Laowai

I've been feeling so thankful for my garden lately. I find myself putting aside all the things I should be doing in the house to wander outside and tend to my plant friends.

The rose petals have been falling onto the lambs ear and it looks so pretty.

In the past, my greatest joy in (summer) life was going to get a car load of free wood chips from our town. But since they stopped offering free wood chips I had to buy some. Four cubic yards were dropped off and I hauled them to the back yard. Then I couldn't lift my arms for a day and a half but it sure looks nice with a thick layer of wood chips under my maple tree.

Here's my vegetable garden. I've been harvesting some peas and I have tomatoes, green beans and herbs planted.

Something has been eating the little bean seedlings – I think I might have to replant some of them.

I must have a pot or two of nasturtiums every year. The are so unique and sweet.

After last year's success, I planted even more morning glories. They come up super fast but then half of them got eaten so I replanted with an improvised little fence. Crossing my fingers that the bunnies (or whoever eats them) stays away.

Here's one of my little Japanese Anemones. They are slow growers so I'm trying to protect them and keep track of them with some chicken wire. Oh and several blue sages that I grew from seed are in the background. This is their second year and I'm excited to see some blooms.

Here's one of the bee balm flowers that I grew from seed – this is the first time I've seen them bloom and I just noticed the pretty dots on the petals.

And when those petals fall off this different looking flower is left.

I thought the few meadow anemones that I planted last fall had died, but look – they're alive and well. Yay!

Here's my front garden – another work in progress but it's starting to have a nice variety of perennials.

I've been looking and looking for verbena bonariensis sprouts in my front bed – they are supposed to be good at reseeding. Finally, just today I saw some coming up and I'm so excited. Note to self – must memorize what they look like for next year – sort of like daisy leaves but more textured.

This is one of the 10 feverfew plants that I started inside in March. I planted them in my front bed today. I hope they do well and I hope they come back as perennials for me.

The other plants I started inside this spring were these baby Heuchera. I also planted these in the shady side of my front bed today. They are so little but I'm trying to be patient. Patience seems to be a theme when it comes to my garden. Things can be so expensive and that's discouraging. So I challenge myself to try starting things from seed or I buy small plants instead of big perennials. And I've been trying to divide and move plants around instead of just buying more. Maybe my garden looks a bit crazy but that's okay – it's thrilling to root for my tiny plants and wait for them to thrive. And it's so fun to be surprised at what is coming up differently each year.

Last but not least – I'm enjoying peonies on my windowsil.