I think most of you know how passionate I am about the garden, and you may remember an earlier post in which I talked about the garden restoration project I’m dedicated to this summer. We’ve had a lot of construction and hardscaping done recently and it pretty much tore up the existing garden. I kept telling myself it would be better in the end, all things considered – easier to care for, easier to live in. It has a little way to go before it fills in and looks the way I want it to, but it’s coming along. Much remains to be done. I thought I might share a few of the interim photos today. The photos will enlarge quite a bit if you click on them.
This is the south deck off the kitchen. It’s soon to get spruced up with a new finish.
Another view of that same area.
A Butterfly bush near the deck. Very fragrant.
Hydrangea and smoke tree near the driveway.
Lace cap hydrangea and corydalis along a garden path.
I love hydrangeas. They grow well and fast here. Very easy care, and bloom from late Spring well into Fall. A bush will get quite large and showy, so one shrub becomes a significant player in the garden. I added these colors this year. I have one that colors purple with blue centers, too, but it’s not pictured here today.
One last picture with Wally enjoying the landscape. This is a good place to chase a ball into the woods.
Later there will be more flowers blooming in the beds. At this point I’m still mostly working at restoring order, but it once again feels like my favorite place on earth, and the vision is coming into focus.
Thanks for coming by for a visit today. I hope we can get together again soon!
Oh, wow! Your garden is fantastic!!! We have nary a green thumb at my house, so it's just trees and bushes (some do flower) here, that require little maintenance. Wally is a beautiful dog. He looks like he has a lot of personality, too.
Posted by: Cheryl Lea | 07/27/2011 at 01:09 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Glenda | 07/27/2011 at 02:36 AM
Your garden is absolutely magnificant!! What a wonderful
place to relax - its so serne! I once had a golden
retreiver and they are one of the sweetest & loving
breeds - wally is beautiful! Thanks for sharing
all your beauty!!
Posted by: Joanna McDonald | 07/27/2011 at 05:38 AM
Absolutely beautiful, Leslie!! It looks like such a peaceful place. Thanks for sharing. And I love the last photo of Wally - you captured such doggy joy on his face!
Posted by: LaurieJ | 07/27/2011 at 05:53 AM
Oh boy with a garden and deck like that I would be in 7th - no make that 8th heaven. Gorgeous!!
I want another bouganvelia. Yours is fabulous. I think it's time to go looking for one.
Posted by: yogi | 07/27/2011 at 06:20 AM
What a lovely retreat. Wouldn't we all benefit by relaxing there. Thanks for showing us the gargen
Posted by: Marian Bonney | 07/27/2011 at 07:20 AM
Love it! What a pretty place to escape to and everything looks so green and lucious. Everything is wilting and brown here in my part of Missouri. I really dislike July and August here.
Enjoy!! Looks like Wally is.
Posted by: Bev J. | 07/27/2011 at 07:23 AM
You have accomplished so much, Leslie. Your garden is beautiful and I know you and Wally will really enjoy it.Perhaps you would loan him to us aging gardeners? Thanks for the update.
Posted by: Mildred | 07/27/2011 at 07:30 AM
Leslie, your garden is absolutely delightful! It looks like it's right out of Better Homes & Gardens! Really! It's beautiful and with Wally in these pictures, it reminds me a home sweet home. How you must enjoy all this beauty! Heaven on Earth for sure...
Posted by: Bobbi Miller | 07/27/2011 at 08:16 AM
What a beautiful transformation...I love a beautiful garden.
Jan Marie
Posted by: Jan Marie | 07/27/2011 at 09:01 AM
Hi Leslie! Your garden already looks fabulous, even if it's not quite "there" yet. The south deck looks so relaxing and inviting (as Wally's stamp of approval testifies). Many years of enjoyment to come with that. I keep adding more Hydrangeas also. I love them. Our only garden news: Bill finally built a new picnic table, which improved the view a LOT by getting rid of the old rotting picnic table that was here when we moved in twelve years ago. Linda
Posted by: Linda Bullard | 07/27/2011 at 09:09 AM
Leslie, your garden is just beautiful....what a wonderful
retreat! I, too, love hydrangeas and hoped to plant some
this spring, but we had the second wettest spring on
record here in MI, and it just never got done with all of
the other things that needed to be planted as early as
possible. I'll just bet you and Wally have a wonderful
time in your little haven. Enjoy!
Posted by: Sherry in MI | 07/27/2011 at 09:45 AM
I usually stop by to be inspired by your cards but oh, garden pics. What a treat. And what a beautiful yard. I have a small 'city yard' I just planted. It doesn't compare to your 'escape' but it works for me. I have two brown thumbs but things are still alive. lol Thank you for sharing your garden. It's beautiful.
Posted by: Liz | 07/27/2011 at 10:18 AM
So beautiful - what a peaceful place you've created! I seem to go from stamping to gardening, and right now my yard looks blah. What inspiration this is!
Posted by: Chris Franco | 07/27/2011 at 10:58 AM
What a gorgeous garden. Love all the different colors/plants and seeing how much Wally enjoys the garden too.
Posted by: Ida | 07/27/2011 at 11:00 AM
Oh, Leslie....what a beautiful garden....made all the more special because of Wally's presence...ha! When Bonnie (our old black lab) dives into our bushes, she might as well be invisible, especially at dusk, but then she emerges with exactly that same look of doggie joy on her face...lol!
Thank you so much for the sweet comment you left for me...love to see your name pop up!
Posted by: Anne-Marie | 07/27/2011 at 12:05 PM
It looks WONDERFUL!!! My gardens are in such disarray and full of weeds this year. It's been so hot out that I can't work in them so I've given up.
Posted by: SueB | 07/27/2011 at 03:38 PM
Oh my it is just Beautiful, it has such a relaxing feel, must be a wonderful place to go and just be. I get so hot working out in this heat, I can barely keep up with my weeding, but would so love something like this, you've done wonderful work!
Posted by: conniecrafter | 07/27/2011 at 03:53 PM
I do so love seeing your photos Leslie. All the different sorts of plants and shrubs, some that we can get to grow here, like hydrangeas and others that can't be grown here. Aaaawww look at Wally, just the most adorable dog. Hugs to Wally.
Posted by: Leigh | 07/27/2011 at 06:19 PM
What serenity you must feel when in your garden. Absolutely breathtaking beautify that only mother nature can provide right out your door. Wally makes a fabulous mobile lawn ornament!
Posted by: Tammy Hair | 07/28/2011 at 04:33 AM
Oh my goodness, Miss Leslie! Your Garden is Amazing! I'd be as happy as Wally is if I had a Gorgeous Garden to lounge in.. 8-)
Hugs
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon White | 07/28/2011 at 05:13 AM
Oh my gosh, Leslie - what a paradise! Thanks so much for sharing the pictures!
Posted by: Lynette | 07/28/2011 at 05:49 AM
Oh wow! What a gorgeous yard. I could linger there all day & boy does Wally look like he loves it. Thanks for sharing w/such beautiful pictures.
Posted by: Troy Louise | 07/28/2011 at 11:24 AM
Leslie, I'm truly in heaven! Your garden restoration is a sanctuary! It's just beautiful!! Oh how I miss our garden in Virginia. What a delight to share yours through your lovely photographs. And ... look how happy Wally is with everything. It's perfect.
Posted by: Susie Lessard | 07/28/2011 at 09:49 PM
Oh my gosh... Can I move in? What a gorgeous garden, girl! I, too, love hydrangeas; but mine aren't blooming just yet. Thanks so much for sharing the pics of this beautiful sanctuary...made me smile so big! :)
Posted by: Cindy Lawrence | 07/28/2011 at 10:34 PM
Leslie, mind if I come over for a cup of coffee on your deck? I'll bring the baked goods! LOL It's exquisite, your yard. It looks like it belongs in Better Homes and Gardens.
Posted by: Colleen Dietrich | 07/29/2011 at 08:09 AM
Oh My!!! Your garden is just divine!!! Ours never looks that good!!! What a beautiful, relaxing and inspiring place to be!!
Posted by: Kathy Jones | 07/30/2011 at 04:59 AM
Leslie I need your green thumb and weather here at my house, can you come over? ha ha The colors are just beautiful and so fresh feeling. I love that wally is sitting on the back porch. :0)
Posted by: Stacy aka Twinshappy | 07/30/2011 at 11:00 AM
Leslie, I too wish I had a green thumb...here in Colorado I just am trying to keep our flowers alive with the heat!! I miss the Northwest...and your photos just make me miss it even more...but they are so gorgeous!! What a soothing retreat of beauty and respite you have created here!!
Posted by: Traci Major | 07/31/2011 at 12:37 PM
What a beautiful garden! I love your Hydrangeas. Wish I could grow those but I live in the desert Southwest. I am afraid it's rock lawns and desert plants for us here in the 100 degree plus weather.
Posted by: Mary Havlovic | 08/06/2011 at 10:15 PM