Making Vine Wreaths

Mostly Ivy, formed slightly square.

A tree limb fell from a dying tree during a wind storm earlier this year and brought down a large amount of ivy with it.  I thought I would take it and add some to it to weave a moderate wreath.  As it turns out, there was more than enough to make the wreath and with a little left over, I went about the house finding more vine needing to be cut away from hedges and shrubs, and made a secon one of mostly grapevine.  Then as I pulled back the vines that have overrun their bounds, of vinca and ivy and something hardy that my mother gave me, I discovered the short lengths made very good plate size wreaths.  It's fairly quick to do, and very easy, so I shall try to keep abreast of it throughout the summer and fall, and use the vine to constuct as many as I have leisurely hours to make.

Grapevine

To have them dry quickly, I could put them in the attic, but I am enjoying seeing them in the garden and they do add a bit of dressing to the wood pile.   I will like it very much when there are quite a few more.

Baskets in the Trees

Jimmy loves Hanging Baskets in our Dogwood trees.  When the blooms die away they will become the feature.  They seem to do well there, because they are shaded from the harshest sun but get plenty of light.  I did find that we needed to move the fern to the tree furthest from the morning sun, because the exposute to open wind was less and it didn't dry out as fast:

The wire hanging basket is an old one I had.  Over the years I have collected several, and was determined to use them this year.  Finding the coconut liners to fit was a bit difficult.  There were plenty of small ones, so I had to buy two.  I hope it lasts several years because they were expensive.  I put a mix of sun loving flowers in it, hoping that in time they will spill over the sides.

Purchased preplanted and taking a chance on the weather...

The basket in the forground is an Angel Wing Begonia in various colors.  They are my favorite Begonias,  especially the dark leaved, double varieties.  They can be repropogated and are versatile.  It is a difficult to overwater them,  and they will survive in sun or shade.  Filtered light helps the blooms last longer.  These have had blooms that get over 3 inches wide!

Sunloving versus shade lover

We hung this very large basket which I repainted by a strong chain from a tree in the bird garden.  These are sun loving plants.  The one above is full of shade lovers and hangs under the deck stairs.

A Garden Called Gethsemane: The Garden

A Garden Called Gethsemane: The Garden: Actually the correct color of these Iris,


Fuscia ~ Dancing colors


Peony in front of Aunt Birdie's Old House, Burnsville, ...

Spring Color

Everything popped early this year.  The Pear trees didn't even last a couple of days.  The blooms were smaller too. So glad for the pictures last year.  But the Dogwoods had more blooms than ever! This week following rain, the blossoms are falling, and they are covering everything.  But I will gladly clean them up to have been able to enjoy thier mass of color. Didn't get many blooms dried.  I am a little disappointed with that, and no close-ups in pics, but they were a lovely back drop to my landscape shots.  Jimmy hung hanging baskets in them.  They are just remarkable, with colorful baskets hanging from them. There is one very large Boston Fern, too.  Perfect place for it! And the Azaleas!  What ever will I do for color when they are gone?

 We found some fencing sections to support the Spiderwart, and my Lilacs have quite a few blooms this year for the first time.  The Nandina from Mom's will make a wonderful backdrop, and I believe the Lily of the Valley have finally taken hold. I miss her sitting in her rocker on the porch this year.  The Hostas are ready to transplant, so I moved a few to fill in spaces today.  Completely filled the spaces. The Tiny Tears ground cover did well close to the house, but was over powered by early weeds that I didn't get out of the bed in time.  But it is recovering.  Might not be enough sun to bloom well though.  I found the Trillium in the Ivy and Vinca, and opened out some space for it.  But the stem is already spindley. I bought a support pole but the sun was able to get to it, because of the limb that was broken from the tree in the wind.  I hope it will make it anyway.  Cleaned the Peony beds finally, and took a little Shamrock from the mailbox bed to scatter between the Peonies.  Lots of buds on the Peony plants.  I found an excellent trellis for the Clematis at the mailbox.  It has been a few years since it had something to climb on.  I put in mulch on one half of the bird garden.  Pulling grass plugs to use in Heather's yard, and weeding before I put the mulch layer down.  On the hill around the tree, I am getting some Toe Tickler varieties started.  I am really loving how hardy they are.  The Hyacinths on the deck are just about spent, but we found a large healthy pink Lily to take thier place.  I am so proud to be feeling more like tackling all of this again.  Each day we get a little more done. My yard is certainly looking so much better for the effort, too. I'll add picts to the pages as I am able.  Lot's of beautiful close ups I can hardly wait to share. Happy Gardening!