Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Back Garden Tour

Well, I've shown lots of pictures of our front garden. Time to see what's happening in the back garden while spring is still in full gear.

Two years ago I planted these Blushing Lady tulips from Brent and Becky's Bulbs inside the metal gazebo which is just off our back porch. But, I messed up and only planted them on one side. (Don't ask, I don't know.) Anyway, last fall Kim planted more of them on both sides and they're looking great now.






Here's a close up.





The Akebia quintata vine is blooming now and growing like nuts as usual.



The sun was setting the other evening and I shot this backward dogwood bloom.



You can see the dogwood tree from this angle, right in the center beyond the metal gazebo. It is small and seems quite happy living under the canopy of our locust tree.
The redbud tree is blooming on the left. Normally the purple bench stays in the arbor by the redbud tree but now it's sitting on the deck in front of the pond.
The Aurinia saxatilis, or Basket of Gold, is blooming at the bottom.



Here is the left side of the garden. The grass looks great because we've had so much rain lately. On the left you can see vines growing up the Moongarden. (I'll show it some other time.)





See all the yellow surrounding the sumac tree at the lower right? It looks like more basket of gold. It's not. It's that annoying Euphorbia, 'Fens Ruby'.




And Kim's latest project. He replaced the willow arch, on the left, with the new one he built, on the right.

We'd had the willow arch for years. It was fine. Free, natural looking, and it held my morning glory vines fine. But it was getting old and tattered looking so we decided to replace it this year. I think Kim did a great job. (Even if he is a Tomato Traitor).



That's most of the back garden. There's also our pond in the center of the yard, the Moongarden, the Asian shade garden, the Tuscany back porch, and the small veggie garden.

Lovin' all this rain we've been having.

Next Kim will start our chicken coop, as our chicks have been ordered and will be here in less than a month. Can't wait!

28 comments:

Connie said...

Wow, I love all your garden 'rooms'! That is an awesome looking trellis your hubby made. But the old willow one still has a lot of charm....are you sure you can't find another spot to grow morning glories on it? :-)
I like the color and texture of the Euphorbia.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Beautiful! I love getting tours of people's garden. The new arbor is great! I can't wait to see your pond, I have a small one and just love seeing what other people have done with theirs.

Dirt Princess said...

GORGEOUS!! What a beautiful place ya'll have. It is so nice...I love the curves, and all the color. Great garden. I am so glad you showed pics of the overall garden...I like to see the big picture. Puts everything in perspective.

Nikky said...

what a lovely garden having a morning tea back there would be fantastic! about your sumac tree...did you know that you could make an iced tea with them? a buddy at my work did one summer it was very yummy.

Megan said...

Chicks!! I can't wait to see those. You really have your act together in your garden, all your structures built and everything looks mature and settled. What a great picture of that dogwood.

Unknown said...

It looks so lush over there! Your Sumac looks great, and I love those tulips.

Kylee Baumle said...

What a beautiful and charming back yard you have! So much to enjoy. Everything looks fabulous!

Frances said...

Hi Victoria and Kim, thanks for showing your incredible space in the back. I love it all, the wire gazebo is spectacular and those are really nice tulips, what a color! The euphorbia did look like the alyssum, I would never have guessed. The new arbor is a gem, loved the old one too, but this will last longer I am sure. What a wonderful garden you have. :-)
Frances

Becca's Dirt said...

Hey Victoria and Kim. Your yard is so nice and big. The gardens look so full. I like seeing the big picture of your yard. Looking forward to the Moongarden.

Can't wait to see your chicks. Where did you order from? I placed an order today at My Pet Chicken. I ordered 6 chicks. When are yourS expected to arrive?

Ginger said...

Wow, I now have a picture of exactly what I want my yard to look like!! BEAUTIFUL. Love the green grass and all of the colors. Y'all are talented gardeners to put it all together so well!

Kathleen said...

Oh I'm SO jealous! A chicken coop and chickens! I've always thought I wanted those ~ I'll have to follow along and see how it goes with you all. Your back yard is GORGEOUS. You can tell it's been a labor of love. So much to see, have you ever had it on the local garden tour?? The coloring on those tulips is perfect ~ I happen to really like orange and pink together. These shades are so soft, they blend beautifully. I may have to order some for myself this fall! Also, I just bought an Akebia vine (the flowers on the one I bought are purple tho.) I was thinking of training it up my new arbor. Sounds like a good idea if it grows quickly. btw, your husband did a great job on the new arbor. I would forgive him for the traitorous tomato escapade for that!!! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow! WOW! What a lovly garden! WOW! I am pea green with envy! :-)
I especially love the tulips. I would love to have a yarn specially dyed in the tulip colors. :-)

Pat said...

Nice size backyard. Tidy and very creative.
Darn...even your grass looks great!
Love the Blushing Lady tulips and those big leaf vines growing on wire against the fence.

Prairie Chicken... said...

UGH! You're garden gives me hope for the future. I love those blushing tulips and I do like the Fens Ruby but ummm I'll take your advice and stay away.

Unknown said...

Hey, all us Idaho gardeners visiting each other sounds like a great idea, what fun! I am definitely interested!

MA said...

Oh my! The garden is absolutely gorgeous. Love love love the white akebia. I had only just heard about them. I have the chocolate/purple one. And nuts is a good way to describe it's growth. Your tulips and all the lime green foliage looks great together.

Bek said...

Your garden in the back looks as gorgeous as the one in the front! Everything is combined so perfectly!

Seasonal Wisdom said...

Your garden looks wonderful. Can't help it, but I love the way the euphorbia looks (even if it is a pain...) Really like the way you've used your space to create separate garden rooms too.

BTW, Idaho Gardener was looking for more Idaho blogs to include on her site. Gave her your URL, as well as the others I knew.

Enjoy this lovely spring. Boise has definitely earned its title as "City of Trees" this year. Hasn't it? Teresa

Bob and Robin said...

You take such great photos! Especially those of individual flowers or butterflies. I invite you to post some at http://idaho-photos.blogspot.com. Cheers and keep up the great work!

rainfield61 said...

I admire your lovely and neat garden. There must be a lot of hardwork unsaid.

That beautiful flower looks like a lantern during sunset.

Nikky said...

you have to use the little fuzzy berries to make the tea with...just don't use the white ones! only the reds! then i think you just steep it...snoop around on the web, that's were my buddy got his recipe!

Anonymous said...

Everything looks so lush and healthy!

Terra said...

I love your garden, with all its nooks and crannies for sitting and having a moment of reflection. Your hard work has created a garden that is a work of art that looks very tranquil.

Terra said...

Thanks for your comment about the plant named "Love lies bleeding". That is a good one!
Do you grow it?
Susan Wittig Albert wrote a book with that title, in her mystery series. Her titles are all plant related.

RW said...

A very nice job! Keep up the good work!

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vuejardin said...

I like your arch, a nice entry to the garden.

Genie said...

You were already killing me with all the beauty the two of you have worked so hard to create and then you kicked me while I was down, chickens? I've been pecking at Wes about chickens for months! I'm ready! I want them NOW! But he hasn't built the coop yet. It's making me nuts. I am besides myself wanting to raise chickens. Argh. Yes, I'm seething with fowl jealousy.