Monday, August 1, 2016

How Does My Garden Grow? Quite Contrary!

This has been quite the summer!  We had this new deck and pergola
 added this spring and here is what it looks like with all the plants since the last post.

It's been lots of hard work between mulching, adding pea gravel and plantings.  Believe it or not, I still have 18 bags of mulch to put out.  It seems to be never ending, but I'm like Mary, Mary quite contrary....



It would be a lot more fun if the heat and humidity hadn't been so bad.  See Rick's new "Green Egg" grill in the distance?  He's so proud of that and has made some great meals out there!


At first we were afraid we had added too much pea gravel around the deck, but it's growing on me.  I can always add lots of potted plants to fill in.


We took out a lot of large yew bushes that were around the old gazebo and I'm not sorry to see them go because they were always needing to be trimmed.  We are looking for low maintenance plants at our age.


See those bags of mulch on the right?  Want to come help?


I still have my pale green adirandacks and they make a nice conversation area below the pergola.  


A nice and much needed rain arrived this morning and I got a break from watering the potted plants.   I've been working from my laptop at our new table and chairs early in the morning before the heat hits.


Each year I wonder how much longer I'll be able to take care of all these flower beds, but they do bring me so much joy to look out over while enjoying my morning coffee.


The blue hydrangeas were amazing!  They are my favorite.  



Rick added some sweet lights too!  It's so peaceful out here under is manmade stars.

The first person to tell me what that bag of water with a penny in it is for hanging from the light fixture by the door wins my "Chimney Smoke and Cheery Snow Folk" 300 piece puzzle.  I forgot to take it down for the pictures so I've decided to use it as a giveaway game.  

14 comments:

  1. Bag of water to keep flies away, so I'm told @ a Beach Cafe on the beach. Mary Ann L.

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  2. Bag of water to keep flies away, so I'm told @ a Beach Cafe on the beach. Mary Ann L.

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  3. Good to hear from you Mary Ann! Can you email me your address to caholman1@yahoo.com? You're the winner and it's a 500 piece puzzle instead of 300.

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  4. Your deck, pergola and garden look wonderful! Come visit and see my new blog!

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  5. Cathie, Your garden and pergola is just wonderful!!! I hear you about the bags of mulch! Last year I had to put out 42 bags of mulch and I didn't think it was ever going to end!! Rest your back!

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  6. (Good luck with the penny and water. I noticed zero improvement with mine so no longer bother.)

    The garden looks amazing! You folks have done a lot of hard work and it shows. Love the deck and the pergola. Mulching? No thanks. I've got plenty here to do. Ha!

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  7. wonderful garden, I too wonder how much longer I can handle this yard.

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  8. Catherine, where have you run off to? Hope that all is well with you and yours.

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    Replies
    1. Happy New Year, Catherine! Is your deck wearing white these days?

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  9. Oh, my goodness, Catherine. Yes, indeed... you will have a hard time leaving this beautiful, beautiful home. I'm doing much better now in our second "new home" after leaving The Bungalow. I think mostly it is the passage of time. Nothing has the feel of an old home. But, we love our little community and I have LOTS of work still to do on this one (we've been here a year)... keeps me out of trouble. ;) SOOOO good to hear from you. I hope to hear more... might as well jump back into blogging with me. Sending blessings and hugs ~ tanna

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  10. It looks beautiful out there, Catherine! I hope you're enjoying all your hard work. I guess you are since you haven't posted since August lol

    I hope you're doing well, my friend.

    xo,
    rue

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  11. Your garden looks amazing! The penny bag? I run a kitchen for 10 days at our local fair every year. First thing I do is install my fly bags! I think that they work! I have very few flies despite the doors being opened constantly all day long. I have my own stack of mulch bags...but mine are from last year....JWS is bellyaching that they take too much garage space!
    Have a great weekend!

    Cathy

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy! The penny bag works for me! I haven't gotten mine out yet, but I will soon.

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  12. Well, I came over expecting to see the office space you were talking about, but I'm guessing it isn't ready yet?? Anyway, thank you for your sweet words on my "I know better" post, my friend.

    xoxo,
    rue

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Thanks for taking the time to share your sweet comments!