After a Good Work Session

Spent this afternoon working in the side garden. There was so much satisfaction in clearing out that side of the yard. And I pruned the roses, and cleared out the debris from the iris. Something that I seldom get accomplished before mid-June. Later, I sat outside and listened to the birds sing and felt the breeze blow gently in the early evening. There is such joy and wonder in working in the soil. I look at the raised perennial bed and see the gaps that I planted this spring and all I can do is hope that they will thrive and survive. And I know that from all this early season work, will come the joy of watching a garden develop and take shape. There is so much more to do.. yet when I look and see where I have gone with the garden that I started with, yes, I have gone far with it.. and hope to bring it even closer to the yard that I envision. With love and peace, Kristi

What a Wonderful Feeling

I have cleared and weeded the side garden and the tulips are still in bloom. Pruned the roses. Lost one and will want to pull that one out. I am so far ahead of other springs.. cool. Planted some perennials in the side garden and the raised backyard bed. Can't wait to see what thrives and comes through the season.

Next plan is to plant the veggie garden and then the new rose bed. Continue to work the rock garden and the sedum bed. I am enjoy the fact that I am caught up as far as I am. But also fear that at some point this summer I will fall behind. I want to work my garden with all the passion and love that I enjoy in working with the soil/soul. I enjoy earth and leisure in the smells and texture of the soil. It is so much more than just digging and planting the ground and making things grow. It is the nurturing and caressing of the soil that makes it wonderful.

May Garden Update

Planted some perennials in the side garden. Butterfly bush, tri-color. Monarda (2). Have a few more to put in. A light green coral bell and a varigated white/green coral bell. I am half done with clearing the side garden. Tomorrow I will work on the side garden some more. Get it cleaned up to the roses, at least. Then plant the veggie garden.

May in Colorado 2010

We have had some great moisture producing days here in Colorado. Somewhat on the cool side, but if that helps bring on the moisuture, I am all for it. I spent some time clearing up the side garden. I have quite a few perennials that made it through the winter. It was so great pulling and digging in the damp, wet soil. The feel and texture is wonderful. I have a couple of plants I want to plant this spring and then add some more in the fall. This is the south side of the Side Garden. There is a black eyed susan plant in the corner. Some bachelor buttons that have self seeded and also some iris I divided and planted the summer before. Love the open "canvas" just waiting to be planted and made beautiful. There is also a small section of lily along the front of the garden.

This is the middle area of the side garden. Still have some clearing out.. Not even sure if I have any perennials in this mess. There are some bachelors buttons that survived the winter months. (self-sowing). Will allow them to go to seed and then pull them.

There are at least four different varieties of coral bells under the snowbush crab. Hard to see them at this stage of growth. Will post more later when they have grown some more.

Some iris coming into bloom. Not sure of the color will have to watch and photograph. Hope they do well as they are kind of in a shady area.

Very corner of the side yard, north end. Russian sage, some iris, And some roses. Still need to clean up and cut back some of the plants. Will take a pic later in the season.

Perennial planted from last fall... cant remember what it is.. will have to check it out.

Tulips growing in among the iris. These may have to be divided this year as the iris are really crowded.

Also want to include photos of the soon to be rock garden and the sedum garden. Hoping this is a great year. love, Kristi

It's The Month of May

I have been spending brief moments in the yard. Cleaning a little here and a little there. Cleaned up the back center front garden area.. this year instead of planting herbs I am going to put in irises. I was browsing through some pictures of iris and realized how beautiful they are. So I plan to put in a few more iris in this area and then plant something for the summer months when the iris are not in bloom. Plan to mostly put in reblooming iris so that I have blooms in the spring and in the fall.

I cleaned out the veggie garden and planted carrots, lettuce, and beets. Tomorrow I will put in peas and radish. Beans and yellow beans also. Then I will put in two more raised beds for the next round of veggies that will be going in. I plan to put in herbs within the veggie garden area so that I can fence them off from Lewis as he tends to lift his leg on the herb plants and there is something disgusting about eating herbs that have dog doo on them.

I cleaned out in front of the veggie garden. I will want to amend the soil in this area and then plant some vines and other plants with an ornament as a focal point.

Enjoyed working out in the yard today.. birds singing and the wonderful smell of lilacs surrounded me while I worked. Weather was perfect. On the cool side, not too hot. Windy at times, but a joy to work outside in the cooler temperatures. Getting a good start on the garden and it is only the first part of May... Loving it.