I have to tell you, this time of year – early June – is maybe the most spectacular on the property. It’s not that the garden beds are full of flowers, they’re not. No, it’s because wild phlox and fleabane and yarrow and, most of all, the wild roses are blooming everywhere.
I had nothing to do with any of it. It’s all nature’s handiwork.
This year, especially, the wild roses are outdoing themselves. Lots of rain, though a pain in the tush, does have its plusses. The lushness of all the wildflowers is one of them. When I decided to do something with the area behind the kitchen, a little valley that had been ignored by us for years, it started to have a purpose.
First, I added some stepping stones up to the back forty – that was about 4 or 5 years ago. When Don was out in La Jolla a few years ago, I started hauling cinder blocks that had been stashed in the woods by a previous owner to the secret garden. One by one, because they’re heavy! I simply wanted to start to define what was an overgrown area, to separate and stop the wild growth from sneaking onto the grass. When I ran out of cinder blocks, I bought some pavers to bring control to another part of the garden. I cleared a path to the crabapple tree that had been previously been hidden from view. When Don came back home later in the summer, he added pavers to make a path from the opening just outside the kitchen door to the soon-to-be-installed propane tank, allowing easier access to our propane guys. And, they looked pretty, giving further definition to what was becoming a specific green space.
Then, last year, I found the four large, vintage pots – two from England, two from France. I planted them with coleus and vines and little white flowers, set them on the cinder blocks, and suddenly there was my low-cost version of a balustrade topped by decorative pots. They made a huge difference.
Then came the addition of some vintage garden furniture.
That’s it.
The rest I can’t take credit for. I’m always thankful for that little space, but never as much as I am right now, with wild roses blooming everywhere, little pops of Dame’s Rocket (wild phlox,) and fleabane scattered here and there.
Yesterday, I grabbed the weed whacker and cleaned up the path to the back lawn and nailed a lot of poison ivy and weeds. Don mowed.
It looks so darned pretty back there!
I’m hoping some of the other peonies start to open today. One of the buds is just about there. And then, we’ll look forward to thousands of fragrant white blooms on the catalpa. This progression is so familiar to us now, after having lived here for nearly 14 years.
Grateful.
Happy Saturday.
i know you’re grateful for and enjoy what you have. hope you pat yourselves on the backs for your hard work tending all those beautiful and wild plants … and don’t overdo that work in the heat and humidity that will arrive soon! :)
happy weekend!
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy!
It is beautiful! Our weekend looks to be sunny and not a moment too soon—I was just on the verge of pulling my hair out. Another day of rain and gray skies would have put me over the edge! Happy weekend to you and all of us.
Enjoy this beautiful weather, Shanna!
Enjoy your secret garden this weekend. Along with Mother Nature’s help…it is a special place indeed! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
The cinder block balustrade looks great! I may have to try that up north at the cottage if I can manage to move the blocks!
They’re darned heavy, Jeanie!
Dear Claudia, Your discovered spot is lovely. Like you, I have gardened
(re-gardened) with plants and artifacts left by previous residents, adding more as I go. Building on the past, adding to the history of the place. Leslie
Yes. I think it should include the history of the place. Thanks, Leslie!
The area looks so pretty and inviting! No change in the weather here. Today it’s 11C/52F and still raining . I just want to be outside pottering around my garden.
Even the long range forecast is no better, it’s going to be like this for the next two weeks!
Happy Weekend
Been there! This is truly the first time we’ve had more than two days in a row of nice weather. Fear not, however, we’re getting rain on Monday!
I know you enjoy your gardens and it’s so pretty this time of year. It is raining cats and dogs here today (tried to catch a cat but it got away)…silly me. :)
We’re getting rain on Monday. So I’m really determined to enjoy this nice weather!
Claudia, you and Don have done a wonderful job making your outdoor space as much of a haven as your indoor space. I live in a planned community, and there are lots of rules about how the outside of the house can look like, permission has to be requested for almost everything, including the type of plants that one can put in. I’ve managed to create a garden I enjoy in the front and back yards. The biggest complaint I have, other than the Italian stone pines that the homeowners association planted on the other side of my fence, is that I can’t have a vegetable garden or fruit trees in my front yard. This week will hit the 90’s! I’m upping the irrigation.
I know that I couldn’t deal with those rules! More power to you for doing your best, Wendy.
Such an enticing creation. (you’ve done your part too) And, i can imagine the fragrance!
Pretty lovely fragrance, Grace!
Wonderful! You’ve made your home & yard so comfy. Isn’t is wonderful that we can truly enjoy the little things in life that make us so happy?!! That’s how I feel about our home & yard. We’ve done it all ourselves over the past 21+ yrs & it’s just so lovely to us (and the neighbors…so they tell us!!) Our little part of OB!!
Love that little town!
and i’m so grateful that you share it beautifully with us! thank you. xo
You’re most welcome!
Hi Claudia,
I sent you an email yesterday and wonder if it ended up in your spam folder. Please let me know if you find it.
Thanks!
Cara
I’ll check it this weekend. I only use that email address for this blog, so I only check it a couple of times a week. Thanks, Cara!
Love the lushness of that area. Everything here is so green and pretty and WET!!
Have a great weekend.
Judy
Such a pretty time of year, Judy. xo
Our daughter was out today for about 6 hours. When she arrived, we remarked that the peonies were finally looking as if they might open, and when she left, they WERE!! All in the course of a few hours! It is a lovely time of year. We have had several beautiful days in a row, but some rain tomorrow. I will take it if we can have 4 days in a row of sunshine!! Next week is to be cooler, but in the low 70’s which I think is almost perfect!! Finally!
Hope you had a lovely day. Enjoy your day tomorrow with the sun, too!!
Yes, we have rain coming on Monday, but like you, I’m okay with it. Thanks, Chris!
You have a lovely place! I consider my little garden to be my little slice of heaven on earth. No place I would rather be. I’m glad you are getting some better weather to finally be able to get out and enjoy your little slice of heaven on earth.
Same here. The best place to be. Enjoy your garden, Dottie!