It’s been so rewarding to see all the blooms in my new garden explode with color in the last few weeks. Luckily, we are getting quite a bit of rain this year so that helps even though I have an irrigation system in too. Maybe my water bill will go down soon. My front yard really has completely changed and all those beautiful plants are filling out too. Growing a garden is an ongoing process and one that I’m excited to watch. I do need to get myself outside to weed and keep things tidy and I will do more of that in the fall when it’s not quite so hot and humid.
I love these urns filled with Sunpatiens and sedum.
Vivid pink and green is a great contrast together. Those sedum really are drought tolerant.
1
My gardenias are busting out with blooms right now too.  They smell delicious!
My fave blooms are the hydrangeas. Beautiful blue hues leaning towards purple on some plants, they are really showing off right now.
Ahhh, hydrangeas….how I love your blooms!
Those pretty Queen Mum agapanthas are coming to the end of their blooming cycle, but they sure have been pretty.
Everything is looking full and lush thanks to all the extra water they’ve been getting.
This garden should be very established by the time fall rolls around and next year will be an even bigger growth spurt.
I sure am enjoying all the blooms and beauty that I see out my front door every morning.
What a blessing the new landscape has been. I am loving every bit of it still.
I even have blooms on the back porch with my red, white and blue pots and red geraniums going strong.
How’s your garden growing? Are you enjoying blooms at your house?
Your Hydrangea’s are beautiful! They are my absolute favorite, I planted some this year too!
I never tire of hydrangea’s as they are so beautiful. Your neighbors must be thrilled with the transformation you’ve given your home. Being what it looked like before it’s a major improvement. All that hard work paid off in spades. Well done Rhoda!
HI, Nancy, yes I have had quite a few comments about all the improvements at my house. I know the neighbors love it too!
Everything looks so pretty and healthy. Could you please send some of that rain to California? We’re desperate.
I am in southern Oregon … We had a home built and have downsized a lot…everything set up for low maintenance…no weeding or a lot of pruning…no trees in back…we went to raised beds for food garden and barrels that are mixed…my herb garden taking off, as well as canas and Lillie’s in barrels on each side of in ground plantings…very simple 3 red hot pokers with a couple of lavenders interspersed…up against our fence we stained redwood looks very nice and above on fence I have 4 hangers with hanging baskets full of mixed petunias, on house I have a couple of window boxes full of red and purple petunias..our house is a lovely dark and in certain light almost teal green house! The front I have light grey green planters and urn with both lavenders and white petunias…on porch I have couple of plaster pedestals painted pale aqua with lovely ceramic planters on top full of white alyssum…front door is painted gold and pops the door out…
I love gardenias and hydrangeas…but not enough shade and too much heat to grow right here…your yard is looking great! Oh and I love you solution for the buildout chimney!
Sorry about the length but you asked how my garden is doing! oh the tomatoes are coming on strong and the peppers! LOL
Hi, Rhoda! I adore your garden! I especially like your hydrangea — I might have to find some room in my yard for some hydrangea! I also have to do some weeding. I have a beautiful perennial garden on the southern side of my home, but some weeds are creeping in! I have been waiting for cooler weather, too!
Your gardens will give you years of joy, Rhoda! I love mine, and every day is something new. Playing around with the photography in the garden is fun, too, learning the best timing for capturing the light, the blooms and the bird life. I miss my hydrangeas this year, as I did a hard prune last fall and knew they would not bloom this year. Before you know it, it will be time to put it all to bed again.
Rita
Rhoda – your garden is beautiful! Here in Florida my climbing roses are doing great! As well as the desert rose. We planted some of the queen mum agapanthas this year but so far no blooms. Our food garden is pretty bare, waiting to plant for fall. Enjoy your garden!
Looking great Rhoda! So happy you are enjoying your new garden!
Rhoda, your garden is gorgeous! I know you’re enjoying all the new color that the Hydrangeas provide. Your home is so pretty and the garden really turned it into a treasure!
Love your yard and your new hair style. You look so happy and content. Good for you!
Why don’t you show us a before and after picture of your new hair style. I forgot what it looked like before but sure do like the new look.
Beautiful landscape. What are you using as mulch? It looks like long pine needles. I’ve seen this in other southern landscapes and wonder where & if it could be purchased? Enjoy your blog.
Hi, Shelia, yes pinestraw or pine needles is a Southern staple in landscaping for covering dirt and containing moisture. It’s bought here at all the home stores and landscape supply places.
Rhoda…it all looks so pretty. I am so very happy for you.
Your new landscaping is looking beautiful! We could use a good soaking rain here. The weeds seem to be thriving best! 🙂
I love your yard it would be a great place to relax and read a book.
It’s looking so beautiful Rhoda! You’re so fortunate to have had such great help with the landscaping and plants. I too love the Southern Living plants, have not yet put in any hydrangeas here at the beach cottage but we did redo the yard last year and I used the So. living Pixie Loropetalum as a ground cover planting around a Sioux Crepe Myrtle in the side yard and their Purple Diamond Loro’s as a foundation planting under three more of the Sioux Crepes in front/side of the house for shade on the porch. We had three trees cut that took all the shade and most of my headaches away! They were so messy all year round. With the irrigation we put in even a dry & hot summer has our Zoysia sod looking beautiful! I wish we’d have had as much rain as you have but I’m sure you’re tickled with the irrigation if not the water bill! Know what you mean about that, we used city water here before last summer. When we decided to redo the yard the well was the first thing we put in. What a blessing that’s been!! Love seeing how well your yard is doing and have meant to comment but have been sanding & re-painting trim for a while now so not doing much email…. Have a great & safe Labor Day weekend, we’re looking forward to a bit less traffic down here after Labor Day, that will be a relief after the summer traffic!! Enjoying your posts if not responding much! Take care, t