Saturday, May 28, 2011

The view depends on the angle it is viewed from

What one sees all depends on where you are standing, ...the angle you are viewing it from.
That is especially true of the landscape on the east side of the house.

 
From the house or patio looking out... this is part of the view.

From the grassy area, looking toward the house...

 
Then there is the view from the driveway...


 
Also on the east side is a slope. After slip sliding around and feeling out of control while mowing it only three times, I quickly decided to mulch and plant. But what a challenge.
The slope would be viewed from three different angles...from two locations inside the house, from the patio area, and from the driveway. Also, it would occasionally be viewed from the bottom of the slope. The big question was what to plant, and how to plant. I was not going to be happy with only ground cover. I wanted a colorful four season landscape.

From the top of the slope, as viewed from the driveway...

 
From the patio area...

 
From the bottom of the slope....

Inside the house from the bathroom window... a colorful landscape does help to start the day right!

And from the breakfast sitting area...

 
The views will continue to change as the seasons change, and the shrubbery and ground cover matures. Hopefully the small shrubs on the far side will reach their mature height of eight to twelve feet, and block out the view of the unsightly field. Hopefully, I've designed and planted to allow for the best view at all angles. Only time will tell what it will become.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Colorful spring

Last year this time, I had only a few blooms here and there to enjoy. After another year of growth, and planting new starts,  I am now enjoying a much more colorful landscape. Thanks to a warm rainy days, the blooms are plentiful this spring.






 

 




 

Also, the hummingbirds have returned ...at least a few. I'm hoping for more as spring turns into summer.


Then, there was the day that I captured this colorful visitor...I think traveling through, as I have not seen it since.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Too much rain


It started raining in the early hours of the morning and rained almost continuously throughout the morning and afternoon with the wind blowing strong. Then the wind blew furious and the rain poured, creating this scene... viewed from the back of our house.


This is normally not a stream, but a ditch. The only time it contains water is with run off. Last summer it was a very dry ditch.

The road is...

Underwater!



If only there was a way to regulate rain! Come July, we will no doubt need some of this moisture.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Bearded Irises

Last April, while visiting family, my brother Robin gave me  six bearded iris bulbs,
with the green leaves still attached,  from my father's home place. Upon returning home I choose two different locations, amended the soil somewhat and planted them,... hoping for a few survivors,.. and a bloom or two this spring.


 

Much to my delight they multiplied!  Blooming, with the promise of more blooms to come.
Thanks Robin!



Now, if there was just some way I could protect them from being whipped about by the wind. Unfortunately here on the hill, even up against the house, that is not possible.