The Flower Bed

Isn't this the cutiest Flower Bed you ever saw? This bed which was a find in a garage sale is made out of heavy cast iron. It has been painted white with paint to protect it from rusting. The bottom of the bed has cast iron round poles all the way across to hold up the flower bed. Then a wood frame was made out of 2 x 6 water treated planks to fit the bed like a mattress around the edge. On the bottom of the wood frame is wire mesh to hold the dirt and let the water flow through. I have planted purple petunias as the pillow, when they start to grow they will puff up and look like a pillow. For the blanket on the bed, I have planted Two-Row Stonecrop (Sedum Spurium). They grow about 6" tall and blooms in the summer with clusters of pink flowers. When in bloom and when the petunias are full, it looks like a pillow and blanket! On the ground I have planted ground cover which blooms with white flowers in the summer. I have it cut out round so that it looks like a rug under the flower bed!

Make a Bog in your yard

Making a Bog in your yard is so easy. This bog I made myself with help from my husband. I first had a hole dug the size of the bog I desired. I had a hole dug 8 feet long by 5 feet wide by 3 feet deep. I then bought a pond/bog liner 3 times the size of my hole. This liner was made out of very thick material. I found one on Ebay that was new for only $10. They are usually around $100 but I looked around for the best deal. With shipping it only cost me around $19. I then laid the liner in the hole and pressed it tightly against the floor and walls. I went to a building supply place and bought fake huge rocks that were shaped a L shape and put them all around the top edges of the bog till fully covered. I then laid 5" of pea gravel on the bottom and trimmed off any excess liner that was showing around the fake rocks. I also added some rocks that use to belong to my father that he had around his Koi pond when he was alive for a little dedication to my Dad. I added water and I have my drip system adding water every morning to make up the water that evaporates. I added water plants and wow, I have a bog next to my pond!

My Koi Pond

Nothing is more relaxing then to sit by a Koi pond and watch your Koi swim. I can sit for hours on that bench and watch my beloved fish. My pond is about 3500 gallons. I tried to get it all in the picture, but its shaped in a kidney shape and you can barely see the huge waterfall in the back corner. I have about 46 Koi in the pond right now. Their sizes are from 5" to 12". I just love the water Irises when they bloom. My lily pads are just starting to bloom from a winter sleep.

The Potting Shed

One of my favorites of my yard, my potting shed. Great place to keep all your gardening tools, supplies, sprinkler parts, seeds, potting soil, pots, etc.

To cultivate a garden is to walk with God.

The Rose Garden

Here is the entrance to my Rose Garden. I tried counting my roses once and I stopped counting at 147. I just love spring, every rose bush is in full bloom. The first glimpse of spring, I immediately feed all my rose bushes and continue to do so every 3 months until fall. Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses.

Charlie is out of Hibernation

Well Charlie has finally awaken from his winter sleep. All those beautiful days in the 80's has awaken him and he is hungry. He doesn't like the rock wall I built to keep him from eating a few of my spring flowers.