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Saturday, May 23, 2020

How Green is My Garden?

It's a good thing I like green because there's plenty of it showing in the garden right now.  There are other colors, too, but today I'm mostly focused on the green.  It's so welcome in the springtime.

Pictured below is one of several Hostas I have planted in pots.  This one is in a large orange pot sitting in the shade of the Purple Smoke Tree.  Not all color comes from blooms.




The hedge is fluffier than usual for this time of year and it takes Rich longer to trim it these days.  I still marvel that he manages to trim this behemoth at all.




Looks like somebody -- me -- needs to trim the barberry.




My favorite azalea spills spectacularly over the garden steps.  I don't trim it as I prefer its natural shape, but I do see a couple of straggling branches I'll snip off after the flowers fade.




LuLu has found a cool, shady spot at the foot of the stairs.




Several different plants are allowed to grow and mingle at will along the steps.




Orange deciduous and deep pink evergreen azaleas.  I saved this slip of pink azalea from the deer.   They ravaged four bushes one winter.




Walking into the backyard --  wind chimes hanging from the maple tree.




 Another Hosta in a pot.




Pictured below is a Rhododendron in the backyard.  It starts out dark pink and fades to this delicate shade.  Blooms are bell shaped.  The white flower spikes below it are a wildflower which is very invasive and some may call it a weed, but I rather like it.




There's that ground cover wildflower/weed again, growing along the backyard path.  I've just recently planted a few annuals and you can see a pot of Impatiens nestled into the ground cover.  I'm looking forward to its summer color.




We're staying home this Memorial Day weekend, which is nothing new because we always stay home on holiday weekends.  Oregon has opened some parks with restrictions -- bathrooms and gathering areas are closed, for instance.  It's going to be a madhouse out there, I think.  We'll let things settle down before we venture out with the motorhome.

This is a weekend for honoring our veterans so let's not forget that, even though most of the usual activities have been curtailed.  The thought is still there and we can all observe in our own way.  Wishing you a good week as we continue to navigate these unusual times.



23 comments:

  1. Beautiful gardens Leslie! I love this time of year when everything starts to grow and bloom. I too love the all the greens. Your azalea is stunning, and your Rhododendron is so pretty, and even the bits of ground cover - luscious greens. Great capture of Lulu in the shade. I have not been out to grab some annuals, but might do that this weekend, still a bit hesitant to go out there. Wishing you a wonderful long weekend, enjoy your gardens. Thanks for sharing these with us today Leslie. Hugs,

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  2. It all looks so beautiful. I like that little white weed that you've got going there. I never had any luck with growing azaleas. Yours are beautiful. Yes, still staying home here too. I'll be happy when the kids will come back over to visit. Hugs, Maggie

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  3. The variegation in that Hosta is so beautiful, especially with the bluish veins, Leslie. I've never heard of a purple smoke tree, and must concede the deep, rich purple is the prettiest I've seen in nature! Hostas do not grow here, so it is a treat seeing photos of them in my friends' gardens. Like you marvel Rich, I do marvel my Jacky as well. While Rich is trimming a behemoth (wow!), Jack has been bending pipes for the dome supports of his "new" greenhouse. So proud of both our guys for keeping active. Does Rich have some sort of "cloth" laid down to catch the pruned pieces? The Barberry is gorgeous, too! The specialty/exotic plants in your garden are just incredible. I love seeing the close-ups. One of my favorite gardening activities, aside from hand watering each pot, is to prune. Sometimes now, I have to ask Jacky to do it, and point where it should be done, because my hands won't hold a pruner all the time. Pruning and weeding are so cathartic and spiritual to me! How incredible your azalea bush is! Ours don't bloom as densely as yours, and they bloom in January-February here. We have a few dwarf azaleas, which used to bloom three times a year before our weather patterns changed. Now it is too hot for the blooms. I am finding certain annuals (which in Florida are perennials) that will bloom throughout the hot summer months. The butterflies and other pollinators are grateful for them. But they are not the "exotics" or beauties found in more northerly gardens. Your green and white hostas looks amazing against the texture of the green fern! In Tampa we always enjoyed our Impatiens, but now we don't have enough quality shade for them. The tree roots are too dense, and the squirrels ravage the blooms. (What a deprived life we have LOL). I hope we won't be sorry, but our area has encroached on Nature way too much the last 20 years. More and more people are developing the land. While we live within a mile or two of a national forest, it's only natural for animals to want to enjoy their normal migration trails. The cross fencing makes it a challenge for these animals - from raccoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, deer, armadillos, black bears - to the non indigenous coyote, cats, wild dogs. One neighbor allows underbrush and thickets to grow in a small area of his property that adjoins ours. A small "herd" or family of deer sleep there several nights a week. They graze our pasture, and sometimes enjoy the vegetable garden. Our deer our not tall like yours. Jacky feeds them corn (it's actually called deer feed). We especially keep water and feed available for them during hunting season, so they have a safe place to go with adequate food. So funny how we used to consider them a nuisance when we had cows. Two years ago, there were two females in the "family". Now there are 5-7 deer visible during the evening hours. We also have a "gopher turtle" living on the premises. They are endangered, and must be 20 years old before they can reproduce. This one must be at least that age by now, and I've seen only one baby turtle here that was about 2 inches long. So cute! They lay so few eggs, it is a marvel that they are still alive. "Our" gopher lives in the front pasture, and is frequently seen grazing. I didn't mean to write a dissertation this morning! Your photos are just so welcoming to my heart, and bring happiness not only to see your beauty, but to marvel at the difference in our weather zones, as to what we can enjoy. Thank you, Leslie! Wishing you a warm Memorial Day week-end. love, de

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  4. wonderful pics Leslie. Makes me smile. Your garden is a pleasure to see. I'm not a loquacious person but I loved the reply from Donna Ellis. Have a great day

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  5. Absolutely gorgeous, Leslie!! What an awesome garden you have. Thanks for sharing and brightening my day.

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  6. That is a piece of Heaven, Leslie, absolutely gorgeous and peaceful, the Azalea is breathtaking, so glad you left it to grow at her leisure, it's a wonderful place to find peace and joy right now that its needed most.
    Thank you for sharing, my dear, and those doggies are loving every minute they spend there too.
    Stay safe and healthy.
    Hugs.
    Maria.

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  7. What a wonderful garden Leslie, your Hostas and Azalea are amazing. You both have such green thumbs, I can see the dogs appreciate your work creating little cool areas of the garden for them.
    Good idea staying home on holidays, if you don't need to mix with big crowds best to stay away.
    Take care Christine.

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  8. Ahhh...I most certainly wish I could be there with you, and a nice cup of iced tea. To have the beauty of those gorgeous gardens, along with Wally, Lulu and your sweetheart Rich, must be pure joy! Take care my friend... Hugs XO

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  9. Envious, a lovely garden Leslie thanks for sharing a glimpse with your lovely photos, Robyn

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  10. Beautiful garden Leslie. Love the Azalea's and hosta's. Also loved the comment from Donna Ellis. Really enjoyed reading that. Here in New Zealand we also have plants that can grow in the North Island but not in the South Island and vice versa. Our South Island is much cooler than the North. It is now the end of Autumn (your fall) and I am planting the last of my bulbs ready for flowering in spring. Enjoy your time in your gorgeous garden. Jeanette, New Zealand.

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  11. Leslie
    You take the most beautiful photos! Thanks for inviting me to visit your wonderful garden - like a fairy garden to me! We do not have those colors yet - but the green is glorious! I always marvel at the green of spring - nothing like it! You also have quite a way with words too! Enjoy reading your posts very much! Hugs and enjoy the rest of this weekend. We are always home too for holidays and our family always comes here to celebrate - but not this year of course:( But we did some video visiting with our daughter and her family out in Minnesota! She hasn't had a visit from her son since March 13th due to this pandemic! XXOO Stay well.

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  12. We moved to AZ from Vancouver WA last year --- I really miss all the beauty of the PNW. Your pictures keep me going. Thanks so much for sharing them.

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  13. Oh how I always enjoy a walk through your garden!! We have a pine tree that grows over our steps that I am always having to trim back so we can still use them, love how yours is overflowing with flowers. I think the Rhododendron has got to be my favorite out of them all, thanks for sharing all the beauty!! We went to a park on Saturday and we kept driving around the lake and came upon this place that was empty, we were so thankful, we sat and had a picnic and then enjoyed the sunset, perfect day out, now we are having Thunderstorms again. Other than that we are staying home too :)

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  14. Beautiful Leslie, you have such a gorgeous home and gardens and I always love, love seeing what is blooming as you are way ahead of us. The colors are so beautiful with the green and of course I love seeing the puppies!! I love seeing all the greenery tumbling down the steps, just like it is leading you to a secret garden!! I can't for the life of me get Rhododendrons or Azaleas to grow, we had beautiful bushes of them when we bough the house a zillion years ago, but we lost all of them. I can't wait to see more!! We stayed home this weekend too, though the hubs wanted to go to the lake house but the gov. opened up the upper part and I told him it was going to me a madhouse on the interstate and from what I heard it was, we are leaving Thursday for a week...very little internet...have a great day today!!

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  15. Stunning! Wow you guys have some green thumbs...everything looks so lush and beautiful!

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  16. You made my day! I've wanted to see your garden for years now. Thx for the beautiful pics...the ferns, that pink bush, those light pink bell flowers, your golden babies and more! Aww...thank you!

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  17. We have been home to our beautiful gardens for a few days. Much to do, but a joy when we are on the lush Oregon Coast:-) I love all your shared photos and as you know...we have all the same plants except...No huge well attended laurel hedge:-) We are so fortunate to be able to self-isolate at our homes. TFS your gorgeous gardens, my friend. Stay safe and creative. Hugs...Nancy

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  18. Rich is doing a fabulous job and what a beautiful garden Leslie and oh gorgeous boys..xx

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  19. Thanks so much for sharing your great pictures! I love the one of Rich trimming with his two helpers watching!! Our azaleas have come and gone. Yours is so beautiful! I love the color. With all the rain, Joe has been mowing a lot. I finally moved some of the house plants outside for the summer as the frost has hopefully gone away. The kids came for their RV over the weekend and gathered in a friends large yard with other campers for a holiday camping event. Nothing is open here yet. I would have loved to go to the beach but we are waiting until the rush is over. Take care!

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  20. Your garden is gorgeous Leslie. It's really beautiful with all that green and so many large colourful azaleas. I bet the upkeep keeps you very busy during the spring / summer / fall, but so worth it. LuLu is so smart to cool off among the lady mantle. :) Really enjoyed seeing your garden. xx

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  21. Gorgeous garden pics love the beautiful hosta and azaleas-we have a purple smoke tree and quite a few of those alchemilla mollis plants they self seed like crazy--you have a really beautiful garden.
    Carol x

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  22. Always beautiful and I do plan to come visit one day. This summer is out of the question with all the craziness. :-( I adore that Lulu has the fur above her ear all crimped looking. Reminds me of a highschool year that was the rage. ha! we went camping memorial day weekend with friends a MUCH needed time away. Keep distance and we all made our own meals instead of sharing like we do. But it was so nice to get away and no internet!!! YEA! Came back relaxed and felt a bit more normal for us all. Hope you get on the road sometime this summer.

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  23. WOW! Your plantings/gardens are so beautiful and inviting! I have several hostas planted around the large locust trees in our picnic area and have to constantly spray for the deer or they will come in and eat them down to nothing. I never thought (or knew) you could put the hostas in pots ... hmmmm my brain is swirling!!
    Thanks for always taking us on the most wonderful walks with nature! God Love Ya!

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