Welcome to Mother's Garden

It has been a busy weekend in the garden for me. I took the day off last Friday to spend working in my Mother's garden. My Mother is amazing..she is 79 years "young" and works in her yard just about everyday. But I really like to go over and help her with things in the spring and fall. Friday was the day to clean out beds and plant new flowers.
We started in the front. I cleaned out the area around her bird bath leaving the purple heart where it was, and trimming the dusty miller back.
This is a close up of what she picked out to put in front of the birdbath.
For Mother's Day I got her these hanging baskets that look really good hanging in front of this window.
This is a mixed planter we found at one of the garden centers we went to on Friday morning.
This scaveola
"Fan Flower" is one of Mother's very favorite plants. We get her one every spring, but I think the one we found this year is the prettiest she has ever had!
We always get several pentas for her front flower bed. This year she got some for the backyard too.
And..here is Mother's backyard. This long flower bed in front of the lawn has housed many plants. At one time it was the most beautiful rose garden. Now it is home to perennials. I did not do anything here-Mother takes care of this bed all by herself. I think this is her favorite, although she loves all her areas.
And now..
Mother asks for your help. Several years ago, a bird left her a gift. We have no idea what it is, but it is a very special plant as it reappears every spring. It is the most beautiful "cornflower" blue. This year she thought it was not going to come back..but not only did it come back in the original container..
..it also started growing in her perennial bed right beside the California poppies! Mother would love to know what this is. I thought it was a wild phlox, but she doesn't think so. So, what is this? I bet someone out there knows!

Mother has taught me so much about gardening through out the years. It is really nice to be able to help her now..and sometimes add a tip or two of my own!




"I'm still devoted to the garden..although an old man, I am but a young gardener."

Thomas Jefferson

Mother's Peonies

Isn't this pretty? It's one of 2 peony bushes in my Mother's backyard. I don't think peonies are suppose to do well here in Texas..but my Mother the "green thumb" has beautiful blooms!

Just look at this--is it not the most beautiful flower in the world! These are very special plants to Mother as they are pass-alongs from a lady that lived next door to Mother for years.

Bea just came over one day, told Mother she dug up 2 peony plants for her because Mother

"needed"

them. Mother took them out back and planted them...and they have been beautiful almost every spring since then.
It was not long after this gift of sharing her love of plants, that Bea moved. Some months later Mother got word that Bea had passed away. Needless to say, when spring rolls around every year and Mother sees buds on her peonies, she is reminded of her sweet neighbor.

And, every spring I get the gift of a bouquet to take home. Peonies smell almost as good as roses, and they always brighten my kitchen.

What better reminder that indeed.."friends are the flowers in the garden of life!"

Mother's Garden

To celebrate Mother's Day I usually take my Mother flower shopping. This year we were at the graduation in Lubbock, so today was our Saturday to shop. After a pancake breakfast (Yum!), we headed to the first garden center..
to buy one thing.. Well, that "one" thing turned into a cart load! My Trailblazer was rather packed, but on we go! The next stop again filled a cart. Mother didn't think there was any way we could fit all the plants into my already full SUV, but I found a place for everything.
Back to Mother's we go to plant our goodies. Everything looked so pretty when we were finished. Not as pretty as it will look in a few
weeks, but pretty. The best thing we put in the garden though was not even a plant. It was a sign my sister painted for Mother for Mother's Day. It is the focal point of the backyard garden. How special for Mother to be able to look out at her beautiful flowers and see this special gift.

There are things in our life that are priceless...this garden sign is one of them.

"You're closer to God's heart in a garden than any place on earth."
D. F. Gurney