The Backyard 7/21/15

I was talkin' to The Dad last night about how long it's been since I've posted and he said, "Everyone will think you're sick." Not sick. Or dead. Just busy. Around the house and in the yard. The neighborhood garden tour is this weekend, so I'm being my usual neurotic self. Doing things that no one will notice. Ha! Plus, we built an outdoor table, I got nine pounds of figs from a neighbor, so I made jam, the zucchini is coming from our own plant, as well as from neighbors, so I'm making stuff with that, hair cut and color today, etc, etc. Nothing major, just enough to fill my days with things that aren't going through photos and writing posts.

I went out with my camera last Tuesday and just got the pictures off my camera this morning. I forced myself to sit down and go through them, so that I could get a post written before they're completely out of season.

I'm startin' out back, where the main new bloomers are Crocosmia, Bee Balm, and the 'David' Phlox.

I moved a piece of the regular old orange Crocosmia from the parking strip early this spring, and stuck it in the bed that I've struggled with the past couple of years.

It seems to like it's new home, as do the bumblebees. I still don't love the bed, but I'm hoping the new stuff I put in this year, will be better next year. Here are some pulled back shots of the whole area.

It needs a foliage statement piece.

Next, we have 'David.' He's been in the same spot for several years now and seems to be happy.

Onto the Bee Balm. I've had this plant for probably 13 years, and have no idea what variety it is. I know it's reliable and spreads like a weed, so I have plenty to share every year.

Check out the buds on the PeeGee Hydrangea, too!

I bought a new-to-me Cuphea this year called 'Flamenco Cha Cha' and I'm officially in love. The 'Flamenco Samba' is good too, for future reference.

And last, I'll throw in some pictures of the new table. It's a beast, at 7 1/2 feet, and I love it to pieces. We've eaten dinner at it every night since building it last Monday.

The top is at least 50-year old cedar, that we got out of our neighbor's backyard. For free. The Dad used his Kregg Jig to join the three pieces. It was super rough and grey, so I went after it with a rotary sander to knock the sliver makers off, and round out the edges a bit. I hadn't done it yet in the photos, but I put two coats of paste wax on the top, and plan to put two more.

For the base, I took the metal legs off our old, square, big box store glass-top table, and we reconfigured them to work.

And there ya have it. I'll be back with parking strip pictures sometime before the week is over. The Gladiolas and Rudbeckia are blooming! ;o) Off to make some curry with chickpeas, potatoes, and beet greens.....