WAFFLES: Glogirly sure is working hard to decorate her outside litter box.
KATIE: That's not a litter box, Waffles. It's Glogirly's new garden, or rather her landscaping project.
WAFFLES: Landscaping? Is that like manscaping?
KATIE: Waffles, you don't even know what manscaping is.
WAFFLES: Do you think she's going to landscape our litter boxes??
The Big Dig
We may have mentioned that Glogirly's been working on spiffing up the front of our new house. She's never so much as grown a potted petunia before so this is a pretty big deal for her.
We don't have a typical yard like many homes have. Our yard is actually 16 acres of forest. No lawn mowers required. One of our favorite parts of living in the mountains is the natural landscape. But the front of the house was a little ragged looking and needed some TLC. And color.
Glogirly consulted with her new best friend and expert high-elevation horticulturist, Tom Gillan. He owns Native Nursery in Golden, Colorado. Tom helped her to select just the right plantings for our little project. Not everything can thrive or even survive at an elevation of 8,000'. And the sun here in Colorado is intense.
Glogirly planted a total of 87 plants and shrubs. (!) Each plant has something fun going on in terms of color and flowers. When the garden matures over over the next couple of years it will be lush and abundant with a multitude of colors and flowers.
We don't have a typical yard like many homes have. Our yard is actually 16 acres of forest. No lawn mowers required. One of our favorite parts of living in the mountains is the natural landscape. But the front of the house was a little ragged looking and needed some TLC. And color.
Glogirly consulted with her new best friend and expert high-elevation horticulturist, Tom Gillan. He owns Native Nursery in Golden, Colorado. Tom helped her to select just the right plantings for our little project. Not everything can thrive or even survive at an elevation of 8,000'. And the sun here in Colorado is intense.
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| Top Right: Zing Rose Dianthus Top Right: Jackman Potentilla Bottom Left: Vinca Bottom Right: Dwarf Shasta Daisy |
Glogirly planted a total of 87 plants and shrubs. (!) Each plant has something fun going on in terms of color and flowers. When the garden matures over over the next couple of years it will be lush and abundant with a multitude of colors and flowers.
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| Top Right: Friendly Neighborhood Hummingbird Top Right: Trudy's Catmint Bottom Left: Snow in Summer (will eventually bloom with small white flowers) Bottom Right: Gold Flame Spirea |
It didn't take long for the hummingbirds to find us. Between the flowers and feeders, we've got a regular crew of fast flying hummers stopping in for a sweet drink.
If you look really close at the top right tiny flower, Trudy's Catmint, you'll see that it looks like a smiley face. It had us at Catmint. Now we really love it.
TaDa!
A little bit of Oklahoma flagstone and some local rocks and boulders provide the perfect frame for our mountain garden.
It's VERY dry in Colorado. We added in a drip line system that runs just below the surface of the dirt. Each plant has a tiny hose that drips water to its roots automatically each day and evening. It's a clever set up and a very economical alternative to fancy sprinkler systems.
The kitchen windows look out over the flowers. And although Katie and Waffles are not supposed to be on the kitchen counters, they're trying to negotiate an easement for the kitchen windowsills.
It's our own little piece of mountain zen.
So beautiful. All of your work is worth it. It's gorgeous.
ReplyDelete(but you won't be seeing ruby throated hummers. They don't cross the Mississippi. Here in Montana we have calliope, rufous and black chinned)
Wow, that looks SO cool! I wish my human could do something about our yard - we only have like .29 of an acre, so you'd think it'd be so much easier - but she shows neither ability or (more importantly) motivation.
ReplyDeleteI'd call the house,the garden, and the VIEW, your slice of heavenly Zen! And Katie in the window is PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteOh,my. I will sympathize with your driveway issues in the winter. However your gorgeous house, beautiful garden, and heavenly zen view are worth the it!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so cool and beautiful! It will be more colorful soon! Katie and Waffles have great scenery.
ReplyDeleteWow - this is beautiful. You live in paradise.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and we know first-hand how much work this is!! We like your front doors, too. :)
ReplyDeleteAnastasia, Chopin, Bridgie, Angel Tinker and mom Julie xxxxx
Very beautiful. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteSue B
Very nice looking garden. The woman tried to make a garden outside our sun room so we could watch the birds but we ignored it.
ReplyDeletejust wow....that is so beautiful. glad Glogirly got hooked up with a specialist. that is going to be even more fabulous next spring.
ReplyDeleteWe think you've done a grreat job with your landscaping. Just paws off the litter boxes!
ReplyDeleteFirst, Katie and Waffles deserve to have front row seats in the windows.
ReplyDeleteSecond, mum says it all look pretty, don't forget to weed. (Her least favorite chore.)
Third, hope you are making your own sugar water for the hummers, not using the commercial mixes
Fourth, your hummer pic is grate.
Happy weekend.
Ooh, I've visited Colorado three times (twice to Steamboat Springs, once to Colorado Springs), and I've really loved it! You have a beautiful home, and the stack of rocks is beyond cool; now I want one!
ReplyDeleteShe is doing a pretty good job decorating her litter box
ReplyDeleteSnorts,
Lily & Edward
Oh, you have got to let Katie and Waffles win that negotiation. They would be the perfect touch for a visitor to see.
ReplyDeleteAwesome landscaping...we can't help but wonder about deer :(
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty garden ! Glogirly did a pawsome job ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteNice work! I've spent years planting/maintaining our small yard, and it's a lot of work!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful. Glad to see you've got catmint.
ReplyDeleteyou did an AMAZING job!! It looks GORGEOUS!!! And....I agree with Ingrid, as I have said before, you DO live in PARADISE!! catchatwithcarenandcody
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely piece of paradise.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very pretty and inviting :)
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
16 acres of forest, mountain views, and now a lovely garden spot can we move in? It looks like Paradise. We certainly think you should get to sit in the kitchen windows.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! It's wonderful, and Glogirly did a great job of spiffing up the outside of the house with things that will flourish! Hugs to you all. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful garden! I'm sure there will be many birds to watch when they are feeding from those beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your garden so much. What a lovely house. That has got to be one of the most charming houses we've ever seen and it's got to be a transcending experience to live way up on a hill.Those windows! You know the two little ones on each side are perfect lookout spots for two cats!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! What a joy to come home to, and what a view!
ReplyDelete