Friday, December 7, 2012

December in the West Front Yard

We've had a mild fall so far, but I have not been able to garden much, due to muscle strain in my lower back.  I started physical therapy yesterday, so hopefully I will be fully healed for spring gardening.  Tuesday, the day I saw my PA, one of the days my pain was what I called 8 out of 10, at almost supper time, I looked outside, and loved the way the light was illuminating parts of the yard.  Heidi ran over, hoping we were heading out, so I picked up my camera, and went out with her.  Since I haven't posted in awhile, I decided to focus on the west front yard.

I started out taking a number of photos with wider views so I can put a more current one as my header photo.  I always try to include Heidi and the fire hydrant.


I am enjoying the fall colors on the plants.


This switchgrass is 'Heavy Metal'.  We'll head to the east to see the rest of the area in front of the fence.  I am keeping the different "rabbit barriers" down, hoping they stay put through the winter.


The brown grass on the left is little bluestem.  The tall plants on the right are Riddel's goldenrod.


Here's a closer view of the goldenrod.


The bushy plants on the right are asters.


Here's a longer view back to the west.


Now, we are heading into the area on the other side of the fence.


I look forward to seeing the gray headed coneflowers and other tall plants stick up through the snow this winter.


Turning to the east, wild quinine is one of my favorite plants. 


Looking back to the west and southish, the path is next to the gray headed coneflower that has green at the base.  The plant in front leaning to the left is zig zag goldenrod.  I am pleased that it is spreading a bit.


This is the view a few steps to the west on the path.


I used to not like grasses in my flower beds, but am having fun discovering different grasses, mostly native ones.  Little bluestem, which I already showed in front of the fence, is one of my favorites.


The strawberries under the bench grew pretty well this summer, providing some nice sized berries in June.


My eyes were drawn to this gray headed coneflower bloom, performing during one of the last of the mild fall days.


I'll close with a view from the porch.


We had a good Thanksgiving at our house with our daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.  My parents came over for awhile, too, but had to leave before it got dark out.  We have Larry's side figured out for when we are getting together for Christmas, so things are falling into place.  Now, we need to figure out what to get everyone for Christmas.  I am looking forward to the end of the month, when the days will start getting longer.

I haven't been reading many blogs.  Using my time well is challenging for me.  Sometimes I think I may give up blogging, but I'm not ready to make a decision. Maybe I will find a way to budget my time so that I am able to keep up with all the things I'd like to.  I have been sorting through books and other items in the house and giving them away in order to have less clutter.  Oh, and I did take some to a local used bookstore and was given good credit for the ones they wanted.  I left the rest for them to put outside their door to give away.  I didn't realize the books they have out there are the ones they didn't want to sell when folks took their books there.

Well, I hope you have a good Christmas, in case I don't get another post in before then.

15 comments:

  1. Your garden looks familiar! All my wildflowers are in various states of beautiful brown, too. Sorry to hear about your back. Hoping it's better soon.

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  2. I hope you keep blogging, Sue...but I know how you feel about finding the time for it...it can be a real challenge, especially when life throws other obstacles in our way so often. I love your grasses...Little Bluestem is a definite fave of mine...as are the Panicums...and they look fabulous in that golden afternoon sun :-)

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  3. So sorry to hear your back is giving you so much trouble. I hope it gets better soon. The light in your pictures is spectacular--that angled light in fall and spring is the best! Please continue blogging--you are a critical link in my "keeping up-to-date" with gardens in various locations. But sometimes a break is a good thing. Take care, Sue. And I hope you find some time to relax and enjoy the holidays!

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  4. Sure hope the physical therapy helps. It's tough having aches when you love to garden.

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  5. Sue, I enjoy the fall colors almost as much as the summer ones. I like to new look of your Blog, the yellow background looks good with the fall colors of the gardens.

    Hope you back mends quickly.

    Blogging does take a great deal of time and I need to do some serious time-management this winter. Between the puppy, reading and the internet, I am not getting much productive work done......

    Maybe we can both hit a happy medium. I would miss your Blog for sure.

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  6. I'm slowly beginning to realize that I need some grasses in my garden, and I need to research some of them. I do like the grasses in your garden, and all the seed heads. I am sorry to hear you are having so much pain with your back. I hope you get to feeling better very soon. Don't make a decision about blogging until you feel better. You may look at it differently then.

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  7. Backs are the worst. I have a heating pad on my chair year round. The garden is a challenge - one reason we are taking out some of it for lawn. I hope you are feeling better - we need an online 'trainer' to exercise with! Have a great holiday with your family. c

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  8. I always have enjoyed the colors of fall. Blogging does take time but it is so nice to be able to visit and chat for a while-gardening therapy! Hope your back feels better soon. Happy holidays!

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  9. I love the switchgrasses in winter.

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  10. Sue, I hope you continue blogging, but I do understand. Perhaps a break will help. Sorry your back is hurting and hope you feel better very soon.

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  11. You've captured the light on your garden beautifully, Sue. I like the way the plants gleam in the sunlight, but I was just thinking how beautiful they'll look covered in snow. I hope you'll have time to show us your garden again once the white stuff falls. I do hope you don't give up blogging! One thing I've learned about blogging is that if you take a break for awhile and then return, it really doesn't matter--your followers will find you again.

    My husband had back surgery a month ago and is still recovering, so I know that back problems can take awhile. I hope the PT gives you relief and gets you back in shape by spring. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  12. Sue, your garden looks great in fall! You have really selected some 4-season plants there. Blogging is a lot of work, isn't it? Gardening always takes top priority, that's for sure. Enjoy your holiday!

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  13. Thanks for all the nice comments. I think the physical therapy is helping my back. I have been 4 times so far, 3 this week. Next week I am scheduled for 2 days. I still need to be careful of what I do, but when it does hurt, it's not as bad as it was.

    As far as blogging goes, I think I'd just like to find a balance in how I use my time. I hope I can continue, but spend a bit less time on it. If I can get our house in order, and get rid of some of the excess items, that will help.

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  14. Even in winter, there is so much to see in the garden. Others may think a December garden is drab, but not to those of us who love it year round!

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  15. Sue,
    You got snow?
    How wonderful for a white Christmas.
    Plants in your garden love the snow too.
    Gardens are always beautiful at any time during the year.
    Love the variety of your plants.
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
    Gisela.

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I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.