in other areas-

Because even though the plants in back parts of the yard, where we have an easement so I'm reluctant to plant anything large or permanent- mostly shallow-rooted things that spread easy and if they have to get dug up by work crew someday for the storm drain pipes, well at least they're easily replaced. The pictures look pretty much the same year after year, but still I take note and try to put in new things, spread around the ones that are doing well, etc. Such as the 'chocolate' joe pye weed. This is the parent plant. There's well a dozen younger ones scattered around the easement now. I dug and moved a few to better locations. And cut off all the flowers, because much as I admire it, I don't need more 'chocolate' joe pye babies right now.

Still somewhat disappointed that my inkberry, bayberry, persimmon, and three of the redbuds, are dead and gone. This one hellebore in the rear perennial bed still looks yellowed. Either it's always sick, or there's soemthing off in the soil in that one spot. I'm going to dig it out and throw away. Let some of the babies grow in, see if they also turn yellow . . .

While all the regular hostas got eaten up completely by the deer (except the blue one in the corner by the garden, and the two buried in the perennial beds), and the sensitive ferns died back from the heat, I still have my stinkin' hellebore babies! In their second year now, not much bigger.

This one was smaller than the other two, I had planted it under the holly by the lady ferns (which also disappeared in the heat)- maybe it was too shaded so grew slower. I moved it closer to the front of that area, when transplanted the younger beautyberry into that spot.

Found quite a few of this plant along edges of the lawn down near the row of liriope. I thought it was strawberry begonia at first- and surprised if that plant had done well enough to produce and scatter itself, since I hardly notice it behind the joe pye 'chocolate' (plus don't they propagate by runners, not seed?)

So I went and cleared away leaf litter and stiltgrass in the area where the stawberry begonia is. Still there. Much smaller leaves than I recall, but seem to be more individual plants. No, it's not the same plant. I think the one pictured above is that weed I favor, that often has a blue-green look and then grows taller later in the season . . . 

today

I did an hour or two of work outside. My goal was just to clear out all the creeping jenny I could- I remember well when I was pleased how that had taken and spread! but now realize with dismay it's considered invasive in my area, and it did grow far more quickly than I expected. No way I could keep this clear of the back fence to prevent it going into the neighbor's yard and further. There was an area several feet square and it took me a while but I think I got most of it out, digging down with my fingers to extract all the root clumps and thin runners possible. I know I didn't get it all, and it will probably grow back in numerous places, but if I keep an eye out for those pale coin leaves and pull anything that recovers, I hope to get rid of it. 

While I was back there I yanked out a ton of japanese stilt grass, and weeded around the entire path of stepping stones. Found to my disappointment that the sweet woodruff is now growing in only three places between the stones, I'm pretty sure I had it around five or more stones before, I don't know why some of it didn't come back. The patch of purple lysimachia in that area is doing great, however, and the coneflowers are spreading. I don't mind them spreading sideways towards the oakleaf hydrangeas, but I pulled out quite a few that were encroaching forwards among the hellebores. 

Here's a plant I didn't really expect would survive winter in the ground, but it did: canna lily. Not sure if it will bloom for me, though. Something's been taking bites out of it (probably the deer ate that tip).

I'm glad they haven't touched my new bigger rhododendron

My two young spicebush have really grown! I hope to remove their wire protective cages, have read that deer don't really like to eat the leaves but not sure if I trust that. They've eaten other plants in my yard that were supposed to be "deer resistant".

I think my older oakleaf hydrangea will be large enough this fall to remove its protective cage- and then move that to be around the smaller one, which is getting crowded. This photo is actually from last fall- it's twice the height now!

The deer don't eat my sensitive fern clumps, but some bug or pathogen makes them look all raggedy brown and wilted partway through summer. Maybe it's just the heat. Some of mine are recovering now and growing back fresh foliage.

All the hostas are eaten to nothing below the larger sideyard, while the small group of blue ones near the garden are only half-chomped. I should have been out there more often scattering soap shavings, or buy some spray I've read is a very good repellent. (What we really need is the fence)

At least my baby stinkin' hellebores are untouched. Maybe I will just phase out hostas and grow things the deer don't like (sigh). Neighbors have said they jumped six and seven-foot fences to eat things they never had before, this year. 

Checked the milkweeds because I thought I saw bug holes- but it's not from milkweed caterpillars. Some other bug feeding on them a bit. Where are the monarchs? Come to think of it, I haven't seen any swallowtail caterpillars on the rue or lovage this year, either. 

But I did see the hummingbird again today! I was kneeling on the path behind the rear perennial bed, by the camellia, when I heard a faint buzzing hum, just louder than an insect. Looked up and there it was, hovering close over the echinacea, I even heard it give a little squeaky chirp before it darted up to perch on a twig of the oak. I almost felt like the tiny bird was checking up on what I was doing- ha. Looked it up- apparently they do feed on echinacea flowers, though I've never witnessed that. I always just see bees and butterflies at the coneflowers.

on the second sideyard

where the maples came out. This spot against the house looks nice right now- until the deer get at it. I should dig and move that ostrich fern that's come up in the middle of the hosta- but not sure if I can do it without damaging one of the plants. Maybe to divide the hosta.

The sensitive ferns are coming up. 

Pulmonaria is almost done blooming- all the flowers fallen over from center, they sure are glorious. Caught a bee in the photo- upper left!

Lily of valley starting to flower

All the gladiolas arising-

Milkweed is coming up-

It's already spreading! Which the swamp ones on the other side of the house never did. This one is further downslope, right next to one of the little hollies.

Which isn't doing so great. Some leaves yellowing with spots. I think it's holly leaf-spot- a fungal disease. Starting to wonder if this is another volunteer plant I'll regret having moved and encouraged to grow. If a thicket of milkweeds does better in this spot, I'd rather have them here!

Not really on the sideyard, but on that same side of the back area- I was cleaning up more leaf litter and weeds, and found to my surprise that what I think is the canna lily, regrowing! I had planted these because they were freebies, and then mulched them heavy against winter instead of digging up to store indoors, without much expectation they'd survive. Well, I think one did but looks like a deer chomped it. Either that or I accidentally got it with the lawn mower blade.

some nice surprise

Over a month ago, there were free plants offered at my library. Bare root trees and some rhizomes. I brought home a mulberry tree- it died. And two canna lily rhizomes, dug them into the ground, watered a few days, forgot about it. No sign of any plant so I thought that didn't survive, either. Until now! Trimming the grass after weeks of being off my ankle, found them both growing well. I'm not sure of the color- red or pink probably.

Common milkweed grew back better than last year (except that one has some damage on its top). I have only seen one caterpillar though.

Trimmed up the sedum around the front yard old stump spot, where dead flowerheads were looking unsightly. Tossed the trimmings on the big blank sideyard spot where stump got ground out. Just in case a few take. Three cuttings that I planted there last season, are looking good. I'd like them to fill some of the area!

The one ajuga that survived the stump grinding, has grown into a nice big patch.

Spiderwort is filling out its spot, too. I'll have to cut it back soon.