A Little Peek at my Garden

Newman sitting in my favourite spot...the swing on my deck.  The deck is right off our kitchen.

 

 

This vine is called Dutchmans Pipe.  It took quite a few years for it to catch on.  It had finally started to grow when we got Newman and he chewed the vine at its base.  I thought the vine was gone but after Newman puppified it, it sprang back with a fervor.  Now I cut it back very hard every spring...and it grows like crazy.  In fact, I've had to trim it three times already this year.
 
 

A few bugs eating my potted plant...one of them is now squashed...the other buzzed off.  See the little frog on the swing?  He's a little faded and his swing string busted and had to be knotted...but I think he's still cute.  I wrote about him a few seasons back.

 

Monsieur Newman with one of his tennis balls.

I don't really recall, but I think the ivy growing on my deck is Boston Ivy.  That's a Gold Mound Spirea in the middle and Mugho Pines on either side.

  This photo was taken from my deck.  I can't remember the name of the perennial on the right side of Newman.  Those little buds between the leaves break out in deep purple flowers every morning...I guess it must be related to the day lily family but that wasn't the name of it.  They're very robust in the spring and early summer but get wilty and lacklustre as the heat of July comes.  Above that is a purpleleaf sandcherry.  I thought I lost that a few times too as Newman kept chewing it up every year.  I tried to protect it from him but gave up.  Newman is no longer interested in tearing up my garden and this year it seems to be catching on.  A few hostas beyond that.  This garden needs more work...which is why you're only seeing a very cropped view. :)  (the leaves on the left are from my Skyscraper Locust tree)

Comments

[Marge]

Those "few bugs" you have are Japanese beetles and they are eating up everything at our place. Purchased a Japanese beetle trap (with the lure of a thousand males apparently) and now we are collecting beetles within a 5 mile radius! Hundreds everyday! I was only hoping to keep the ones on our plants at bay!

[patricia]

Beautiful! And I LOVE that picture of Newman on your porch swing. He's gorgeous!