Early August garden

As promised, here is what my yard looked like as of yesterday.


Although I started in the front of the house, I thought I'd update the veggie/herb garden first.  Two days ago I gave the herbs a quick haircut.  I gave most of the herbs away to neighbors and friends.

Many of my herbs are doing well and were definitely ready for harvest.

I definitely need to pull grass and weeds, which makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to use this ground to plant in.  Even several layers of cardboard don't deter that grass.

One thing is for sure, I'm cutting the blackberry bush back farther this fall than I've ever done before.  I'm tired of it trying to spread, but not providing fruit.

Although it's incredibly difficult to see over the blackberry vines, this is my lone tomato plant.  It has grown in height, but there are no flowers on it.  There are also no tomatoes because there are no bees in my yard to pollinate the flowers.

Now it's time to head to the front yard.  Ironically, I mowed a mere five days ago, yet the grass needs it again.  From where I stood, I zoomed in on the color I saw toward the back of the garden.

My purple coneflowers (Echinacea) are doing great.  I'm thrilled to see them thriving.

My Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is in full bloom after I cut it back drastically last autumn.

It has taken off and is doing quite well.

You would never know I cut it back so drastically by looking at the new growth it has produced.

Moving to my porch, you can see the Surprise Lilies (Lycoris squamigera), also known also as Peace Lilies and Naked Ladies, had just started to bud two days ago.

There are many more of these that will bloom quite soon. 

I planted them everywhere in my garden, and now it's time to transplant them again.

I planted them all around my rose bush

in the flower bed, but they must need to be divided again because, aside from these few, they are no longer blooming.

It was now time to head to the back yard for photos.  Both the house and the  umbrella look extremely lopsided in this photo.

When I saw these two photos I was mortified.  I definitely need to clean this back patio and edge around it.  At some point, I also want to pour a new concrete slab.

I'm hoping these are hollyhocks.  If not, they are just weeds.

I used to have a lilac bush back here, but it was too dark for it to survive.  That was my fault because I planted it before I planted so many of these other plants that actually LIKE shade.

I have contemplated repainting this now quite rusty table, but I really want a new one and hate to waste the paint on one I might throw away.

You can see I'm now planning to work out here until the heat runs me inside.  I've got several ideas I'm working on, but nothing is taking hold at the moment.

Back inside, the face of our blog was patiently waiting for me to offer him some love and affection.  Squiggles, on the other hand, was no where to be seen.

Thanks for taking time to join me as I shared my early August herb garden, my flower bed, and my horrible back yard today.  Bleubeard will join me in thanking you for visiting.  We are both grateful.