate: honeysuckle. This is also a kid favorite because you can eat part of the flowers. It does require some aggressive pruning once a year to keep it under control.

Mini Perfection

A mini rose of perfection in the colors of a summer sunset.

Dependable Daylily

A standby in landscaping in our region: the daylily. It can survive on low amounts of water.

Star Petunia

A star-shaped petunia with marked veining in one of the entryway planters.

Painted Lady on a Flower

Snacking on a petunia.

Time to Clean the Gutters?

When tree seedlings are sprouting from the rain gutters...it's probably time to clean them :)

My Little Favorite

A favorite visitor to my yard. I was worried about them because they arrived late this year. This is a pine siskin. A very small finch with a brave disposition. It's easy to get close to them because they're not skittish.

Bird I-D Help?

Who am I? This bird is bigger than a house finch and likes the spilled seed from the feeders. Very skittish and no grouping for feeding. A type of finch? A sparrow? What do you think? That's a significant stripe above the eye...a clue? (scroll down for two more photos of the bird)

Lavender Awakening

This is hidcote lavender, considered a true English lavender. I use these as shrubs that line the front walkway.

Pretty Mini - Ignore the Aphids :)

One of my favorite mini roses...and yes, it's infested with aphids. I've been blasting them off with the hose, but they keep coming back. Time for a systemic treatment.

Poor Little Pumpkin

Finally, one of the pumpkin seeds germinates....and it doesn't look very happy about it. The weather is just too cool. This will be a Cinderella pumpkin when it grows up.

Peachy-Keen Rose

I've always been partial to orange-y peachy roses.

Peony

I've heard some folks call them "pennies." Heavy scent but very droopy without supports.

Yellow Mini Rose

These have been dependable little plants along the walkway on the north side of the house for 8 years now. Tiny roses, but big scent.

Our New Pets

We have decided that Mr. and Mrs. Duck have become our pets. They've been in our yard most of the day for a couple of months, eating what spills from the bird feeders and napping all afternoon. I was doing some garden bed weeding and didn't even see them until I was right beside them and one of them spoke up. I think they're sweet.

Grape Experiment

We purchased two grape vines, and to keep them under control, we're trying container gardening. This is a Swenson variety table grape.

The Corn is Knee-High to a Grasshopper

This may be a record slow-growing garden season for me. We haven't had the consistent warm temperatures yet needed for most food plants to flourish.

Rose Arbor

How nice to walk through the gate into the backyard with the sweet scent of these roses.

Climbing Rose: "Blaze of Glory"

The climbing roses over the front arbor are on their first blooming round. This is a Blaze of Glory rose. Great color, mild scent.

Strawberry Harvest

First big bowl of berries this year. These are everbearing strawberries.

Big Blooming Poppy

One of the giant blooming poppies.

Idaho Potatoes

Potato plants are coming along :)

Oregano

Oregano ready to use.

Purplish Blue Iris

A purplish blue iris. This one smells really sweet.

Dianthus Flowers

We always called them "pinks." This is dianthus, a relative of the carnation.

Chives are Blooming

The garlic chives are in bloom. I'll remove these pretty flowers soon, so they don't go crazy re-seeding the flower bed.