I grow flowers too.

I love pretty flower gardens, but I seem to spend the majority of my time growing things to eat rather than look pretty. I thought maybe it’s time for a tour of the non-edible gardens.

Let’s start at the front of the house.

I love how the front landscaping looks at this time of year. I know day lilies are kind of utilitarian, but you can’t beat them color and ease. The bright yellow/green ground cover is creeping Jenny. I love the contrasting color, but it’s horribly invasive so planting it in an enclosed area like this is a good idea. 

Close up of the begonias on the front porch. 

The red Wave petunias almost glow in the sunlight. Love the color of them. 

Hens and Chicks always remind me of my grandma. She had two big planters of them when I was a kid and I loved watching the chicks grow.

 

 

 

I planted this sage last summer and it’s exploding this year. My goal is to eventually turn this whole bed into herbs and other pretty edible plants. 

See? Herbs are pretty and delicious.  

Mailbox

I planted these succulents around the mailbox last summer. It’s a great place for them because it’s full sun and they don’t need to be watered now that they’re established. (Good thing, because it’s a pain to water down there.) Most of the “rocks” are hypertufa that I made last year. The rock in the front right is granite from one of our favorite spots on Birch Lake, MN.  (Don’t mind the flags in  back. The village is replacing our ash tree that was removed last year because the Ash Borer.) 

Such happy little flowers. 

This is another pretty succulent. (I need to look up the name.) 

We bought this choke cherry from a native plant sale several years ago. It was literally a single stem less than a foot tall. (Must dig up a photo!) I had planted some really pretty grasses and grown cover around it, but they’re getting choked out (hehe) by it now. I plan to move them next spring. 

The friends and family bed was created on a spur of the moment decision one year and I’ve been steadily filling it with transplants from, you guessed it, family and friends. A couple of friends/neighbors have moved out of state, so it’s especially nice to see a daily reminder of them when I’m out watering.

Hostas are kind of meh to me, but the color and shape of these are really interesting. These are in full shade under the hawthorn tree in the Friends and Family bed. (This is one of the only plants in the bed that I bought.) 

The allium is even pretty when it’s done blooming. Don’t they remind you of fireworks? (From my dad’s garden on the farm.) 

This corner bed has gone through several different plans, but we’re sticking with the rocks. I love how it looks and it requires zero maintenance.

The trumpet vine next to the fence continues to resurrect itself from the dead. 

Cat mint in bloom in the rock garden. 

Succulents in the rock garden. 

A different view of the raised beds. 

I had no idea these calla lilies would turn pink, but I like it.