This past week I have been busy adding a lot of new plants to the garden thanks in large part to my mom visiting (She’s been here for 2 weeks and leaves tomorrow–it has flown by! Wish she could stay longer!). She has been great helping me pick out (and purchase) many of them and although I know it’s not an ideal time to start planting, you have to strike while the iron is hot! Although the garden had been looking better, I realized this spring that I really wanted a full flowering garden with butterflies, bees and hummingbirds coming to visit but I also wanted reasonably low maintenance. I love gardening but I knew that realistically with 3 young kids and our dry Mediterranean summers I needed something fairly hearty, independent, and sun-loving: So we went with mostly sages.
To be honest I can’t remember all the different kinds of sage we got (There are so many kinds available! I know what I bought is not the clumping kind but the bush kind) and I chose pink, purple and white flowers. These are interspersed with Penstemon and Nemesia in various shades as well. I also got a ground cover that does well with foot traffic right up next to the path called Pratia Pend but I don’t know if it’s going to make it. It does not seem to like where I planted it. The sad little brown clumps up next to the path would be those…
The pink flowers in the back are penstemon and the little purple, pink and white ones closer in the frame are sage. I have already seen a couple of hummingbirds and many bees and butterflies!
Besides having a very sunny side of the yard, we also have a full shade portion that I filled with more hydrangeas. We found some beautiful Annabelle hydrangeas and I placed them along the house under the diamond windows. This fall I plan to remove the old Camelia stuck there in the middle and turn this area into a little outdoor room surrounded by hydrangeas on one side and boxwood on the other bordering the path. We have some leftover hardscape that will make the table and chairs more usable too.
There is still so much work to be done here but we are definitely making progress. The hydrangeas alone improve the space immensely!
I also mentioned the other day that I planted some limelight hydrangeas under the kitchen windows behind the ferns. Here’s a little shot of them:
They look tiny now but I think next year they will really come in and show up more from behind the ferns. I love all the green right here under my green and white kitchen!
And finally, here’s our summer vegetable garden starting to come in nicely:
In front you can see all the lettuces followed by strawberries.
Then we have little green bean plants, zucchini, tomatoes, and corn. I’ve never grown corn before so we’ll see how it goes…
The hedge behind the veggies goes all around our corner to block all the traffic from what is a pretty busy street. The hedge is called Tea Olive and we love it (the previous owners planted it but it has grown in while we have lived here). I need something to fill in at the base of it in the rest of the yard where there are no raised beds. I was thinking French Lavender but I’m not sure yet…
I really love summer gardening and am so excited about all our new plants. What’s growing in your garden this time of year?
Even with your mom around, I don’t know how you find the time to do all of this! It looks so pretty though! And I’m very, very jealous of your hydrangeas, as you may or may not know!
Camille
Thanks Camille. I definitely cram a lot into Becky’s nap time! You’re welcome to hydrangea cuttings anytime…
Your hydrangeas and ferns look amazing. Mine looks great in the spring. But with 11+ days of 110 degree weather, everything has gone crispy on me. I’ll have to live vicariously thru you until next spring I guess. Although, maybe my hydrangeas will rally. Your yard looks beautiful!
I know that heat wave has taken its toll on so many gardens! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for rain and cooler temps all around. Thanks so much for your kind words–the yard is coming along slowly but surely…
Your garden is so beautiful, Lane. I love your hydrangeas. I bet you enjoy filling your home with cuttings from your yard. So glad you got to spend some time with your mom. Have a wonderful week, my friend! xo
Thanks so much for your sweet comments Brandi! I am enjoying the garden but am anxious for it to grow in. It’s a good lesson in patience! You have a great week too.
Your yard looks so pretty. I’m really unfamiliar with plants that do well on the west coast, but the ones that you’ve chosen look really pretty. And then I saw the hydrangea! they’re beautiful. Both of our neighbors on the one side of us have hydrangea and they always do so well. The one is a really pretty blue and the other is a deep purple. We also have the same ferns that you have and those just grow rampant, don’t they? They were really taking over our one plot so my husband wanted to take them out but they’re resilient little guys. I can’t believe your Mom’s stay is already coming to a close – sounds like you’ve enjoyed your time with her and you’ve gotten a lot accomplished.
Hi Holly–Thanks so much! Yes, I did have a good visit with my mom. The only real downside to living on the west coast is having all our family back in the south. But it does make you appreciate every visit. I’m not sure why some of our hydrangeas have done well this year–last year they didn’t bloom at all! The guy at the nursery said in general hydrangeas like acidic soil so that’s what we used but other than that I think they just took a while to get established. And I can’t take any credit for the pretty white ones–I stuck them in the ground like that! Yes those ferns (are they sword ferns or is that something else?) are very resilient! Hopefully they won’t be a nuisance in a few years. I already fight a daily battle with mint and ivy–I wish I could say I was winning…
I like the variety of plants on the west coast but I really miss all the pretty flowers from back east–I love the spring with bursts of azaleas everywhere you look! Also miss dogwoods and magnolias–you see some but not as many out here. Have a great week!
I am so envious of your Hydrangeas! Love the white ones. I have two huge shrubs in my front yard that never bloom!?! Not sure what I am doing wrong…they are super healthy but have now flowers
We also have a garden box in our backyard…love having fresh veggies all summer.
Don’t give up Laura! Our hydrangeas didn’t bloom at all last year and I have no idea why. This year they are going crazy. I think I added some acidic fertilizer but not sure if that it what did it or not. The white ones just came like that–I can’t take any credit for them! I’m looking forward to summer veggies–our tomatoes are just starting to ripen. Have a nice week!
I absolutely love seeing what is growing in your garden clear on the other side of the country, Lane! Your white hydrangeas are a beautiful variety and that area with your table and chairs is already so charming….it looks like the perfect spot for morning coffee while you watch for butterflies and hummingbirds! Thanks for sharing what’s growing in your pretty patch of the world