Perfect garden

Matt fixed the trellis where the massive honeysuckle fell down a long time ago. It had taken root where it had fallen and we pulled it up, roots and all. The small roots are exposed and the new growth is looking very sad. We cut it away so severely to get it up. I hope it is just in shock right now. If it dies, I will cut it down and plant a new one. I am very sad about that. 

I pulled some healthy pieces up with good roots and we planted them in a corner where the big tree was cut out. They are looking great!

The roses have all ready bounced back after having the honeysuckle sitting on it for some time. And I see little tips of Japanese Anemones popping through the dirt. I have pruning back the Mock Orange that I had no access to. It will never look like it did before, gardens are always changing. This one had changed massively throughout the years. 

 

  

 

Tiny gardens

I am so fascinated by these moss terrarium! I really want to make just one small one to see if I can do it. I need to look outside and see if I have any moss hanging about. 

 

  

 Live Pacific Northwest Moss. Great for terrariums, vivariums, moss walls, and almost any moist environment.

One could have some fun with this - Live Clean and High quality planted Sheet Moss & Cushion Moss for Terrarium and Gardens *Cultivated Moss* 

 Live Moss Mixture/ Mood Moss/ Cushion Moss/ Small- Large Pieces of Sheet/Cushion Moss/ Moss for Terrarium/ Vivarium/ Moss Garden

Traditional Japanese "Kokedama" – Handmade with Live Sheet Moss 

 

Or I could go in this direction? LOL

I am a sucker for a good written desciption. 

David and I are thinking Katsura might be the tree replacement.

At the peak of its fall change, the katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) is covered in nodding sprays of glowing apricot- and lemon-colored leaves, but what they give off is far and away the prime reason for its fandom. Like certain citrus trees, scooping up a handful of fallen leaves and crushing them in your hands releases a cloud of magnetic fragrance. However, you won’t pick up the pungent, spiced notes of a tropical fruit tree. Instead, you’ll find yourself wondering if you’ve wandered into one of Willy Wonka’s confectionery daydreams. The heart-shaped leaves smell exactly like cotton candy. Or maybe marshmallow fluff. Or caramel, or brown sugar, or vanilla pudding! Whatever this tree smells like to you, it’s seldom that a visitor to the NYBG fails to fall in love with the katsura’s rare talent.

Starting over

It feels like we are starting all over in the backyard. With the tree gone, it is much, much warmer. Once upon a time, we had grapes that went down the side of the yard (privacy from side neighbor). I had honeysuckle that grew up a two stories to Matt's bedroom window. I had planted a beautiful clematis at the gate. The grapes and honeysuckle and clematis met in the middle to form a natural arch at the entrance. I hung tea candles around it during summer nights. 

Then it seem to all fall apart. I think it might have started when mom was sick. 4 years of working and spending time at the hospital and here when she was in hospice. The kids put pools out there creating big dead spots in the grass and mud pools. Sweet Murphy liked to lay down and cool off in my flower garden, virtually destroying them. I came home from work one day to find David had had all the grapes cut down. 

When Matt replaced that side fence, he cut back the enormous clematis and it did not come back. The honeysuckle fell from the house, falling on my Peace rose and the bed of pink Japanese anemones. Mock orange over grew, I could not get to it because of the fallen honeysuckle. I kept pleading with everyone to fix the honeysuckle. So, today! David and Matt installed a new lattice secured with cemented post. David and I had trimmed the honeysuckle so I think we can pull it upright again. I saw my Peace rose had tried to grow though the honeysuckle, so at least is not dead. 

We hired help to weed and de-morning glory and pull up random patch of ivy that had taken over. 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can get back to looking half way decent again before David and I die off. We are looking at what kind of tree we can plant to replace the Liquidambar for privacy that will grow quickly, before David and I have left the earth. ;) 

We need to replace the deck that is falling apart this summer. When Matt built the side fence, he added a trellis to the top so IF and when I get clematis back, it will have something to hang on to. Oh, the two expensive Clematis I purchased in March did not make it. They are so tiny and weak, don't think I will ever order plants via mail catalog again. 

I was thinking about all the plants and flowers that have come and go in the yard. So many. It is maddening to me that my stuff migrates to the neighbors sunny side and flourishes, dies on my side ;) Maybe now with so much more sun, they will stay put. I did replace the Meadow Rue to died with two new ones.

 

 

My other clematis

I miss my peonies

 

 

Snowballs!

It's that time of year again!

Air Bonsai

Owners are affectionate about the upkeep of their bonsai plants. After all, they require a continual source of maintenance in order for them to look their best. However, Hoshinchu has taken their hobby for indoor gardening to the next level by introducing the Air Bonsai project on Kickstarter. This labor of love, which adds another dimension to plant care, has been met with a wealth of support already.

Each Air Bonsai is made up of two separate pieces: a levitating piece called the “little star “and an “energy base.” Both are equipped with like-charged magnets, allowing the plant container to repel upward from the base.

Visit the Air Bonsai’s Kickstarter page for more info and to pledge a donation. (Via Highsnobiety)

Up close

Happy Mother's Day!

My heart went all-a-twitter when I spotted this Italian Heather at my local GFC the other day. Had to buy this one for mom and me for Mother's Day. Now if I can just keep it alive!

Managed to delete about 10 grocery bags of clothes that I have been holding onto for years. Still have lots to go, but this is a good start for now. Getting ready for the kids to move back in a couple of months. Lots of cleaning and cleaning out to do!

And the rain stopped

It has been raining constantly, I forgot how many days. Deep pools of water in the yard. The daffodils were melting. I was afraid the Pasque Flower that wanted to bloom would disintegrate in the rain. (I think I should move it out of the pot). But for this sunny moment, with the warmth pouring in the window ... the rain has stopped. Well, while writing this ... I see clouds forming over the Olympics ... sun still shining in MY backyard.  :0 Oh, BTW, I have been changing up my blog a little. Adding blogs I follow to the sidebar, not quite finished with it all yet.

I found these this morning. I love how this tiny moss can be so interesting in shape and color. Maybe I should consider a moss container garden? A little digging tells me I am shooting Moss sporangia (capsules), I probably blogged that all ready, like a thousand other things I have forgotten that I have mentioned and blogged.  Maybe I have blogged too long.

Proof that the sun came out. 

Mike Urban's glass flowers

Incredible glass flowers designed and constructed using antique glass (vases, cups, saucers) by Mike Urban (very talented friends I knew from Seattle PI). Someone is linking from Facebook to this old link. I forgot how happy these flowers made me. ;) 

I am repeating myself

I know I repeat myself every January. If you don't have Sarcococca confusa (Sweetbox) in your yard ... you must plant some. Every January, in the cold, snow, gray ... this wonderful shrub blooms tiny little flowers ... with a fragrance so heavenly profuse that I can smell them across the yard!

Winter honeysuckle

I didn't know there was such a thing as Winter honeysuckle found on Fennel and Fern blog.

Bush Anemone

I love finding a new plant and today I found this one at my friend's house. Carpenteria californica 'Elizabeth,' commonly called bush anemone, grows slowly to 4 to 6 feet wide with evergreen leaves and yellow-centered, fragrant white flowers. And I must have one!

Meadow Rue

I really love Meadow Rue. There are so many varieties!

Thalictrum delavayi 'Hewitt's Double'

Thalictrum delavayi aka Meadow Rue

Echinacea

I am easily distracted by emails containing images of flowers, which happened this morning when I opened Better Home and Garden's, Garden Notes newsletter. There, screaming at me was a different coneflower I had never seen, a double-pink! Anything that says "double" for the yard -- I want it. Off searching I went - for different varieties of coneflowers! If the sun ever returns to my yard, I might just plant a couple of these!

Echinacea Pink Double Delight, fragrant, double-pink coneflowers butterflies love! White and pink seedlings!

Mary Delany

I discovered this wonderful post at Anthology Mag about Mary Delany and Molly Peacock’s book on Mrs. Delany’s life,'The Paper Garden'. New York Times book review is a must read and an excerpt from 'The Paper Garden'. More delectable collages by Mary Delany at The British Museum.

Here is the best part, she didn't start creating these wonderful pieces of art until she was 72! And that gives me hope.

Garden Design

Gallery of Ferns and Greens Glossary makes my mouth water.

Moss Guide is wonderful! I think we should embrace the moss, maybe replace the grass!

Creating a raised bed.

String Gardens

I had forgotten just how delightful String Gardens are until I saw the link on waltraut today!

Mineo Mizuno

Mineo Mizuno via this wonderful blog, toil drops, nature inspired design. I would love to have a round seat covered with moss dots for my yard! I have small clumps everywhere now. But a more patterned, controlled look would be so nice.