Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Frontyard Garden - Surprise Yard Art Sunflower

So....when Mr. A was spending all that time down in the shop over the past few weeks I thought he was working on his mini bike. Turns out he was creating a surprise for this garden loving mama.

Sunflower Yard Art (3)

We have a spot in the front yard that I have been saving for some garden art but so far I hadn't found anything I liked. Using his welding skills, his amazing creative eye, and a lot of hard work, Mr. A designed and then made this sunflower art and then while I was out for a walk, placed it in the garden. (Mr. A is my eighteen year old son....in case you are new to the blog.)

Sunflower Yard Art (7)
It is about five feet tall and is now securing situated in the rock garden area on the top terrace of my front yard. I can see it from my living room window which is really the best angle for seeing it. Didn't he do an amazing job?

6 11 12 Front Yard (7)
The rest of the front yard has become an amazing palette of color and every corner is now filling in with living things. The hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies are always flying here and there among the blossoms. The bees are even up in the blossoming tulip poplar tree.

Sage in Rock Garden
I am enjoying the sage this year...I think it is the shape and the delicate flowers. Or maybe it is the scent of sage that sort of lingers in the air after you walk by.

Lambs Ear
We haven't added anything new this week to the garden but the Lamb's Ear that I am trying in the rock garden is growing and filling in the space I have. My friend warned me that it will take over but I am confident that the rocks will contain it or in the end I can thin it as needed. You can see the poppies in this image too...they are being left until they go to seed so we can have a bumper crop of springtime poppies next year.

Our time this week in the garden was spent trimming bushes on the side of the house, cutting back the neighbor's blackberry vines from the fence line, and a bit of weeding around the bottoms of the bird feeders.

Rhod Close 6 12
Here is one shot from the backyard garden. This is my rather temperamental rhododendron. Look at it! Blooming so pretty this year.

Now is such an exciting time in the garden. My focus this year has shifted from veggies to flowers since we have an amazing Farmer's Market where I can glean as much fresh stuff as our family needs without all the fussing. I may go back to growing lots of veggies in the future but for now it is nice just to enjoy the colors and shapes of the flowers. (I do have a few staples in the back square foot garden but not much more than herbs, zucchini, okra, and a tomato.)

Sigh...I love this time of year.




Jami's Tuesday Garden Party meme is open from Tuesday to Thursday so there is still time for you to jump in and participate!