More Sticks

Well I have gotten a little more motivated since my last post. It could be all the cool weather we are having or just boredom but here is a picture of my natural trellis. I am not completly satisfied but it will do for now.


Just have one done right now, still pondering what the other one should look like. Basically like this one or different design but still with sticks? Here is a picture of a stick I found with a 90 degree bend in it. I was thinking I could mount it on top of a couple of other sticks it would look like a roof. It is kind of heavy so I think I would need another one like that to make it sturdy and give it that trellis feel.

Then there are the sides of the patio. I would hate to be having a party and one of the guests would have a little too much to drink and stumble and fall off the side. The way it is right now there are no sides to bump into. Plus having a railing of some kind would act as walls to the patio. Also would make the patio feel like an outdoor room. I have an ideal in my head but I am not sure if I can find the right sticks with the bends in them that I want.

There will be more posts to come on the patio.

The summer blues

This time of year always makes me feel a little blue. It has been this way for the last few years. I have lost the motivation to get out in the garden and do anything. Scott has been a head heading like a mad man the last month and I just come out and sit by the pond. It isn’t the lack of projects. I have a list, it’s not too long but nothing on it seems to motivating me. I guess I just need to make myself start something and see if I can get excited about it.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the garden. Once I get a project started I will post my progress.

Random flower pictures from the last couple of weeks

The yellow angel trumpet is always wonderful in the summer. Myself and another gardener had a discussion about its name. Datura or Brugmansia arborea,which is correct?
Gaylord looking out over his kingdom!
I believe this is Chocolate Ajuga. I am really pleased with it growth over the last couple of years. Especially like the shinny large leaves.
You know it is late July or August when the magic lilies come up.
A different angle of Gaylord. That is sum and substance hosta in the back with the caladiums.

What is blooming this week.

Not sure what most of these are called. I need to do some research and see if I can find the names.

This is the native midwest cone flower
This is the flower from my Lady in Red Hydrangea. It should be a pink flower but Scott changed the ph in the soil and now we have blue.

I bought this Coconut Cone flower last year. I was very surprised that it came back and bloomed like it did last year. Two years ago I bought a double decker cone flower and it has not bloomed the same as when I bought it.

Northland Garden Club Garden Tour

Last weekend was the garden tour fundraiser for the garden club I am in. We had some very nice gardens on the tour and three of them had ponds. It was interesting seeing how others had built their ponds or had someone build the ponds for them. The first pond shown here had some Koi that looked like a foot or longer but the pond was a lot bigger than mine. I guess I will need to add on!?!?

Pond Project

Well the pond is almost done. I need to add more mulch and the sitting area need something to cover the mud. We haven't found something we like that doesn't break the bank.


The rocks to the left of the chairs are for Bonnie to walk to the stream and get a drink. She hasn't jumped in the pond yet for a swim but she loves walking in the stream.

There are two streams the main one and the side stream. This is the side stream and the next picture is the waterfall for the side stream.

This is the main stream and the main waterfall.

What's blooming this week.

Most of these are flowers that have been in the garden for years. I guess they are the tried and true. Most of them I have forgotten or lost the names. For example this Clematis. I call them pretty!
This one is easier. The daylilly on the right is Stella Odella and the shrub on the left is St John's Wort. The funny thing is the St John's Wort was on clearance and had one little branch that was alive. It has made some progress and I saved a plant!
These lilies were in a grab bag at a nursery several years ago. I don't remember what they were called but I don't have to worry about them coming back each year!
This is the butterfly weed. It is a native of the midwest. I still remember seeing it along the road on a trip to southern Missouri and thinking I paid for a plant just like that!
Here is what they called the common sundrop. What do they mean about common. How about reliable stunning yellow sundrop!
And last the balloon flower. Another one of the old reliable flowers. You can't say enough about them!