Yard of the Month

I was awarded Yard of the Month in the neighborhood I live in. What a wonderful surprise I had when I walked outside and saw this. It has given me much inspiration to start getting you all caught up on my yard. So stay tuned there is more to come.

Memorial Day Stroll

 Our stroll today is mostly going to be in the shade area, because it really hot out today. This bed has walking iris, caliduums and coleus.

 This great green plant is lemon line hydrangea, it is two years old and this is the first time it has bloomed.

 Everyone this visits my garden asks where I get all the really cool calidiums, sorry to tell them mail order. I was really surprised how big this one got, its called moonlight.

 Last year I ordered over 100 of these very pretty white with just a very narrow border of green, it really show up in dark areas of the garden.

 This calidium is new year and I got from a company that  Meems talked about on her garden blog. I cant remember what it is called, sorry.

 This one looked like a slice of watermelon, its gingerland very pretty paired with red pentas.

 Fern growing on a rock, anyone know what the name is?

 Now out in the hot sun for lions tail, it just started bloomimg had to move due to too much shade. Great Florida plant full sun, sand and little water.

My favorite new vine, here is the link so you can see what it looks like when the flowers go to seed, this is how its get its name http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1845/. This is the end of the tour, have a safe Memorial Day. Janis

Easter Morning Stroll in the Garden

 Easter morning in the garden was very quiet, only the sounds of two cardinals that are nesting in my garden, flying back and forth looking for food.

 When I am on the computer this is my view out of the window, it draws me to hurry and get outside. My husband laid this red brick patio many years ago and I think it add to the charm of a Cottage Garden.

 My knockouts are on their second flush of the season, they make the view even  more inviting, calling me to come brag on them.

 The shade garden has be a difficult project, fighting all the roots of the grand oak tree, but this year I am happy with how it looks.I will be adding more calidiums this year.

 When the city took up the old street bricks they threw them in the river, we re- purposed them in our garden, to make more paths. When there is a hard rain you can find old milk bottles that were also thrown in the river.

 This is trellis number two and houses two new birds nest.

 This is the old barrel garden,, can you see the old water pump in the back?

Now this garden reminds me of plants of the dinosaur times, the shape of the foliage I guess.Now the kitchen is calling me, so have a blessed Easter. Janis

Cottage Seating and Daylilies

 We love seating at Graceful Cottage Garden, Mr. Grumpy just scraped all the old paint off the set and put a new Spring color on. The cute little dish garden came for Greenfest.

I move around the garden all day long to escape the hot sun, this is the about 2 pm seating I take.

Can you see the jasmine all around the arbor, smells great in the morning and evening.

My old garden cat Pooh pick this old alley found bench to rest on.

This is in the front rose garden, Weeping China Doll tree, between two chairs that are suppose to look like shutters.

Now the day lily part, the future bloom.

I do wish I could tell you the names but I can't, most have been ordered from Paradise Gardens. Paradise Gardens premium daylilies, the BEST on the market.

If my blog had not go down and Meeems came to the rescue giving me tips on posting and my Daughter Jessica came over and fixed it I would not be able to share with you guys. Thanks you Meems and Jessica. Janis

God Grows Roses in the Spring

 There is a saying God grows roses in the Spring and man has to do it the rest of the year.

 I love roses and have over 100 bushes in my garden, a real gardener knows all of the names, but I don't.

 Most of my roses came from Hardins in South Tampa, some mail order from The Texas Rose Rustlers. They go to old cemeteries and take cutting of OGR , they figure if they ares still alive after 100 years them must be hardy.

 This is one of my favorite roses, Weeping China Doll, so many clusters of roses hanging over the fence. Makes me very :).

 This is Prosperity, just beautiful.

If your ever in the neighborhood, stop and smell the roses. Have a great gardening weekend. Janis

Hillsborough High School's Garden April 2011

 The schools garden is growing like crazy, the background is the butterfly garden.

 When the teachers and students turn the corner this is what they see, just beautiful.

 This is The Big Red rose garden, the plaque says is it maintained by Janice Harvey Vogt  in memory of Deanne Ray. Deanne was my best friend that passed away last year.

 Any one that has grow Double Knock Roses knows they bloom like crazy with little care.

 My first go at a tropical garden, inspired by Meem's garden. Meems you said pack in the plants,  so I did.

 This is a close up. We had a tree for shade and they cut it down, so I planted banana trees from my yard to give them shade in  time.

 I was standing in the back and thought this was a pretty picture, so  I took the photo.

There are the roses for the Tampa fallen officers, Officer Curtis and Officer Kocap. Just a reminder for the students the sacrifice the officers made. Please have a great week guys. Janis

This is only a Test

I was sitting is my front yard last week and this is what I saw from my chairs, so I took this picture. Is'nt is pretty the plants are foxgloves and mona lavendar. My blog has been giving me trouble so this is just a test. Janis