Although my renovations on the house have been spotty the last few years, I have been doggedly working on the gardens around the acre of property. My lot is very long and narrow, with businesses on all four sides of my property. Therefore, building gardens that provide privacy are a must. I am elated at the progress of my gardens! Here are some photos of my prides and joys.
My favorite flower is the lovely Stargazer lily. I have a dozen of them. When my living room windows worked (that is, when they used to open– they are too warped to open now), their fragrance filled the entire house with their intoxicating scent. Ahhhh. I cut a few and brought them inside yesterday. Heavenly.
Here’s a bloom from my Nikko Blue Hydrangeas.
I could use some advice from any hydrangea experts– my shrubs don’t bloom very much anymore. I only got two on one shrub, and three on another (all blooms are at the bottom of the plant, as well). In the past, I tried pruning it all the way down. No blooms next year. OK, so the next year, I left everything. No blooms this year. I fertilize with coffee, which gives the blooms a nice blue color, otherwise they are a dusky pink due to the lime in the soil. Anyone have any advice for getting these things to bloom as they ought?
This one I call my secret garden. I am very proud of it’s progress.
I have lilacs on one side and Rose of Sharon on the other. Eventually, the shrubs will grow taller than the arbor, and shield us from the parking lot next door. That’s why I call it my secret garden– all the plants will overshadow this narrow section of the yard. We are still working on the pathway, lol.
July 15, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Lovely garden, don’t keep this a secret! What a great addition to a beautifully renovated home, it’s like a spill over of your creativity. Keep posting photos of your garden, I love it – thanks!
July 15, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Thank you so much for your incredibly encouraging words, MamaFlo! Honestly, I’ve been so tempted to sell the house but I’d hate to leave my beautiful gardens.
July 15, 2008 at 2:00 pm
coffee and eggs shells are excellent fertilizers, I compost all of mine. But if I had a garden I would use it differently.
July 15, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Your flowers are beautiful. The whole garden is beautiful even if it is a work in progress. I know my wife would love it if we could do something special like that. I’m glad you posted it.
July 16, 2008 at 8:15 am
Your gardens are so beautiful, the lily my goodness its so pretty and what a great pic of it, the pic brings it right to life.
July 16, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Your pictures make me miss upstate New York even more than usual. I love the green and the “real” trees. Here in Los Angeles, there’s more concrete than green and too many palm trees, which I hate.
Karen