MOTHER'S GARDEN

The one good thing about being at the ancestral home is it gives me an outlet to play around in the garden. Being in my flat I only have a greenery. The time at my mother's gives me just enough fun to play around in, then walk away and tend to it when home. I never got my fathers knack of gardening to the extent he had. After his death, the garden went down hill fast, and many things are now gone. My mother had her lawn guys gut almost all of the back gardens, and many shrubs removed else where around the house.  But I like to think, over the last 5-6 years, we have brought it back to some sort of life, at least to the point to stop him rolling in his box. The Mother just hopes that things will come back year after year, and in some cases they do. The one Iris bed was insane this year! Unfortunately they aren't the best cutting flowers, as they last but two days in a vase. The mother likes roses and loves them but it stops there. I featured those over those weekend. The planting of annuals is taking place now.. in one flower bed... and will be mostly hanging and a potted garden, and window boxes...but rain curtained much of the planting the last two days. Russian sage arrives next week Here is a glimpse of the back yard in the last two weeks.

A Weigela shrub in full bloom. 

This, and the below philadelphus coronarius, which has a heavenly sweet orange scent, are among some of the oldest  remaining things my father planted, along with some rhododendron, azalea and hydrangea bushes. 

This is the fuchsia I got my mother for Mother's Day, and Im happy to report so far so good. My mother doesn't historically do well with fuchsias. But this one so far is loaded with buds. This was last week,  and this week, it is blooming like crazy, with many new buds already. Keeping finger crossed. I just hope we have the luck that dear Jon and Madame Arcati have.

Russian sage...soon to get more friends.

Front of the house Iris's

Two back floral bed brimming forth beautifully. The last two years the Allium did lousy. We got about five nice balls this year.

And of course, these two were of no help.

Not only lazing about, soaking in the sun , but lounging where annuals will be planted. A whole yard of lush green, soft grass, and they have to lay in the prickly tan bark.