One of our favorite things to do each summer is to attend local garden tours hosted by various horticultural societies.
The inspiration is endless and we always come back to our own yard with renewed plans and enthusiasm! We have actually been toying with the idea of joining one of the societies as they offer a wealth of information by way of guest speakers, master gardeners and years of experience their members have!
I have to admit Tim is the workhorse when it comes to our garden. He is hoping one day in the future we can feature our garden during the tour! Let me just say….we have A LOT of work to do!!
Each year we take steps towards our goal and with such a long winter and such a slow start to spring I am happy to share with you a glimpse of our(finally) growing garden! So, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy some time in my garden!
My peonies finally started to bloom…..in a down pour of rain!
Can’t wait until the Hydrangeas bursts open into a huge blue and pink blooms!
One of a few different varieties of cone flower in our garden!
Our newest Japanese Red Maple
The purple weigela we planted last year is making a big statement!
I saw this lime green grass in a garden on the tour last year. It grows huge and just flows over like a water fall. We have a couple so far, but plan to divide next year to surround a large evergreen in the garden!
Can’t resist bachelor buttons. A classic favorite!
These last few photos are of the first garden we started. It is just inside the gate to our backyard, and just outside our screen porch. Sitting in the porch in the evening and listening to the pond is the perfect end to a busy day!
This fern started from one tubar I got from my friends dad! New visitors to our garden are always surprised when they come through the gate and are greeted by this just inside!
And just opposite you will find the pond!
It is tucked away under boxwood, a dwarf mugo pine and hosta, and when the plants mature and grow over the ponds edge it makes for a really pretty sight!
This is one of 3 different varieties of cone flower in this garden bed that add different color throughout the summer months and even into the early fall!
This is a new shrub we planted in this garden to replace a large area of annuals. It starts out bright green in the spring, and will change to a deep red throughout the summer and into the fall. It will grow out to fill in the space nicely!
This dwarf Japanese red maple is the very first plant to go into this garden. It is now about 20 years old! When we moved into this house, this garden had been full of roses and “mulched” with white stones. It took forever and truck loads of mulch and soil to make it what it is today.
And no garden would be complete without a classic hosta!
I hope you have enjoyed this little tour today! I would love to know how your garden grows! What is your favorite garden flower?
Becca Niederkrom says
Your peonies are absolutely gorgeous!! Well done!
Maureen says
Thanks Becca! I was so annoyed they literally bloomed the day we had a huge rainstorm. Thankfully I was able to cut several to bring inside. I wished they would bloom all year 🙂
Vicky says
Gorgeous! I bet a lot of hard work went into that!
Maureen says
I really used to avoid gardening and let my husband do all the work, but now I have to admit I really enjoy the work it involves!
Cassie @ 3Dinosaurs.com says
Your flowers are so pretty! I love how well it is growing right now.
Maureen says
Thank you Cassie! I hope to post about the garden later in the summer, when it is at it’s best!
Jeanie @Create&Babble says
Wow, Maureen! You are a woman of many talents! I’m pulling weeds around my deck, scratching my head with no idea whatsoever what to plant! I know nothing about gardening. I wish you were my neighbor and could help me! Everything in your gardens is beautiful!
Maureen says
Thanks Jeanie! I am no expert but I am happy how things are coming along 🙂
fishtail cottage says
such pretty photo’s of your gardens…funny that you have coneflower and peonies blooming at the same time…mine are months apart!!! Thank you so much for linking up to this weeks Garden Party over here at Fishtail Cottage’s! oxox
Sue says
Awe jeeze, just love it all. We used to have a Japanese maple and it died, and I was so sad. That lime green grass looks nice and I know just where we could put it! Of course I adore peonies and just enjoyed this whole garden walk very much. You made my day.I have to pin to my boards now too.
Maureen says
Thanks so much Sue! The grass is called Japanese Woodland Grass. I was worried we were going to loose our older red maple this year, but lost just one branch! So glad you enjoyed the garden 🙂
Carolann says
Stunning Maureen! I created a post of my garden too – something about them makes us so proud! Love your pics! Looking forward to an update mid-summer!
karen@somewhatquirky says
Looks like we’re on the same garden schedule. Except my hydrangeas aren’t quite as close to blooming as yours. Love all your coneflowers. I think you may have more garden space than I do. Your garden is lovely.
Maureen says
I remember when coneflowers were only available in purple!! Love the variety now.
Melissa Ringstaff says
Your garden is beautiful! I have a lot of peonies in my yard too. They bloom toward the end of May. They are some of my favorites!
Maureen says
Thank you Melissa!! Normally our peonies bloom by the end of May as well. Things were so far behind this year, but are catching up fast 🙂
Christie Bielss says
LOVE peonies! They are stunning! Your other plantings look beautiful and are a nice variety of colors and textures.
Karen says
Enjoyed your beautiful pictures of your garden! We are a Z4, so quite a bit behind you. I am wondering what that gorgeous lavender flower is in the picture right after your peonies? Also, what is the flower after the yellow grass? It sure has a pretty leaf. Thanks for sharing.
Maureen says
Hi there Karen! The lavender flower is Russian Sage. It is indeed a garden favourite given its colour and long blooming season! The other flower is an Astilbe. This particular one blooms white 🙂