Spring pictures from the Big Blue House

 WHAT'S BLOOMING AT THE BONAM'S SPRING 2012

The hyacinths have come and gone, as did our daffodils.  Thier minature cousins (iris,daffodil, hyacinth and tulips) all bloomed about a month ago, and our crocus have been gone since the beginning of March.  The paperwhites have also bloomed and faded by the time we took these photos. 

Shrub Garden

Backyard Walkway

Since we dove right into projects this spring, we didn't get pictures taken and uploaded to the blog as quickly as we should have.  Sadly, these pictures were taken a few weeks past the tulip's prime. 

None-the-less, they are still beautiful spring pictures of the Big Blue House. 

These pictures are the fruits of our labor (and the cause of our previous November back injuries) 



Berm




Front yard walkway to the drive





Front Birch Bed



Front Peach Tree Bed



Foundation Planting




A few weeks earlier the Rhododendron behind the Azaleas was in bloom as well.  This photo was taken after I had cleaned up the area and snipped quite a few spent tulips.


Foundation Planting



Corner Fence / Paperbark Maple Garden



Corner Fence / Paperbark Maple Garden



It's a pity that we didn't snap a picture of this sooner.  The corner fence had many more hyacinths and tulips a few weeks earlier.  That is an Olga Mezitt Rhodo behind the fence.  Each spring she is STUNNING.  Every passer-by asks about Olga.


Native Garden





The photo to the right is of our Native Praire Garden.  This photo was taken early April...and YES those are coneflower next to the tulips.  They came up REALLY early this year.


Mature Lilac




My mom's nat geo moment




My mom's nat geo moment




Berm




Berm




In just a few weeks, the tulips on the berm will be traded out for Allium.  I cannot wait to see that.  I adore Allium.

Fenceline



Front Peach Tree Bed




Fenceline



Side of house pulling into our Drive



Another of Mom's Nat Geo Moments



It was like meeting a rock star.

There is a house in our neighborhood that I have always admired (ok, envied) since we moved in.  They have the MOST perfect landscaping.  It was actually their house that inspired me to create our berm.  Today, after the 3rd plant run... after i had just planted the 28th plant... the woman, the legend, the owner of my favorite house came walking by with her dog.  I didn't know it was her at first.  After the initial hellos and pleasant conversation about how beautiful our berm looked, she introduced herself as the owner of none other than my favorite house.  I could have passed out.  She then went on to invite me over any time so that I could see her BACK YARD.  I could have died just then and there.  I do think I'll take her up on it.  I've always wondered what fabulous things they have in the backyard.
     PS - did I mention she works at Sids which is my favorite store during the spring and summer months.  Hmmm... wonder if my new friend can get me a job... :)
-- Lisa

I added some yarrow and salvia to the berm. 

It's filling in nicely!

I found lavender today... mark the pathway garden DONE!

a close up of the yarrow.  I really played up the yellow hues on the berm with the yarrow, yucca and euonymus.

I had to add a few rocks behind the hens-and-chicks.  I feared they were going to get too much run off from the sea thrift and silberlocke korean fir.

I put in a few more hosta, they really seem to light up the shade area on the northeastern side of the pine.  That big bare space on the right is being saved for the biggest mamma jamma hosta of them all... the empress wu.  I just have to buy her first.  hopefully she'll be in within the month.