There's No Place Like Home...

Not too long ago, I posted about some changes happening in our lives. It has taken some time to settle, but we finally know everything. We thought job changes might send us out of state, but instead, we get to stay put!

Now I don't mind an adventure now and then, but home is truly best. We've been here in Ohio now long enough to put down roots. We like Columbus, we've made many good friends, and I've gotten involved in many activities. I became a master gardener, I belong to the garden club and a book club, plus I sing in several different music groups. It was sure going to be difficult to start over again with all of that going on. 

Our family doesn't live in the area, but they are close enough to visit often. And we do love our home and garden here. You garden lovers know how it is. You really do put your blood, sweat and tears into the place, right? 

I had already mentally prepared myself to go. It was frightening, but exciting too. I had already looked at real estate, scouted out a new church, even checked to see if my favorite stores and restaurants were nearby. In this way, I had hoped to make the transition a little easier. 

Still, I was pretty sad to think of moving far away. And thank goodness, I don't have to think about that again for awhile! 

Watching spring arrive here has been bittersweet this year, with thoughts of having to leave. Each new bulb popping up might have been the last time I saw them. So I snapped lots of pictures! 

One of the most frustrating parts was the uncertainty. There were so many things to put on hold till we knew for sure. For instance, I really did want to go ahead and place my annual seed order. But I didn't dare waste money on seeds that I might never use. It even became the signal for good news. If hubby got the final word to stay, he said that he would message me to "Buy seeds!". As you can see, I did just that. 

No sooner did the job situation resolve itself, than we ran out to buy seeds, put pansies in the window boxes, and ordered several yards of dirt to fill up the veggie garden. Now the old place is starting to feel like home again! 

And I didn't even have to click my heels together to get back here. 

Stay Away Jack Frost

Our first frost is threatening tonight. Say it isn't so! Now I know it's that time of year, but I'm always in denial right about now. I tell myself that the frost will magically pass me by. But eventually it arrives, and that's the end of my garden season till next year. 

Endless Summer hydrangea with begonias

Dinner plate dahlia

Birdbath jumble

Got what I needed, thanks! 

There hasn't been much new to look at in my garden for awhile. It seems like every day I'm taking more photos of the same zinnias, snapdragons, and dahlias. But they continue to delight me, so why not? 

Raspberry Lemonade mix zinnias 

Queen Red Lime zinnias

Tequila Lime zinnias

Digiplexis Berry Canary with Tall Ribbon Mix snapdragons

Cafe au Lait dahlia

Dahlias and sunshine

I've found that autumn light is extra favorable to garden photography. The low angle of the sun makes the light softer. I can hardly wait till the sun begins to set, so that I can run out and get more photos of my grasses glowing. 

Morning Light miscanthus

Lone Queen Red Lime zinnia with Karly Rose pennisetum

Karly Rose pennisetum 

Karly Rose with verbena bonariensis

A few butterflies still pass through, which always delights me. Every monarch that comes through is photographed if possible, while sending them off with good wishes towards Mexico. 

The roses have been revived by the cooler air. They tend to survive a few light frosts because the blooms are up above the ground. One year I had roses in early December, what a treat! 

Sunny Knockout rose, the fragrant knockout

Funny Face rose

Chinatown rose

For reasons that I don't quite recall, we are having a late start with our fall color change. There's still a lot of green out there for mid October. After this frosty weekend ahead, we should really start to see some color out there. If you didn't look too closely, my garden looks almost summery. Almost. 

Queen Red Lime zinnias with Sedum Autumn Joy

Amsonia hubrichtii starting to turn gold

Last year, I did a trial for Proven Winners, which was a lot of fun. The annuals are long gone, of course, but the perennials live on. This is Cinnamon Curls heuchera, and while it's pretty, it hasn't grown any bigger than when I first planted it a year and a half ago. Maybe next year it will put out some growth or flowers? Sure looks nice here in the tapestry of the other foliage nearby. 

PW Cinnamon Curls heuchera

This PW is Sugar Shack buttonbush. It looks like the leaves will be putting on a show. But those same leaves are popular with leaf cutters of some kind, and I'm not sure how to fight that. If it's going to look like this all summer, what good is it? It gave me one "button" flower this year, but the plant itself has grown by leaps and bounds. I'm sure I'll see more blooms next year. The verdict remains out. 

PW Buttonbush Sugar Shack

PW Little Quickfire hydrangea is a real beauty. Last year it had two flower heads, this year there are many more. I love the way the flowers start out white, then fade to pink and then dark pink. I've dried a few blooms for the winter, but didn't want to leave the whole thing bare by cutting anymore. I'm hoping that it will have so many flowers next year that it can spare a few more for me. 

PW Little Quickfire hydrangea in July

PW Little Quickfire hydrangea in August

PW Little Quickfire hydrangea in October

I was honored to find out that I took home honorable mention in Gardening Gone Wild's recent End of Summer photo contest! Do you think I should tell them that I didn't even use an SLR for this shot? 

Let's all cross our fingers that frost stays away from my garden for a little longer, shall we? I just need a few more flowers to get me through winter. 

Perky pansy pot

Queen Red Lime zinnias with extra pink coloring

Queen Red Lime zinnias with extra muted coloring

Zinnias, verbena, sedum, gazing ball jumble

Rieger begonias

May Bursts Into Bloom!

Of all the months of the year in the garden, May is the most vibrant. Every day, new flowers burst into bloom. I can barely keep up. If I miss even one day of garden inspection, I might not see that one special bloom.

It's not just that all the perennials pop up in May, but other garden excitement is going on too. Well, I suppose the word "excitement" would only apply to garden nuts who get all worked up about flowers blooming. May means starting the vegetable garden, filling up the containers and window boxes, putting out my water garden full of fish, planting flower seeds, filling in the empty spaces left by winter, and the myriad tasks that need to be done.

 To say it's a busy time of year would be an understatement. In addition to all of the garden chores, there are graduations, first communions, concerts, recitals, and so many other activities. It can get a bit stressful.

 Luckily, the garden chores are actually relaxing to me. Yes, it can be physically taxing. But isn't it worth it?

I must admit that I'm not fond of the garden hose rodeo that I have to perform every day once the plants and seeds go in. It only takes a couple of weeks of daily watering till the plants "grab hold", and then I can ease off dragging that crazy hose around my yard. I've tried purchasing a lighter hose, and it does help a bit. But I still have to keep it from smashing all the plants, wrestle it around corners, wind the thing up and down, try to keep from it getting caught on something, hoping it doesn't kink, you name it! Is it any wonder that I pray for rain?

Despite the stresses involved, May is a beloved month to me, as it is to many gardeners here in the north. I do have a birthday in May, that makes it extra special! But mostly, it's about the flowers. I've waited all winter for them to show up, and I plan to enjoy each and every one.

If you need me, I'll be out wrestling with the hose. Again. And loving every minute of it. May only comes once a year, and I don't want to miss it.