Just some random shots from our visit to the Botanical Gardens in Chicago, IL. It’s been almost 22 years since we’ve been there. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.
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My Garden Shed, she is finished!
Do you remember a few weeks ago when I blogged about wanting to redo our garden shed?
Well it’s finished!
The picture to the left is our shed before we painted it. – I was in a patriotic mood the year we bought that shed and wanted our home to be red, white and blue – a color combination very popular in New England, but not so popular in Oklahoma. I wound up choosing a more color neutral pallet for our house so that it would fit in with our neighborhood that prefers beige to everything else. What worked for the shed was rejected for the main house. I still like the colors, but it is time for a change. And wow – did I change it.
Not being able to work in my garden is probably the most difficult part of my recovery from surgery. I love working in my gardens. Something about it is peaceful and comforting. Still, just because I can’t physically work in them doesn’t mean that I cannot plan them.So that’s what I’ve been doing — working through new plans.
I told you a few days ago about how I was on the Better Homes and Gardens pages and got inspired to redo our garden shed. I thought my husband was going to hold his breath until he turned blue in Home Depot and I still walked out of the store with watermelon, Green Apple, and Lilac paints. I am a blessed woman.My oldest painted and I helped as I could. Yes, DH thinks he deserves canonization for it, but Lutheran’s don’t canonize, so the poor man is out of luck.
This cute sign (Above) – Plant Grow Bloom was purchased from Amanda’s Gift Shop on E-bay
The metal flowers below were purchased from Lowes Hardware store.
If you look closely, we had to use special brackets (purchased separately) at the top of the wire sculpture. The hardware that came with the flowers was not sufficient to attach to the wall. The watermelon color is by Glidden and the green and lilac are Behr. I wanted all three in Behr, but you are not allowed to cross brands. Meaning, I cannot pick up a Glidden color card and ask the Lowes guy to mix it in a non Glidden paint and vice versa. Nothing against Glidden, it’s a great paint, I just prefer Behr for longevity. Having said that, I really like Glidden’s exterior color pallet this year, it’s bright, and very versatile.
The watermelon was a little intense, so we used lilac with the green apple on the sides.
Side view -- now to go back and add the landscape.
So that is my new garden shed. Pretty hunh? Being the only female in my house, I’m pretty much the only one who likes it. My husband has jokingly told me his tools may not be able to live in such a place. And even though he’s not on the same artistic page as I, he does agree this project and these colors have not yet killed him.
We still have landscaping to finish. Pea gravel for the front of the doors, some flowers and maybe a rose-bush or two. I have a wisteria that I need to move and will probably put it next to the shed for stability. The white picket fence in the back ground is new as well. My dogs were destroying the fence line and have broken the main gate too many times, which is why we split the yard this year.
And that is how I spent my recovery time – blue printing and planning my gardens. I have more to come and as time and the doctor allows, I’ll be busy.
Have a great day ya’ll and don’t forget your sun screen.
On a side note, I was linked to from Shed Building Master’s Class last week. What a huge compliment. If you want to know more about building your own shed, please be sure to check them out. It’s a really nice and professional looking piece.
Wordless Wednesday: Dreams of Summer
I’m dreaming of the sights of Summer. My gardens are dead now. Some of my perennials will come back though, the rest I’ll have to plant and I can’t wait. Until then, I’ll offer you sights from summer past.
Hollyhocks
Daylillies
Unruly sweet potato vine mixed with coleus.
And purple fountain grass.
Of Whine and Roses
“When you do tell your story, don’t sound like the victim. If you do, you’ll sound like you’re whining. Just be truthful in telling your story and aim to discover that slice of humanity that others can relate to.” David Pierce, author of “Don’t Let Me Go.”
Ever pick up a case of the whines without realizing it? I do that and I don’t mean to. I hate it when I catch myself doing it too. When sharing facts, I can forget the good pieces that came of whatever situation it was. Case in point. I went through an incredible season of sifting that has brought amazing fruit and yet these places in my heart are still tender, still mending, and giving voice to them, hurts a little and it comes out all wrong. I caught myself doing that a lot last week at the Cove and man did that ever frustrate me.
I learned so much in that season several years ago. I learned about letting go, about not having to be the Christ for everyone I meet, about boundaries, fear, idols, and about trusting God. Mostly, I learned how to play for an audience of One. Those are wonderful gifts to share. When I remember to share them that is. The problem is, I don’t always remember.
I know that I am not the first person in the world to feel forsaken or to feel like I’ve been handed over to Satan on a silver platter – as if to say, “Here, she won’t listen to me so you have a go at her.” I’m inspired by authors who are willing to tell the truth. Men like Philip Yancey who seem to bleed when they write. In a good way. Me? Sometimes I bleed, sometimes I vomit. Mostly, I stuff.
That paints a lovely picture, doesn’t it? Instead of the cute Irish Chia Pet, I’m that baby on the commercials buying stock and spitting up all at the same time. Ewww.
So how do I find that balance that David talks about? Talking with people I trust. Learning how to say I know there is something in here that can help someone else, please help me find the right words.
My husband caught a great quote of mine last week. The ice storm of 2007 destroyed all of our trees and instead of shade we now have sunshine and I planted flowers. Was it a lot of work? Oh yes. Clearing out dead trees and building beds IS hard work and yet- out of the storm came sunshine, and new life and a new creaton and that is a good thing.
Coveting My Garden
My mother covets my garden! Oh my gosh. My mother, my muse. The woman who has gardens that rival any botanical place you can find, and she covets THIS picture above. It seems neither she, nor my aunt, can get sweet potato vine to grow like I can. They want to know my secret.
All I did was lose all of my roses to fire blight, and needed something to fill this bed.
I thought the vine was overrun, she thought it was great and told me they are jealous. I needed that perspective this week. And you know, just hearing that is enough to keep me going.
Now if I can only figure out how to kill the monkey grass in the back.
Digging in the Dirt
So what does an OKIE girl do on a beautiful, almost spring day? Dig in the dirt mostly. My gardens are trying to bloom. My tulips are coming up, my magnolia bush has already bloomed. And I still need to build out four more beds to get ready for Spring and Summer. I was supposed to be working on building those beds during the winter, but seriously who wants to be outside building flower beds in 20 degree weather? I may be going through Peri menopause, but my flashes are not enough to keep me warm in that environment. So, I kept putting it off until it warmed up.
It’s warm. My plants arrived early and I’ve got a week to build my beds.
Procrastination is not always my friend.
Speaking of arrivals, I had some “trees” come while I was in Nashville, which kinda freaked out my husband.
They aren’t tree’s exactly. More like really tall bushes, that grow to about 5 or 8 feet in height if you let them. But they aren’t trees. Really.
Another new piece I’ve added is wisteria. I love wisteria vines and so I ordered one last fall and then forgot I ordered it. Imagine Jeff’s surprise when a box comes (while I’m out of town)with the label “Grows 25 to 40 feet.” To call his reaction concerned, would be an understatement.
He has good reason for his concern. Really. He is after all married to an ADHD redhead who misses small detail, like plant height.
Case in point. While planning my front garden last year, I ordered what I thought was this: 
The small print (stuff I can’t see to read) showed what I really bought was this: 
A tree that grows 15 feet. Oopsies. Simple enough, I put my new tree in the South East front corner of the yard, where I’m sure it will flourish beautifully.
So you understand his concern. He works in engineering at Level 3. I’m an artist in many senses, more than a little ADD, and a bit flowy in my visual thinking. I’m envisioning the BIG garden picture – I’m painting with plants, I see color and texture and style. He’s looking at size and feasibility, of both our yard and our checkbook, basically, he does damage control.
Copyright: Deana O’Hara, Redemption’s Heart. 2009.
Heading Out Doors
It is 76 degrees out today. I am heading out doors and playing in the dirt. I can wait to see what is blooming.
Planning for Winter in March
Spring doesn’t officially start for another two weeks, but it is 79 degrees here today. I’m climbing out of my skin trying to resist the impulse to plant stuff that I know cannot handle the frost that will come next week. My sunny spot in my house is almost ready and next year I will be able to start things from seed, just not this year. This year, I have to wait and purchase whole plants.
I’m still trying to figure out my “zone.” Some maps show me in 6, others show me in 7. I’m apparently on the cusp of both.
My gardens look great in the Spring and Summer with some nice fall interest as well, but in the winter? Even here, I have nadda. Everything is dormant, there is no color, not contrast. B-O-R-I-N-G. I used to have pine trees and they stayed green, but boy did I miss that this year. So, in looking for color for my gardens I came across two beauties I could not resist.
This wonderfully looking specimen is called – Beni Kaze Japanese Forest Grass
(Photo Credit: Spring Hill Nursery)
Botanical Name: Hakonechloa macra ‘Beni-kaze’
Form: Herbaceous perennial
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 2 – 3′
Spread: 2 – 3′
Spacing: 2 – 4′
Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 – 9
Foliage Type: Mounds of arching linear green leaves which turn to rich red tones in fall.
Flower Form: Pale green spikelets. Not significant.
Flower Color: Green
Flowering Date: Late summer.
Planting Requirements: Tolerates a light shade without compromising the brilliant fall color.
Soil Requirements: Well drained, fertile, humus rich soil.
Growth Rate: Moderate.Unique Characteristics: Flowing mound of green grass blades that turn a brilliant red for the fall season. Great for cascading over a bank or retaining wall. Tolerates a light shade area without compromising on the great fall color. Compliments most broad leaf plants nicely in the landscape setting.
Pruning: Cut to base in late winter or early spring.
Additional Information: Beni-kaze translates to “red wind”. Describes its flowing nature and beautiful fall color.
I’ll admit, there is nothing wrong with owning these – 
I’m just bored with it being my only “grass” planting. This one is mature enough to divide and place in other spots in my garden. Places where I have Spring and Summer color and need some green.
My other colorful beauty is the Red Twig Dogwood
(Photo Credit: Spring Hill Nursery)
Like I said, my yard has zero color in the winter. I need something pretty.
Botanical Name: Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-Marginata’
Form: Deciduous woody shrub
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 5 – 8′
Spread: 5 – 8′
Spacing: 6 – 10′
Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 – 8
Foliage Type: Variegated green and cream ovate to elliptic leaves.
Flower Form: Small starry flowers form 1 1/2 – 2″ flat topped cymes, insignificant.
Flower Color: Yellowish white
Flowering Date: Spring
Planting Requirements: Best coloration in full sun.
Soil Requirements: Well drained, but adaptable to a wide range of soils.
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast.
Unique Characteristics: An old fashioned favorite that is still one of the best shrubs for year round appeal. Attractive variegated cream and green foliage all growing season followed by brilliant red stems that last all winter. Provides great color against a snowy backdrop or used indoors as an accent in cut-flower arrangements.
Pruning: Best coloration on new wood. Prune out 1/3 to 1/2 of old wood each year.
Time of Pruning: Late winter.
PLANT DESCRIPTIONS ARE COURTESY OF SPRINGHILLNURSERY.COM I’m using these until I learn what means what and how to properly log things in my gardening scrapbook.
What is this thing that I let grow last summer?
I pretty much ignored the back strip of my yard last year, allowing the ground to settle from grinding out the Bradford Pear and Pin Oak trees that I lost. While I was resting it, this wondrous weedy looking thing appeared. At first I thought it was a bush planted by errant birdseed. When it reached over 5 feet tall, I decided it needed cutting. The stems were very strong, yet pulpy and fibrous instead of woody. Does anyone know what this is? I have no clue.
Wordless Wednesday
Caption anyone?
