My Redbud the first year.

Last year for my big 50th birthday I wanted a tree for the front of the house. We had removed a large sickly Blue Spruce. We have a large Pin Oak & the neighbors next door have a very large Oak tree, the Spruce, positioned between the two did not have a chance. Our house faces east so even tough there is a lot of shade there is morning sun. It took me a about 5 months looking to find the right tree. when I finally found this Redbud, winter was closing in and I had to wait for spring. My birthday was in April but the nursery would not sell it until it budded out. Finally in May, after weekly trips to the nursery I got my tree, I was so excited. My husband John planted it on Mothers Day while I was at work. So there are no pictures of the planting, oh well. I so love my little Redbud, here are pictures over the last year.

My tree at last

Isn't it pretty

A side view

You can see the Pin Oak in the background

Here we added Pachysandra ground cover

An ice storm 

And in bloom

A nice touch, I was hoping the daffodils would bloom at the same time.

Now next year I am hoping for bushes to go behind the Redbud under the bedroom windows to complete the front. Maybe Fothergilla, a green Japanese maple and something else any suggestions.

New bushes and the last new bed for this spring

We are adding Ivory Halo bushes to the back yard in front of the pine (?) trees. The mature size of this Dogwood bush is 3-5 feet, compact with a variegated leaf and red branches in the winter. If all goes well they will be a lovely addition to the back border and most importantly adding winter interest.

3 Ivory halo ready to go.

Taz ever watchful

Planted & mulched

looks better already

And this is how they look today, they really do brighten it up. I cant wait to see how they look this winter in the snow.

A new home for the ligularia

This will be the 3rd placment for the ligularia. It started in the shade garden where the goutweed was chocking it out. Then moved to a spot that I thought was full shade only to find in summer the late afternoon sun hit that spot at the hottest part of the day, leaving them looking like wet dish rag's. So we try again, third times a charm at least I hope. It took over a year to convince my husband that they needed to be moved.

The muscle, John

The hard part is done

Every thing looks good. Those are sundrops planted on either side.

a link for more info. on Ligularia

More bed expansions

With my husbands help we expanded the shade garden on both sides creating a more defined entrance. This also allows more room for my large blue hosta, which was crowding the coral bell and japanese painted fern.

Now that the bed is moved out, time to move the plants.

You want what, where!

Some one is looking very pleased with himself.

Wow, a month later and it's looking good.

There is a story behind this Japanese lantern. I have had my eye on a granite japanese lantern for 2 years. I figured eventually it would go on sale. Then for my birthday my hubby found this little one and gave it to me. I was very touched but said it was too small. So I put it on the ground next to the ferns were I have envisioned the lovely granite  lantern to show him how dwarf it looked next to the large ferns. John said no problem, reached down and picked it up and placed it on top of the rock. Then he looked at me and said looks perfect to me, and I have to agree. I do love it and as far as the granite lantern, well just think how many more plans I can buy instead. 

And this is my little lantern now

and the expanded shade garden now.

This summers new projects

Expanding the porch bed

                                                               Ta-da the porch bed is now complete with the addition of 5 groups of  tulips, daffodils, coral bells and pansies.

It is June and I am about to post pictures from April. Oh well here goes

Okay okay I have been very neglectful. I will try do do better, it has been a very busy 2 months. These are pictures mostly from April.

My sister calls these blue bellsThis is Zuzu out for a spring strollAnd Zuzu with his brother TaoThis is the Front Entrance Garden. A work in progress.The Bleeding Heart in the rainin full bloomtrying to fine the right combination

The White Pelicans at Lake Nelson

I have been neglecting my blog, sorry. About a month ago my sister, Char took me to Lake Nelson in Batavia Il. to see the migrating White Pelican's. Last year there were as many as 300 Pelicans on the lake at a time. I imagine that would be quite a spectacular sight so I was very excited to go see these pelican's for myself. As you can see from the picture above not a pelican in sight. It seems the Forest Preserve decided that was a perfect day for a burn.

This tree was still burning. I thought it looked pretty cool, though the picture doesn't quite capture it.

In the end the only bird we saw was this one. It was a little disappointing that the pelican's were gone but the day was calm, the lake was like glass, the sunset was superb. 

It was a good day.

And then the moon came out.