A Gardener With Issues

I was sitting outside this morning admiring my yard. I posted photos of things running through my mind about some of it.

My house has some some very hardy privets across the front. Last night I beat them into some submission since I couldn't even tell if someone had driven up. I hate taking the nice arching branches and making them into boxes. Truth be told, I let them get out of hand by not clipping them much one year and now they can't be brought back to a decent size with even heavy pruning. I decided I would yank them out this winter and start with something smaller next year. Anyone that knows me knows I am not one to cut down anything that is not absolutely necessary.




One of my favorite plantings is cannas. Talk about an easy big gorgeous plant! Very showy and is useful for screening purposes. I have them everywhere in my yard- shading the a/c, screening some of my patio, screening out some of the other houses. I'm into screening....

I'd like to get some other varieties but these produce so well I don't need anymore. But then again, need and want are two different things, right?



Ahhh, sedums! Next to cannas, another easy plant and so textural.. Nice show in the fall as well.

Notice the salvaged disk blade retrofitted for the garden? Courtesy of my brother.






This beautiful Black Lace whatever the name is resides nicely this year under my redbud and beside my holly. Tucked in there is a butterfly weed that really needs to be moved to more sun. My grandmother's daylillies probably need more sun as well. This little bed is sort of my hospital and screening bed for the house next door. It has the best soil in the whole yard.




I love the way these gooseneck loosestrife blooms look like they are undulating. Not really a very pretty plant without them and pretty invasive. This is luckily a perfect planting area for "invasive".






A plain old rose bush, whatever kind it is, came from my great aunt's and great grandmother's home place. It actually came from a start from my parents house that came from the original bush. It looks amazing due to the extra moisture this Spring (sorry, you thirsty gardeners). Again, another wise choice for this area (I hate chain link but better than nothing) and for screening.


My hops, getting impatient for me to get the shed painted so it can take over. I keep having to remove the vines from scrambling up the fencing.






This white pine was given to E when she was in 3rd grade as part of Missouri Arbor Day in conjunction with the Department of Conservation. All 3rd graders get a tree of some kind each year- cool, huh? I planted this when we moved in in '03. It's doing pretty well.






This is one of the seedlings I bought from the Dpt. of Conservation this year. It had a lot of catching up to so. Once again, I planted this in the same line of shrubs the other pine is in to- anyone? anyone? screen out the neighbors.



This is my patio side of the hospital bed. Note the white pines planted too close together? I left them both in there a couple of summers ago when they were bestowed upon me as extras from a golf course planting. Now it's a bit late to remove one. I also planted my baby evergreens in there until I can get them planted into drier soil.



One of my favs- fragrant Mock Orange. Not really a showy shrub but the bloom's fragrance makes up for it.









It's only a matter of a few days before this baby is bursting with blooms for the butterflies. What an easy shrub.










That's not all but since this has taken me an hour to upload photos and get my copy written, I'm done for today. My stinking computer is running slow as tar. I figure it needs some attention from the local guy.

Cheers!