orioles & plant list~

It's so nice to be seeing some of our summer birds return:)

The northern or baltimore orioles are back (across 40 acres and through the woods over at Mom's house) :

image from the internet

Mom also spotted the orchard oriole :

image from the internet

So far, I personally haven't had the opportunity to see them up close at my place; but it's nice to know they are in the vicinity again.

I love watching and feeding the birds.  Every morning ~ my daily routine always begins with me sitting out on my deck just watching and listening to them while I have my morning coffee.  Isn't that a nice way to start one's day?  I think so:)

I bought another perennial for the flower bed yesterday ~ a columbine

Some day ...

When I'm long gone ...

All these perennial flowers will be at their peak ... multiplying and spreading their beauty ~  I hope that whoever sees them in all their glory ~ thinks of me:)

Oh I don't plan on dying anytime soon; but I just hope that all my efforts in making my flower beds for my own enjoyment are as appreciated from others with the understanding of how much love, sweat and tears went into making them.  Gardening is a LOT of work!

When we built our house in 1998 my yard was a blank canvas ... not really blank though.  We cleared a spot in the woods.  We had to cut down trees, dig up roots, remove dirt, haul in dirt, deal with soil erosion, put in flower beds, etc... and all of this has taken a lot of time.

I'm a dreamer.

I look at magazines and visit flower gardens and nurseries and I want that look.  You know what I'm talking about ~ that look of lush green plants with no bugs on them, all nicely manicured lawns and flowers ...

... then I have to come back to reality and deal with what I have to work with.

AND

Come to terms that all these "dream gardens" didn't happen over night ~ many of these "dream gardens" are old established gardens that have been pruned and pampered for years before they become that "dream" oasis that I'm striving for.

BUT

I will continue.  Adding a few new plants each year.  Pampering the ones I have.  Enjoying what is before me at the moment.  Yes, I am working on my oasis ~ my own back yard.  It's getting there; but just like building a new home ... it will never be completed.  I will always be making improvements.

I'm also a list maker.  So far this is what I've planted over the years in my yard: (photos are in no particular order to the plants listed)

trees and shrubs

10 apple of different variety  (9 survived)
1 cherry  (long gone but IS going to be replaced ... some day)
2 black walnut, started from seed (1 survived)
arborvitae
viburnum
coteneaster
redtwig dogwood
red barberry
hydrangea
bridals wreath
service berry

bamboo
mountain ash
white lilac
purple lilac
blue rug juniper

perennial flowers
stella d'oro daylily

yellow daylily
burgundy lily
pink peony
burgundy peony
white peony
stargazer lily

tiger lily
bearded iris of various colors
roses of various variety
hostas of various variety (my fave being sum & substance)
white astilbe
pink astilbe
purple astilbe
bleeding hearts
cinnamon fern
maidenhair fern
wood fern
bluebells
johnny jump ups

pansy
moonbeam coreopsis
purple coneflower
blue festuca

purple phlox
miniature blue iris
lily of the valley
golden sedum
joy of autumn sedum
a few more sedums I can't remember their name??
camomille
mint

hollyhocks
snow on the mountain (not a fan of this ~ too invasive)
sneezeweed
queen of the prairie
butter and cream snapdragon
carnation
orange poppy
pink poppy
buttercups

goats beard
chives
asparagus
queen ann's lace
lupines
missouri primrose

turtles head
jacob's ladder
and a bunch more!!! that I can't think of right now

Any hoooooooooooo..... may they all grow and flourish and be enjoyed for years!!

Until next time...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel