The garden and surroundings in my northern world. - luckysgarden

delphinium dark
2011-07-25

delphinium light
2011-07-25

pansies
2011-07-13

pinks
2011-07-13

peony first bloom
2011-07-15

ninebark blooming
2011-07-25

yarrow cerise and lamb
2011-07-25

container reds burgundies
This container is a freebie from a yard sale.

container w/rosemary


my largest container
Geranium Vancouver Centennial, perennial grasses, common geranium, and lime sweet potato vine - needs some sun and heat.

container pastels
The Dusty Miller in the centre of this container was a survivor from last year. These often do not survive the winter.

container hypertufa w/herbs
Hypertufa we made years ago is starting to crack so may not survive much longer.

grape hyacinth
One of the earliest bloomers in my garden. This plant is increasing nicely and I'll eventually split it.

lamium


Lady's Mantle
No the best pic of this beauty but I'll try to get a better one. I have many of these and love the lime green color.

lilac dark


iris white and purple
This is a very old iris and nothing special but I love the color. I have a whole swath of them.

lower east bed during
How to eliminate weeds, at least temporarily.

lower east bed after
Once the weeds have decomposed under the mulch and cardboard I'll return some annuals.

bee on mountain bluet
Lots of bees this year.

artemesia oriental limelight
Love the color but this plant gets whacked back to keep it in line - it's a real thug, but pretty.

chives


columbine black barlow


columbine yellow mauve


columbine purple magenta


columbine dark purple


purple lime
common chives and feverfew but a nice color combo.

lovage back of border
This plant is many years old and really huge now.

marmot
These guys have been so annoying this year as they eat many of my plants.

november garden1
I've thrown some perennial seeds around these trees so we'll see what comes up next spring. 2010-11-06

november garden2
In time this area will be full of wild flowers. 2010-11-06

november garden3 red yarrow
Baby plants growing and even blooming late. 2010-11-06

november garden4 perennial sunflowers
Parent plant has gone to seed but new growth and flowers at the base. 2010-11-06

november garden5 spirea shirobana
This plant was a disappointment earlier as the flowers were not as pictured. However it has redeemed itself with the fall color. 2010-11-06

november garden6 volunteers
2010-11-06

november garden7 roses
These roses have been very slow to set hips and I'm not sure if they will survive the zone 3 winter as they are zone 4 roses. I'll protect them once they lose their leaves and hopefully set more hips. 2010-11-06

november garden8 rose hips
2010-11-06

november garden9 dusty miller
These were planted late and never attained full size. Still pretty for the fall garden. 2010-11-06

november garden11 old lavender munstead
2010-11-06

november garden12 johnny jump up & volunteers
2010-11-06

november garden10 dusty miller
These were planted early and have become monsters. 2010-11-06

november garden13 red yarrow
2010-11-06

november garden14 purple alyssum
Gone to seed but still some color. 2010-11-06

november garden16 island bed
Mostly dreary but in this light some beauty if one can see it. 2010-11-06

november garden15 variegated Jacob
I love this plant and even now has beauty. 2010-11-06

Monarda 'Marshall's Delight'
This is the first year for this bee balm and it has many buds. 2010-09-08

Limelight Hydrangea
New in my garden this year and doing well after a slow start in the wrong location. 2010-09-04

Limelight Hydrangea closeup
2010-09-04

rosa Therese Bugnet
First year for Therese and she's going to need more space next year! 2010-09-08

rosa Morden Sunrise
First year and has done well. 2010-09-08

rosa Morden Sunrise
I'll move this smaller rose to give Therese more space. 2010-09-08

rosa Country Dancer
I have 3 of these zone 4 roses and I'll mulch them very well and hope for the best. 2010-09-08

rosa Country Dancer closeup
I like the buds on this rose but the flowers look 'blown' very quickly. 2010-09-08

purple old style petunias
Have not been deadheaded much if any but blooming well on east side of house. 2010-09-04

Agastache foeniculum candelabra
Lavender Hyssop 2010-09-08

Lavender Munstead
This plant is quite old and blooms in September. 2010-09-08

mallow seedling
Has a pretty color - a nice 'weed'. 2010-09-08

Walkers Low catmint
With fuchsia Wave petunias and perennial sunflowers. 2010-09-08

Lavender Dentata in pot
This is a zone 8 plant which I won't bother to try to winter over but will cut all foliage and flowers for pot pourri. Had more blooms but I cut for a bouquet. 2010-09-08

pot of nasturtiums
Planted from seed and doing well after rain. 2010-09-04

black bear
Came to dig up my buried decomposed compost. 2010-09-06

summer
from the deck 2010-06-11

clouds sun
2010-06-11

clouds
2010-06-11

rockery top level redone
2010-05-17

Catmint 'Walker's Low'
2010-05-17

grape hyacinths
2010-05-17

Lower bed, other end
We plan to place lattice behind this bed under the verandah and deck. Temporary lattice is for the clematis. 2010-05-17

Lower bed beside rockery
Spirea 'Shirobana', Mountain Bluet, Lamb's Ears, Shasta Daisies, Clematis 'Ville de Lyon', Chives, and Delphinium. 2010-05-17

Spirea Shirobana
2010-07-19

Opposite lower bed
Redone completely with new and old plants.  Will be enlarged slightly on left side ASAP time permitting.  2010-05-17

lower bed redone
2010-05-17

3 dogwoods
in lower bed. 2010-05-17

dogwood growing
Planted 3 of these this year and they are finally looking as if they will survive. Water hogs that have needed a lot of babying but should do fine in the lower bed location once established. 2010-07-19

Spirea 'Flaming Mound'
2010-05-17

Beebalm 'Marshall's Delight'
2010-05-17

Pink wheelbarrow
Purple sweet alyssum & dusty miller - waiting until danger of frost is over to be planted in the garden. 2010-05-17

pots w seeds and perennials to plant
Fence needs painting or replacing.  Not at the top of the priority list so it will likely get a quick coat of paint.  2010-05-17

Azalea Northern 'White Lights'
This bed still needs redoing.  2010-05-17

Iris reticulata
This bed really needs clean-up.  Plant doesn't seem to care - just blooming it's little heart out!  2010-05-17

Walker's Low catmint
2010-07-19

Walkers Low and Wave petunias
2010-07-19

rockery Waves/sedum/nasturtium
These Waves don't grow as large according to the tag. Wish I'd read that before I bot them. The nasturtiums were grown from seed and will eventually bloom. 2010-07-19

purple delphinium
2010-07-15

delph dark purple
This fence *still* needs painting but will likely be removed when the new fence is finished. 2010-07-19

delph dark purple closeup
2010-07-19

light blue delphinium
2010-07-11

light blue delphinium
2010-07-11

pale blue delph
2010-07-19

pale blue delph closeup
2010-07-19

pretty 'weeds' pink mallow
2010-07-11

Roses
Morden Sunrise and Therese Bugnet were both blooming when I bot them and I hated to cut off the flowers but did when I planted them. Now 3 weeks later they are in bud. 2010-07-15

Rose Country Dancer
I have 3 of these. 2010-07-15

Rose country dancer
There are 3 of these in this new bed. They may not be hardy here so I'll mulch them *heavily*. 2010-07-19

ROSE Country Dancer
Bot 3 of these this year. 2010-06-27

ROSE Morden Sunrise
One of my new roses this year. 2010-06-27

shrubs
Hydrangea Limelight and an old lilac from another bed. Lilac was about 5' tall and wasn't doing well so I chopped it right back and moved it. We'll see. Still space for more in this bed. 2010-07-15

Hydrangea Limelight
I originally put this 'new this year' plant in a mostly sunny location but it wasn't doing very well. So I moved it to this new bed and it seems to like the morning sun and afternoon shade better. 2010-07-19

Hydrangea Paniculata 'Limelight'
This bed still needs a lot of work and mulch.  2010-05-17

beebalm marshall
growing well - I moved it to this new bed as it wasn't doing all that well where it was. 2010-07-19

glass totem birdbath w glass floats
2010-06-03

Ninebark Coppertina
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Mindia' 2010-05-17

Ninebark Diablo
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo' 2010-05-17

lilac dark
On the sunny side of the shady bed. 2010-06-19

Plants for new shade garden
Several Heuchera & bergenia will be planted soon.  2010-05-17

shade garden
These trees were 'limbed-up' so I can plant shrubs under. Only have a Hydrangea there now, altho it's such a water hog it may not survive. Will have to research better hardy shrubs. 2010-07-10

shade garden
2010-07-10

shade garden 1
New bed made this year. 2010-07-11

shade garden path
2010-07-19

Heuchera Crimson Curls
New this year. 2010-07-19

Heuchera Plum Pudding
New this year. 2010-07-19

Heuchera Stormy Seas
New last year and only 2 survived out of 3. I have no idea why. 2010-07-19

sea of old irises
This large bed needs to be redone but it likely won't happen this year. 2010-06-19

iris old common purple
2010-06-13

acquilegia pink
2010-06-13

acquilegia baby
These things bloom in infancy but I don't let them go to seed. 2010-06-19

acquilegia common
2010-06-19

flax blue
Love this plant and we have many in various beds all from one pack of seeds. 2010-06-20

iris purple dusty rose
2010-06-19

iris scicilian closeup
2010-06-19

lilac dark closeup
2010-06-19

oriental poppies
2010-06-19

new path
This is temporary, I just used some of my stepping stone collection. It will lead to the new yard (former horse pasture) and the main part of the front yard. 2010-05-17

pink acquilegia
2010-06-07

bright pink single peony poppy
Most of the blooms from these seeds are multi-petalled but this one is pretty anyhow. 2010-07-19

deadnettle
Love this easy little plant. 2010-06-13

erigeron (fleabane)
Blooming it's heart out as usual. 2010-07-19

bees buzzing
Bees are always active around the Lamb's Ears and one reason I really like this plant. 2010-07-19

Lamb's Ears
2010-07-09

Lamb's Ears
next to a rock slab 'bench' 2010-07-19

lime and pink
Lady's Mantle and yarrow 2010-07-19

yarrow red
2010-07-19

monkshood
just beginning to bloom 2010-07-19

lilies beginning
2010-07-19

lily closeup
I'm not impressed but it's young. First Asiatic lily blooming. Many buds on the rest. Lost my lily info so will need to ID later. 2010-07-19

red lilies beginning
I lost all my lily info so will have to ID when they bloom. 2010-07-19

pink speedwell
I moved this and amended the soil but it was better last year. 2010-07-19

Paeonia Festiva Maxima
I'm told this is an heirloom peony, first offered in 1852.  I've had it for many years and really don't remember where it came from, might have been a yard sale purchase.  I'd like to move it but am afraid to!  2010-07-09

sage & hyssop new
Blue Fortune Hyssop and East Friesland Sage - growing well. This island bed will get a reno this fall or next year. 2010-06-19

Johnny-Jump-Up
reblooming - I cut this guy back after it's spring flowering. 2010-07-19

red peony poppies
These self-seed all over and I help them a bit as well. 2010-07-19

sedum
2010-07-19

Jacob's Ladder
'Stairway to Heaven' 2010-05-17

late poppies
Oriental poppies moved in April to new bed are blooming late. This plant hates to be moved but I've often done it successfully. They pout but eventually recover as long the taproot is intact. 2010-07-19

old spirea
Finally decided to live minutes before I pulled it out! It didn't like being transplanted. 2010-07-19

marguerite weed
It's technically not a weed but so vigorous it acts like it. Relegated to one of the new beds where the deer could nibble so putting plants there that I don't care about that are supposed to be deer resistant. Not a good pic, I'll try for a better one. 2010-07-19

artemesia limelight & yellow potentilla behind
This plant is a thug that I allow as I love the way it *glows*. 2010-07-19

hypertufa hens & chicks
These plants looked great until the baby marmots discovered them. I really should pot them in a pot with a birdcage ove r. Don't have an extra large pot so they will be planted in the garden to winter over. If they don't survive I'm givin

Picasso Wave petunia
I really loved this plant when I first heard of it and was fortunate to find it while traveling. None of the nurseries around here had it. 2010-07-19

potted plants
I'm not happy with the annuals in this pot, it's had the same care as others but doesn't look great. So it's now in filtered light and getting extra care on the deck. 2010-07-19

pot red white purple
2010-07-19

nasturtium pot
Grown from seed. I'll have to try to post new pics when they bloom. 2010-07-15

marigolds 2nd chance
These poor plants were shaded by a large delph so they may work for table decorations. Keeping them in semi-shade on the verandah for awhile. 2010-07-19

seedlings
2010-07-19

sunflower experiment
2010-07-19

Lavender Munstead
I was ready to pot these up in better soil but dug one up and they are growing large roots. Have only grown a bit on top. Soil is amended mostly with sand for better drainage in our clay soil. I bot 21 so some had better survive!

Lavender dentata 'Serenity'
Has buds - hope it blooms before frost. It's a zone 8 plant growing in zone 3. I'm planning to clip the flowers and leaves for potpourri. I'm growing it as an annual and won't try to winter it over as a houseplant. 2010-07-28

large peony poppy
2010-07-28

peony poppies
These have not had much water this year so don't look as good as they could. Can't water everything in this drought. I'm letting them all self-seed. 2010-07-28

Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
2010-07-28

newest compost pile
started 2010-07-19

doe
This yearling doe has been hanging around the 'farm' - her Mom probably sent her off because she has new fawns. Later in the season they will likely reunite. We see families here in the fall, usually 5-8 in a little herd. 2010-07-14

view
2007-08-23

daylily lavender Catherine Woodbury
This is in my rose bed which has various shades of pinks, blues, and purples.  2010-08-01

daylily orange red
This is in my deer-resistant perennial bed with orange/red/yellow colors.  2010-08-01

white lilies
2010-07-28

white lilies
2010-07-29

white lily close-up
2010-07-28

sea of lilies
2010-07-28

'Dot Com' Asiatic lilies
2010-07-29

'Dot Com' Asiatic lilies
2010-07-28

pink lily
2010-07-29

pink lily
This may be a pink 'Dot Com' - tags did not weather well and info lost in computer failure. 2010-07-28

pink & yellow lily
2010-07-29

pink & yellow lily
2010-07-29

red lily
2010-07-29

yellow apricot lily
This lily is a pale apricot and is less yellow than the pic shows. 2010-07-29

tall cerise lily
2010-07-29

tall cerise lily
2010-07-29

tall cerise lily close-up
2010-07-29

wild bed
the flowers in this bed near the birdfeeder are allowed to go to seed.  Compost bins in background.

front yard
view from front deck

birdbaths
in front garden SE view

front garden
SSE view

fall garden
Island bed 2009-09-09

front garden
view to south

fall garden
Surviving mostly on occasional rain and the grass needs mowing.  Hasn't been tended lately.  9 Sept 09

front garden
SW view

pink yarrow
2009-07-05

pink yarrow close-up
2009-07-05

cerise yarrow
2009-07-12

pink and red yarrow
Many years we've pulled out the pink yarrow and left only the red but this year we are leaving the pink as well for more plants for the enlarged garden.  This stuff spreads wonderfully! 

autumn joy
already nibbled by the deer and not even in full bloom 9 Sept 09

fleabane
Actually more pink than photo shows.

critter


moss pinks
good groundcover

peony poppy
18July09

red, white, & blue
2009-07-19

iris
2009-06-14

dusty miller
2009-07-30

lavender blooming in September
2009-09-09

campanula glomerata
2009-07-17

Sicilian iris
2009-06-23

purple bearded iris
Iris sicula (Sicilian iris)

delphinium
short, pale blue delph with pink centers

tall purple delphiniums
Difficult for me to photograph the color well, it's the color on the left in my shadow that is most like the actual flowers.

delphinium in evening
2009-07-25

dark tall delphiniums
2009-07-20

iris
one of my old irises - very common but still pretty

mauve "weed"
This mauve flowered plant grows and self-seeds well in the wild bird garden.  2009-06-23

annual sunflower
seeded by the birds out in the "rough" 2009-09-09

another annual sunflower
seeded by the birds growing in the unused lasagna bed 2009-09-09

Leopard's Bane
2009-09-11

golden marguerite
I've thrown this plant out several years in a row and it keeps coming back. Weedy but it's winning.

yellow achillea
2009-07-30

perennial heliopsis
These things are taller than I am. 2009-09-09

perennial sunflowers
This is one prolific bloomer.

tiger lily
Very few blooms, it's going out in the back-40 next year.

oriental poppies
2009-06-26

glass garden totem
in oval center bed with mixed perennials, shrubs, and trees

lilac
lilacs will soon be protected with mesh so the deer can't nibble them. Fencing will be changed this year.

lady's mantle
almost ready to bloom - one of my fav perennials

heuchera "stormy seas"
New plants purchased on sale - for the new shade garden 2009-08-25

pounding posts easily
This machine with a good operator did a fantastic job of pounding posts for our new garden.  2009-06-19

1 garden house
future location.  New fence posts for extended yard soon to be pounded.  14June09

2 garden house
foundation started.  Fence posts have been pounded and waiting for wire and rails.  10July09 E view

3 garden house
garden house NE view 12July09

4 garden house
garden house N view

5 garden house
corner support - concrete still to be poured

6 garden house
12' x 16' foundation 15July09

7 garden house
1st wall from a distance 18July09

8 garden house
rear wall framed 18July09

9 garden house
at a distance looking NE 2 more walls framed 20July09

10 garden house
2nd and 3rd wall framed 20July09

11 garden house
door and window in W end wall 21July09

12 garden house
front wall will have 5 windows 21July09

13 garden house
framing below windows done 22July09

14 Garden House
most ceiling joists up 24July09

15 Garden House
Ceiling joists on 16" centers.  Entrance to attic still to be framed. 24July09

16 garden house
plywood on back wall - no windows in this wall 27July09

17 garden house
ceiling 27July09

18 garden house
ceiling/loft floor 27July09

19 garden house
access to loft storage will be by ladder and the short side walls will be part of the trusses 27July09

20 garden house
west wall partially sheathed 29July09

21 garden house
east wall sheathed with plywood.  The plan is to put battens on the plywood to simulate board and batten then paint.  29July09

22 garden house
east wall from inside 29July09

23 garden house
plywood sheathing complete 30July09

24 garden house
roof started - view from east side 4Aug09

25 gravel floor
floor will be concrete - next spring

26 gravel floor
We want the gravel to pack down as much as possible before concrete is laid.

27 2 gable ends
beginning to look like a "house"

28 ridge pole and some rafters
finally, some progress.  Too many other things have assumed importance.  Hopefully this will be roofed before the snow flies.  However life again intervenes.  :-)

29 more rafters up
We're back to "work" and if the snow hold off this project will show more improvement this month.  

30 garden house front stained
First coat of green stain today.  This makes the building look very small but it's still 12'x16'.  I think I may have green hair!  Oh well, I'll be ready for Halloween!  2009-10-04

31 house back stained
This is more true to the real color.  2009-10-04

32 loft infrastructure
7 Oct 09

33 roof construction
7 Oct 09

34 north roof with strand board
12 Oct 09

35 south roof
12 Oct 09

36 windows west side
We bought used windows at yard sales so they are various sizes. 25 Oct 09

37 windows south side
These windows are tempered glass which we bought 5 for $20 without frames. 25 Oct 09

38 windows east side
25 Oct 09

39 shingles
finally finished on 2nov09

40 loft access
needs a permanent stair/ladder for access

41 loft
full of sawdust and needs sweeping - might be a place Grandchildren will want to sleep in during summer vacation when they are older.

42 totems in storage
there will be a totem sale in the spring

43 wagons in storage
great place to store garden junk

44 door on needs a lockset
still some finishing work to be done in the spring

Summer 2010
Concrete floor inside and walkways outside have been done. Next job is painting the inside. 2010-07-24

amber totem
Using up glass 2009-08-18

globe top totem
using up glass for this one also 2009-08-18

elegant totem
Used Lexel for this one and it's taking a long time to dry - but the joints are all clear!  2009-08-01

amber birdbath
for the new garden 2009-08-01

Mother Goose totem
This will be part of the new fairy/fantasy garden which is still in the planning stages.

squirrel totem top
This fills full of water when it rains so the squirrels and chipmunks can drink at it.  2009-08-01

crystal squirrel totem
crystal squirrel totem.jpg 2009-08-01

crystal horse totem top
2009-08-18

crystal horse totem
2009-08-18

crystal horse totem
crystal horse totem posted.jpg 2009-06-22

red stick totem
Unfortunately this red piece is not really red glass but glass that has a coating which fades in the sun.  Oh well, I'll see what it looks like next year.

basket stick totem
I bot a box of these little tchotchkes at a yard sale and they decorate many totems.

swan top stick totem
another little decoration on top 2009-08-18

bird stick totem
a little bird and a basket on top

vase stick totem
Another stick totem with a vase decoration on top.

birdbath totem
matching etched glass bowl and platter

golden bird totem close-up
The yellow bird is an Avon perfume bottle.

golden bird totem
Gold bird is an Avon product bottle.

iridescent cherub totem close-up
Love this iridescent plate and it's perfect for the slightly iridescent cherub.

iridescent cherub totem
This iridescent plate was a real totem fancier's find.

elephant totem
A few of those ubiquitous green vases saved from the landfill at least temporarily.

blue and green totem
Not very good pics but it started to rain.  This may be my all time fav totem so I think I will keep it rather than offering it for sale.

unfinished totem close-up
I had saved this glass medallion for just such a purpose.  The hanger had broken off but it will look good when surrounded with mosaic pieces.

unfinished totem
This totem needs embellishing but I don't have any gold/yellow or turquoise glass gems.  I'll mosaic them on the plates.  This is the heaviest totem I've ever made.

old angel totem
and the nude woman totem in the background.  Old gate to be used somewhere in the new garden.

peanut butter jar totem
Kraft PB came in these in the 80's.  Finally a use for them.  I still have this one altho sold several similar ones.

SOLD
these are two of the many glass garden totems I've made and sold

SOLD
Two of the two dozen or so glass garden totems I made one winter for entertainment and sold.

SOLD
Totem jungle - these all sold at my yard sale.

glass flower 1


glass flower 2


glass flower 3


glass flower 4


glass flower 5


glass flower 6


glass flower 7


glass flower 8


glass flower 9


glass flower 10


glass flower 11


glass flower 12


glass flower 13


glass flower 14


glass flower 15


glass flower 16

hose guards
hose guards made with painted wrought iron pieces from an old gate, painted white, with glass insulators placed on top. Metal ones are from an old fireplace set.

rhubarb leaf stepping stone
made a bunch of these for the garden - planned to paint them but haven't gotten to it yet!

large birdhouse
Made by my husband to cover our well-head. Does not function as a real birdhouse.

plant marker plates
a cottagey way to mark plants which I made using a ceramic pen and old yard sale plates.

fairy garden in an old tin bathtub
Planted with 3 different tymes and some ground covers/edging plants.  Lots of yard sale junk to amuse the Grands and me!  This little project will never be finished but will look better when it grows a bit.

fairy house
The house is a tealight holder.

fairy umbrella
Glass pieces made into a fantasy fairy umbrella.  All yard sale finds.

fantasy fairy umbrella


fairy totem


fairy gazebo
Gazebo with bear.  Needs a floor.  I know I have some small stones stored away somewhere which will work.

white metal angel
was very rusty when I bot her at a YS.  DH spray painted it.  She will go in the Children's Garden.

metal owl tealight holder
yard sale find

ladder and other garden junk
ladder $2 at yard sale. Could use a coat of paint. Might get it.

faith hope love
That's what it's all about.

little ladder and stuff
vintage stepping stool was $2 or maybe less. Stepping stone was $1.

fragrance plaque


the green man
made of concrete - I painted it - I think it was $3 or $4 at a 2nd hand shop

hose guard
made with a wrought iron stake (from a FREE fence section) and a 10¢ insulator

hose guard


metal hose guard
made from one of the tools of a fireplace set.  Set cost $1 and yielded 5 hose guards and the holder which I will use for my garden tools.

potted plants
yard sale pot in a yard sale holder planted with a few perennials

YS stepping stone & hens and chicks
Stepping stone was $1 at a YS.  Hens & chicks potted in some hypertufa pots we made years ago.  They spend the winter planted in the garden so they can survive the cold.  I'll add some sedum ground covers to these pots.

St. Anthony
A yard sale find for $2. He is the patron saint of education according to the Benedictine tradition.

my garden assistant
This cute little furball loves being on her leash in the yard while we are gardening.  She's since been groomed so is less furry.  She's definitely garden decor, not JUNK!  LOL

digging doggy
Digging while camping.  Good thing she doesn't mind baths!

digging doggy again
This time digging in her dog run.  Keeps her amused.  2009-07-20

composter $5
lid of composter

composter 42 inches tall
composter to use for winter

3 bin compost.jpg
Now it's easier to keep the compost neat and organized.

my homemade mulch
The base is fine wood shavings with additions to increase nutrients and color.

compost in progress
This pile is heating and will not be added to except for amendments to prolong heating if necessary.

pile of used coffee grounds (UCG)
We stockpiled 3 of these piles over the winter. The others have been used as fertilizer on the garden and lawn and in the compost.

earthworm
One of my beneficial garden helpers.

5 compost bins
compost bins in the background beyond the wild bird garden are now full and heating well

5 bin compost
as seen from front patio.  Eventually I will plant around the compost bins to camouflage them.

spring is here!
Lovely little spring flowers.

Leopard's Bane
Usually the first plant to bloom in my garden.

scarlet runners
grown only for the vines and flowers.

snap dragons
One of the few annuals I occasionally plant.  Limelight Artemesia behind - a real thug which I keep for it's color.  I do cut it back and keep it under control.

front garden
Very old pic - the center bed has been enlarged, trees and large rocks added.

pink peony poppy
I'll be seeding more of these beauties.

poppies and angel
Peony poppies grew really well that year in many colors.

Rue - one of my favorite plants
not completely winter hardy but has survived several winters with good snow cover.

volunteers
Lamb's Ears, Jacob's Ladder, and Feverfew seed too readily.

delphinium
short variety purchased at a plant sale

little butterflies
These little butterflies return every year and cover my shastas.  Shastas are another self-seeder.

campanula glomerata
or clustered bellflower has a very good deep purple color.  Aggressive grower but not too invasive.

dark red hollyhock 6 Sept 06
and perennial sunflowers.

sunflower nibbled by deer


November 2008
front yard just before fall mulching

View N
2009-12-20

winter view
Light snow 1 December 09

view to NE
Heavy frost 4oct09

forest fire smoke
One day about 3pm in the summer of 09 the sun was almost covered.  So were our window sills with fine black ash!  Ugh!  No danger, the fire was a long way away.  Catastrophic for many people this year.

sunset over the garden
Not always easy for me to get a good sunset but this one is pretty.

early fall lake view
The grass on the far hills has turned gold.

later fall lake view
Later in the season our deciduous trees have turned gold.  We have birch, aspen, and alder.

summer storm
beginning of August 2006 looking toward the lake

heading south to civilization
Living in the "back-of-beyond" we travel this road to the city for shopping trips.  Mountains in the distance have snow year-round.

deer w rack


deer w rack


bear
2010-09-06

deer in garden
Mama deer and one of her twins eating seed birds drop 2009-12-26

vigilant mama
This young deer has twins. 2009-12-26

deer
eating "something" from lasagna bed. 2009-12-26

deer
one of the twins 2009-12-26

browsing on fir needles
2010-01-01

deer close up
2010-01-01

red bird near feeder
We sometimes have flocks of these. Whatever they are. 2010-01-01

deer "hiding"
2010-01-01

black bear
This first pic I took thru the LR window - see how his tongue is hanging out. I wonder if they get better scent recognition that way?  2009-09-13

bear
second pic thru the window. Just walking around, he may not know we've seen him.  I like how glossy his coat is, he looks healthy to me.  There is little food in the area of our house to interest him so he probably won't be back too soon.  We'll still be careful and watch the dog.  2009-09-13

bear
I yelled at him and he scooted. He was about 30 feet from the end of the garage and I was outside on the patio by this time to get a better pic. These guys are not habituated to humans so whenever they come around I yell at them and they scoot.  I'm not an expert on bears but I *think* he's probably only 2 or 3 years old.  Not fully grown yet and not the largest one I've seen.  Might be the cub we saw two years ago.  2009-09-13

deer in back yard
It's always bothersome to see how many scars these young animals have. They do not have an easy life. We do not allow hunting on our land.

deer in front yard
When they come in my fenced front yard they get chased out.

deer in house yard
I took some pics before I chased them out!

deer in house yard 3
Not too afraid to graze

deer in house yard 4
What is this one saying? LOL

deer in house yard 5
Ready to jump over the fence.

curious little yearling
This one knows about the goodies in my garden.  He also knows if he jumps the fence I'll chase him out.

yearling
deer yearling June08

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Wish I could get better pics of these guys.

Evening Grosbeak
at the birdbath

little buck
I gradually walked closer as I snapped pics but could only get within 30 feet or so.  2009-07-15

walking away
He's been back many times to nibble on my plants.  2009-07-15

watchful little buck
He's intrigued with Buster the cat who accompanied me for this photo session.

buck & friends
These guys sometimes like to jump the fence to taste my yummy garden plants. No hunting allowed here so they're safe.

deer
taken thru my LR window in late winter

coyote & first snowfall Oct '07
Just to the right of the house eaves you can see him walking across my "back 40".

deer in garden
Eating seed birds drop and perennial plant stalks - these winter pics are taken thru the windows. 2009-12-26

winter dog
Likely scenting deer - she loves the snow when it's not too cold. 2009-12-20

snow angel
On a mild winter day I had some fun.

nearing end of winter
1st of April 2009 and the snow is going!  2009-04-01

15 Sept 06
Very early, temporary, and unseasonable snow.  We seldom get snow this early - usually not until late October and often it does not stay until November.

winter 05/06
Typical winter scene here.