Saturday, July 10, 2010

A Tour of Our Garden

Hello everyone,

We are having some lovely summer days here on the Island so if you are not all at the beach I thought I would show you some photos of our garden today.

This is the bed coming up the walkway to our front door with the barn( maybe I should call it the carriage house sounds prettier somehow) in the background.

The walker's low nepeta and William Baffin rose in bloom in our Chelsea garden.

The delphinium are in bloom here now-I do love them.

The climbing hydgrangea is blooming on the arbor at the road along with magnificum geranium and lady's mantle.

The peach leaf bellflowers are pretty now with splish splash geranium.

This is our Allee garden which was where our daughter walked down the isle and a few years later our daughter in law on their wedding day .The blue is six hills giant nepeta which blooms later then Walkers Low .This is still a work in progress as my vision is to have the arbors covered with roses,clematis and wisteria but they seem to be slow in climbing. Andrew built the arbors etc. last year and I am hoping they age to grey soon. Also, there is more color in the borders before and after this nepeta blooms so I think the problem can be solved by replacing this nepeta for the earlier blooming Walker's Low to give a better show. So hopefully in a year or two this will make a prettier picture. Our garden is still a work in progress and patience is definitely a virtue!

I took this shot early in the morning and the squrriel posed for me on top of the fence at the road.

These peonies were still putting on a good show a couple of days ago-they get a little more shade and are a later variety that I bought at a yardsale.

I love the pinky mauve of this delphinium.

This siberian iris is still in bloom.

There are eight mock orange shrubs in bloom here now along with a few Japanese Ivory Silk lilacs that are perfuming the garden along with dozens of roses.

The south beds by the veranda.

This cedar waxwing surprised me early in the morning as well.I had seen a few around earlier but never with my camera in hand.

In the background there is an ivory silk lilac in bloom along with a garden variety of Japanese Knotweed which blooms a long time but takes up a lot of space.

More delpinium

Do you see the robin on the ground-she has a nest right outside our kitchen window. She has been sitting on the eggs for a while now so it is fun to have such a close view of her.I am hoping to get some pics of the babies when they hatch.

Well,that is a peek at part of our garden so I will show the rest another time. I hope you are enjoying your weekend and I will see you later. It is too hot to work so I think I will enjoy an afternoon on the veranda with some lemonade.

Take care,

Carolyn

41 comments:

Lacy said...

Oh I just love it! So very beautiful!

Erin | Bygone Living said...

You have the most perfect garden I've ever seen-- we definitely share the same exact taste!
I love your carriage house, and the Allee garden is spectacular!! When I get engaged, may I rent that out from you? :p ♥

PAT said...

Carolyn it is all just simply gorgeous! Thank you so much for this lovely tour.

parTea lady said...

A trip to the beach does sound good. Your garden is really beautiful. Your family weddings there must have been gorgeous. Most people have to travel to a city park or somewhere to have such lovely photo ops.

Anonymous said...

You garden is just beautiful! My favorite part of it is the alllee. That is going to be so gorgeous when all of your plants grow up and over the sides and top.
Thanks for all of this wonderful inspiration! My garden is much younger than yours, and I still have lots to do. :)
Have a wonderful weekend.
~ Jo :)

Unknown said...

Oh my, how long did it take to get the garden looking like it does. I don't think I've ever seen anything garden more beautiful or perfect.

Carolyn said...

Hi Cindy,
The oldest parts of the garden are about 18 years old but some areas are less then 5 years.
The allee is about eight years old and it has matured a lot in the last couple of years.
Hi Erin,
You just let me know when you set the date!
Thank you everyone for your kind words.

Carolyn

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

How simply beautiful! Thank you so much for giving us this tour of your lovely gardens.

Susi said...

A wonderful garden... so beautiful flowers... Have a wonderful weekend.. Susi

Sanneke Panneke said...

wat een geweldige tuin, en wat een prachtig huis. Zo lijkt het toch net of je altijd op vakantie bent. Super gewoon.
Geniet er maar van.
Groetjes Monique

Linda said...

Just so beautiful as always. I have those bell flowers at the side of the house.I wondered what they were. So far just one stalk full of flowers.The flowers along the bridal path look like lavender don't they.

Lottie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lottie said...

Beautiful garden! I love to visit your blog. (I deleted my comment before because I typed so fast that I spelled a couple of words incorrectly) Have a great week ahead!

nannykim said...

Very beautiful , as always!

Designing Lady Jane said...

Beautiful gardens, I just love them. And the cedar waxwing bird is so sweet!

Anna said...

what a beautiful place on earth!!!
and what luck to take a picture of such a wonderful bird!
thanks for the walk

Victorian1885 said...

Good afternoon Carolyn
Your garden is as beautiful as I imagined! Your hard work has paid off..I just wish our summers were longer in Canada so you could enjoy it longer..take care!

Wanda

Virginia said...

Wow!! I’m always amazed by the beauty of your garden.
Have a blessed and joyful weekend.
Virginia

Rhondi said...

Hi Carolyn
Thank you for giving us a tour of your garden. I can almost smell the fragrance of it..Mmmm...
It is beautiful.

Reginas Cottage said...

hi carolyn,
your garden is just wonderful.
all the pictures they are soooooooo
pretty....i love your garden and for me is your garden a dream.
have a nice time in your loveley garden,
heart wishes,
regina

ღ M@ddy ღ said...

Carolyn , non sai che regali mi fai sempre...sto cercando delle idee per decorare il mio terrazzo, e i tuoi post sono un'ottima fonte di ispirazione !!!

Baci ♥

♥ Maddy

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Carolyn.....Always beautiful to visit your garden! I love that Cedar Waxwing perched in the one photo! We don't have those in Ohio...at least I don't think so! Enjoy your garden from the veranda today....sounds ideal!~Hugs, Patti

DesignTies said...

Your gardens are so beautiful!! I love your delphiniums and peonies, and your Allee Garden is beautiful. I can imagine what a perfect setting it was for your daughter and daughter-in-law on their wedding days :-)

Stay cool!!

Kelly

Anonymous said...

Oh, Carolyn! Just so much beautiful at your lovely home! I just can't believe all of the flowers and flowering shrubs you have - and you know all of their names! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi Carolyn, The temperatures have dropped to the mid twenties, perfect. My garden is in mid July mode, that time before the late summer bloomers arrive. Yours looks so lush and fresh. I hope you enjoy the weekend.

Unknown said...

I could live in a garden for the rest of my life. You have a wonderful garden and so many pictures to comment on. They are all so lovely. Life is wonderful and so much better in a garden..

Ticking and Toile said...

Carolyn,
Absolutely magnificent!!!! I can't get over how gorgeous your gardens are :) I have always thought of getting some Mock Orange shrubs. They are so beautiful. I also am a huge fan of delphinium, but for some reason it does great here during the summer but never seems to make it thru the winter.

I love the blue flowers & the arbors in the making in the Allee garden....I forgot the name of the flowers ....I need to go back thru your post & write everything down. So lovely. Thanks so much for the pics!

xo,
Shellagh

gena said...

So,so,so spectacular ! I've been drooling over your home and garden for several seasons now and I'm in awe of the amount of love and work that must go into such an amazing garden.

thank you for sharing it with all of us,
gena
www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

jose said...

What a beautiful garden you have.
And what a time you have to spend to keep it that way, but it is rewarding!!!

Hélène Flont , french illustrator said...

Bonjour Carolyn. Your garden is superbly elegant. I enjoyed this visit very much as always. A bientôt. Helen Flont

A Southern Rose said...

Your garden is amazing. I love all of your flowers. I get such a peaceful feeling wheever I visit your blog.

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Unknown said...

Oh, I dream of taking this tour in person! Such a beautiful garden, Carolyn, you have the magic touch.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Carolyn: Your garden is beautiful. I loved the nepeta walk. My walkers blooms beautifully and then lays right down on the ground. Not so nice. Does the giant nepata stay upright?

nabibiddi said...

Beautiful!
The kids and I where visiting the porches at Rhondi's party and we discovered your pretty one.
We live in Shediac N.-B :-)

Blessings,
Nancy

Heaven's Walk said...

Oh my gosh....what a paradise. I have never seem a more beautiful garden in all my life. How wonderful it must be to wander the grounds there and experience God's beauty surrounding you, Carolyn. Simply beautiful....You inspire me.

xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

June said...

Carolyn, what a pleasure to walk in your garden today. Everything is just gorgeous. I loved the cedar waxwing, we have seen more this year than ever before in our garden. I think they are so pretty.
I only have two Ivory Silk in the garden and they are in bloom now and smell heavenly (almost nauseating, hehe)
I love your beautiful allee and I know in a year or two it will be even more beautiful.
Such a pleasure to walk with you today.
hugs

Amy Chalmers said...

I so enjoy visiting your home and yard. It is just gorgeous! So inspiring!

Georgianna said...

Speechless, really, Carolyn. It's all amazing but I'm particularly taken with the allee. I can imagine in with roses covering it! My Walker's Low does bloom early but is terribly floppy – I have to stake it early or it is a mess. Also, by this time of year, it is ready to be cut back for a second flowering. It's a lovely plant and it's fragrance reminds me of Great Dixter but I wish it wasn't so unruly! – g

Anonymous said...

Your garden is breathtaking.
I quite imagine myself with my paint and brushes enjoying to sketch all day.
You must have a very good soil.
Here in my area the soil is heavy clay, hard and dry in summer, and sticking in autumn.
But I am satisfied even if it is difficult to work with.
Thank you for this lovely visit.

You have beautiful children and grand children, good looking and healthy.

I wish you a wonderful day in your magical enchanting garden :o)

BEADNEST by Hamiza Hamzah said...

hai carolyn...
i'm miza from kuala lumpur, malaysia. i'm visiting yr blog most everyday, esp on yr collection of tea sets and yr nice garden. merry xmas and happy new year to all yr family members.

love miza

BEADNEST by Hamiza Hamzah said...

carolyn,

first at all...i need your permission to use a few pics of flower in my blog. pls to reply me.

thousand appologies
miza