Spring Has Arrived, Finally!

Well, after all that bad winter and spring weather, everything is finally blooming.  We got moving in the yard, the hubby and I over the weekend, cleaned up some more of the gardens and planted a lot of new things.  We have an animal problem on the property, deer and groundhogs.  They eat everything including the trees!  It's awful, all the money spent and they feast on it.  I have tried everything to discouraged them, but nothing has worked.  So, now I did my homework and research and planted things that they don't like, not the things that I like though.  And so it goes, nature wins again!

This is the front garden last year, everything new planted, it didn't grow much until this year.  It finally took off, just starting to blossom and it looks beautiful, still have to mulch, but no deer yet!

This is the other side of the garden, still combating a groundhog over there, he took out another rhododendron, and have to replace it AGAIN!  This is third time he has ruined it digging a hole under it.  He left the other three bushes alone.  I also have Russian sage growing in this garden, lilacs, and the big trees to the left are crepe myrtles, they are just starting to bud.  All the gardens in the front of the house are a colorful mix of pink, fuchsia, purple, white and salmon hues.  I just happened to be walking in the door when I heard this bumble bee collecting pollen.  If you look closely you can see it on his back legs and on his body.  Busy little bee!

The other rhododendrons are blooming, as well as the azalea bushes, this one is hot pink.

Pretty white viburnum and a whole row of peonies, I love them!

Lavender is another favorite of mine I planted that along the sidewalk with coral belles, bleeding hearts and basil.  The columbines are standing tall.

This azalea is a beautiful deep dark salmon color, and the lilacs are surely a sign of spring.

 So, last year I planted this very cute garden all around the shed, I spent about $250 on plants, dirt, mulch.  Within a week the groundhog had eaten all of it! The only thing left standing was the knockout rose bush, yeah that's right, so guess what got replanted in that garden ?  Two more rose bushes, I need to get 5 more to finish it around to the other side.  I don't think he will be dining here anymore!

 This is the extent of my vegetable garden, can't have one on the ground the animals eat everything!  Two big tomato plants, 1 grape tomato plant, 2 sweet pepper and 2 basil.  I had a huge garden two years ago, planted everything - lots of tomatoes big and small, peppers, 3 different kinds of lettuce, zucchinis, cucumbers, eggplant, cantaloupe, fennel, all kinds of herbs, blueberries, strawberries.  I had a raised garden bed, fenced it with a four foot fence, staked it all along the bottom so no animals could get in.  I watched the groundhog climb the fence and it was all over from there!  The cat mint is growing, cute little purple flowers, lily tuft is planted in this garden too.

 Boston Ferns at Home Depot for $6.88 they were originally $14.99.  They are huge and beautiful.

Even the cat is catching some rays.  She is so happy the sun is finally out and shining!

Battling Nature - All GOD's Creatures Great and Small

This year I decided to fancy - up the shed.  It's been lonely without any plants and just plain blah.  So I put my husband to work with the rototiller and had him dig out two gardens, 18" wide and the length of the shed, I put one on the side and one in the back.  There is a sidewalk on the other side.  I wanted to plant deer and groundhog resistant plants, we have ALOT of those animals, so I went searching on the Internet and found that they don't like textured or fuzzy leafed flowers.  So off to the nursery I went and came home with Rudebeckia (Black Eyed Susan), Bee Balm and Montana Bluette.  Below are before and after pictures when you set out a feast for all GOD's creatures great and small! Nothing will stop them. I love nature, but COME ON give me a break here.

BEFORE - the side of the shed, just planted

BEFORE - the back of the shed, just planted

AFTER - the side of the shed, 2 weeks later

AFTER - the back of the shed, 2 weeks later.  The only thing left standing

 was a knockout rose bush.  Looks like they enjoyed the buffet

 I planted for them!  Guess what I will be

 planting  next year.

Also put in a new rhododendron bush, you guessed it -groundhog

ate through the roots and dug himself a home.

  Never underestimate the power of a groundhog.

Not only do deer and groundhogs feast, so do the bats!
We have alot of hummingbirds that fly to this feeder all day and into dusk
everyday.  I filled it one night and to my surprise was empty the next morning.
Bats sucked it dry.  Do you all get the picture of what I am dealing with?


I bought these citronella candles to keep the bugs away, but evidently it
doesn't keep raccoons away.  I didn't even have a chance to light them.
If you look closely you can see the claw marks
in the wax.  He was actually eating the wax! It was all over my rug
 and deck and the oil from the candle stained both.

I found this Spanish Lavender plant at Home Depot.  It was in a 6" pot 

it's growing like crazy and smells so good when the wind blows.

I moved the solar birdbath/water fountain (QVC) to a better place and gathered some

of the deck flower pots around the bottom.  Looks prettier now.

I also moved the ferns from the entryway. They were starting

 to get too much sun. When that happens they get burnt and brown.

I love ivy but never plant it in a garden, it is very invasive

and will ruin everything in its path.  I found three different

varieties at an Amish nursery.  All of them were only one small strand

 of ivy in a pot for .99 cents each.  I planted them all in one pot and 

set it out of the sun on the coffee table on the deck.

My husband and I built a base for our other fire pit.

 Purchased the pavers and sand ($48.00),

 the Fire Pit ($29.99 end of season sale)

and the Chairs ($7.99 each, also end of season sale)

all at Home Depot