Potting Up and rabbits are getting fat

Bird of Paradise, Torenia and Begonias

Just starting to plant the buckets this year and starting to mix things up a bit. A lot more begonias especially the Angel wing variety with big double flowers as they seem to do well in the back with mixed shade.

we found a new trailer we like, Torenia, blooms in bright purple,  pink or white flowers like a snap dragon and trails down the side of pots. We did find our favorite, Mezoo, trailing red at one off the nurseries but you have to look in the succulent section. Its still a little pricey but it does winter over in the upstairs bathroom quite well.

Rabbits are in full force this year, moving barriers over plants and taking out whole hostas not even leaving the root stock. I have a vole in the front garden too that removed all traces of Asiatic lillies that bloomed so well last year. The critters are eating everything and anything except irises and weeds. Last year the took out nearly all my Moonbeam coreopsis, any Echinacea they can find and any lily that pokes up.

Spring 2016

These lovelies always seem to do their job. Bright pink blooms early in the spring and that cabbage- like foliage is tops.  Bergenia.

A little sad this year after a trip to the Hosta Farm last year and none of the plants returned this spring. In addition I lost all my super large plants to a virus. Nobody showed up this year. Not sure if I can replant there or not. The good news is the neighbors are growing another bumper crop of thistle and seeding my yard. Yay me!. 

Orchid Re bloom

Pond in the late summer

Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth is out of control as usual for the hot weather. I found a  large glass bowl and placed several on the table  as a centerpiece. Been removing a lot of it to the compost heap and it still keeps coming. That is Joe Pye weed arching over the water and it attracts lots of bees and butterflies but its a bit of a nuisance this time of year. When it rains it nearly touches the water.  

Late Summer

Nice basket combo this year, Dragon wing begonia, potato vine and bacopa

Boston Fern...I wish they grew inside this well

Lillies are the order of the day

Bella Lugosi

Nice dark red

Ruffles

peachy orange

The Potting Cabinet

Looking for the perfect piece to use as storage on the covered patio to store all the garden implements that get out of hand we found this cabinet at At Home. Not the nicest piece of furniture but great for this purpose. With a few baskets inside, it keeps all my gloves, pruners and Spray bottles neat and out of sight as well as the fish food and other things. Should stay pretty dry all summer and need a cover in the winter. Probably needs a bit of paint in some green color to make it a little more outdoorsy?