The Yard ~ ! ~ A Work in Progress

May ~~~ 2002

New Island in Front Yard
Gardinia Flower
Gardinia Bushes grown from cuttings

Garden in the circle of the drive
Easter Lilies in Bloom (saved from decorating the Church each year)
Green at last! - Finally able to dig up and plant grass seed in the front yard area where the big pine and gum tree was removed

Hanging Geraniums
Pink Hydranga in the new island
Daliah

Water Fountain in center of island
Leather Leaf Mohoney (a type of Holly)
Pompas Grass, a little sprout 4 years ago

The "Back 40"
New 8x10 Shed
More of the "Back 40"
Magnola Blossom

June ~~~ 2002

Yellow Cana Lily
Another Pink Hydranga
Butterfly Bush

Waiting their turn to be planted
Red Cana Lily
Hybiscus Bush

Yellow Cana Lily planted in a cage
Gardenia opening up, they smell as good as they look
All the new stuff is planted in cages of 1/2 inch wire mesh. I may not have the heart to get traps or kill the moles, voles or what ever critter they are, but I won't feed them either. They are the reason I am having to plant the flower beds AGAIN!

View of the new stuff
We have a bunch of "Bushy Tailed Rats"
The burning bush (brought it with me from Va.)almost gave up, but cut it back and its making a good comeback

Baloon Flower - also from Va.
Roses are planted all along the fence - New Dawn, Lady Banksia and a everblooming Red Climber (name unknown)
Day Lilies planted in a cage in front of the old oil tank. Hopefully the oil tank will go bye bye when the new heating/cooling system is installed
Stuck a red Geranum in a pot and its filled in the whole pot. Pretty when its in full bloom

No Name red rose on the fence

July ~~~ 2002

Looking towards the back of the house with the Kalmia bush outside the family room windows
From the fence looking towards the front
A row of different colored Azalia's are planted 5 ft. apart down the property line from the fence to the sidewalk. I can hardly wait till spring to see them in color. They will fill in and make a beautiful solid wall of color in a couple years.

The back yard is completely fenced in, I plan to continue the Azalia's all around the back yard, like a picture frame
The "Back 40" is now gone,
Eventually that area will be planted with various flowering shrubs, some small fruit trees, a garden bench, bird bath and feeders and some garden statue's.

This is the 4th pile put out from the "Back 40", there were also several smaller piles. The people who pick up the yard waste put it through a chopper and make compose.

The open area of the back yard, first looking towards the house where Tusky has killed off some of the plants in the flower bed. (He seems to like to lay on them when its cool out) The other view is looking towards the Magnolia tree. For some unknown reason the Magnolia tree has never been a heavy bloomer, it does manage to get a few nice flowers on it every year tho.

Looking out the kitchen door at the birdbath with Azalia's on either side and down the drive towards the road. The area is beautiful in spring when all the Azalia's are in bloom as well as the Iris.

Spring of 98 I planted a row of Dusty Miller down the flower beds on both sides of the drive way. This guy was in full bloom a couple weeks ago and was twice the size it is in this picture. It had gotten so large that we were stepping on it when getting out of the car, so I cut it back. Sence this is its 5th summer, I have not had the heart to move it. There are several others that have also lasted this long. I think that is very unusual for Dusty Millers. In the past they have always died off when cold weather came. Dusty will be allowed to remain where he is as long as he is happy there.

Looking at the house and flower bed along drive from the corner of the driveway

The flower bed under the Dogwood trees in the circle of the drive. I hope to eventually continue the Gardina Bushes clear around the edge of the drive and keep them trimed low.

Looking at the house from the other corner of the yard

Front of the House showing the new smaller Wax Myrtle and the Salmon colored Azalia's
On the Left side of the poarch you can see the old Salmon colored Azalia, It was getting very stragely and awful looking. I cut it to the ground and now it is making a wonder full comeback. That bush is the reason the Azalia's across the front are all Salmon colored.

These two pictures show the Sego Palms on either side of the walk near the Front Poarch

A "GREEN" front yard at last.

Froggie that lives in the new Island in the front yard has a friend. He's a friendly little guy, see how he smiled for the camera.

Granny's Rose did not bloom as well this year as it has in the past, I cut it way back and now it's growing like crazy. We are looking forward to lots of beautiful blooms next spring.

Please pray for rain

Minor things remain to be done in the front yard, like prune the Dogwood Trees, square off the new grassie area of the front yard by the house, and get rid of the weeds that insist on growing in the drive.
New fancy doors and storm doors are being put on the house as soon as the factory gets them made. Our luck is such that standard doors would not fit.
A new heating/cooling system is being installed before long, as well as a new roof. Of course the heating/cooling system won't show outside, but it will make those of us who live here a lot happier.
I do plan to add Shutters to the house before winter comes. I think that would dress it up and really make it look sharp. They will probably be white.
On either side of the front poarch are Lady Banksia Roses. We will be putting a trellis up both sides of the poarch for them to be trained to grow on.