This is the garden as it looked the past two days I have been working in it.
The trees except one remain green and lush and the shrubs have yet to start turning
their Fall colors.
I can see change almost daily however as the Autumn nights have been crisp and colder.
I worked hard the past couple of days moving and dividing many perennials and filling in bare spots
in the beds. It is hard work getting things ready for the Winter, but I don't know of too many things
that bring me more pleasure than this type of work.
As I walked around the garden this Summer I took note of beds that I thought needed reworking.
Sometimes (most times really) a garden needs to go through radical changes.
When I planted the beds in the garden most of the trees were very young and now
that they are maturing they throw their shade on many of my once sun-loving plants.
This makes for weak and rangy looking foliage.
So this week has been spent digging, digging and digging some more.
Many of the roses are blooming.
This is Morden Blush.
It rained much of last week and so this week I played catch up with the weeding while Dale did
the mowing.
Moxie rose
I love this rose that I transplanted from my mom's garden.
It isn't extremely hardy and has to start back from the rootstock every year,
but the blooms are so fragrant and the color
is beautiful.
This rose is Morden Sunrise.
I still can't get over the sweet peas.
They continue to bloom their hearts out everywhere in the garden,
but especially the bed at the south side of the house.
I can't quit taking pictures of them!
On Friday I harvested the last of the second crop of lavender.
I have a total of 30 plants in the garden.
Most are Hidcote and some are Munstead.
I prefer Hidcote because of it's deep purple flower
and the plant grows a little tidier than some other lavenders.
Many gardeners here have trouble with lavender because it is a zone 5 plant
and we are zone 3/4 because of our elevation,
but I have been very lucky.
I always know that there is no guarantee.
Every year that they over-winter I am thankful.
Limelight hydrangea
The Limelight hydrangeas are in their pinky stage.
Perfect for cutting and drying.
This is what the grape arbor looked like three days ago when I took the photos,
but when I looked out this morning in the rain, it has changed the prettiest
yellow and chartreuse green.
I will go out and get some photos of it tomorrow.
Pink Diamond hydrangea.
The Tardiva hydrangea tree.
Endless Summer hydrangea in an urn on the porch.
I usually buy them in the Spring for the urns and then plant them in the garden in the Fall.
and the last of the garden phlox blooming still by the pasture fence.
I will be back at it this week...
digging, digging and digging some more.
