Summer blooming

It's been exactly 1 year since we planted all the shrubs and defined the mulch beds around the property. The 6 week drought hasn't helped the grass, but the constant watering has kept the shrub beds around the house in bloom. The front walk entering the house is bordered by variegated liriope, carpet junipers, and green velvet boxwoods. We've filled in between these shrubs with a variety of annuals that have done quite well. On the other side of the front porch you can see more boxwoods, coreopsis moonbeams, a hamelin grass, and the tall dragon-lady holly.

The right side of the driveway and garage shows hosta patriots, 2 globe arborvitae, more moonbeams, karl forrester grasses, chanticleer pear tree (with 2 more behind on the lawn), a winterthur viburnum. 3 mums survived the winter and are at the front of the bed. Peeking out behind the grasses is a nikko blue hydrangea and bamboo nandina. Notice 2 green mountain maples, and one of 4 birdhouses, built by Evan, at the rear.

The left side of the house has 3 endless summer hydrangeas, a dwarf hinoki cypress, and 2 amazing hibiscus mallows. The flowers on the hibiscus are abundant now and open to about an 8 inch diameter. We have been amazed by these two, even last year when they were first planted. The screened porch has been delightful, especially on these very warm summer nights.

Across from the hibiscus and along the east side property line is a large bed that is backed by 5 yoshino cryptomeria trees, 5 rose knockout blushes, 1 royal frost white birch, 3 miss kim lilacs, 1 buddlea butterfly bush, another winterthur viburnum, a tea viburnum, and a large assortment of dwarf forsythias, including fiestas and gold tides. Another birdhouse is at one of the rear beds.

Surrounding the stairs down from the porch and patio is our herb garden. A long cluster of dwarf sunflowers is intermixed with chives and dill at the rear, oregano and margoram, 2 basil, parsley sage rosemary and thyme, and 4 flowering lavender.

Along the back of the property are 2 october glory maples, a dozen

burning bushes, 6 sparkle berry holly, and 5 green giant arborvitae. You can see 2 of Evans' 4 birdhouses (we call them number 1, 2, 3, and 4 going left to right).