the Mermaid, the Lily, and the Photobomb

At the base of our deck stairs, right next to our swing set sitting area is a small garden.

A mermaid, perched on the bottom step, seems to enjoy this location.

I know this because she is always in the same relaxed position, soaking up the summer sun, with a most blissful look on her face.

 I planted several lilies in this spot a few years ago, but like many other things I've planted in 'groupings,' only one plant seems to have survived.

I think it rather enjoys being the main attraction in this little garden setting.

We have finally purchased some much needed bark mulch and hopefully we'll have this little area looking oh-so-much tidier in the not too distant future.

When I was snapping these photos yesterday, I didn't realize I'd captured a photobomb until I saw the pictures on my computer screen (look closely and you'll see it, too!).

 There, in all his little glory, was Chip with a peanut in each cheek and one in his mouth.  Chip, you made this photo all the better, you funny little guy!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Donna

Climbing Clematis

 I love clematis. How could I not? Just look at those blossoms!

 Their only downside is that, like all perennials, the bloom time is relatively short.

 

(dry brush filter)

 The clematis that climbs our light post is simply spectacular when flowering.

 Heavy rains over the past several weeks, however, brought an even earlier end to its short bloom time. These photos were taken about two weeks ago, when the vine was still covered with flowers.

Not to worry though. The clematis climbing the arbor over the garden gate has just started blooming. Not as spectacularly as in years past, thanks to me accidentally cutting the vine growing up the side of the arbor that you see in the photo above. A winding trumpet vine was starting to warp the lattice, and since it was too shady a spot for the vine to even blossom, I decided to cut it back to remove the thick, destructive trunk. In the process, however, I accidentally cut back the clematis growing up that side as well!

 (dry brush filter)

Thankfully, the clematis I'd planted on the left side of the arbor escaped my cutting shears...

... and it's putting on a spectacular show right now. I'm hoping that next year the right side will grow back!

 

A little further into the backyard, the clematis that I had all but given up on (planted a few years ago) suddenly took off this year! Perhaps it was having a race with the new honeysuckle vine I just planted next to it, seeing who could reach the top of the swing set first.

I love the combination of the lavender clematis and the red-orange honeysuckle intertwining. These are the vines that are planted on the left side of the swing set, where the ladder to the monkey bars used to be...

 

(watercolor filter)

 

(dry brush filter)

I planted the same combination of lavender clematis and red-orange honeysuckle on the right side of the swing set as well.

Hopefully the rain will stay away for a while and let these beauties finish their natural bloom time!

Wishing you all a beautiful week.

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

Tracie, Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party

and Cindy, My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday

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

Hummingbirds and honeysuckle vines....

Honeysuckle is my way of thanking the hummingbirds who visit our little backyard.

 They provide so much entertainment for us that back in May, I bought three more Major Wheeler honeysuckle vines for them.

We planted one at the base of the arbor by our backyard gate.

With any luck it will climb over the arbor and I'll be able to watch the hummingbirds who visit it from the deck or the dining room window.

We planted the other two on the front posts of our swingset deck sitting area.

One of the vines was planted on a post right next to the honeysuckle vine that is already growing on our homemade obelisk.

We're hoping that in a few years' time, the honeysuckle vines will grow up the front posts and then start traveling across the old monkey bars!

 While the hummingbirds do visit the hanging fuchsias on the patio, they definitely seem to prefer the honeysuckle.

Of course they also love their feeders, so I always make sure we have fresh sugar water for them. This single feeder hangs from the swingset.

A larger feeder hangs from our mulberry tree. The arrow is pointing to the female hummer resting on one of the branches...

... right before she visited the feeder (how I'd love to have a telescopic camera lens!)

The third feeder hangs from our deck...

... and, as you can see, Mrs. Hummingbird was enjoying her sugar water when I took this photo last week.

 

Photos of our honeysuckle vine on April 28th (left), May 2nd (right)...

... and then a photo taken this evening.

Our oppressive (hot AND muggy) weather has broken and it's been glorious - mid 70's and dry, so I really enjoyed my time in the back yard after supper tonight. And while sitting on the swingset deck I was able to catch videos of both the male and female hummers at the honeysuckle vine (within minutes of each other)...

The male stopped by first...

...  and then the female paid a visit.

One more that I shot of the male.
(You can really see his ruby red throat at the 32 second mark!)

I know I've shared this in the past, but here's a quick way to make sugar water for your hummingbird feeders. It cools down in a fraction of the time that it takes the normal recipe to cool off!

Quick Hummer Solution: Put 1 cup water in saucepan. Put 1 cup sugar in saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring regularly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. As soon as it starts to boil turn off the burner. Add 3 cups very cold water to the sugar solution and stir. And that's it!  Now it will still need to cool down before you fill your feeders (I always check it with my finger to make sure it has cooled enough), but it's just ready so much quicker than boiling the entire 4 parts of water and then having to wait for all 4 parts of water to cool!

I'm linking to Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home this week.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Donna