Shaddy's Summer Passion

All spring and summer, I've been spending time in my yard.  These three hydrangea plants under our front window only produced ONE flower which is pictured below.  I've watered and fertilized the plants as you can see.  I guess a lack of flowers isn't uncommon here in southern Wisconsin according to K & W Greenery.

This is it!!!  It's so big I had to stake it up today or it would be lying on the ground.

My husband lures me to a chair beside his firepit on summer evenings.  It doesn't take much to get me to take a seat beside him these days. 

Visitors receive this greeting when they approach our front porch.

High humidity outside and air conditioning running inside created this artwork on my sliding glass door one early morning last week.

This berm adds life to the southeast corner of our yard.  The birch tree behind it is giving me fits as it drops yellow leaves.  This has been going on for several weeks.

That's the birch right there!!  Everyday I spend a good chunk of my time picking up the leaves it drops.  I've been watering it since I was told it is very sensitive to heat and lack of moisture.  I'm getting plenty of exercise; I'm thankful for that!! 

I added this cute little birdbath to our berm recently.  It doesn't hold much water but it sure is cute.

Isn't it grand?

This pagoda dogwood adds life to the southeast corner of our home.  If you click on the photo you'll see our little wheelbarrow full of red impatiens.

This is another view of the same corner.  As you can see, I've got the sprinkler going.  Our grass is as green as it can be thanks to my constant attention to its need for moisture.  I love the challenge of attemping to have a perfect lawn. 

This robin appreciates the water in this birdbath.  I love watching the robust splish splash when robins bathe.

In the southwest corner of our lot, this vinca vine garden used to be a sandbox.  The ladder leads to the fort overhead where I've been doing some journaling recently.  

I wish I could sit still for more than two minutes in this cozy corner.

 

We had pretty good luck growing grass where the septic tank repair was done.  Some areas still need work and there are tons of weeds but at least it's mostly green.



I adore our little shed which sits in the northwest corner of our lot.  That's where I go for the lawn mower on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, my designated mowing days.

This view is from the shed along the north side of our lot towards the road.



That's another birch tree.  It's just as naughty as the one in the front yard.



The rabbits have been eating the impatiens at the base of our pin oak.  I sprinkled some granules on them this afternoon.  They won't hurt animals but will repel them.  I hope it works!! 

This view is from the front corner of our house along the north side looking toward the backyard.

We're back to the front yard again.

I sat in that chair on the front porch while I composed this blog post.  We've had rain recently so I haven't had to run the sprinkler here, there and everywhere.  It's nice to have some time to share these photos with you.

I'M SORRY TO KEEP YOU SO LONG.  I ACCUMULATED ALOT OF PHOTOS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.  I HAVEN'T INTENDED TO BE AWAY FROM MY BLOG BUT MY PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS HAS KEPT ME AWAY.

HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL OF YOU.