Where is "Waldo" the gargoyle ???? haha

"Dave" our garden gnome tries to keep things in order for me when I'm not there ..it is a tough job ... but some one has to fo it ! haha

The view from here ! There is such satisfaction in having a stairway of GREEN leading to the garden from the deck. Even though some days through the summer I have sighed about the job of watering pots constantly .. who can miss out on the pleasure they bring ?

A Prada sunflower had some how managed to seed itself in my sunflower bed this year .. I'm thinking some kind little bird dropped off that present last year for me to enjoy this year!

Geisha's Fan has been able to hang on through a very dry summer .. I am really pleased with such beautiful colours running through the leaves. It flanks the little collection in my back garden with the help of Silver Scrolls my first love of heucheras.

Mint Frost heucherella .. another viened, light colour that shows off against the black mulch nicely !

Stop Light Heucherella ... hopefully it will make it through the winter and as it matures will bring one heck of a show against the black mulch of the front garden bed .. I have tried to place "wow" colour plants there to really contrast and show off colour.

Marmalade Wave ? .. I would have to check last years plant tags to be absolutely accurate. I wasn't sure if this site would be the best for it .. but I miscalculate that our Crimson King Maple would yield enough shade to satisfy this beauty .. its companion is a little further to the front and because it recieves a bit more sun actually has a different colour pattern .. it is amazing to seeing what even slight enviromental influences have on a plant's colour characteristics !

The red stems are very apparent this year .. perhaps I missed the information that they have to "mature" to produce such a beautiful colour ?

My Japanese Painted ferns are doing very well this year .. the colours in the "leaf" and stems are beautiful if you take the time to really have a good look .. which I did yesterday .. sometimes you can get too caught up in the very showy ? flowering plants and miss out on the quieter ones.

Cobweb "Hens'Chicks" .. last year I wasn't all that taken with them .. but .. I am beginning to appreciate sedums large and small a great deal more. The unusual eye catching appearance has me fascinated this year !

Yes .. "sneezeweed" .. another Autumn ? .. more like mid August bloomer .. but the combination of red and "gold" variety is really a plant to have for Fall colour in the garden .. earwigs have been the bane of my season this year .. but a little dusting has kept this plant going farther .. as for my Toad Lily .. it was eaten to the ground .. something I'm really annoyed at .. but that is the nature of the garden .. good and bad to deal with!

Experimenting with annual climbing vines is paying off .. I usually stuck to my tried and true "sweet pea" .. but after picking up ideas from all sorts of avenues .. ok .. pick-pocketing other garden ideas ? haha
Black Eyed Susan Vine ... now a must for next year in STEREO against the shed doors is a request from the 'fisherman" in the house .. and I agree whole heartedly too !

It looks like a "jungle" from this shot but it is more contained than it appears .. I love a full lush garden and it is finally growing into those "shoes" that I have been working on for it !
The Karley Rose grass has lived up to all and more of my expectations .. I can't imagine a garden without ornamental grasses !

I am very fortunate to have a variety of ornamental grasses that work so well with each other and the "flowering" perennials. The blue of the fescue .. the Hamelin fluffy grass heads and just a touch of a later flowering "Summersweet" shrub .. different aspects of each combine to make an interesting picture.

Joe Pye Weed with the maturing grapes makes a pretty contrast in colour and texture. The "native" plants in the garden have done very well considering our wacky weather. I'm so glad to have a good variety that will carry other plants that don't look as good because they are a bit more sensitive ?

The wonder of stray seeds from last year's portulacus still amazes me ! Having those potted, last year annual, make a second visit inbetween the cracks of the patio bricking, is such a surprise. It goes to show .. never under estimate plants of any kind !

I haven't been able to post much about my garden. This time of the year is stressful for the plants .. we were very lucky to have a weekend of rain though and that has helped a great deal.
I have sunflowers in my garden for two years now .. and it will have to be a staple every year since the Goldfinches love the seeds and we love having them in the garden!

The Karley Rose grass is out growing my Venitian obelisk ... but what a beautiful fountain grass. It really does deserve a "center place" position in the garden so it can be admired. It certainly is by me ! : )

YES ... Strawberry Candy is still blooming and I am still posting pictures of it because it is another one I am smitten by .. sigh ! It is one long bloomer and so worth having in your garden! I would recommend this to a new gardener .. along with Pardon Me .. in a heart beat !

"Pardon Me" daylily .. it is neglected in a poor soil site .. often way too dry .. little nasty bug bother it .. but no matter what ... it blooms it's heart out for me and it is so beautiful ! One of my favorites. : )

Blazing Star just ebginning to flower out against the dark colour of the Purple Sandcherry .. Black Eyed Susans and the meadow rue off to the side. This is another Autumn plant to look forward to!

Spicy oregano .. marigolds .. Tuscan Rosemary in the back .. a spider has been doing one fantastic job keeping the "bad bugs" away from many of my plants .. I have learned to appreciate them a lot !

I have done my herbs in pots this year. This is one of the most fragrant basils I have ever had. I have cut this plant done at least three times now .. giving my friends fresh herbs. It is one amazing plant ! .. I stick with Tuscan Rosemary .. the best out of any I have tried .. very fragrant and wonderful to jar as a dry herb.

Even with out right neglect and inconsistant watering my front garden is hanging in there for me ! .. My watering routine takes over two hours for all of the garden .. so it has to be on an odd day (water restrictions) AND on a day I have enough energy to actually drag myself and the hose around the garden ! haha

Goldilocks Rudbeckia .. I have no idea if I will see this gorgeous flower come back next year. Once again conflicting information tells me it should be treated as an annual "but" other views say it can come back. I guess I will have to wait and see !

Plume Poppy with Frans Hall. I had high hopes of using the Plume Poppy to cover the gas meter .. well .. it does do that .. but for more drama I have a nice tall grass Karl Forester against it as well .. I kept meaning to "pull" the Plume Poppy but it is trying so hard .. I haven't got the heart to pull the plug on it yet.

This was a mystery day lily last year. It was mislabled "Black Eyed Stella" .. when it bloomed I knew it was NOT that ! .. I had to ask an expert for advice on the identity .. Frans Hall .. an older variety but one heck of a striking flower !

Russian sage .. full size .. I also have Little Spire" and butterfly weed .. I was hoping to catch the blue and orange foil but it didn't quite show up . None the less pretty partners !

This one clay pot that I have has been an experiment every year .. last year portulacus that actually seeded in between our patio bricks this year blooming !
This year thyme .. varigated majorum and allysum .. spelling is out the window .. sigh !
I think the picture speaks for itself though ? : )

The False Blue Indigo seed pods are aging .. they are just beginning to turn that black colour they are known for. I'm very interested to see the end results !

Joe Pye Weed ... butterfly and bee magnet ! This one is getting taller and taller each year .. I think the eight feet description is very possible . They are fragrant and can be a nice cut flower . I have tried to place them as a privacy screen against the back fence. It seems to be working !

Yes .... there be GRAPES a plenty in this little space ! .. the large cedar arbor is adorned with beautiful purple grapes and kiwi vines that are trying their best to meet each other from opposite ends of the arbor. They are "hardy" kiwis and fruit will eventually be created by their efforts as well .. or at least I have faith in that description and promise of the plant tags ? haha

Ok .... who could resist getting a shot of one of your best friends in the garden if you have a fruit tree or for that matter flowers .. giving nature a helping hand. This guy was very patient with me while gathering pollen .. I don't want to "jinx" myself by saying I have never been stung by a bee in my garden .. we both respect each other's space ! haha

Hewitts Double Meadow Rue in bloom once again .. I had cut all the flowers off since they were ready to drop seed .. lesson learned on that one ! .. it was almost 7 feet tall ! .. Now after the big trim .. here are new flowers that are quite nice to see.

King of Hearts dicentra ( bleeding heart family) I have come to admire and reconsider how much these lovely plants enhance the garden. So much so .. that I have purchased two more of that one and "Ivory Hearts" to have a show of soft white flowers. They truly do bloom all season and that blue green foliage is fantastic !

Autumn colours in the garden have started. the Helinium aka "sneeze-weed" ? haha .. is a very pretty feature plant .. red and gold is the type I have enjoyed .. a nice mixture against the greenery.

Can you spot the "gargoyle" ?
The "frogs" are hiding from him .. counting to one hundred ! *SMILE*

My stone face figure is smiling because it knows that eventually .. those grapes are going to fall for him ! *SMILE*

I have posted these liliies before .. but they are awesome !

My meditiation Buddah smiles quietly to himself in the shaded corner of the garden. The Bowles Golden grass along with the persistant meadow rue keeps him company.

I wonder if Van Gogh would have enjoyed this sunflower .. would it have inspired him ? *SMILE*

Rosey Returns .. a later summer bloomer in my front garden .. it picks up those pink/burgundy hues in the heucheras as well. A very nice repeat bloomer that you can count on for late summer colour !

The first time I got a whif ? of a buddliea I was floored .. truly ! .. it is the most amazing scent in the world to me .. a mixture of honey and spices .. I have two in the back garden .. and I learned an important lesson .. they take quite a while to "show" they are alive in the Spring .. I dug out "Black Knight" thinking it had curled up it's toes and left the building .... BIG SIGH of regret and lesson LEARNED !

Gravetye Beauty busy blooming .. and a view of my empty rain barrel .. I had such high hopes that this would be a reliable source of water for this side of the garden .. the outside tap is on the other side of the house .. but our weather is dryer and dryer each summer .. I did learn however .. the higher the barrel .. the easier the water flow ! : )

An angle view from my Purple Sandcherry, Joe Pye .. kiwi vine .. grape vine winding it's way around the arbor .. I have lavender and "Little Spire" Russian Sage at the bottom .. even Flathead Sea Holly that refuses to leave when I have treated badly .. I think these plants just LIKE it there ? haha