Flower pictures! We got our azaleas!

[Rajah]

Finally convinced DH to let me get our azaleas this week! I was going to skip it this year because of having to replace my car and because of the trip I'm taking in a couple of weeks to visit family and work on my school project, but when I was walking around the school campus trying to find where I get my school ID, I saw a bunch of really pretty azalea bushes and that started the wishing all over again. So when I showed DH (would you believe he said he wanted azaleas only because his coworker likes them (another male--one of the few *flowers* that other guy likes) -- DH had no idea what they looked like! ), he said "want!"

So, we now have 4 lovely 3-gallon azaleas that are in the beginning of their bloom stage right now. We're only going to be able to enjoy the bloom stage on these for a few more weeks I think, but they're a pretty bush even when not blooming, so I'm happy. And I'm surprised that after showing DH about a dozen different types, he wanted the same one I wanted, even though it was pink!

Anyway, I promised pictures, so here are pictures. I also included the pictures of my pansies out front that I'd promised earlier. They're looking a little rough around the edges because of the near-freeze we had a few nights ago, but they weathered it better than I honestly expected and look like after a few days of good sun, they'll come out of it just fine. I just wish I had the time and energy to plant them thicker.

First shot of our pansies when we had about half of them planted.

An overview shot of the azalea bushes. You can see what we're hoping the bushes will kinda hide. Or at very least, bring the eye to these bushes rather than the ugly boxes.

Bush 1

Bush 2

Bush 3

Bush 4

One of the clusters of blossoms. There are two main types of azaleas -- those about this size that create clumps of a *bunch* of small blossoms, or those that are much larger individual flowers, but make only clumps of 3 or 4 individual flowers. I actually like this type best, and was happy DH agreed!

Another clump -- you can see some of the buds in the back that promise at least a few days of brilliance.

Back to the Pansies -- this is an overview of the flower bed out front. You can see the soaker hose, too -- I'm hoping the bulbs I planted will help hide the hose.

Other half of the bed.

Close-up of pansies

Another closeup

When I finished filling in what holes I had available, I had just enough pansies left to fill one pot I had left over from the apartment, so I have some pansies in a pot as well. And you can see the one geranium that survived the move -- I'm about ready to give up on it and get a new one, 'cause it's nothing but 3 leaves. I won't throw it away, though, just move it out back and replace it with a prettier one.

Hope y'all enjoyed the quick tour of our garden!

 

[TigH]

Everything looks great!!!! I remember when you had an apartment patio decked out with plants from top to bottom. Now you have a whole big yard to play with!!! Congratulations. I love the color of your azaleas!!! Everything looks wonderful.

 

[amid chaos]

Oh Rajah...I am so envious! Everything is looking so beautiful.

 

[Tulirose]

Very Nice Rajah. You guys are working hard on this house and you will certainly reap rewards! Don't give up hope on that little geranium. It may just surprise you with the continued TLC you give it. I also remember the photos of your apartment deck. I didn't realize you moved until you started posting for ideas for your new backyard. So, I now send you my congratulations and best wishes for years of happiness in your new home.

 

[Rajah]

Thanks Tuli -- We moved in Sept

I've been impressed by how hard it was to kill that little geranium. It and the iris are the only two plants that survived the heat of summer *and* the move (granted, I had one or two more in the large pot that if DH had MOVED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE like I kept asking him to do, I might have a couple more ) It started out with just one leaf left, and now is up to 3, so hopefully it'll come back. I may just give up on it providing color for the front porch and move it out back instead. But then again, it's been happy out front and that's where it's gone from one to three leaves, so maybe I should keep it where it is.

Now I'm toying with the idea of a bogunvilla vine (okay, why do so many of these pretty plants have such hard names to spell??? I know that's wrong, but y'all get the idea...). I'm thinking of putting up a trellis about a foot from the back fence near the Azaleas and having one of those vines (starting small, I think they grow fast...?) climb up it.

I've also got a bird feeder to hang out there tomorrow!

 

[Mamu]

Everything looks beautiful Rajah. I also remember the porch garden.

Love the Azalea's

I have quite a few in my landscaping. A pretty shrub year round, gorgeous in the spring when they are in bloom. Sadly though I know somewhere under the ice and snow there are very damaged Azalea's. Might be a heavy pruning year. I hate it when we get these kind if winters.
Spring clean-up may not be a happy experience this year. I may even shed a few tears.

Thanks for sharing your new gardens with us.

 

[Snowwark]

Thank you for the tour, Rajah!

Your azaleas look great. I especially like the close-up shot, it's so pretty!

" An overview shot of the azalea bushes. You can see what we're hoping the bushes will kinda hide. Or at very least, bring the eye to these bushes rather than the ugly boxes."

Rajah, have you thought of putting up lattice panels around part of the transformer box? I was just thinking that you could put up maybe a 4' lattice panel, or two, at an angle (leaving the back and side open for access), and plant a vine there. You could probably phone your utility company and have a locate done for where the wires are buried. That might be an interesting spot for your bougainvillea vine. Just an idea...

 

[DixieDreamer]

Oh the azaleas are just beautiful! I love them... unfortunately they do not do well in my climate... so I am relegated to enjoying them vicariously in other people's gardens. The pansy patch is charming! The layout is really nice. The hose will dissappear as soon as the plants mature abit.

Thank you for the walk through your two garden areas.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by Snowwark
Rajah, have you thought of putting up lattice panels around part of the transformer box?

Yup, sure have. DH doesn't want to do that much work. And I can't do it by myself. Hadn't thought of having the bougainvillea climb that, though -- that would be lovely... Hmm... maybe I can sell DH on that idea, if we buy pre-treated lattice so just have to raise it, not paint it...


----

Okay, just asked DH and he said that might be neat, if we can figure out how to do it so it wouldn't be a lot of work... neither of us wants to dig deep hole, cement a few poles into the ground, and hammer the lattice up. I think this requires a call to my dad, who has done this kind of thing before...

 

[Tulirose]

Good ol' Dad! Gotta love him!

Sounds like a really really great idea!!