Garden Artistry

Our pastor's wife is amazing with gardening and offered to give me a few plants that she had an abundance of. I had been looking to transform our yard and add some more color inbetween the bushes in the front of the house and then add a few along the side of the driveway. So this was a great opportunity to learn more about different perennials and do a bit of experimenting with their growing seasons and colors. We'll see how everything turns out when spring rolls around. I'm just glad I got all the flowers in the ground this fall already so I can be ahead of the ballgame. So excited!! 

Front of the House

Before... 

Astilbe between the two bushes

Phlox
 Mums (yellow/orange/pink blossoms)
Corieopsis (yellow w/ red near center)

Summer Aster (lilac color)

Corieopsis (yellow w/ red near center) in barrel
Aster (light purple)
Blanket Flower (red with yellow tips)
Mum (pink)
Blanket Flower (red with yellow tips)
Aster (dark purple)
Purple Ground Cover (unknown name)

 East Side of House

Day Lilies (pale orange)
Black-Eyed Susan (yellow w/ black center)
Day Lilies (pale orange)

Daisies (white w/ yellow centers)
Day Lilies (pale orange)
Daisies (pale orange)

Tulips (red)
Black-Eyed Susans (yellow w/ black centers)
Tulips (red)

Patio Area

Primroses that bloomed in summer

Primroses (yellow)
Jacob's Ladder (purple) 

West Side of House

After the grass was removed / Before the flowers

After

Black-Eyed Susan (yellow w/ black center)
Day Lily (pale orange)
Black-Eyed Susan (yellow w/ black center)
Geraniums (purple?)

Sedum (dark purple)
Purple Coneflowers (purple/pink petals)
Asiatic Lily (bright orange)
Purple Coneflowers (purple/pink petals)
Sedum (dark purple)

By the Garage

Before....

Cut-Leaf Coneflower (yellow)
Purple Ground Cover (unknown name)
Yarrow (strawberry red w/ yellow centers)

Along the Back of the House

Tulips (pink and red)  in early spring

Day Lilies (pale orange)
Asiatic Lily (bright orange)

The saddest part of planting was having to cut back the leaves and flower buds so that all the nutrients and water could go to the root. Even though I knew it was important for the flowers to fully establish themselves in the ground, it was hard to say good-bye to the short lived blooms that brightened up the yard. It reminded me of how God sometimes prunes us a little so that we can bear more fruit. We have our set backs, but we're constantly growing. Thinking of how beautiful these flowers will be if they survive my transplanting them, made me smile. God also loves to see the fruit of His labors.