May 17 2008
The May Garden
It’s the time of year again when I spend my days in the garden whenever possible. Today was one of those glorious good-for-the-soul-days. Temperatures stayed in the mid-70’s with only the slightest breeze — perfect for spreading compost, planting flowers and just general puttering around enjoying myself.
I do like to share the garden photos because it’s very much a part me but I’m feeling rather hard pressed to show you anything different from last year. Yes, the garden is always changing, not only with each new month, but plants come and go, get rearranged, nibbled away by the deer or broken down to nothing by wrestling racoons. The basic structure, however, remains the same. Still, I never tire of it.
This particular spot has always been a favorite of mine no matter what the month. I’ll hurry along past it to the garden shed, but when I turn to head back up the stairs it gives me pause every time. So this is what it was all about — all that digging out of sod, mixing dirt, hauling rocks, setting bricks, planting flowers. The moment I turn I’m a little overcome by the tranquility I’ve made of my world. I must have had a real need for this to have gone to such lengths. I am a quiet person in a very noisy world.
Just for fun I thought I’d share a “before” picture of this very spot. When we were house shopping 18 years ago we did a drive by of this property after seeing it in a real estate catalog. We could see but a glimpse where the driveway parted the hedge but that, for me, was the beauty of it. The neighborhood was quiet and tidy, the house was the right price. I had to see more. As it turned out, the house was extremely ordinary — sturdy, but with some design shortcomings. Too bad…my head was turned by the possibilities of the landscape.
This photo was taken from the upper level, looking along the edge of the slope, whereas the first picture, the “after” photo, was taken from the lower level. There was a garden shed, sans garden, at the foot of the slope. To approach it you risked tumbling into the blackberry thicket that edged the hillside. If you tumbled through the thicket you’d land in a gully on the other side.
We replaced the garden shed and dug out and terraced the hillside, turning our slippery slope into a garden vision. The blackberries with their wicked thorns are gone, replaced with a flower bed that borders the path to the garden shed. Tons (and I mean that literally) of sod were removed from all over the property as flower beds were added. The sod was used to fill part of the gully and expand our usable ground space.
This green oasis is much more to my liking than the parched and patchy lawn that preceded it and my husband, the lawn guy, is happy to have less work on his hands. It’s more work for me, but then, there’s no place I’d rather be and no pursuit at which I’m happier.
For the folks who’d like to know what the flowers are in the first photo:
The blue is Ajuga, or Carpet Bugle. This variety has burgundy foliage, blooms in Spring and again in August. Very easy care. Takes some foot traffic. I have it mingling with Creeping Jenny which will bloom with yellow flowers later in the summer.
The white is Allium, or Wild Onion. Grows like a weed, very invasive, spreading both from bulb and seed. It will keep you busy trying to maintain control. It’s beautiful but I’m rather sorry I ever planted it and when I’m asked to share starts I refuse. I wouldn’t wish it on my friends.
The deep pink is an evergreen azalea just coming into bloom.
And this is a Periwinkle bloom. It’s not growing in the immediate area of the first photo but I thought it was so cute peeking out from between the rocks. There were surprises and little delights everywhere I turned today.
I’m so glad you could stop by for a little time in the garden. Tomorrow I’ll be out there again but I’ll have some stamping to share tomorrow night. Thank you for indulging me today. Be well and I’ll see you again soon!
Love visiting your garden with you. Always is such a beautiful and peaceful time. Thank you.
Your gardens are truly lovely Leslie. Thanks for sharing them, I wouldn’t tire from their changing beauty ever either.
You should submit this to a garden magazine. Beautiful
What a lovely garden! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m always impressed with before and after photos. I admire the ability to “see” something that isn’t there. You’ve created a gorgeous oasis.
I loved visiting your beautiful garden. And I particularly enjoyed the before and after pictures. Gosh….what a huge amount of work you’ve done! But the payoff is simply stunning! You have many, many talents, my friend.
Just beautiful Leslie! What a peaceful looking place. I enjoyed seeing and hearing about your garden - especially as I didn’t see it last year!
Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your garden, Leslie! I totally understand the peacefulness and awe that you can feel when surrounded by such beauty. Each day I thank God for letting me borrow a little peace of his land to occupy.
Leslie, you know I love your gardens. Thanks for the walk through and for the before and after photos. It’s always a pleasure for me to take this walk with you and I am amazed how you have turned nothing into something so tranquil and beautiful.
OHHH I woul soooo love that. OHHHH I almost paused myself and went into my own little world just looking at your pictures.. As a matter of fact I went yesterday to Home Depot because my oldest son had bought me a flowers from a school plant sale they had. I am not a gardener although I LOVE flowers but I can’t have a garden because we rent our home
so the only flowers I have are already cut and bought.. Anyhoot since my little one saved his money to get me those flowers I said I am going to try to keep them alive.. that was the week before Mother’s day.. and guess what they were blooming and so pretty.. and yesterday I said OH my I think they need a new home and headed to Home Depot and was in awe of all I saw I felt as I was in a mini garden for my picking even my little DD was ohhing and ahhing and she’s only 16th mths! lol needless to say I didn’t only get the pot and extra soil but 3 other little flowers to grow and a window box and came home and have made my own little garden which made me smile when I went to it this AM and saw it looking soo pretty it made me sigh with delight… sorry for the rambling but your garden made me want to share my little inside mini garden! lol
Leslie: Thank you for sharing your garden pictures. The love you have put into your garden is evident in its beauty. It is a common thread that links us here at SCS; we love to create, whether it be stamping, gardening or cooking, etc. We are “givers” of beauty. That’s what I see when I view your garden pictures. Again, thank you for sharing your creativity with us all.
Wendy
I always enjoy the glimpses into your gorgeous garden!! Thank you for sharing its beauty, Leslie!
I love to see pictures of your garden and have been looking forward to seeing this year’s blooms! Thanks for sharing them. Something funny, when I first glanced at the top photo, I had to do a double take. Does Leslie have a monkey? Oh, it’s her cat! LOL! I’ll go clean my glasses, now.
Leslie your garden is lovely. Funny that your alliums are invasive, here in my garden the giant white and purple put on a show that I adore. The smaller ones bloom and barely spread at all. Periwinkle is my arch rival a small piece here or there but it will take over the garden as quickly as the chickweed takes over the gravel drive in early spring. To take what was once an area full of grass and turn it into a sanctuary is something to be proud of. Not everyone can look at a slip of ground and see its future as a lush retreat of earth, rocks and flowers. I enjoyed my visit there through your words and images. It makes me want to work in my own gardens, as soon as the rain stops falling…
Thank you Leslie.
Leslie - Thank you for sharing your garden. I am working on my yard and have been for some time. More in the thinking process than actually planting yet. I have a lot of shade - or partial shade in my backyard. So the grass is sparse and not attractive. I want to make it just one big garden with paths and benches. Just having trouble starting. Is your garden in the shade or full sun? It is lovely and very much what I would like. Thanks again for the photos and descriptions of the flowers. I so appreciate it.
Annette
Thanks for sharing your walk down the garden path–your landscaping is as beautiful as your cards! May is such a delightful garden month with young plants popping up and fewer weeds than later on in the summer.
We’re in the process of re-landscaping our property with some professional help, but my husband is the one who loves to do the caretaking. I get to do the artistic part like choosing plant colors and varieties, picking out shrubs and designing layouts; but he enjoys all the physical labor that goes into it. When people ask me how I got such beautiful landscaping, I tell them I sleep with the gardener!
Thank you so much for sharing your earthly paradise Leslie; it’s truly beautiful.
Marion
UK
Oh what a lovely and inviting garden! A delightful respite. You have green fingers, Leslie and I applaud you for your labor, for its fruit is most rewarding. Thank you for brightening my gloomy weather day!
It is gorgeous and I can see what it would make you stop! It would be a nice area just to sit every and contemplate everything going on. Or just to clear your mind. How awesome to have such a magical spot!
GORGEOUS Leslie! How pretty is that!! I have a blank canvas right now with our new house, I am very inspired to plant now!
Leslie, you have a lovely garden! Your landscaping is so tranquil. Thank you for sharing your day.
Leslie, you have a fabulous spot here. I can feel the tranquility from here. Thank you for sharing your beautiful creation of God’s. Lots of work, but well worth the peace and tranquility.
A wonderful shared story of your beginings with SU! Your card is just lovely! The before and after picture of the garden is fabulous! Nice to live where you can have such lush greenery! I recently went back to Kauai, the garden island, and if you have not been you would love all the flowers and huge green leafed plants. Thanks for sharing, be well, Deb
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful garden. It’s so inspirational
Ooh Leslie, the pic’s are sooo pretty! I think I’ve completed my planting now, seems to be less than years ago-it’s getting more challenging, the older I get. I’ve definitely developed an interest in perennials lately. I’m loving my new butterfly bush. The landscaping you’ve done is just perfect- reminds me of the lovely photo’s I have seen in Southern Living magazine. What a wonderful and peaceful oasis for you! Thanks for sharing with us.
Leslie, it was fun seeing the transformation of your garden and how gorgeous it looks today . . . tons of love and care have gone into it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Such beauty and peace! I really enjoyed the tranquility of your garden and thanks for letting “us” in. I invite you to visit mine.
Mary
http://www.primitiveseasons.blogspot.com
How beautiful was that. TFS.
I love when you share your garden with us! It’s SO beautiful!
Leslie your garden is just beautiful, wish I had one, I would be outside ALL day working in it!!!
Jennifer
I absolutely love visiting your garden Leslie! And I love seeing your kitty enjoying your garden too. Seeing the before photo is really neat too. Wow you are such a talented gardener!! I need to take both stamping AND gardening lessons from you!
GORGEOUS, JUST GORGEOUS! I love flowers too, and anything that breathes! Your plants are beautiful…isn’t Spring glorious??!!
TOTAL ENVY!!! You DEFINITELY own a little piece of heaven!!!
I came here to look at your cards and fell in love with your garden! I’m going to grab my coffee and walk our beds now…this is the tranquility I dream off and I think I’ve let other things crowd out that dream!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful spot.
All beauty and tranquility! Yes, all the effort and sore muscles are worth it when rewarded with such a vision, and the different views you get when approaching from other directions is always a wonderful two-fer bonus. Thank you for sharing the before photo, and some of the details of your gardening journey. As you know, I’m very tuned into all this at the moment, and just beginning to enjoy some of the work we’ve put into our yard and garden this spring. I really want to improve the progression/rotation of seasonal blooms. You never cease to inspire my creativity. Linda