Friday, June 15, 2012

What the HAIL?!?!

Ever since we moved into our new home, our normally arid city has gotten lots of moisture. Of course, I'm very grateful for the rain. It's the STORMS I don't like!!

My poor, newly planted flowerbeds took a BEATING last night!! High winds, torrential downpour, and LOTS of hail sure did a number on everything.

This shot is looking out from the dining room. Can you see all the water rushing down the sidewalk?? Sheesh! All the white that you see is hail!! Mainly pea-sized, but still lot of it!


Shot from outside the scrapbook room. 

 Back porch and yard. Looks like SNOW!
Morning after pix:

This is what is left of the cover for our fire pit. We just got this in December!


All our mulch....down the drain! See that it's covering the last few stones? There are a few plants under all that mess.


My poor little hydrangea! Her leaves are all beaten! I saw flower petals all though the yard and driveway. All the mulch has been washed away.


The bird feeder has been blown over and the poor geranium is barely hanging on.


 Believe me - I spared you all the pictures I could have taken. I've already showed more than ya'll probably want to see! Anyway, I'm thrilled for the moisture - I really am. We've been praying for it and I'm grateful it's hear. I was just looking forward to some beautiful flowers. Guess we'll just see what happens next!

Monday, June 4, 2012

More Landscaping

Yippee!! Another flowerbed almost complete!
On Memorial Day, I dug a 20' x 4' flowerbed under my scrapbook room window. This past weekend, we were able to lay the border and put in a few of the flowers.

I LOVE my flower gardens!! I'm not the greenest thumb around, but I sure enjoy it. I get my love of gardening from my family. My grandparents and my parents (really my Dad -- sorry, Mom! Your thumbs are beautiful, but not necessarily green.)

I think my garden itch has been scratched - at least a little bit - for now. We'll see if I can hold off until Fall......

On the left (in front of the bright yellow hose....) is a Black Knight butterfly bush. Next are 3 bright purple salvia (they form a triangle around the bird bath). Right now, I have a pink geranium at the far right. This fall, we'll plant a Dwarf Alberta Spruce.


Here's a view of the front of our home. Just imagine what it will look like when all these perennials "Leap" in their 3rd year! 


Moving to the backyard....

I purchased these shutters from our local Habitat Resale Center several years ago. I distressed them and then used them in a small room in our last home. This time, I decided to use them to add some height to our back wall.

I planted a Hall's Honeysuckle and am training the vines to run through the shutters. I'm really excited to smell this arrangement!!


Some yummy herbs......mint, chocolate mint, basil, sage, and oregano. I found a plain wooden crate and painted it a bright, cheery blue. I love how it looks!

 A small arrangement on our patio table. Can you believe I purchased this planter from Dollar Tree?? It's a ceramic pot made by Better Homes and Gardens. I bought 2 and I love them!!

This one has a some blue salvia, ivy, and moss rose. It's too new to start blooming -- I hope it does soon.
Unfortunately, I'm losing the "Wildlife Preserve" (or empty lot) across the street from our home. Boo!! No more quail, bobwhite, or meadowlarks. On the other hand, hopefully we will have fewer weeds and the new houses will be well landscaped. Only time will tell.




 Well, goodnight for now. I hope you have all had a chance to play in the dirt - it's good for your soul!