Happily_Gardening

Now that's what I call thinking out of the box...great creativity and utilization! The buckets make me think of either the amusements rides or the little Igloo lunch coolers...love it!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Soothing colors, peaceful and serene, a heaven on earth.

They are just too darn cute...imaginative and creative...LOVE them!

Hi there Tractor1,
I noticed your picture changes but I couldn't make out too much and I'd clicked on your name, getting a tad bit bigger picture, I just wanted more. WOW, what an incredible acreage you have and in the Catskills, how beautiful. I can only begin to imagine the spectacular views you must see on any given day from your windows. Boy, that's some hard work you mentioned...a labor of love. Bear...fascinating!

Nina, love your expanse of great plants and colors AND your most adorable garden sitter...he, or is that she, looks so shy peeking out. Daylily...oh I long for my own to burst forward into bloom but thankfully I have a riot of color and fragrances of others and this wonderful blog to keep me content until they do.
Tractor1, I'm intrigued by your references sometimes to your own garden...how about pictures?

Eva, the colors and plant combo of Fairy Spring is warm and inviting, very pleasing to the eye. I love the background petunias, coloring brings lollipops to mind. Adding those happy faced violas really completed your work of art.
And on another note...Meander1, so glad you are feeling better...mornings would not be the same without you!

Terie,
Your gardens are luscious, your photography superb!
Meander1,
I have to tell you I look forward to reading your posts each day just as much as viewing the great garden photos. Your words are refreshing, like a soothing balm and a friendly hug. I can just imagine the engaging blog you'd write.

Color scheme, plant placement/textures are incredibly soothing...feels like a spa experience! The window made me swoon. Great photo compositions/captures too Teri!
Now I'm really ready to start my day.

Tim,
Absolutely love your sidewalk combination plantings!
Michelle,
"Happy Birthday...dig in and celebrate!"

Dreamy, enchanting and inviting! I believe I saw the faint outline of fairies fluttering about...Cottagegardenfee tell your daughter "yes :)". The frost on window pane is greeting card worthy. Enjoy your piece of heaven on earth!

A lovely garden of texture and color, very inspirational. I was surprised to see the shamrock, first I've seen in a garden. About 15 years ago I received one as a gift which thrives well in the living room...it's in bloom now. s
Several years ago I divided it and the division is doing well too, also in bloom. Seeing the Russian Sage gives me a glimpse of what I hope I'll see in our hillside garden this spring. Planted several plants in late fall which were hit by a few frosts, so I've got my fingers crossed.

AMAZING...thank you for the visit to the castle!

BEAUTIFUL! The home of my dreams.

Breathtaking!

Relaxing and soothing!

I resolve to make/take the time to step back and enjoy the beauty I've planted.
Happy New Year to all...2012 is going to be a great year, I feel it in the dirt :)!
Thanks Michelle for a wonderful year of inspirational gardening photos and keeping us gardeners in touch.

HO-HO-HO...Merry Christmas everyone!

Hi JimPond,
Regarding your comment, slide show too fast to enjoy the garden...
If you put your cursor, click, on the small four squares to the right of the arrows (above hide captions) you'll get a screen with all the garden photos that you can click through individually at your own pace. Additionally if you put your cursor,click, on the last little box with 4 arrows, it will give you full screen view. You can view pictures individually on full screen too, just click on the same button as described in my first sentence. Hope this explained adequately and helps you enjoy this beautiful garden.

Hysterical and sooo cute..great capture Michelle! Check out the nails, sorely in need of a manicure too, LOL.

Hi All,

It appears plant can be bought online, please see first link below...

http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/portulaca/maraca-portulaca-molokiniensis

Here's quick detail on Portulaca molokiniensis 'Ihi - Succulent shrub 1' tall & wide w/upright stems of rounded lvs & yellow flwrs. Sun/light shade. Well drained soil. Occasioanl summer H20. Hardy to 25F.

Below links offer info/details about plant...

http://www.thelittlegrassshack.com/Molokini_Ihi.htm


http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3684

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POMO15

Is the first plant a Portulaca Molokiniensis or perhaps a relative of?
Gosh it sure is unique and beautiful...would love to add that to my succulent garden.

Soothing and inviting!

"Now that's a ah moment!" Great capture Michelle, feels like I right there. LOVELY spot!

Lovely and cheery plantings! Window boxes add dimension and warmth to a home. Thanks Lynn and Michelle for sharing. We have 2 in our front yard planted with aspargus fern which can handle the blistering heat of the area. Our backyard also has 2 boxes, just replanted yesterday with two types of Hens & Chicks, Echeveria Chroma and Sempervivum/Cobweb Houseleek. Although for years planted/replanted with flowers, the challenge of keeping plants alive and flourishing in the hot semi desert climate became too much. Actually they are quite charming planted with succulents.

WOW! Great pictures...felt like I was there!!

The leaves of the European and Canadian Wild Ginger look similar to/shaped like that of Wild Violets, at least to me they do. Wild Violets are considered invasive and I can attest once planted and taken hold they will run around a yard...but gosh the flowers are so pretty. So far I myself haven't seen any harm in their spreading and leaping ways...just find them popping up in unexpected, unplanted places.

Oh my, that is sooo precious...absolutely enchanting! We have a few gnomes residing in our gardens.
My favorite stands under a garden bench with a hoe in hand, violets planted in front of him so it appears he's tilling the soil around the violets.

Very lovely and inviting, tulips and village/town! What an interesting term "hell strip", have never heard an area referred to as such. Your pictures makes me realize I've come to take for granted the wonderful job our community does planting/maintaining the "hell strips" throughout our city.

WOW, spectacular! Great way to recycle, go green! I love succulents too, planting them in cactus soil mix. It's a sandy type soil that allows for good drainage; therefore not keeping the feet/roots wet. Too all the time and roots will rot. I have two thriving pots full that I planted a few years ago. One is a delightful huge teacup with big tulips painted on it and a sunny yellow saucer attached. Some of the cactus/succulents I have grow what looks like webbing on top of them...looks really cool.

Paiya, I had to smile reading your post cause I always say I love pansies and violas because of their little smiling faces. I will remember "gesiggies" and pass on my new found knowledge.

Love the owl!

Spectacular! Wonderful combination of elements make this scene warm and inviting...bench, walkway, fabulous porch and lighting, seeming to say "hello, come on in!" Great capture Michelle!!

Love the play of textures and colors...very soothing!

Spectacular! Serene and inviting, my dream home!

One word...WOW!!!

Thought this might be helpful...a little background on the Forsythia bush

Forsythia (pronounced /fɔrˈsɪθiə/[1] or /fɔrˈsaɪθiə/) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae (olive family). There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. The common name is also Forsythia; the genus is named after William Forsyth.

The forsythia bush is a beautiful landscape shrub that grows into a hedge with naturally developing arching stems. Forsythia bushes are one of the earliest spring flowering plants. The blooms of the forsythia bush are a spectacular yellow or pink, depending on the cultivar, and resemble little bells.

The forsythia bush grows best on a site that has full sun or light shade. The forsythia bush is deciduous and they drop their leaves in the fall and are effective screens mainly during the growing season. Forsythia bushes are rapid growers and will fill in an area very quickly.

One of the most frequently asked questions about the forsythia bush is when to prune. Pruning the forsythia bush after flowering is the most widely used method. Cut out about one-third of the old woody growth. This encourages new young growth, which will supply the next season's flowers. Another pruning method is to tip prune the forsythia bush. The tip pruning will result in several new growths developing at that point and the plant will become bushier and more prolific in its flowering.


Forsythia bushes are an ideal plant for borders or screens. The forsythia bush should be planted in full sun or light shade. The forsythia bush was named in honor of the royal British gardener William Forsyth who lived from 1737 to 1804.

If I'm not mistaken the yellow bush is a forsythia bush, found often on the East Coast.

Well spoken SunnyDispo! Gottagarden you have a great eye...you really captured the essence!! I'm at peace gazing at your spectacular shot.

Beautiful! Earth at rest. I think this would be lovely in a thin silver/pewter frame.

Spectacular! I absolutely enjoyed visiting your backyard...peaceful and soothing. Thank you for sharing the beauty!

I agree, certainly looks like a California Poppy. As Dawn stated they pop up out of nowhere and everywhere here in Southern California.

Phyllis