By any other name …

Levels of lovely. I can admire so much about how much our backyard means to my dear wife Karen. The beauty of that single pick rose as we prepare for the arrival of autumn shows off the success of her spade work and consistency with water from the garden hose since she started looking over…

On the wings of a first season

What a debut! Our backyard butterfly bush has certainly turned out to be a success in its first year in the ground after we brought it home from favorite local nursery Ballantyne Gardens. Each step of its process makes my more and more thrilled.

Have a good day, lily

Tall and proud. One daylily came up along our new fence in the backyard. It’s interesting to note how it’s opening in layers. I love the color, too.

Baby azalea loves the corner

Bingo! My dear wife Karen displayed patience with this darling little azalea bush. It struggled in several spots, in the front gardens and out back, the past several seasons. This spring, she chose a small corner just off the side alcove, a tough location for roses in the past. Bingo! Our tiny azalea appears to…

Home and away

Proud and tall. Before we left for this year’s Cape Cod getaway, I dashed around the backyard and front-yard gardens to catch the blooms. One whispery, tall powder puff stood tall way out back. And in Sandwich, Mass. While we were walking the grounds of the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, Mass., I spied…

Berry good decision

Next year’s big stars? Terrific daughter Elisabeth and fantastic fiance George Three decided on what to purchase at Ballantyne Gardens with that gift certificate. Always helpful owner Tim helped steer them to a pair of sturdy blueberry plants. Back by the shed is the talk of ground-placing. I foresee a happy 2023 season …

Hardy, still

The two 2022 plants Karen received for Mother’s Day from terrific daughter Elisabeth and fantastic fiance George Three are doing quite well as we turn through July. They picked great at the nursery and Karen did well at the spots she chose for them in our backyard gardens, too. The rose and rhododendron both delivered…

Long look at the back view

I’m still a fan of viewing the vibrancy of our backyard through the side alcove after I pull into our driveway upon returning home from my library job. Out I’ll soon go with our cherished rescue mutt Ellie B!

Red chairs highlight the lone flower

My dear wife Karen requested that I bring the red Adirondack chairs up from their winter basement hiding spot. I think they offer a wonderful complement to that one lone red backyard garden flower that decided to emerge.