Random garden pictures...

...because we're oh, so proud.


This is my brand new Butterfly Gaura, a native North American wildflower. It's a little odd looking - kind of weedy and grassy - but these gorgeous little butterfly shaped flowers perched along the tall stems are a sweetly redeeming feature.



Look, look, LOOK at my pretty little Buttercup! These grew wild along the roadside at my Grandparent's Muskoka cottage and I was beyond thrilled to find them at Sweetgrass Gardens. I clutched my little pot of Buttercups for dear life, even after the owner tried to persuade me to get something bigger and showier for the wet patch at the back of our yard. They bring back sweet memories and make me smile. There's nothing I'd rather have in my garden.



My Mom and Dad had to take down a nearly 40-year old maple tree in their yard. It was splitting and in danger of falling on the house behind them. They're not altogether that fond of the people behind them, but they were still reluctant to allow a dangerous tree to lean precariously into their yard.

So, because I'm nostalgic and My Beloved is becoming a "found yard treasures" pack rat, three sections of the tree have found their way into our backyard. The stump in the foreground is a little stool in the middle of our vegetable patch, a smaller piece is toppled over against the back fence in a spot that is going to eventually be filled, in part, with native plants (aiding in our attempt to make it look wild and unplanned), and the third, if you look closely, is now a table tucked in between our two Muskoka chairs.

It was My Beloved's idea. Because he's clever like that.



And finally, this is a Flower-of-Jove that I planted last year. It was called "Peggy", so I had to buy it in memory of a dear family friend (of the same name) who passed away last year. As a new perennial it didn't bloom at all - it barely even grew - but this year it has grown to twice its size and is now covered in this pretty little trumpet-shaped pink blooms. I think Peggy would be pleased.



And that's how my garden grows. At least for now.

Instead of thinking...

I could talk about the nightmares I've been having the last few days, or the anxiety attacks I've been having for the last few weeks, or how afraid I am that this might be the last time I'll ever be pregnant, or how much I'm dreading the surgery, or how scared I am of what happens next - but instead I think I'll just post some pictures from my garden.

Since I found out I was pregnant on July 11th, I've sorely neglected my poor angel garden. It got tangled and overgrown, and fell victim to Japanese beetles and bunny rabbits.

Yesterday I went to a peaceful little nursery out in the country and came home with a box full of lilies and phlox. This morning, before it rained, I spent an hour and a half weeding, pruning and culling the bedraggled plants that just needed to go.

And in their place:







There are two lilies and a phlox not yet in bloom that didn't have their pictures taken. They're quietly waiting for their respective close-ups. The promise of blooms in the coming days and a garden that has had order restored is very soothing right now. Digging in the dirt I managed to find a few precious moments of peace.

And if I try hard enough, I can almost pretend this was just a normal day.

From the garden...

It's mid July and things are finally happening in the garden. For instance, my hollyhock is getting eaten by baby bunnies who are annoyingly tiny enough to sneak in through the slats in the fence, and my roses are being carefully and thoroughly devoured by a troop of hungry Japanese Beetles.

But aside from the carnage, things are good.

See for yourself...

This is the beautiful blue balloon flower I planted for Sherry's sweet little Ryan in my angel garden. It has easily doubled in size, and for some reason it's much bluer than it was last year. I absolutely adore it.



And here's the Carpathian Bellflower I planted in memory of another friend's two little angel Buttons. I planted it beside Ryan's balloon flower, as you can see below...





Finally, there's one of Rosepetal's marigolds, the bleeding heart from my mom and dad's garden and the white "David" phlox in memory of the David my mom was going to marry when she was 23. He was killed in a car accident less than a year before their wedding. (This isn't the greatest picture, but at least they all managed to fit into it...)



And that's how my garden is growing these days.

Flowers to end the week...

This is a shot of the angel garden and Thomas' tree from the end of May (so everything in the garden is smaller than it is now - and the Little Duckling Clematis vines hadn't even been purchased yet) but there, you can see the new arbor.



I can't remember what this is (it's written down in my garden log) but oh, isn't it gorgeous?



My beautiful Angel Face! It's doing SO well, save for an annoying little infestation of aphids. But so far I'm winning the war...



Angel Face bud. So purdy!!

No whining or ranting (I promise) - just a few pictures

The vegetable garden, newly planted (you can just see the two rows of very, very tiny beet seedlings if you look reaaaaally closely...). I added a sage plant tonight and will fill up the remaining spaces with herbs, I think...



The Angel Garden, complete with its brand new arbor! I planted two "Little Duckling" Clematis vines on either side of it this evening, but from what I understand they can take a few years to really take hold. Good thing the arbor is purdy all on its own (if I do say so myself!).

Thomas' tree is off in the background.



And finally, what picture show is complete without a big fat cat ass?