From the desk of: Veronica
Veronica here! Are you dying to know how project “Brighten Up My Summer” is going? I knew you were. Never fear, I’m here with an update and copious photo evidence.
Plant more flowers – not just a check, but an emphatic CHECK! on this one.
Observe:
This bed was FILLED to the brim with a plant that I personally thought looked very weed-like. I dug up every last one of those suckers and planted some along a fence behind our garage and gave the rest away. My poor yucca (spiky plant on the left) can finally breathe again! I balanced the yucca with a beautiful hosta (on the far right) that was being suffocated elsewhere and the rest is peonies my mom bought at a Master Gardener sale (for only $4!) I put another big bunch in the front yard under our picture window, too. I LOVE peonies. I can’t wait for them to bloom next summer!
Right next to that bed is this one, which was all weeds and a few drooping Sweet William (which I moved to a better location) when we moved in. The top row is now forget-me-nots, I’ve been trying to grow some Allysum in the middle row and just got some little sweet peas blooming throughout, and I FINALLY finished the bottom row today. That is four large bunches of Trillium (Trillium!!) that I have rescued from all over the yard. The last bunch that I dug up today during naptime was wedged between the foundation of the house, a poky cedar tree, and some even pokier rose bushes. I have a lot of scratches on my arms and legs, but dang it, I saved that little plant and moved it here.
Here is the planter I mentioned (found it in the yard when we moved in, gave it a good spray paint, and it’s good as new!), and I DID plant some hot pink Sun Patiens, just like I hoped. Don’t mind the weeds in the driveway, that ugly rain spout coming off the carport, or the bed to the right. I have plans for all that. Plans, I tell you!
This little island of cedar trees basically blocks this whole side of the house and our backyard so you can’t see them from the road. Jeremy loves that. I planted a row of Allium (they are bright purple balls on top of long skinny stems when in bloom – so cool!) with a bunch of Mallow flowers on either side (bright pink when in bloom), all transplanted from my mother’s yard.
I really hate that black plastic ring you can see, though. Pull it up and get a few more big rocks? What do you think?
This is the side of the “cedar island” we see from the house. Those cute Hostas were already there, and I planted a few dozen Irises (from my mother and mother-in-law’s gardens) to fill it out. Oh, did I mention that I carried ALL of those rocks from across our huge yard? They were piled behind the garage, and since we don’t have a wheelbarrow and I’m so impatient that I want to start a project IMMEDIATELY when it pops into my head, I carried them one at a time and felt all strong and invincible when I was done.
Here’s the hot pink Azalea I told you I was going to plant in front of my front door, and … well …
- It looked bigger in the store
- It was in full bloom until yesterday. Should have taken a picture sooner, Veronica.
- I have plans to mulch soon. This weekend, hopefully. I know it looks sad.
- That crack in the sidewalk … it’s here to stay for a while. I’ve got a million more things I’d rather spend money on right now. Like a NEW KITCHEN. Priorities.
Whew. That was wordier than I expected. But, flowers – CHECK!
Ride my bike – CHECK!
Look at those girls in their new bike trailer! They love it!
I love it too, except … well, now I need recommendations for a nice bike seat. I feel like someone was hitting my butt with a sledge hammer. TMI? My bad.
But seriously. Tell me which bike seat to buy, and I’ll do it.
Go to a National
Park – Okay, not yet. But we went to the Detroit Zoo!
So close.
I haven’t gotten to the yoga, popsicles, or date nights yet, but hey, that’s pretty good so far, am I right?
What have you been up to? Do you have any other easy ways I could brighten up my summer? Gardening tips? Don’t forget the bike seat recommendation!
You can find Veronica at her blog, Veronica M.D. (no, she’s not a real doctor), on Twitter, Instagram, (and Pinterest!). Feel free to stalk her. She encourages it.
Sean Purcell Photography 