Summer Garden

This is how it started in the spring with a lot of hard work and a few good plant sales.  It was easy to transform this space.

Now transformed and summer ready, we are able to sit back and enjoy the view.  The bird baths are full and the song birds are in and out of the yard all day.  The old window frame was cleaned up and mirrors added to brighten up a dark corner but it also gives me a different view of the yard when I am sitting on the bench.

Finnerty Gardens in UVIC

We went for a walk through Finnerty Gardens at UVIC university.  I was in awe of the beautiful gardens and paths.  Though some of the plants did not survive the cold spell we had last year.  The rhodo plants were still amazing and the different varieties made me realize just how very little I know about this great plant. 

As you can see the leaves are bigger than a hand and the actual bush itself was bigger than my old garden shed.  Since I've only got about 1/3 of an acre I don't think this type of rhodo would go in my yard, but I enjoy that it is only a 5 minute drive away.  Finnerty Gardens is a beautiful place to wander around or bring a book (when it is warm again).  If you drive to it then the only cost will be the parking meters in the parking lot.  I bring my camera with me everywhere now as you just never know when you will spot that plant that is beautiful but you have no idea what it is.  Much easier to identify a picture than a small piece of leaf.

Itching to get Digging

I know it is only February but my gum boots are dry and my gardening gloves appeared at the back door as if they were beckoning me to get outside.  We did have one glorious sunny 55 degree day and I was out there digging and moving rocks until dusk.  I think I really needed the Vitamin D.  I am moving one of the flower beds to make room for a new garden shed which we will start building in March.  This is the bed I was working on.  Plants and rocks were moved and the new tool shed will go up against the fence.  Of course I will have to have some pretty little stained glass windows in it.

This little Anna's Hummingbird was watching me the whole time I was outside.  Every time another hummingbird came by he chased it away.  He even looks a little grumpy in this picture!