When landscaping our yards we tend to select plants and colors that we like. I’ve done that, too! My colors are dark green, Chartreuse, burgundy/bronze, yellow/orange and white. By keeping with a theme, it allows me to move plants around when dividing overgrown plants or putting them in a more desirable location.
The East side of my home gets a lot of hot cooking-type of sun until about 2:00 in the afternoon. It also gets less rain since the house shields it. So on this side the plants need little care and minimum water. I had landscapers add the large stones to help with erosion from the slope. There are various varieties of sedums
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including the popular Autumn Joy Sedum which honey bees LOVE! There is a Dappled Willow shrub in between two of the Golden Globe arborvitae. I severely prune it before winter then it regrows to 8-10ft each year, reaching the top of that window. The burgundy Barberries are medium-sized so don’t require much pruning to keep them small.
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The West side of the home gets 2-3 hours of afternoon sun. I planted 3 full sized Barberries years ago. The Hostas were originally planted when there was a Cherry tree at the corner for shade. I have to keep them watered during the heat if there is minimal rain. I’ve divided them a few times, giving some friends. The Vicary privet was planted by the builder 23 yrs ago. The Blue Spruce to the right is a Bakerii Dwarf Blue Spruce so it has remained 8-10 ft.
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The Back Yard has been in for many years. The Viburnums have now reached about 12ft and are a wonderful privacy screen. The birds congregate in these shrubs. The Norway Spruces are VERY tall now as is the Callery Pear. The plant in the lower front left is a Varigated Virginia Creeper vine. It is on a 3-section metal fence that hides the A/C.
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The space in front of the large Spruces has been a problem. Over the years I’ve tried three different types of plants in this area. None has survived or thrived. This Spring I tried again with plants that “may be” more tolerant of dappled shade from the pear tree. The new plants L-R are: Sweet Flag, Fireworks Fountain Grass, Coral Bells and Bonfire Cushion Spurge.
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I’m still working on the area next to the back of the house. Since I lost two of the Ninebarks to their powdery mildew problem and needed to move the Ligularia to a larger spot, I’ve had to select different plants. Late last summer I put in two Cinnamon Ferns. Two years ago I put in a Vanilla Spice Summersweet. I’m still trying to save the one remaining Ninebark. I added the Creeping Jenny a couple weeks ago to eventually provide colorful groundcover and help with maintaining moisture.
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This Pyracantha is many years old now. It’s huge and is a refuge for dozens of little birds. I no longer get the pretty orange berries in the fall because the mass of birds knock the berries off before they have a chance to mature to the orange color. It does have pretty white flowers in late Spring.
I wanted to somewhat conceal my back steps so I selected Karl Foerster Reed Grass to grow in front of it. I put it in last summer so this year is its first to grow as planned. Per
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the photos I’ve viewed on the Internet, the fronds start as white then turn yellow then rust. It has a columnar growth and “per the photos” shouldn’t outgrow this space.
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Every year I say, “now I’m done”, but who knows if this is the year I’m REALLY done!
America’s Independence Day
Today we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. I am so glad I live in this great country. No other country on earth is like America. My ancestors moved here in the mid-late 1600s from Germany and Ireland. I’m so glad they did. One of my great grandfathers was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. I had relatives that served in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. I was born during WWII. Although my parents lived in rural Ohio, my father went to work in an airplane plant in Detroit, coming home every couple weekends. My sister, who was 18 when I was born, worked in a factory nearby making military parts – a real Rosie-the-riviter. Her boyfriend (and eventual husband) was serving in the Navy in the Philippines. I grew up going to the local parades which had a strong military influence. At school we always said the Pledge of Allegiance first thing before class began. I consider myself a #PROUDAMERICAN.
The Flag flies all year on my house as it does on several of my neighbors’ homes. However, on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veteran’s Day I display many small flags to show my devotion to my country. I’m so grateful that I have the FREEDOM to do that! #MAGA
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Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Delaware County, Politics
Tagged #MAGA, #ProudAmerican, American Flag, freedom, Independence Day