Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Saying Goodbye to My Garden

This spring is a little bittersweet.  We are so happy and excited to be building our new home and yet we still love our current home where we have shared many wonderful times.  One of the things I'll really miss about this home are my gardens.   

Our current home sits in the middle of our property.  We have a large field in the front and woods in the back.  We have landscaping at the front of the house with shrubs and flowering bushes
but my flower beds are mainly in the backyard.
I've  spent 25 years pushing the woods back and, through trial, error and lots of work, have gardens that make me smile. 
Wildflowers, like this wild vinca, coneflowers, may apples  and monarda grow with hostas, forsythia, iris, clematis and hydrangea.  
Last year I planted a new bed near the vegetable garden. It had irises, alliums and cardinal flowers.  
The iris and allium bloom early and they were very showy this year!
These are what my mother used to call 'Old Fashion Iris.'  I'm sure they have another name but since these are from her, that's the name I use.  They are smaller than the new hybrids but are quite hardy.  I've planted some of these in my holding bed at my mother-in-law's house when I separated them last year.
Mom also gave me a start from her white iris bed.  These are quite large.

I have two different colors of Dutch Iris.  This bright yellow is in the middle of the lily bed and blooms now.  Those day lilies will bloom a bit later.
This was just after a shower last week.

My favorite one of these two is the purple.  It's in one of my peony beds.  I'm not sure how it wound up there but isn't it striking?
My mother really loved her peonies but was somewhat disappointed she had them growing on the north side of her house because no one could see them from the street.  When they bloomed, she'd find a reason for her 'company' to walk around the house (or look out the north windows) to show them off.  Mother was a fabulous gardener and could grown anything!  She wasn't a proud woman but she did truly enjoy sharing the results of her gardening with others.  

I have my peonies along the wood's edge of our yard.
Mom had dark red (or that's what she called them) blooms like this
and pale pink.
I have added several two-tone blooms.
This one had a visitor.
I've enjoyed watching this family of robins grow up this spring on our back deck.  Their parents were determined to build their nest in a pot I've been growing a snowball bush.  
(A friend gave me two of these busehes last year for our new house.  
They are both about to bloom now!)
It doesn't take but a few weeks
 and they've grown.
This was taken the day before they left the nest.

Thanks for strolling through my gardens today.  It may take me several years but I hope to have beautiful new flower beds at our new house.  
Until that happens, I'll be enjoying many of your gardens in blogland.

I'll give you a quick house update.  This week, the roofing shingles, windows and doors were added. And just in time, as rain is in the forecast (on and off) for the next week!  The electrician is working today and tomorrow.  The plumber has completed his tasks for now.  If we don't get much rain, the concrete flat work could begin by the end of the week. 

Here are a few pictures including our front door.
  


I'm beginning to think about new flower bed possibilities already!

Zenda


Linking to these great parties:

Tuesdays With A Twist

23 comments:

Stacey said...

Oh my, I've been in your shoes before! Were you crying when you wrote this post? My husband and I moved here 4 years ago and leaving my old yard was very hard for me. Someone who has never gardened wouldn't get that but you do. There comes a point where you are just looking ahead and it's ok to let go...I hope you are to that point now or very soon. ;)

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

I will be in the same spot - so I am trying to enjoy everything as it blooms this spring and summer. I will miss my perennials that I have nurtured through the years so much!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I know exactly how hard it is to leave a garden, but you are lucky that you will be able to have a new one at your new home. We moved into an apartment and had to leave our very extensive gardens behind in favour of a single tomato plant and a few herbs on our balcony. I took lots of pictures over the last summer we were there so we could keep our memories alive. Your house is looking splendid!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

I enjoyed walking around your gardens with you. Seeing all the iris and peonies and knowing the connection between them and your mother is very special. I have to believe you are going to move some of these plants to your new place? That was sweet how you got to observe the robins development. My robin's nest got raided so nothing happened and now it's abandoned. Your new home is looking wonderful. I like that roof lines and the way the garage has a bit of an angle. Looks like you'll be able to move in there before you know it!

Creations By Cindy said...

Awe...yes this will be bittersweet for you. Your garden is so lovely with all the beautiful blooms. But I see you having YET another beautiful garden. Your home is coming along nicely. I know you are excited. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Julie's Lifestyle said...

I too enjoyed looking at your beautiful flowers growing in your garden. I know you will miss it but you have a new home to look forward to and do new planting. Your house is coming along nicely. Take care.
Julie xo

Laura said...

I can imagine what you are feeling.
As we look at moving someday, leaving my home and garden would be hard.
A wise friend told me it is when the reason to move becomes more important that it will all be OK.'

Rosie M. said...

Oh, Zenda, what a joy to visit your garden. I do not have a green thumb at all and seeing what you have created is astonishing. With you care and talent, another garden at your new home will bloom just as lovely. I've so enjoyed your new adventure. Thank you for taking us along. I've never seen a house being built from the bottom, up. Absolutely intriguing how it all comes together. Take care and keep looking forward. Rosie @ The Magic Hutch

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Your gardens are stunning but I am sure you will continue to have a gorgeous garden in your new home!! And those baby robins are so precious!! Thanks so much for sharing and thnaks for stopping by!!

Hugs,
Deb

Decor To Adore said...

I can see why this is bittersweet. I adore the wee nest of robins. Thank you for being a lovely flower that joined our garden party.

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

Your gardens are so pretty and I am sure you can recreate beautiful ones in your new home. I still long for my gardens at my 1900's farmhouse. I still long for the house! I have well established gardens for 20 years now and my husband now wants to downsize! Not sure I could leave my gardens again!

Unknown said...

How beautiful! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty

Art and Sand said...

What a beautiful garden. I am sure it is difficult to leave behind.

Thanks for sharing with SYC.

Mary K. said...

These are such beautiful photographs Zenda and your garden is gorgeous. I am a brown thumb so I can really appreciate the beauty and hard work that must go into having such lovely gardens as yours. Your home is looking really nice too. I'm sure that you'll have gardens all around the area in no time. I am also hosting a new link party called Sweet Inspiration and would love to have you join us. It runs Friday till Tuesday.

The Charm of Home said...

You do have a beautiful garden! I love that new house too. Thanks for sharing!

Kim said...

Zenda, your gardens are a dream. So, so many spectacular blooms. Your peonies are amazing, so many pretty frills and colours. I have do no doubt you will have a beautiful garden at your lovely new home. It may take a little while but it will look just as lovely, if not better than that in your 'old' home. The progress on the building of your new home is amazing. It is looking lovely. Love your new front door.

Pili said...

I've never had a garden like yours, Zenda, but I can imagine it has to be hard. You have such a beautiful garden with so many pretty flowers... Your new house looks great, and I am sure that before than you can imagine you'll be able to create and enjoy a new garden again.

Thanks for sharing with us at Sweet Inspiration, hope you have a lovely weekend!

carol@The Red Painted Cottage said...

Your garden is gorgeous and I can see why you're going to miss it. When we moved, I dug up a few plants I really wanted. Any chance of you doing that? Whether you can or not, you'll still have lots of time and room to start a new garden.

A Crafty Mix said...

Breathtaking, truly beautiful. Thank you for the lovely stroll through your garden and I'm sure your new garden will also give you so much pleasure.

trishie said...

Wow that is an amazing garden. I can see why it's been bittersweet. How wonderful to have baby robins hatch in your garden and watch them grow!!

Anonymous said...

You have beautiful flowers

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