Garden Rainbow Colors

     Deep pink spiderwort, cream white foxglove, yellow lantana, red and orange colors of lilies in the     background intermingled with green leaves and green-white ornamental grass

     Garden Rainbow Colors (Haiku)

Red and pink blossoms
Saucer size peonies
Illuminate the garden.

Orange color day lilies
Brightens shadows of gray day
Sun in the garden.

Yellow coreopsis
Reflects the bright sunlight
Tempered by green leaves.

Pink and white roses
Buds beginning to open
Smell the aroma.

Tall spiky delphiniums
Varied colors of blue
Silver Lambsear nearby.

Blue gray iris
Light red geraniums
Blending rainbow colors.

Purple blue colors
Found in salvia plants
Cool garden spot.

I'm filled with joy
Gazing at the garden
Heaven on earth.

Beauty in a Rain Garden

     Establish a Rain Garden in your yard to help the environment. A Rain Garden will collect rain water that runs off your roof. This method prevents the pollutants carried by harmful substances that wash off roofs and paved areas that eventually run into street gutters and streams and lakes. Collecting the rain water in a shallow depression in your yard will increase the amount of water that filters into the ground, which recharges local aquifers. To create a Rain Garden you need to select a site near a gutter where the water can run off the roof into your Rain Garden. Create a two foot run off area or stream bed that leads to the Rain garden. Dig an area of 1-2 foot deep and 4-6 feet wide for the garden. Transplant native plants and grasses that tolerate a wetland or wet prairie. Add mulch to the bed of the rain garden to keep weeds from growing. By viewing the photo you can see that I added a Japanese bridge for aesthetic purposes. The bridge also provides a method for walking over the stream bed.
     The Rain Garden provides a valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and many beneficial insects. It can become a garden area where you can interact with nature by maintaining the garden, observing the wildlife, taking photographs, and/or sketching and painting a picture of the plants. Add a bench and it becomes a meditative area of your garden.

A Fairy Tale of the Fox and a Fairy

     Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a red fox who was always looking for ways to catch a chicken in Farmer's Brown chicken coop. Each time he would try the chickens would hear him and began making loud cackling sounds. Immediately Farmer Brown would come outdoors with his shot gun ready to shoot any animal that approached his chickens. The fox was so discouraged. He wanted to steal a chicken. His mouth would water every time he would think of eating a chicken. One day as the fox was lying down in the grass moping about his lack of opportunity in catching a chicken, a mischieveous fairy approached him saying, "What's the matter with you?"
The fox replied, "I want to catch a chicken but the chickens keep hearing me and making so much noice that Farmer Brown comes running to see what is disturbing the chickens."
The fairy smiled and said, "I know of a way to help you catch those chickens without them hearing you. Do you see that plant in the garden? It is called Digitalis. Remove four of the blossoms and put them on your feet. Wear them the next time you want to catch a chicken."
     That evening when darkness arrived, the fox put the four blossoms on his feet and crept carefully and quietly to the chicken coop. He slipped inside and stole a chicken. He ran all the way home to his den without any of the chickens making any sound. He was so pleased with himself. However, little did he know that the fairy had played a trick on him. From that day on every Digitalis plant will be called a foxglove because inside each blossom there are footprints left by the fox.

The pond was created in 2005. There is a water fall on the north side of the pond. The depth of the pond is 4 feet to accomodate Koi and gold fish to survive the cold winter months. The red pond lily was a gift from a friend as well as a pink lotus from another friend. The pond was placed near the deck and sliding door of my office. On the deck is a table with two chairs where I often have lunch during the summer months. How relaxing it is to hear the waterfall and watch the dragon flies hovering over the flowering lilies. On the south side of the pond is a small gazebo where I can sit and sip my coffee or tea. During the summer months I like to take an early meditative walk around the garden with a cup of coffee and sit on various benches around the garden. I become one with nature, a figure in the natural environment.

Garden Home in the Woods

We bought the home in 1996 and have developed extensive theme gardens such as Victorian, Colonial, Fairy, Monet, Shakespeare Herb, Water Garden, Native Flowering Plants, Rain Garden, Japanese and Lilies. This photo features the spring bulb garden in front lawn. The gardens are all organic with an emphasis on a balanced ecosystem which includes insects, reptiles, birds and animals. The garden has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation and the Ecology Center of Normal, Illinois.

The purpose of this blog is to show the various Theme Gardens and blooming plants. In essence, show the beauty of nature.

Colorado Blue Columbine

Beauty in the May Garden

The May garden, because of all the rain, has shown magnificant beauty in all the perennials and flowering shrubs. The Colorado Blue columbine is also blooming among the aspens and Colorado blue spruce. I planted the Colorado Blue columbine, aspens and blue spruce in an area of the garden on a hill with a path circuling the hill to remind me of being in Colorado. Also, the dark blue clematis is climbing the garden fence adding beauty and color to the entrance of the vegetable garden.