Outdoor flower decor...

 Ahhh, sweet spring!

This photo was taken two days ago through the dining room bay window.

The same view, exactly three months ago in early March. 

The summer view is soooooo much more appealing!

This is the view looking in the opposite direction through the bay window. The Major Wheeler honeysuckle vine we planted last year has now climbed to the top of the arbor!

It was only a couple of feet tall when we planted it last summer.

I'm so happy it took off. I wasn't sure if it would, because this isn't a very sunny spot.

But despite all odds, it is growing and budding, just as I'd hoped it would.

One more place for our hungry hummers to visit while visiting our yard!

We also planted a small Major Wheeler honeysuckle on both sides of the swingset deck last summer. It has climbed to the top of the framework, so hopefully we'll be surrounded by hummers when we sit out in the Adirondack chairs this summer!

I mean between the honeysuckle and the feeders, how can our tiny feathered friends resist stopping for a visit?

The vines are loaded with blossoms ...

...that are just starting to open!

Another beacon for our little hummer friends - the Calibrachoa on the plant stand on the deck. 

I finally got around to planting impatiens in the shed's window boxes. I'm really off to a slow start this year with my planting.

Out in the front yard, a hanging basket gets 'plopped' down in the whiskey barrel, as it does every year.

The irises are blooming in the rock garden next to the whiskey barrel...

... and the clematis has started blooming by the light post.

(the view from my studio office window)

It's so wonderful to welcome spring after the long New England winters (especially this past one!), even on rainy days like today!

I hope you all have a beautiful week!

Donna

Our Memorial Day...

We had a nice relaxing Memorial Day.

After driving our oldest daughter, who came home for the weekend, back to Boston I spent some time in our little back yard. We've done a little tweaking out here, but not much.

The irises are in full bloom now, putting on a spectacular show.

Lots of weeding needs to be done! (Those are flowers -yet to bloom- in front of my flamingos, but to the center and left in front of the picket fence it's all weeds!).

One of our little hummers paid a visit while I was sitting up on the deck. He couldn't seem to decide whether to sip from the feeder or visit the flowers (yet to be planted). He opted for the sugar water in the feeder.

But the best part about our Memorial Day...

... was that we were able to go to the Emergency Animal Clinic Monday night at 9:30 to pick up THIS happy little guy...

... who after four days of not eating, finally has his ravenous appetite back!

Our boy is 13 and he's got his share of health issues, so it's often a guessing game as to what is going on. Long story short, after visits to the vet on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and then a 24 hour stay at the Emergency Animal Clinic Sunday/Monday, we have our boy back home!

Thank you all soooo much for your thoughts and prayers for Mr. J! We sure appreciated them!

This week I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday and

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Donna

A Fuchsia Sunset...

The last few hours before the sun sets are my absolute favorite.

This is the view when I'm sitting on the patio down in the backyard...

I usually sit on the settee in the center because it's easy to see both of my hummingbird feeders from there, and the hours before sunset are the most active for these little jeweled birds!

I can see the feeder that hangs from the mulberry tree...

(being visited by the female hummer here)...

.. and the one that hangs from the swingset deck sitting area next to the honeysuckle vine

(being visited by the male hummer here).

The patio becomes an almost magical place to sit and unwind as the sun starts to set...

The fuchsia plants that hang from the tent over the patio are brilliant as the sun streams through the blossoms.

I'm always amazed that the hummingbirds pay little attention to the fuchsias. They occasionally visit them, but definitely seem to prefer the feeders and the honeysuckle vine.

I tried planting cardinal climber from seed last year, but they hadn't even flowered by the time the hummingbirds left in September...

... so this year I bought well-established plants to climb the small twig obelisk we made last year. I certainly hope these flower long before the hummers leave in September!

My beautiful irises put on a spectacular show this year.

These photos were taken at the very end of May, when they were at their peak.

Their bloom time has now come to an end. I desperately need to plant more perennials that bloom later in the season. Other than some annuals and my honeysuckle vine that give summer-long color, it seems that most of the perennials I've planted are early bloomers. But all in good time...

After all, it was only 5 to 6 years ago that the backyard looked like this. We were left with a large crater after taking down our old above ground pool.

So rather than focus on how much still needs to be done, I think I'd rather reflect on how much we've accomplished over the past several years, transforming the "Roswell crater" into a little garden oasis that attracts a wide variety of birds and little critters (my beloved "Sammy" Squirrels and "Chip"munks!). The fact that they all make their homes in our garden and/or visit us on a regular basis makes me oh-so-happy!

Wishing you all a beautiful week...

I'm joining Claudia, Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing Saturday,

Brenda, Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday.

Tracie, Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party
and Cindy, My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna