Some views of the back garden

1 Dec '07 6:59 pm

The gnarled tree is a Pepper tree.I checked on google and the closest to it is a California Pepper tree,though I have never seen flowers on mine.I love it-it has dappled shade and the roots are no trouble-it used to be lawn in this area but I made a garden around it and as I mentioned before,will take the garden further next winter,when everything is dormant.It is the big cypresses(conifers) that are so unsuitable for gardens as they die in the centre,nothing will grow near them, and they cast heavy shade,and I am so pleased that mine has gone.
Smiley has been cutting hay today(Saturday)We have young cattle grazing on the farm.Next door neighbours have sheep and big bulls which make a lot of noise,but I am used to it.(Deters prowlers too I'm sure)
Dixie.

2 Dec '07 3:21 pm

Hi, Dixie, and thanks for identifying the Pepper Tree for me. I've never seen one before - it sure is a graceful thing, isn't it? And I bet you're right about the bulls deterring robbers! when I was a kid, our bull (which had been a pet all its life and was called "Teddy" went berserk one day and gored me. I was only about ten at the time, so his horns hit me, luckily, right on the stomach and grazed both of my sides! He threw me about 10 feet into the air, then proceeded to try to gore me over and over while stomping on me. Luckily, my Dad rescued me, and Teddy went to market the next day! On his way, he shoved a horn right through the cab of the truck!! Poor Teddy! We never figured what went wrong with him.

Well, it's snowing right across Canada today, and we have already had nearly a foot of it and it's still coming down. Also, the wind is due to pick up later tonight. Winter has well and truly arrived!!

Cheers!

gordonf

5 Dec '07 4:35 pm

Wow, Dixie! Such wonderful pictures displaying the marvelous views of your garden! And, I'm truly captivated - it's absolutely beautiful, delightfully serene and peaceful! Just adore your new bird feeder, hydrangeas and the color harmony seen all around the lovely garden areas, especially the blues, purples, pink and whites against the lush greenery! Thanks so much for sharing, dear friend! Very Happy

5 Dec '07 5:32 pm

Dear Dixie - I have been glancing at your pages for days, and eventually yesterday after completing all my reports I downloaded your pics. This morning I got to read the whole post... and am amused at your description of a 'messy' part of the garden, because having studied the pics first, that is not a word that came to mind...

I wondor how 'messy' you (and many local visitors Shocked

) will find my garden! And Moosey worrying about weeds before her choir ladies visited... Truth be told, all I see after weeding in my garden is sterile empty patches of ground, rather than 'neat & tidy'. Perhaps it is a form of self-preservation Wink

. I have enough to worry about things I'm NOT doing to get too upset about weeds and messiness!

Having said that this morning in the shower I was making Mooseyish lists of things to do this holiday in the garden, and they could almost all be lumped under either tidying or fine-tuning (which is the same just bigger!) As Gordon says: perfection would be so boring.. because what would one do then. And I'm marketing my garden as one that people must get involved in, like a good book. It is not all there. You the viewer (or reader) have to add your own input, you must see the perfect picture inside MY head, so that it can develop inside YOUR head. Are you convinced? Rolling Eyes

Anyway,I echo the sentiments of others: isn't digital photography wonderful!! We are seeing aspects of your garden that were never included before and the picture just grows and grows...

5 Dec '07 8:05 pm

What encouraging comments-it has been such a good start to Summer here.The messy bit means there is a challenge there to make something that flows on from the garden.
The hay was put into the barn last evening-330 bales for next winter.
I went for a walk this evening and this is walking up the steps to the back of the house-
the steps used to be in heavy shade.
you can see part of the pepper tree behind the hydrangeas which are just coming into flower.
Dixie.
I decided to edit this the next day,as the photos were too dark,being early evening.

5 Dec '07 8:31 pm

The blue of the rail and pots with the white on the walls echo in the flower colors and make for a very serene mood. Love that shade of blue. I'm really struck by the branches of the pepper tree we see in the distance. Makes me think of Japanese Gardens in its somewhat weeping and open branching habit.

You may have messy bits that need tidying up but you have hid them well in the photos I've seen. But now you've explained that 'messy' is just your word for surrounding areas that haven't yet become part of your garden. Exciting to hear that you have expansionist intentions. I look forward to seeing how those areas develope. As you've often said, don't forget to take plenty of those precious "before pictures" which we all wish we had more of. The area you've already laided claim to is looking very lovely and tidy as well.

My own garden is in retreat at the moment, getting by without me to pull the long grasses growing up through perenials. Then there are the Nasturtium volunteers growing up through and over so many garden areas which I'm sometimes loath to pull out even when that would be so easy to do. The fresh round leaves at least cover up those annoying grasses which I really need to pull out whole while the soil is damp.

7 Dec '07 11:29 am

Dixie, your photos with the sky-blue look are gorgeous!! Hydrangeas are magnificent and SO generous plants!! I personally adore them!

7 Dec '07 6:26 pm

Hi, Dixie!

Like all of the others, I love your hydrangeas! I have only one oak-leaf hydrangea here, although just about every type flourishes in this climate. The problem with most of the coloured ones is that, unless your soil is the right type, they turn out muddy shades of blue or pink! Some gardeners have wonderful ones, but I'm not willing to give them a chance since I am so tight on space here. So I admire them in other gardens, like yours!!

And I'm still in lust with your pepper tree!! If only I could grow one!!

Cheers!

gordonf

11 Dec '07 4:52 pm

One of my favourite plants is Lavatera.This survived the winter fine,as it usually sustains frost damage.It has grown huge this year and is now in full bloom near the new bird feeder in the back garden.
The soil here is so good,Gordon-I am very fortunate.It is quite limey,and I had to put alum around the hydrangeas to bring out the colour.
dixie.

11 Dec '07 5:15 pm

Sure is full of blooms. I'm not familiar with it but it is very striking. I especially like it in the center photo with the smaller scale blooms for contrast. Is it scented? Do you like the folliage when its out of flower? I'm going to start looking for this one. Thanks for the tip Dixie.

Some views of the back garden

pepper tree

Pepper Tree

Serene beauty

up the steps

Serenity

Lovely blooming photos!

Hydrangeas

Lavatera Mrs Barnsley

Lavatera?