In the Garden

We hit the books and now it's time for some garden updates.

 

  Even though I planted during the hottest time of year so far, most of the plants are thriving, and that includes the deer nipped/stripped ones. I've made some plant additions and added a little stepping stone path and a cobbled together bird bath.





 This year is like testing spaghetti, throw it at the wall and see what sticks. I don't expect every plant to make it over the winter (some might not survive the summer!), but gardeners are a hopeful, patient lot and I'm no different.



The Mugho Pines are doing exceptionally well as is the bearberry, the bayberry and the woolly thyme, the agastache (hummingbird mint) is mostly doing well although one plant always looks a little dry and wilted. The vinca was doing well but got nipped badly, again, so jury is out on its recovery. The lavender is all thriving as is the maple tree and the curly top cypress. Coreopsis (tickseed) is happy



and even has it's own gnome setting up house near it.



The pieris is showing bright red new growth after a serious nibbling when we first planted it.



Some salvia of different varieties have been added. Black and Blue and some hot red numbers, I am told that these may prove to be tender perennials. I'll mulch in the fall, and hit those heavily.

One new addition that Gene brought home is a stunning weeping Colorado Blue Spruce, variety "The Blues" and it has added a certain excitement to the garden.



 I placed it where the mock orange was and replanted him in another area that might just prove a better fit anyway.  DH also made a simple rustic bench out of his last big Madrone log.

It sits under the cedar tree (can you find the 3 ceramic swallows?)



 by the deck and I get a lovely view of the garden,



the lower driveway and the barn area. It is a shady spot so a great place for a quick rest from watering or weeding.

The roses are not happy! The one that was badly nipped is stressed and going down hill, the other, maybe on a slower decline. Wild roses are plentiful in the valley but here at elevation it may not work out for them. We'll have to see. We have also added some deer deterrents in the form of wireless electric fencing.



 Basically they are baited posts that give one heck of a shock when the deer go to investigate them. I have staked them out by some of their favorites having taken off the cages. This one by the witch hazel, the second of the three by the pieris. So far, a few deep deer tracks as they beat feet out of the garden after getting zapped and no nipping. Deer are a seasonal problem up here, when times get really desperate (winter), they have already moved down to lower elevations.

Goats Ben and Jerry have really come around. Ben is a pest, friendly, in your face and the one you have to beat off with a stick, Jerry is still the shy flighty one, but he bolts less and not as far, comes right up to me for his little bit of pellets and minerals daily. We've made TONS of progress with him and I'm pleased.

Parting shot: A proper garden cat practicing for a proper garden! ;)