Come into my garden, my flowers want to meet you :)

It’s that time of year again when all the flowers are vying for attention.  Every which way you turn, there’s a splash of color here and a profusion of blooms there.  Ever since spring has sprung around these parts, the temperatures have fluctuated from pretty warm in the 80’s to fairly cooler days with clouds and drizzle.  I guess the latter has it’s upside as it makes spring last that much longer.  There’s nothing worse than going from winter to summer with no spring-like weather in between.  I have a pretty small urban garden since we’ve downsized, but I spend a lot of time trying to make it a more welcome patch for us, the pollinators and our fine-feathered friends.  There’s nothing  more satisfying for me than to sit on the back patio and watch the birds dive-bomb to the feeders.  Recently,  a pair of mourning doves have set up home in our space, they seem unperturbed as I work around them.  Come with me, won’t you and take a look around at some of what has been blooming since March in our city garden.

Above the variegated red twig dogwood is a shrub that offers year round interest to the garden. In the summer these shrubs display showy variegated leaves, and small white flowers, but the winter months are when the red twig dogwood really shines. In the snow, the bright red branches pop adding considerable interest to the winter garden.  Next to the dogwood is a planter with a rainbow of colors featuring scented petunias and verbena.

Above, the viburnum bush and the pretty acuba bush with its red berries line the driveway and make a bold statement.

I love how the candytuft plant cascades over the wooden planters.  It was but a wee plant when I first bought it;  I had visions of it covering that entire area.  It is slowly but surely getting there.

Another view of the candytuft – in the background is the amazing Japanese Hinoki, with the Blue Spruce in front which needs to be trimmed each spring.  Spending time on the front porch is definitely enjoyable with so much greenery around.

The front bed is shared by our neighbors and us – the crape myrtle tree sits smack dab in the middle.  We try to co-ordinate our plantings each year to bring a more uniformed look to the bed.  Our neighbor has some beautifully colored tulips that are blooming right about now that infuse a shot of color.  The bed is also graced by a gorgeous red dwarf Japanese maple and some golden cypress bushes.  The chartreuse hostas on either side of the crape myrtle also stand out and fill the bed gracefully.

Euonymus and yews also occupy the bed and help keep the weeds at bay.  Lambs ear, delphinums, iris and toad lily (not pictured) also share space with the other plants.

Container gardening – I make sure that the squirrels do not dig up the containers as soon as I’ve planted them.  The bottom right coleus pot shows a netting cover in addition to small rocks to keep the squirrels from digging in the newly planted pot.   When the plants are established, I remove the rocks and the netting.

Some bleeding heart volunteers that I’m trying to baby at the moment after the squirrels dug it up in the ground.

Some garden critters – I’ve yet to plant my annuals in the ground this year.  The backyard patio is another favorite; a perfect outdoor space for the warm weather months.

The beautiful clematis draping itself around the fence is always a focal point and draws attention to anyone visiting the garden.  I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing just some of the garden as much as I’ve loved sharing it with you.  It’s a work in progress for sure.  Keep calm and garden on 🙂

Linking this gardening post to Fiesta Friday #118.  Thanks to co-hosts Kaila @ GF Life 24/7 and Laurena @ Life Diet Health