June Garden

Hi Ladies...I've been missing in action for a few weeks. Cameras and mop buckets full of water and pine-sol don't mix well...I borrowed my daughters camera for a while so I could snap some pics in the gardens. 

In addition to my camera loss, I lost my job. Unfortunately, I'm now unemployed and trying not to panic so I can focus on finding work.

But for now, I want to share what is going on in the yard around here. I am so grateful for the beauty that I see every day.

First up is beautiful tall garden phlox.

The russian sage is soooo pretty.You can see the knockouts in the back.

The blanket flower adds a beautiful color contrast.

The fern like foilage of the sage is framing the bright blanket flowers.

The shasta daisies are open for business. The gaura is holding up the back end.

I love my daisies :-)

I like taking pictures from below the blooms.

Some more phlox with budding mums and hostas.

This picture shows the russian sage a little better.

The new red growth on the knockout leaves is so pretty.

A paprika yarrow bloom.

This yarrow bloom is open. I just love the tiny little flowerettes.

The yarrow looks like it is reaching for the sky. The ferny foilage is beautiful and is semi-evergreen.

This yarrow will bloom through fall.

The knockouts, blanket flowers and the sage look so nice together. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I do.

Hostas, liriope, periwinkle and sedum are in the white garden on the bank.

White and green goodness.

A pretty geranium that I brought in last fall for the winter.

The tropical hibiscus has one bloom open and many more to come.

Pink mums are looking good. I love taking pics of the unopened buds.

My daughter gave me this lovely star jasmine last year for my birthday. It is one of my many "grandflowers."

One of my hydrangeas in the shade garden is blooming. There are two more that haven't started to bloom yet.

I'm trying to learn how to take pics of roses.

The coneflowers are standing at attention. They are another one of my "grandflowers."

Well thats it for the garden tour today. Hope you are still here after all those pics :-)

If anyone has any leads for any type of online work that I could do from home please let me know. I have a BS in computer info systems and business. I am a single mom and have one girl in college, one in high school and my three doggies that depend on me. It has been two weeks since losing my job and I don't know what the future holds for us. It is scary. We live in a rural area of NC and all of our textiles and furniture plants have left. I am hoping my unemployment checks come SOON. Then I will be able to breathe a little better and put my energy to finding work instead of worrying.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.
KK

I'm linking up this week with these fun parties.

 

Screened Porch Love

Hi and welcome to my porch. It was nice and warm this morning so I decided to have my coffee out here (while checking mail, blogs etc.) I live in a little country cottage and the porch is a very relaxing place to be. Since my wren family left the porch last week, I've been wanting to get out here and enjoy. You can read about my wrens here and here. (I'm so proud of those babies.)

Homie loves sitting out here.

Its a great spot to eat too.

Yes...its a big bowl of cereal with strawberries. And I ate it all!

This little screened porch is in the trees. It feels so nice when a breeze is blowing. I tried to keep accessories and furniture to a minimum because the porch is not too big and I like the focus to be on the natural beauty.

See what I mean about the trees?

The house is on a big hill. The banks are steep and covered with ivy.

This hardy hibiscus is coming along great.

The nandina is really nice on the side of the porch and the hostas always put on a big show with large leaves and flowers.

Look at the nandina flowers. It's an evergreen and produces clusters of bright red berries in fall and winter. Some call it invasive but mine is well behaved and I call it beautiful!

Oh look...a Gerbera daisy is coming back. Last year I planted three around the lamp post as annuals. I was jumping up and down when I saw it this spring. I didn't expect it to be a perennial in zone 7B.

This is a perennial bed to the left of the porch. It was grass but not any more.

A reflection of the porch and gravel path.

Stella de oro daylilies waking up.

Lookie here...a columbine volunteer.

This is another shot of the perennial bed. Not much blooming yet. Wait till next month though! There's knock-out roses, garden phlox, blanket flowers, yarrow, russian sage and coral bells. I like it much better than grass/weeds.

We can go back in this really old porch door.  I think it is sweet.

The mondo fern is trying to fill out. I said trying...

Looking out to my white bank garden. There's a white rose bush, white gaura, white shasta daisies, white mums, white salvia, lily of the valley and hostas in this area. It will explode in a few weeks with all white blooms.

Thank you so much for visiting my porch. I thank God for blessing me with all of this beauty that I enjoy every day.

Lets go to Kate, the Centsational Girl's Outdoor Party and to Tootsie's for Fertilizer Friday.