Each year when I plant my summer flower garden, it’s the signal that summer is just around the corner. Some years are so busy that I wait until after school gets out. Other years, my mom and dad have surprised me by planting all the flowers for me. This year I decided the long Memorial Day weekend was the perfect time to plant my flower garden.
As is our yearly tradition, my dad and I met up in the morning and headed out to a few of our local nurseries to select, purchase, and plant the summer flowers. This year I wanted to make sure there was plenty of color in both my front and back yards. I’m so grateful for everything I have in my life – a wonderful family, a fabulous place to live, and soon a new puppy companion – and I wanted that joy to be vividly shown in my garden.
The photos were taken yesterday (and a few this morning) and I think they show just how successful we were in capturing that feeling. See what you think:
First we’ll start in the front of the house. My sister has a green thumb, and as I look out my window or front door every morning, I see a beautiful array of roses and lilies. I wanted to make sure that my sister (and anyone else who might see my front yard) had a view that was just as pretty. My front yard is mostly shade until around 4pm, when I get a few hours of hot afternoon sun. I think the combo of flowers we selected will do really well with this light.
This is the view from my sister's house (front yard).
I love how unique these square containers look. Flowers: impatiens, dianthus, fiberous begonias
Flowers: impatiens, dianthus, petunias, begonia
Flowers: impatiens, dianthus, petunias, begonia, fiberous begonia
Flowers - impatiens, dianthus, fiberous begonias
Next, we’ll go to the back yard. My backyard is very lush and green, thanks to some nice plants and trees that have been there for years, but I have always thought that it lacked color. Yes, the bird of paradise have color, but they in need of some serious pruning, and I really hate those plants, but since the landlord likes them, they stay. Also, I enjoy the bottle brush tree and the holly berry tree, but other than that, my backyard is pretty blah. That is, until yesterday. I think the combination of potted flowers really adds a lot of life to the yard. I get great light all day in the back, but the sun really hits around 1pm and lasts the rest of the afternoon until sunset.
A view of the backyard, taken from my patio. I really am lucky to have such a nice-sized yard.
This is the memorial garden I made for Lulu; the hydrangeas were there (although now they're blooming). I added the sunflower pot.
Close-up of the sunflower pot. Flowers: dianthus, fiberous begonia
I love the firecracker red salvia!
These pots originally held the hydrangeas, but I repurposed them, and I'm very happy with the way they turned out. I get to see these beauties every morning when I look outside from my dining table.
I love the bright-orange zinnia coupled with the colorful petunias.
Whenever I'm on a walk, I'm always drawn to geraniums, so I decided to plant some of my own. They're coupled with petunias here.
This was the plant I had on my patio table, but I thought it would fill in the corner of the yard nicely and add some much-needed color.
This azelea has seen better days on my dining table, but I'm hoping it will come back now that it's roots have room to grow.
I can’t wait until all of my flowers really take root and begin to flourish! As my dad and I were planting them yesterday, I started to think about how nice it will be to take a few quiet moments to water each of these plants and think about my day. Right now, while school is still in and things are hectic, it will be a short relief from the stress. Later, when summer is here, it will be a wonderful way to begin or end my day, reminding myself of the beauty that can be found in the simplest things.
As much as I say that I’m not a gardener, I do think I have the soul of one. I love everything that goes along with it, even getting my hands dirty. Maybe with a bit more practice and a dash of confidence, I’ll become a full-fledged green thumb after all.
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Because I love to have plants and flowers in the house, too, I thought I’d share the newest additions.
Dalias have to be one of my favorite flowers ever, and this pink./yellow combo is gorgeous.
The thing I love about Pathos plants is that they thrive in low light. This one is going to do really well in my bedroom.
Do you garden? What have you been planting, lately?
What a beautiful back yard you have!! I’m jealous, ours is mostly sand so not much grows. We do have a bunch of shade trees though, so I do like that.
I’ve been wanting to get some plants for the inside so may do that this week.
Here’s My HYC
I couldn’t be considered a gardener by even the slightest measure. I’m the person who occasionally gets something planted and then forgets to water it and gets a notice from the homeowner’s assoc that empty planters have to be filled or removed… Oops. I’m not a very nurturing person in general and it’s abundantly clear when you mix me with plants. Your flowers all look great!
Love it! And I love the relationship you have with your parents
I’m really lucky to have such amazing parents. They support me in everything, and I have them to thank for making me into the woman I am today.
There was a brief period on my mid 20s when I took them for granted and we had a falling out, but once I came to my senses (and I lost the bad boy), I promised myself I’d never let anything or anyone come in between my family again.