Permanently outside

I must explain my somewhat lengthy blog absence.  I have fallen victim to my yearly obsession.  Landscaping.  I can't get enough of it.  Instead of hot actors or winning the lottery, I dream about new planting areas and cashing in bonus points at the local garden center.  Weird.

Let me be clear, this does not mean I like cutting the grass or edging.  In fact, I don't know how to use the lawnmower.  That is rather embarassing to admit, since I tackle almost any project myself...but I just like to feign ignorance so I don't have to add another chore to my list, okay?!  I am out working in the yard every single day after work, and I'm always dirtier than when I was a toddler. 

But it was a total joy to see all the shrubs and perennials I planted last year come back to life this spring.  My Dappled Willow is the star of the backyard:

The foliage is so stunning!

The catmint I put in last summer has pretty much exploded.  We already had to contain it with twine...

If you don't have catmint already, consider planting some.  Not only is it incredibly hardy and fast growing, but the flowers are beautiful.

There was a yucky little planting bed near our soon-to-be-renovated sun porch, that desperately needed to be addressed.  Not my best work!

Yikes.  There were some half-dead coral bells that never got enough sun in the back, the salvia were randomly planted there last summer and looked all wonky and off-center.  And silly little asiatic lilies were cropping up all over the place.  So I decided to do a little cleanup and repositioning with a brand new shrub in the middle:

My first rose!  Since I've never had one before, I picked an easy care double knockout rose.  I tossed the coral bells, moved one salvia over and replanted all the lilies further to the right.  I'm in love with the purple salvia with the hot pink roses!

The only problem is the transplanted salvia is not growing the way the other one is.  This photo was taken just five days after the switch....'lefty' is in it to win it!

Currently, that left salvia is another few inches higher.  So much for symmetry.  I also had the pleasure of seeing my Allium grow....they are so cool.  I got the bulbs late last fall and sort of hurriedly plopped them in the ground all willy-nilly.  I'm so happy with them! 

Thanks to the profuse catmint, salvia and alliums, I am able to make little arrangements as often as I like.  Obsessed!

Me thinks I need some new vases.  TJ Maxx, I'm coming.  Save me the good stuff.