Before the Heat Wave Sets In

The gardens are looking lush after all the rain we had this spring. With temps in the 90's they will be dry soon enough though. The cistern has a leak and we need to coat the inside again so no running water right now. The ferns are in their glory!

Looks like we will have tons of blueberries this year if we can get to them before the birds do.

The Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are ready to flower.

The pool is open and I need to cut all of the ivy back from the stone walls.

The Clematis have flowered and the Climbing Hydrangeas are ready to bloom.

I removed the two huge Junipers from either side of the door to the garage. Now I can actually see the door!

Hey Teddy, clean the pool. As if! She wants to visit the lower gardens.

Okay....here I come.

I'm hurrying.

There are lots of Lily Pads in the upper pond.

These Irises were not planted here. They were recirculated by the stream. They also were purple when I planted them originally. I don't understand a lot of this.

The dogwoods have blossomed.

As have the Mock Orange. I have these everywhere. They are virtually impossible to get rid of.

That is a Beaut Berry on the right. These are also next to impossible to destroy.

Giant Hostas.

Teddy is on the hunt for bad kitties.

Night Shade (Belladonna) grows wherever it wishes.

Time to trim Katsuras. What a job it will be.

The Irises to the left were never planted there either. The ones on the right are the only ones I planted. But, they were purple??? How did they become yellow. I know these are probably not the original.

There is moss growing on the stone table. Time for a scrub with a little bleach and time to remove some limbs from the surrounding trees to let in some sun.

No garden this year in an attempt to keep the stink bugs at bay. They ruined everything I grew last year anyway. So, I just have herbs and some nasturtiums. Notice the oregano in the lower right corner? That planted itself too. My garden has a funny way of doing that. I have chamomile growing in my garden urns along with violets. They both were planted in between pavers. Where they were first planted, I now have clover growing.

The main part of the stream. Can you imagine that 9 years ago there were old dilapidated apartments on this lot. We excavated them and there was nothing left, not even grass. I had workmen plant the big trees and I planted every other thing you see.

A moss covered stepping stone to cross the stream.

The stepping stone by the upper pond can be tricky to navigate when it is wet. I have headed downstream more than once when I've slipped on it.

This is my sad little garden this year. The mums are growing from last fall and you can see some garlic in the background. There is a bit of lettuce but no stink bug food!