Deer in the Backyard

Two Bucks with horns were eating apples right off the tree this morning at 6 am. They hear everything! Every time I tried to move around to get a better shot from the house, they'd stop and stare. Then they slowly wandered over to another tree. Then meandered back around the pond and slowly into the woods. Not even really flicking their tails... just mosied along. Probably two brothers, since they looked to be the same size and age.

Old Apple Tree

Can't believe that the top is still green and producing apples!

The Vegetable Garden

I got mixed up over squash and zucchini... The first vegetables are definitely zucchini.

Black Eyed Susans - First Day July 15

Self Watering Container

We read about this kind of self watering container but it didn't work out as well as we wanted.

Blossoms of Squash and Peppers

The Vegetable Garden of Delight!

Mountains of Pumpkins, Butternut Squash,
Acorn Squash and Summer Squash.

Bee on a Butternut Squash flower.
The Birdhouse Gourds have grown up and overtop of the trellis. I can't believe what a difference great compost can make to a garden!
A peek at the green house door in the background with green beans, cucumbers and asperagus ferns in the foreground -- click on image to see the big photo!

Baby Pine Cones forming on a Spruce

A couple of years ago we planted a whole bunch of pine trees. * I say we in the royal sense... actually I didn't even touch the shovel!!

But the result is several rows of pines that are taller than me. At first when I saw this, I thought it was a weird deformity -- probably because I never saw it up so close before. But I think it's the baby pine cones just beginning to form on one of the spruce trees.

Crazy Weather, Beautiful Results

A long time friend of mine hosted her son's graduation party in the middle of one of those wild summer storms last weekend in Hudson. Just an hour or so later, what a spectacular site! Note the DOUBLE rainbow. A message from God no doubt!

Poppys from my Sister Linda

Clematis in Full Bloom

Swarm Season in Hudson Ohio

Can you spot the swarm? Just a little right and above the half way point. Right at the Y of the tree.
Last year all we heard about was the bees and how they are mysteriously disappearing. This year we've had more than 5 swarms! A good sign. That means the hives are strong enough to want to split.

First Day of the Clematis on the Deck

Wow what a beauty! And look at all the buds! Expect to see some beautiful things this June and July from this one!

Rhododendron in full bloom

Just love the full colors and expansiveness of the rhododendron in bloom. Remind me to get more of these!! I've been missing the lilacs now that they are gone, but the iris and rhodies are looking GREAT!

Hosta Garden Growing Strong!

I just love how full the hosta garden is now. I moved the verigated hostas back a little bit and they have filled in so nicely. I read somewhere you're supposed to have 3 of each planting to make a nice pattern for the eye. I think I have 4 of the verigated but 3 of the elephant ears. The ferns are growing and expanding nicely too.

Lucky & Jean with Apple Blossoms

Apple tree & chicken coop
Originally uploaded by cmcbrown

The apple blossoms are in bloom today. The air smells sweet and the dogs were even behaving today! Oh I love spring!

Hostas and Poppies and Lilacs -- OH MY !!

It just feels like the perfect spring this year. So many of the plantings are emerging.

Rhodendenrin and lilacs are budding. Poppies are having an incredible year -- thanks Linda! When I planted those seeds 2 years ago, I never thought they would actually look like this!

The Peonies have never been taller this early in the year. And even the day lilies are beautiful with their long stalks.

I might be most excited about my hosta garden! It is doing great. Verigated and elephant ear. The rose of sharon is already starting to bud.

Only the hyacinths, forcithia and daffodils have faded, but lilacs are about to burst. Few tulips bulbs (damn squirrels!) made it. The compfry has never been as full. Narcisis and lung wort are still going strong.

Check out how the clematis is going to look in a few months growing on the deck! That was last year. This year is going to rock!!

Daffodil Trail April 08

The daffodil trail is always inspirational!

To find it: Take Route 303 from Hudson through Peninsula, over 271, just past the ice cream stand to Black Road. Take a right. Take a left on Brush road. It's on the left. If you get to Route 21, you are too far.

Best to hike it the second week of April. We were a week too late.

Pretty Little Flower Faces

Back on March 9th when there was so much snow, I couldn't image that six weeks later we'd have such a beautiful spring. I predicted that these would be up in May 22, not April 22nd. Funny how the cold of winter makes spring seem SOOOO far away!

I think that these are narcisisis but they look like mini ones. Very pretty centers. I have tons of these all over. Like sun more than shade. Bad soil not a problem. Shown here on the south side. The little purple flowers are the creeping myrtle.

Lung Wort - with pink and blue flowers

Such a pretty plant. Such a nasty name! Does well in shade. Really spread this year. What delicate pink and blue flowers. Snuggling between the daffodils in the North garden.