Jun 25 2009
A Little Look at my Gardens in 2009
Oh, I know, you come to my blog expecting to see a rubber stamping tutorial and then I go off the deep end a couple times a year and do a post on my gardens, lol. Bare with me, a tutorial will be coming along after this post. I know there are a couple of you that garden, along with rubber stamping and probably a couple hundred other crafts going on at the same time. :)
I was just out in the garden this evening and decided to take a few photos.
I’m a “Country Cottage” gardener, without the cottage, lol. I have a boring ranch home. But my gardens are done in Country Cottage. That means I plant perennials and they pretty much decide where they will grow from year to year. I let everything go to seed in the fall and seeds get scattered throughout the garden and new plants spring up in the Spring where ever they want to. Only occasionally will a move a plant. I also will grow some veggies in my flower beds. They don’t mind sharing the space and I love home grown tomatoes. 
I also grow plants that the butterflies love. Above is a circular bed that is grown just for the butterflies. With a butterfly house even. I haven’t seen the butterflies use it yet, but I am hopeful.
Behind the circular bed is my favorite place to kick back and enjoy the gardens. Below is the view of the farm across the road that I see from my favorite garden spot. The barn in the photo below is the one I painted in the fall and use for my banner at the top of my blog.
As you see below my gardens are so very full. This happens every year with my perennials without me having to plant stuff. I do fill a few pots with annuals, but my gardens are all perennials that come back year after year.
Come on over and sit a spell with me and have a martini or sweet tea. But beware, I may put a shovel in your hand because I have yet to put in the large flower beds that will run the length of the front of the property.
Thank you for indulging me and checking out a few of my garden photos.
Huge Hugs,
Michelle
I’m not a gardener — but I love to look at them. Yours looks very nice!
It all looks so relaxing and tranquil. What a lovely way to spend a quiet evening.
I love my little garden, but I mostly have vegetables rather than flowers. Tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, carrots, and a bunch of very large sunflowers….oh and a cactus of all things. I love it and it gives me something to do when I hit a road block in my scrap booking or card making. My two little boys eat it up.. literally. Your garden is much prettier than mine is, maybe I’ll try flowers next year.
Very pretty, and just my style! I love the cottage look. My home is a 104 year old 2 story with an almost too small yard. Very shady so there are lots of perennials that tolerate the shade. If I ever find myself in your neighborhood I would cheerfully stopp and pull a few weeds orplant a new bed.
It is fun to share time among the flowers with friends, then sit and sip tea in the shade of the big old maple tree and enjoy the results. Have a great day and thanks for sharing your home and flowers with us. 
HUGS…
Your gardens are wonderful! I love the perenial look. I have much of that in my front and back yards too. It’s almost like a jungle this year with all the rain! I love it.
Enjoy your beautiful space.
Trish
Michelle, I love love love your work! I left an award for you on my blog! Thanks for all of your inspiration!
http://scrappinoutloud.blogspot.com/2009/06/kreativ-blogger-award.html
I loved seeing you garden pictures! I am not much of a gardener (or at all really) but love yours! I am happy to report though that for the first time I am growing tomatoes, and with luck the cucumbers and squash will come in nicely too
Did you decorate that awesome blue flower pot yourself or did you have it made? Love it!
Beautiful! Be prepared, this is NOT what Phoenix looks like!
very nice! How do you do it? How do you find the time?
thanks for sharing.
Enjoy!
Sandra
Beautiful…I love perennials..especially grown for their foliage
I need me a butterfly home..I have a bee house…want all the lil critters to be warm and snug over the winter!! TFS…really nice…and you home does look cottagy
Love the photos and your garden!!!
Lisa
Your gardens are wonderful! It all looks so relaxing…!
Thanks for sharing your home and flowers with us.
I love it! My garden is still at its beginning and doesn’t have enough flowers. But then again, if I’ll plant to many, muy husband’s hay fever will get worse …
I love perennials for their easy to maintain status, but I always get caught up buying annuals! This year there have been so many pale yellow annuals…I got sucked in….
Love your garden photos too - everything is so lush and the lawn is nicely manicured!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Jen
Hi Michelle. Home grown tomatoes are the best! There is nothing better than a tomato sandwich in the summer time. Yum Yum. Thanks for sharing a part of your home.
Lovely - I think the two passions go along hand in hand!
My favourite kind of garden…beautiful. with very little space for weeds to grow lol! Love the photos….TFS
Your gardens are beautiful. I’m gardener and I love to see what others are doing.
I was hoping you would post pictures of your garden. I appreciate all the work and time that goes into caring for gardens.
Thank you very much for that refreshing post! I’ve lived in ABu Dhabi the last few years, and all I see out of my window is …sand! We did finally put in a little patch of grass last week but its too hot to sit outside and enjoy it. So, thank you for reminding me that there are lovely green and colourful places on this earth.
Oh, I love your garden and home. I am just trying my luck at gardening and can’t wait until I can get enough growth for my place to look full and lush like yours.
Your garden is looking fab - I love the cottage garden look too but I have quite a few shrubs as well. I like to put edible plants in with the ornamentals. Swiss Chard ‘bright lights’ is great.
Michelle, your gardens are beautiful. It looks so peaceful. We live in the city and enjoy sitting in the backyard and looking at my gardens trying to pretend we are out in the country. Next time I am sitting out I will have a martini and think of you
I can see where some of your inspiration comes from. Thanks for sharing the gardens’ peaceful tranquility. If those butterflies could only read your blog they would know to move into your butterfly house immediately!
Had a quick giggle too. When you said “bare” with me. I realized I was sitting at my computer in my underwear (just had to check my emails while getting dressed and you know how that can go) and had me wondering if you were too!
Thanks for sharing the fun - Jean