Midwest Gardening: What's Blooming-End of May 2020

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Pond is cleaned and the fishing is good...! 

We dumped four bags of sand and a bag of rocks into it, since I am no longer able to kneel and clean out the bottom of the pond. So we raised the bottom, which is now reachable for me, well mostly. 

Pond maintenance is an issue, I'm hoping the frogs will move back in even though it is shallow.

To the right the Viburnum is bursting! Best kind of snowballs for Chicagoland. I have Nasturtiums from seed in the planter in front

This tree is about 25 years old. Last year I cleaned out all the dead wood and opened up the center area---and more blooms than ever.

Around the pond, are Iris, two Lime Barberry. 

they are gorgeous this year...

I can't stop taking photos of them...

Sunshine in ruffles....

Planted pots...I forget the name of the purple plant, something new for us with Zinnias and a red geranium.

I still have two Peppermint to plant---a bee deterrent for our 'people spots, designated for the front  porch.

Our focal pot at the base of the stairs, lots of plants in here, Wave Petunia, Hibiscus, 2 kinds of Sweet Potato Vine and some seeded flowers.

Lots of green right now under our Maple tree, the copper colored plant lower left is a Carmel Coral Bells. The green in front is a Creeping Sedum transplanted the last two years from other areas in the yard. Hostas were grown from starts 10 for $5.99 last year, except for the super large one.

I'm amazed at how large these variegated Hosta got in one year.

My mosaic bowling ball---from post here:Garden Mosaics Class

Here the Iris are more purple than blue.

and yellow! 

The super large Hosta on the right we purchased several years ago, and it gets humungous. 

A planter with Liatris from bulbs, a Wave Petunia, Burgundy Cordyline and a Rust Coleus. all these plants will be very large and will be moved into the center of this bed, when we get the old bush branches out!

Backyard

Not much is blooming yet in the backyard. I do choose a lot of variegated plants for interest in shady spots with a few Impatiens and more Lime Coral Bells.

Along the fence the Hollyhocks are going crazy and our Giant Hostas. I have some squash and Sunflowers in here also, and other seeded flowers.

The front walk is just getting started, with yellow, red, purple flowers and  lime green  and purple Sweet Potato Vines. I haven't found any reasonable viney plants for the trellises yet.

The new shelf on the front of the garage which replaced an old bench, is still not finished. I need some other interesting things. This spot gets lots of sun and heat.

And the mail box is planted: Wave Petunias, Vinca transplants, Salvia, and yellow Marigolds. 

What's Blooming in your Neck of the Woods?

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Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo

Gardening in Chicagoland: June 2017

Front Yard: June 2017

We had two days last week to sneak out and catch sunlight--between storms.

The few days we have been able to work has been spent in the backyard 

reconstruction, planting pots, and basic clean up. 

Our season is way behind 

this year in Chicagoland from weather and specifically temperatures going from frost

 to 90's to cold to constant wet.

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The Creeping Sedum along our beams softens their edges and are blooming like crazy.

The white pole was a squirrel protection for a feeder, that has deteriorated, another REDO project.

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Creeping Sedum. I bought a flat of 12 plants maybe 6 years ago. 

I dig up and divide every year to edge the beams in the yard. 

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Scattered around are pots and planters, which are between lush from rain, 

or anemic from the lack of sun. 

My Geranium on there right, is not happy. A transplanting maybe in the works for it.

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Early morning light is always the most interesting for photographs.

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This was a Caladium I bought fully grown. My Caladium  bulbs froze when I planted them in early May, even in the greenhouse.

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I have three planters along the garage walkway--I added some new items along with the potato vine which does wonderful here. Note all the debris--from our storms.

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This green and white crawler---is some sort of succulent. I have lost the label. 

I will buy them again, it has tripled in size in two weeks

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I think this OLD chair takes Shabby to a new sad level. Another Redo on the horizon.

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And this poor OLD bench will bite the dust at the end of the summer. Particularly, the salt from winter---which we must put on this corner has eaten the legs. 

The bench has been hung on the wall, I have some OLD porch posts to REDO here. 

Meanwhile, color greets you at the front of the garage.

 Clean-up  has been hard to keep up with---with back to back storms.

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This clematis and frozen, it's early growth stopped in its tracks, but its coming back now.

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Along with the rain, we are now dealing with an excess of bugs everywhere. We use as many 

safe and organic products as possible. Soap water works the best on the pots.

We live in a lake community---where everything ends up in our lake, so it's a GREEN thing to do.

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I don't know if everything this pot will make it, but love the crazy giant frond things, 

I've used potato fine, bluebonnets, 12" Marigolds.  

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My pots are in various states of blossoming. Too much rain fills all the saucers, I finally removed them until the pots dry out. Dianthus, purple petunias and golden baby tears.

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 Golden baby tears, petunias, impatience and Coleus in this pot.

My pots should be lovely in a month. 

The front arbor is lush---

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The front arbor is lush---Climbing roses are crazy with blooms. This is after I clipped blooms off.

---for this is a 50% shade spot.

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Early in the morning, it's full sun here. Lilies and Tiger lilies are the next bloom. 

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Under the maple tree on the front walk, my Tea Roses from Mother's day last year.

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A giant variegated Hosta---All the Hostas are HUGE this year. 

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Under the maple tree are planters, Coral Bells, Tea Roses, a Mum, and Hostas. 

The hanging pot is new Impatiens I haven't seen before, almost a ruffle. We are sticking to 

peachy/orange tones. I use purple, red and limes as a loose color scheme.

The OLD urn is one that I bought last Fall in a thrift store for $3.00. I love it here. 

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Under the front windows of the house, 

The ornamental grasses have morphed and are out of control. 

I have Astilbe, Iris, Giant (red) Sedum and Marigolds in here. 

All my other perennials have froze out, sadly.

The bird houses are all in need of freshening. 

This area needs a major GREEN REDO.

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I want to make the mosaic ball the focus, some serious digging maybe required.

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On the porch we have four long planters with flowers/herbs/and lettuce mixed together. 

I'll share more once we get the gutters cleaned and the porch presentable. Sigh!

Well, I have to go spray for bugs and pull more weeds, and chop more overgrowth. 

OH, and DUMP saucers full of water, 

BLUB, BLUB, BLUB, from wet Chicagoland. 

Happy Gardening!

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

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