Gorgeous Iris

The lovely yellow iris that I posted about a few days ago also had some maroon blooms in the clump. These blooms weren't quite as frilly as the yellow blooms.  I think it must of been two varieties of iris mixed together into one clump.  There is a bit of a yellowish tint to the bottoms of the petals.  The colours certainly compliment each other.

This is a new addition to the garden this year. This iris grew in the garden where I worked last year and I was lucky enough to get some shoots when it had to be divided and moved.  I've been watching it grow all spring and was thrilled to see so many buds on it.  The plant certainly didn't pout about being moved at the beginning of last summer.  I think I'm addicted to creating mosaics or collages of my photos using the Picasa program.  I also do some in my Photoshop program.Mosaic Monday was created by The Little Red House. You are encouraged to create and share a mosaic/collage of some photos. Why don't you stop by and see what some other participants have created. Then try creating a mosaic photo of your own and join in the fun.  You just might get addicted too!
Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

The Old Ladder Planter

This is an old wooden ladder that is no longer safe to climb on. Turning it into a planter adds vertical interest in the garden.  This is how the ladder looked a few years ago.  But finally the first set of pots that were screwed onto the rungs have cracked and had to be removed.

I wanted to somehow put the pots on the ladder without fastening them down so that I could move them around from time to time.  So it was time to get my brain working and the "old and improved wooden ladder" project was created.

I've been mentioning my idea to my husband for awhile now and on the long weekend he got some wood (from another project), his drill and long screws (in case I change my mind again) and his trusty level and he created me some bigger shelves.

Now I can display more than one pot per rung and also add some other pieces of garden whimsy.  And the best part is I can change it around whenever I feel like doing a little re-decorating.

You can see some previous pictures of the ladder planter on my website.

 Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Beautiful Yellow Iris

For Friday's flower I'm flaunting my beautiful yellow iris.

This is a new addition to the garden this year. This iris grew in the garden where I worked last year and I was lucky enough to get some shoots when it had to be divided and moved.  I've been watching it grow all spring and just waiting for the buds to appear and then open.  This is a plant that gives double pleasure because not only does the clump have yellow blooms it also had maroon blooms.  I'll be sharing them in a future post.

Take a peek and see who else is fertilizing and flaunting those flowers on Fridays.  Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Re'find' Old Tools

Old Garden Tools! Every gardener has some, and if you are like me you hate to throw them away.  I bet you also wonder how could so many garden forks get broken? We had to do some repair work to the foundation to stop some leaking and the place where I used to store the old tools had to be dismantled.  Well 2 of the 3 part trellis had to come down so the tools had to be moved as well.  For a couple of weeks they sat in a pile on the deck ... looking very sad!

On the weekend I had the brilliant idea to put them all on the fence that hides the composters.  So now this area is truly a garden recycling area.  The composters recycle the kitchen scraps into dirt. The garden flag is on the handle of an old shovel.  The old shovels and forks are hanging on the fence looking very re'find'.

In the middle is a rusty flower that my husband made me several years ago from an old candy time.

An old rake head became a hanging spot for small garden tools.

At the front of the garden is an old rusty well hand pump.  It looks like it is pumping water into a bucket of hens and chicks.

It looks like rust is the new colour! Now all the old tools can still be part of the garden and they add a little whimsy.  And I've got a great view of them from the kitchen window. Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

2sDay Rabbits

It's 2sDay. We have had 2 cute bunnies hopping around the back garden lately and I managed to capture both of them in the same photo.

I know some people don't like rabbits in their garden as they do a lot of damage.  We live out in the country with lots of open fields behind us so it is hard to keep them away from the backyard.  We have lots of grass and wild plants for them to nibble on so we don't mind them.  And they are lots of fun to watch.

So for today's 2sDay photo I'm sharing 2 pictures with 2 bunnies in each one.

 Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Hosta, Hosta, What is Your Name?

Hostas ... a favourite shade loving plant that can be seen in many gardens. My hostas finally got replanted this past weekend after the basement renovation work.  They did really well in their temporary pot homes.  I only lost 1 plant out of the 5 I dug up. Most gardeners refer to them as hostas, but they all have specific names, which unfortunately I do not know.  There are some great sites online for identification but there are so many varieties to go through I find it impossible to find the ones I have. So for my Monday Mystery post, I'm hoping that some of you will be able to give me the species name for these hostas.  The first 3 were gifted to me from another gardener's garden several years ago.  I tend to refer to them by colour.

This is the green leaf with the white edges.

Then there is the white leaf with the green edges.

Then there is the all green leaf.

This is one I actually do know the name of because I just bought it last year.  This is the Bressingham Blue hosta and according to the plant tag the blue-green leaves can get as huge as 38 cm. (15 inches).  It produces white flowers in summer.
 So put your thinking caps on, check your plant lables, and help me with the identification of my hostas.  Edit: almost 2 pm. Thanks to those that have given me some names to look up.  I'll be checking the Hosta Library and a couple of other good sites I have. And on the plus side, the hosta that I mentioned I had lost is still going.  I was about to dump the pot of soil and low and behold I spotted about 4 shoots of hosta poking through.  It has been carefully transplanted into the garden and hopefully in week or so I'll have another hosta to post for identification.  Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Seeking the Shade

Yipee for long weekends!  Yipee, even louder, when the weather on the long weekend is gorgeous.  In fact it is so gorgeous we are seeking shade to sit in to keep cool. A lot of people go away on this weekend, and we used to do that years ago.  But now we avoid the highways on long weekends and just relax around the house.  That is if you call garden work relaxing!

The temperatures are pushing 30 Celsius with the humidex readings.  The shade of the big trees and bushes is most welcome.

The grass has been cut and some plants have been put into the ground. The shade of the trees creates the perfect spot to sit back and admire the garden.  You can even see the shadow of the dead tree at the very edge of the garden.  We hesitate to cut it down as the branches hold several bird feeders and we have the perfect view of all the birds that stop there for a rest and a snack.

Harriet  is hosting Shadow Shot Sunday.  Be sure to stop by and join in the fun.  Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Gorgeous Sunset

Last Monday evening we had the most gorgeous sunset, so of course I couldn't resist taking several photos.

The weather has been wonderful this week with temperatures reaching the mid 20's Celsius.  The upcoming weekend is a long weekend in my part of Canada and it is the unofficial start to summer.  It is also the weekend when most gardeners plant out their annuals and veggie plants and seeds.
  Fingers crossed this gorgeous weather continues all weekend long.
If you love sky photos as much as I do be sure to check out the other participants in Sky Watch Friday.  Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Honey, You've Done It Again

The honeysuckle that is.

The bushes have burst into bloom once again. Each year it seems the bushes are loaded with more and more blooms. Soon they will have lots of berries to entice the birds in for a snack.

The colours of the flowers range from white, to almost pink, to pink to dark pink.

I love the garden at this time of the year when the 'scent'sational smells are everywhere.Beside the honeysuckle, there is the lilac and the lily of the valley.It is aroma therapy to walk around each area and inhale the various scents.Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Is There One or Two?

On one of our favourite walks down by the bay I captured the great blue heron sitting on a rock.  It is probably waiting patiently for an unsuspecting fish to swim by.

It really looks like there are 2 herons as I also captured the full reflection of it in the water.

I'm always ready with my camera as you never know when that photo opportunity will arise and I can capture it ...

 Harriet  is hosting Shadow Shot Sunday.  Be sure to stop by and join in the fun.   Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Blooms in May

It's the middle of the month of May and it's time to flaunt what is blooming in our gardens.

I still have lots of tulips in blooms, perhaps because they are in a north facing garden.  The bleeding heart is doing really well, considering it had to be moved just as it was starting to poke through the ground.  I've also got a slip of white bleeding heart which is doing really well, so I'm crossing my fingers for white blooms next year. The poppies are just beginning to open their buds.  And the lily of the valley has wonderful scented blooms.  This stuff is so hardy, it survived being dug during the renovations, and when the soil was put back it started to grow.The ground cover plants of ajuga and ground phlox are in full bloom.  The pot of pansies is getting more and more flowers on it.  Stop by May Dreams Garden for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day to see what other gardens have blooming in May.
Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Foggy Friday

After a lot of much needed rain Thursday evening, the Friday skies are very foggy.

There is no gorgeous sunrise to view, no blue sky or after rain clouds.

The hydro towers aren't even that visible this morning.

 But the weather channel says it is all going to clear away (doesn't it always) and some nice warm weather is heading into our area.  That will be perfect for the weekend.

If you love sky photos as much as I do be sure to check out the other participants in Sky Watch Friday.

Just an edit to say that the fog disappeared later in the morning, and the sun came out, and even with a bit of wind the temperature rose to +20 Celsius

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

When-sday Memories of Rhubarb Cake

When-sday Memories is a series to showcase some of my previous  posts. When were they previously posted ...  way back when.
Today the When-sday memory was originally posted about a year ago, when I made my rhubarb cake.  It is almost time to make this recipe again. This is a delicious cake made with fresh rhubarb from my garden and the rhubarb is at its prime right now.You need a white cake mix, miniature marshmallows, a box of strawberry jello, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and of course some freshly picked rhubarb.

Mix white cake mix according to directions and set aside.

Topping for cake - ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ tsp. cinnamon

Grease 9x12 cake pan, layer the following:
4 cups of rhubarb, chopped
¾ cup white sugar
4 cups mini white marshmallows
1 small box strawberry jello
cake mix
cake topping

Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Let me know if you try out the recipe.

 Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Wishing and Hoe-ping

It's 2sDay and I'm wishing and hoe-ping that the weeds I've been digging out won't be replaced by others.  Here is a photo of 2 of my hoes for 2sDay.

The 2 hoes have been busy working in the garden attacking the weeds.  Along with the garden fork they have been working the damp soil after some much needed rain to get out those long roots.

The wheelbarrow is full.  But will it be the last barrow full of weeds?

I can only hoe-p so!  But I have a sneaky feeling it won't be.

Are you wishing and hoe-ping for a weed free garden?  I'm sure it is every gardener's dream.

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

'Scent'sational Sunday

I has been quite 'scent'sational around the garden lately as the lilacs are in bloom.

We have lots of wild lilacs in mauve and white that line the side of the house by the garage.  It is wonderful to walk on the path under the lilacs and inhale the scent.  Yesterday a friend stopped by for a visit and she ended up taking home a large bouquet of lilacs.

I hope you can imagine the 'scent'sation.


The Quiet Country House invites you to take a Sunday stroll around your garden too.

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

The Swallows Have Returned

A week or so ago my husband spotted the swallows checking out this birdhouse.  I didn't see them for well over a week.  But last weekend I was able to capture a photo of one of them sitting on the perch and one as they were peeking out the hole.

This bluebird birdhouse has been up on an old tree trunk for several years and you can see the bottom of it now has its own ventilation.  It has never had bluebirds nest in it but we've had a variety of birds in this house, including sparrows, a woodpecker who used it one winter to be close to the peanut feeder, and the swallows.  I'm never really certain if they are barn swallows or purple martins.  Perhaps I'll get some better and closer photos of the birds this year and be able to give a more positive identification. Why don't you stop by for a visit to Cheep Rooms and maybe be tempted to join in sharing photos of birdhouses.  Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you can take a moment to leave a comment and say hi.

Two Rainbows for 2sDay

It's 2sDay and I'm sharing a photo of a double rainbow that was seen from our garden last night.

At the time of this rainbow we weren't having any rain but the dark clouds were just a bit to the south of us.  They benefited from the rain and we benefited from the double rainbow.

 Thanks for taking time to visit today. I hope you have time to leave a comment and say hi.

May Tulips

Even though we didn't get the April showers we are still getting the May flowers. My Monday mosaic is a collection of the tulips that are in bloom right now. There is a lovely variety of colours this year.  Mosaic Monday was created by The Little Red House. You are encouraged to create and share a mosaic/collage of some photos. Why don't you stop by and see what some other participants have created. Then try creating a mosaic photo of your own and join in the fun.   Thanks for taking time to visit today. I hope you have time to leave a comment and say hi.

Holes and Coffee Filters

How are big holes in flower pots and coffee filters connected?

If you  fill the flower pot with dirt and then water it, some, if not a lot of the dirt washes out the holes.  

I tried covering the holes with broken bits of china, flat rocks, or broken clay pots but the dirt always managed to seek out the holes and escape.  I got to thinking what could go in the bottom of the pot to let out the water but not the dirt.

One day I was walking around the dollar store, spied some coffee filters and had this light bulb moment ... why not put a filter in the bottom of the pot, and fill it with dirt.  The excess water will still seep out through the filter but the dirt remains inside.

If the bottom of the pot is bigger than the filter you can sill use this idea by using more than one filter and flattening it out on the inside and just overlapping them around the edges.  the above pot has 6 drainage holes at the sides and it took 4 filters to cover them in.

I bet I'm not the first one to think of this idea, but I thought I would share it with you just in case you hadn't thought of it yet.  It's an environmentally friendly idea too, as the filter will go into the composter when I'm finished with it and it will decompose.
Do you have a great gardening hint to share with me?
Thanks for taking time to visit today. I hope you have time to leave a comment and say hi.