IN THE GARDEN

Let's take a peek at what's blooming in the gardens this week!

You've heard the saying that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. But did you know that sometimes it's also a bit sunnier too?!

When I planted this red mandevilla vine, I forgot that I had planted blue morning glories in the pot last summer.

They look lovely together, don't they?

I think that if I drop a few white morning glory seeds in there next year, it will be sheer red, white and blue perfection!

Obedient Plant, being very disobedient, and spreading profusely.

I love how they start blooming at the bottom and work their way up.

I added the birdhouse on the left and the butterfly house on the right to the 7 foot tall house in the middle, tucked into the back corner of The Secret Garden.

That craziness happening behind them is a Sweet Autumn Clematis, ready to burst with tiny white flowers. My plan is to have lots of Foxgloves growing around these houses by next year. So many places have their plants drastically reduced right now, so it won't cost me a fortune to really cottage-ify it up back there!

I love gardening so much! It's not just about the plant life, but the other life forms that I come across while I'm puttering around out there. Like this bug, sitting on the Autumn Joy Sedum. I think it's just a fly, but you can't deny it's beautiful metallic green color. 

This Praying Mantis posed for quite a while before he grew tired of me and crawled away. Isn't he cute?!

I read that there are larger varieties that will eat rodents and snakes, but I'm hoping this guy will be having a mosquito buffet! Speaking of snakes, there's one that likes to sun itself by the potting shed door. Unfortunately he's been too fast for me to catch. I'd really love to get a photo of him!

And when it's too dark and too scary (racoons, porcupines, bats, etc.) to garden, I love to read Better Homes and Gardens COUNTRY GARDENS magazine. I've saved every single issue I've read since discovering this magazine several years ago. It never fails to inspire me, and as any gardener knows, our gardens are never done, and we are always learning something new!