Early in the year, I wrote about our olive tree that wintered in our spare bedroom. I wasn’t sure if the growth was blooms or fruit. Well, it turns out what we had then was blossoms.
The plant has been outside for a few months now and folks, we have fruit. Granted it is still in the early stages but I’m claiming it!
In fact, with the olive tree, the pot of herbs, and the stone walls, I may just pretend I’m in Italy!
Time for a quick stroll around the patio garden. It was hot over the weekend so that is my inflatable pool chair behind the hibiscus.
This is one of my $2.00 clearance finds from one of the big box stores. It is a mounding annual vinca vine.
Another clearance find. This is called pentas. I wasn’t familiar with this one but I am enjoying it.
The coleus growth is slow this year but they do provide a lot of color.
The Peruvian lilies are getting their second round of flowers.
Mandevillas are a perennial favorite at our house. Pun intended.
The hydrangeas are becoming quite spectacular. This one is a little confused. It is part bluish purple and part pinkish. This might be good for a yin-yang theme.
Here is a picture of our newer flower bed with Cassius lounging in the background.
The roses are doing fine and as you can see, it will soon be the season for gladioli.
Summer is good to measure in mini seasons, for maximum enjoyment. Lily season, rose season, glad season, and so on. There is always something to enjoy, and something to look forward to.
We almost dug up this rose at the beginning of the season with the intent of trashing it in the compost pile. It died nearly down to the ground and had not produced a bloom in two years. We thought the extreme cold for our area over the past two winters had killed the grafted portion. This would have left the rootstock which is likely a wild rose with many thorns and very small, wild flowers. Something more weedy than flowery.
The plant showed new growth so we decided to give it one more chance. We patiently watched while a bud developed. It was nearly ready to unfurl that bud so we could determine the color and see which type of rose it was, when…something, most likely a chipmunk or possibly a skunk, ate the bud! We went out to check the flower the next morning and it was gone.
Luckily, there were more buds on the way. And when they opened up, we discovered that it was indeed the climbing rose that we hoped for. We may have to mulch and cover our roses to help them survive and be healthy if those colder than usual spells continue. But we are glad to see our old friend blooming once again on the trellis.
It was a beautiful Sunday for hanging out on the patio and enjoying our gardens. Here is a video I took so you could enjoy it too. Life is good!
See, even the dogs appear to be enjoying the flowers!
It is lily season in Ohio right now. The main reason we don’t grow more is because the bloom season is relatively short and we want something to be blooming all summer.
So we also have hibiscus.
And roses.
And much more! I will keep you updated as the summer progresses.
What do you do when you have a spare hour or so and some extra stone? You put in a new flower bed. Of course then you have to drive to the store for plants. These are lantana and heliotrope, marked down at the local grocery. They attract butterflies according to the tag.
I made this bed myself. (Hubby did haul a couple buckets of dirt for me. Thanks dear!)
Now I can enjoy while I’m lounging on the patio. Until I decide it’s time to replant the green beans that never sprouted, either because the seeds were eaten or washed away.
But first, I must read a chapter from a book!
What’s the first thing we do when we finally get a day with no rain? Take dogs for a walk! That’s why you see all the happy faces. (Nikki stayed home because being tiny and 12 years old, she can’t keep up.)
After that, the day got even better. We it spent it on the patio with dogs. Our plans for tomorrow are a repeat of today. I’ll let you know how it goes.
This is the Key Lime Tart that my daughter made her dad for Father’s Day. She bought actual key limes to squeeze for juice and used heavy cream too. Then put it in a crust made from scratch. It was delicious!
She also got him plants for the gardens. She knows him well.
May all the fathers out there blessed with such wonderful daughters. Happy Father’s Day.
If there was smellovision, I would always keep it tuned to the Peony Channel and hope for lilac commercials.
After a long holiday weekend and a return to work, what is a good reward? Time on the patio spend with my dogs, a good book, and a glass of cranberry iced tea. Above is Cassius hanging out with his mama (me!).
The girls, Nikki and Shelby, are always happy to pose for a photo. Shelby will do anything to be near me.
Baxter doesn’t care to have his picture taken but was gracious enough to accommodate since it was getting near mealtime.
And once I get home from work for the day, Zekie’s life is complete. Dogs are good for the soul.
Sanctuary Acres 