Lakeside is a Methodist run Chautauqua on the shores of Lake Erie. There is no place quite like Lakeside, Ohio. It is like stepping back in time to a more simple and quiet lifestyle. Many of the homes and cottages are Victorian style and are over 100 years old. In the summer months, porch living is a way of life here. Many interiors also harken … Continue reading a lakeside weekend
Simple is this week’s bouquet. Simple, sweet, and so easy. These are simply cuttings from a hanging basket with a single begonia plant in it. This is an area I created behind the fence in my back garden with a wrought iron table and chair, where I like to sit when I need a garden break. It’s quiet, peaceful, and most importantly shady. This basket … Continue reading this week’s bouquet
It’s Saturday, the weekend, and time for six garden related items. 1 | A happy and very tall yellow flower most likely from the sunflower family. I originally dug up 8 stalks of this flower from the corn field across the street of my parent’s home many years ago. They had taken over a huge part of the edges of the field and were corn … Continue reading six on saturday
This week’s bouquet comes from the large patches of perennial ageratum that have happily spread themselves around both the front and back gardens. I don’t really ever remember planting them, and they have never done very well, but this year, they are everywhere. A bit of a thug, but because they provide such abundant blooms and color in late August, they are most welcome here. … Continue reading this week’s bouquet
I thought I’d give you an overall of my backyard. This is a view from my deck. I’m one of a few houses on our street where we all have deep front yards and deep back yards. Because it is a neighborhood built during World War II, the trees are very established and stately. I put in these picket fences at least 25 years ago … Continue reading my backyard
Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ is truly the king of my hosta collection. There is nothing too special about its plain green leaves, but “wow”, does it put on a show in August, when not much else is blooming in the shade garden. I probably have at least ten different varieties of hostas, if not more, but this one is my favorite. This is one of those … Continue reading hosta ‘ royal standard’
While deleting photos, I came across these pics of what I call “Lilac Row”. It’s a small sliver of garden between the raised vegetable beds and the row of lilac bushes I planted three summers ago along the fence line to create a privacy barrier. These pics are from when the garden was at its peak back in early July. The pink Yarrow Achillea ‘Little … Continue reading lilac row garden
Finally . . . I have some roses. The first flush was very pitiful, but the second bloom, although still minimal, is at least more promising. These are pink ‘Knock Out’ roses, supposedly very hardy, and will grow anywhere. I was first impressed with these roses when I saw them planted in front of a Wendy’s fast food restaurant on a busy main street in … Continue reading finally . . . roses
I made a trip to my favorite local garden center to check out their selection of what I would call the “speciality” echinacea varieties, in an attempt to decide which one I might be willing to splurge on. Not the common pink or white, but a whole range of new colors are available. So, to that purpose, here they are for your reference and mine, … Continue reading echinacea
Who doesn’t love a rainy day? Softly falling rain, soothing like music to the eyes, ears, and soul after a dry spell. Promises of rain often come to naught, especially when desperately needed. But, it’s a whole weekend drinking binge forecast for the thirsty ground and plants. Every gardener and farmer must be as happy as their thirsty plants. I plan to spend some of … Continue reading rainy weekend
