We're in the 50's today, which means my health issues are beginning to flare. I love, love, love warm weather with green leaves, grass and lots of plants!
In December 2017, my landscaper removed all of the large hostas, larger shrubs and evergreens, then added beautiful black dirt and installed new sod. They built a dry creek bed and added raised flower beds to match the house. In late April, my order of mini hostas arrived and I immediately planted them in the first raised bed, along with a yew for height and texture. In May the rest of my order arrived! I began planting red & pink bleeding hearts and hydrangeas in the second; heucheras with an arborvite in the third; moved my mom's peonies (white, pink and burgendy) into the fourth which runs along a side lot line with an arborvite; deep purple iris, bright yellow iris and three red iris in a fifth raised bed with lemon coral (an annual ground cover) also with an arborvite on the other side lot line, and a large spirea (for airy texture).
Everything grew well throughout the summer and (so far this fall). Now, I'm anxious to see how it all survives the winter and is like in 2019. My aim was to regain more lawn and return the joy to my yard. (The lawn is done by a lawn care.)
This is so much easier to clean up than the previous large shrubs and evergreens (a lot of trimming)! It suits my age and health limitations of the future. So pleased with the easy-care required now. Hope winter zooms past and spring returns. This is the first time I've had mini hostas planted in the ground as a forever home. They are so small; I'm worried about them already! How will they survive our below zero temperatures and bitterly cold windchills? Guess time will tell. They certainly didn't like the first hard frost . . . and were gone long before a few other hosta (small & medium) plants needed to be cut back.
Have a clump of Birch which is just beginning to drop leaves this week. The white bark is pretty year-round. Neighbors have the stunning colorful displays of reds. Such a pretty time of year.
Have had potted yellow mums for several years which I overwinter in the garage. Plan to continue to do that again. I planted surprise lilies (aka naked ladies), tulips, daffodils, jonquils and daisys about six weeks ago. Have a potted purple mum that may go into the ground yet this fall. Seems things are always being moved around in a flower bed!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Money screams; wealth whispers.
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