I am blessed to have a yard with personality. When we first moved into our home, the yard resembled an abandoned field somewhere. The grass was tall enough that you couldn’t see the house from the road, up on a knoll. The driveway was washed out and the whole place looked abandoned. Today, my yard and gardens stand out declaring their contrasting and flamboyant style. It is a yard that is a colorful riot of transition. We have built and designed small areas, around the almost 5 acre plot, to have small individual tapestries of color and texture.
In the entrance of the yard, is the driveway. When you first drive in, you see two very large, showy lilac bushes of a reddish grape color; and, one of a light lilac pink splash on the opposite side of the driveway. Straight away, dead on is a very old and dilapilated arbor that had made a statement attesting to it ability to outlast anything newly purchased.
Oh, to be sure, the lattice work is warped here and there; a little out of alignment with it’s orginal design..but, that is alright…it has staying power. Besides, the arbor has been integrated with the beautiful coral trumpets that push through the white, peeling slats of the lattice work and the dark, shinny green foliage of the trumpet vine itself. Its aged vines have woven themselves throughout, until they are somewhat tree-like in their strength. The vines are twisted and knotted like an elderly great -grandmother’s hands that have lovingly provided for her family over the years. It has earned it’s bends and twists by being adaptable to the growing environment.
If, I were so bold and destructive, why I could cut the lattice work and unweave it from the web of vine; but, I admire the arbor’s desire to stand there and make a statement about it’s ability to stand and deliver. It’s a bit tilted despite it’s original, solid 4 x 4 construction, many a year ago.
Now, I forgot to mention the airy and pristine white of the delicate, bridal veil (white spirea) bush that stands next to the grape colored lilac bush. As you drive around the tear drop shaped circle drive, you will pass a strand of four differing types of apple trees. As we speak here, they are in various degrees of dressed up pink and white star shaped blossoms that flutter to the ground as the beautifully scented air mixes a smell to rival the best canned air freshener you can buy on the market.
At the foot of the apple trees are the day lillies of varying colors…still just sporting their dark, spiky green foliage. They are awaiting warmer weather to dot the canvas with their showy, single and double petaled flowers. In between this are a few scattered rose bushes that are struggling to survive the occasionally, and unpredictably waterlogged clay soil that is mixed with the rocky gravel from the driveway. Under laying this is the emerald green myrtle ground cover with it’s beautifully, low to the ground peri-winkle star shaped flat flowers. In a tarzan attempt to stretch to great feats of purpose is a purple wisteria that took many years to finally bloom; after almost being consumed in a fire. It’s drooping grape -like cluster of flowers look lush over the homemade arbor going into the secret garden area.
As you enter that…there is a hugely over large honeysuckle bush that defies any attempts to keep it in line; with the limited pathway to the small wooden bride that crosses over two largely neglected man-made ponds. They are filled with a burst of lemony yellow irises that are almost ready to appear. Along behind that, is a beauty bush that smells like cinnamony cloves when the weather warms it’s pretty pale pink, deep bell -like flowers that the bees can not resist buzzing. Behind those bushes are some more lilacs…this time in the common lilac color along with a new younger white lilac that has chosen to produce some double blossoms. Here and there I have added one of my greatest loves; that is asiatic and oriental lillies. The oriental lillies have the strongest scent…they are clove-like in scent…and at night… they entice you to walk among them and just inhale for the joy of it! There are some that are white- and some that are scarlet with a deeper magenta accents…they are called stargazers. Those are the lillies that inspire a person to a sensual awakening.
If you continue to travel on…there is a small straight row of medium pink peonies mixed with some crowding bishops weed with it’s tall spiky white flowers which resemble Queen Anne’s Lace but to me doesn’t quite measure up. A green grape grows on the corner of the pagoda here. Then, there is the campfire area where we will be spending much time this summer.
Crossing the driveway once again you see the main garden in the center of the teardrop driveway. There is another small man made pond. This one has a wooden deck built around it with a wide variety of flowers meant to produce a richer tapestry of colors and smells. Here you will find japanese koi in the pond along with some black and some gold fish. There are water lillies still to come…some white, some pink, one yellow. Only the pink one smells, much to my sadness. Surrounding this pond is another apple tree, also in full blossoms at the moment. There is at the foot of that…some variegated hostas, sweet lilly of the valley, some bleeding hearts, more rose bushes, some ajuga with it’s deep purple, spring flowers that are low to the ground.
Around the perimeter of the teardrop you will find a mix of perrenials and annual flowers. There are multiple day lillies, roses, catcuses, virginia bluebells, a wild rose bush, snap dragons, moss roses, irises, tulips-some that are flaming yellow with red streaks or, as I call them…my pretty painted ladies.
Around the waterfall, is some wild butterfly weed, some pink mallow, marigolds, dark purple clematis on a fancy metal trellis. In a half of a blue barrel is planted some annuals , some geraniums…and what I am told is called, the American running bean-or as Thomas Jefferson (deceased American President) once called the most beautiful bean plant ever created. That is an unusual plant. In the fall, it gets a deep burgundy pod (looks like an overlarge green bean pod). During the summer, it gets a two toned flower a light pink and a darker purple petaled flower climbing up the vine. Truly lovely to look at.
Around the chicken coops we have planted some pear trees, some more day lillies, a current bush, some blackberries, and some rhubarb. Turning to the right…you will see a chainlink fence that surrounds the food garden. The fencing is a necessary evil to protect against the maurading deer and rabbits that come to feast on the bounty that is my yard. I dont mind sharing a wee little bit…however…the stems and leaves that they leave behind …truly don’t amount to much food for the family.
So, I suffer the indignity of the fence and disquise it behind a wall of morning glories who are more than proud to show their pretty pantaloons of pink, white and purple as they flutter in the breeze. As a backdrop behind the food plants, I make sure that i plant two rows of dancing sunflowers…just so that the birds are tempted to come and graze; hopefully they are gratefully distracted by the tempting sunflower morsels that they leave the garden produce alone. Ha…it is my attempt to find a balance between the need to grow food and nurture nature.
In my garden you will find peace, you will find artistry, you will find butterflies and hummingbirds, and a few random bees. 
The garden was meant to please and to instill a desire to admire beauty. The wind chimes tickle the ear with their different tones from a high tinkling to a throaty singing; I love them all. Mix in the flapping of the United States flag and the Marine Corps flag as they snap in a brisk wind and you have a day to brag about. During this Memorial weekend…it is a sense of patriotic pride that causes me to look up and remember why that flag is allowed to fly free…because our military men and women have fought for and defended this country to give us the right to live freely. They deserve our respect and gratitude not just on this weekend…but every other day of the year for the sacrifice they have given.
I am most thankful for my painted ladies…I can dine with them, I can sit and stare…they don’t seem to mind a bit. I can relax in my own back yard and enjoy the freedoms earned by our miliary men and women around the globe; my own family members have served and, I am proud of them. I try to thank members of the armed forces whenever I can. In fact, I encourage you to send thank you cards to this non-profit project at: http://www.make2tell2.com/ . They deserve our thanks and our support.
In honor of those who serve our country daily, I will try to find an opportunity to post a picture or two of my yard this year! I hope that when they come home, from whatever post they have served at; that they would have a garden of peace to enjoy as well. Please pray for our service people…they can never be thanked enough for what they go through. Would you like to see some pictures of the painted ladies? Or have I described them well enough?
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