A Garden Tour

Yesterday, my son suggested we let the garden go for a day and enjoy life a little.  Go fishing, he says!  Well, I love to fish, there's no doubt about it, but I also love to garden.  It is my hobby.  My addiction.  As you can probably tell from these photos....

So grab your cup of coffee and come along for a visit of my back yard. 

It all started in 2003 when we bought this home.  The back yard was overgrown with Nature.  Cottonwoods and weeds took over most of the yard.  Not a garden in sight.

The trees were cut (36 total!) and the weeds were pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled. 

 For a couple years before I started building my beds. 

 

Now, the dilemma....  We have dogs.  Active dogs.  Big dogs.  How was I going to keep the dogs out of my gardens? 

I built individual "rooms," or pocket gardens, around the existing dog trails.  My thought was that the dogs would stay on the trails they were familiar with and not go through my garden.

And it worked! 

The other problem I had when designing my gardens was making sure the plants and shrubs could withstand the weight of a 75 pound Lab running after a misguided ball! 

So you won't find a lot of small plants in my yard, but mostly shrubs and ground covers that don't mind getting trampled.

Other plants, like this beautiful iris, will have some kind of protection in front of it (like a short garden fence) until it has a chance to grow.  It has to be hardy or it won't survive in my garden. 

Winding paths and trails were built.

Secret gardens were built.

Eye candy was around every bend.

Yard art is a huge part of my garden.
To me a garden isn't a garden without some other focus to break up the foliage. 

In some places, I just let Nature take its course.
Like this adorable Foamy Flower with its little flowerettes. 

When we cut down all the Cottonwoods, we left stumps to use as yard art.

Now, they're covered with moss and serve as a great pedestal for bird baths.

I love looking out at the back yard. 

Mostly I love watching the grandkids as they stroll along the paths,

just enjoying life.

To me, that makes all this hard work worthwhile.

And even though they're only three years old, I hope that when they're old and worn out,

that they'll remember these strolls along grandma's gardens.

Just like I did, walking along Mrs. Baxter's garden paths. 

And who knows....

Maybe when the grandkids are adults, they, too, will find the same love for gardening that I do.

All because of a pathway that wound through the garden walls.

This is Hunter's "secret" path.   

And, I have to admit, it's one of my favorite areas, too.

I hope you enjoyed a stroll through my gardens. 

Later!  Nancy