A few shots from yesterday. My front border. The big ones in the background are L-R: Jewel of the Nile, Summer Breeze, Fortunei Aureomarginata.

The rows of the border are Kifukurin Ko Mame in front. Allan P. McConnell behind it and Ginko Craig behind that.

Oops, wrong garden. This is one in the back. The large plants are Blue Wedgwood to the right and Punky to the left. Gold Drop in front of them, though I've moved it. You see a bit of Revolution in front.

You also see a bit of Sun Power to the right and Heart and Soul to the left.

Around my oak tree. In front - Invincible on the left and Diana Remembered on the right. Behind the, Paul's Glory. The little one is Sitting Pretty. The large green on the right is Fujibotan. At the base of the tree is Venus with Karin to the right and September Sun to the left.

WOW waht a border.Very nicely filled in.

This is the pic I meant to post of the center front garden.

And, I may have posted an earlier version of this trio. This pic is from 2010. My side garden with Sara, So Sweet and Janet in front.

lovely

Ann and JoAnn and Kay -- all very beautiful groupings!!

ViolaAnn said:This is the pic I meant to post of the center front garden.

Hi Viola Ann - can you tell me what the two hosta's are in this pic -- the one in the middle with a yellow/grren margin with a dark green middle, and then the one to the right of it that has the dark green margin and the yellow/white center?

Are they Gemini Moon and Touch of Class respectively?

The air here is a bit blue as I just detailed virtually all the hostas you can see in that photo and then accidentally closed Firefox! I can't blame the computer for that and I can't easily recover it either.

So a short answer to the specific question above -'Gemini Moon' with the lighter margin and 'Touch of Class' to the right. I like the way the chartreuse sections of the two are reversed.

Here's a pic taken today. The big one is 'Francee' - one that was divided only about 4 years ago and put into an area with more moisture and morning sun. It LOVES it there.

To its left is 'Christmas Pageant' which is beginning to look reasonable after a slow start the last two years. It was new two years ago, grown in a pot the first year. Last year I tried it in a spot that was too dark and moved it. The crown showed distinct signs of having been munched although AFAIK, I do not have voles. I'll have to find larger spot for it soon.

In front, 'Little Sunspot', 'Fire Island' and behind FI, 'Red October'.

In the background, to the right of the purple petunias, 'Cherry Berry'. Just visible over top of 'Francee' is 'Liberty' - a two-yr-old plant. Behind the downspout extension is 'Fragrant Bouquet' and behind that, 'Fortunei Aureomarginata'. You can just make out 'Summer Breeze' behind FA.

It looks really good, Ann!!

Gorgeous grouping, Ann!

I almost gave away my 'Francee' because it's such an old fashioned hosta and not anything all that remarkable, but...seeing yours I think I'll let mine stay.

Here is Gouachamole with white Tiny Snowflake llies

here is my favorite part of my yard... this is in Wisc - not IL.

I like the extra punch of color the caladiums add. Very nice.

thanks -- it's my first year with them... did not know what to expect. dang squirrels kept digging in the pots.
But i'm pleased with the turn out... plus, pots can be moved to add the splash of color where needed.

This is a new group this spring.I will never remember not to plant the light colored ones in the ground. Slugs love them
Stained Glass and Pineapple upside downcake


This is another low maintenance area planted with giant hostas

These were take June 2009. I got to admit I just dug a hole and plunked them in. By the fall I could see I needed to enlarge the bed.....Bummer.....right?




The same bed (but enlarged) June 2010. The ground cover was grass clippings and did it work.


April 2011




May 2011




June 2011. We have since moved from this place.....I stop by weekly to check on the plants. It looks awful and overgrown and with the heat and drought....some look downright DEAD! We are in the process of making a woodland garden at the cottage......so all these plants will be re-homed once the cooler temps arrive.