Mosaic Monday – Around the Yard

I thought I’d try my hand at making a mosaic with photos I’ve taken around my front and back yards this summer. I used Picasa to do this.

After selecting the photos I wanted to use I copied them to a separate folder. After opening Picasa I selected the photos and clicked COLLAGE and kept moving the photos around until I liked the composition and then saved it.


Here is another photo-collage I did with PhotoScape using instructions from Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting With Laurie. These are photos of garden containers around the yard.

When time permits I've got to read up some more and practice making some of the interesting mosaic patterns I see on so many blogs.

Join Mary at Little Red House for more mosaic compositions.

Outdoor Wednesday – Inside-Out Backyard Views

I continue my posts on my one-week visit to Florida.

The Gulf coast residential community where my sister and family live is a beautifully maintained area. Here is a view of the front of the house, with its patterned brick driveway. There had been a rain shower earlier that day.Various container pots and other accessories add color.

My post today is about their backyard, which they are restoring after having lost shrubs and other plants during construction work for converting the screened porch into a four season family room and dining room. I took several photos of the backyard and patio area bordering the new room. Since it was hot outside I just took photos from the inside, through the glass and screened windows.
Cobalt blue ceramic stools surround a glass-topped round table.

A birdbath and various planters await re-arranging on the narrow patio.

The plant containers are of both terracotta and cement.
Inside, iron chairs with wood seats belong outside with their cushions. So does a new hammock. Nearby is a small plant nursery with cuttings my sister is cultivating as part of a fundraising project.
A large dog figure keeps watch over the yard near various potted plants.
The trees in the backyard are favorites of the four grandkids.

Two diminutive Adirondack wooden chairs accommodate the dear young visitors. The one on the left is a rocker.
See more Outdoor Wednesday posts at Susan’s blog, A Southern Daydreamer.

A Private Botanic Garden

Visit Color Outside the Lines to enjoy more shared gardens.

On Sunday morning June 28 I had the pleasure to visit a fabulous home garden, which might better be called a private botanical garden. The gardener is a former co-worker of mine from the early 1980’s. She has been developing these gardens since retirement about five years ago. She said she began with the front yard and then continued aroound the sides and back and now there are plant beds all over. Upon arrival at the address one is astonished at the colors, fullness and variety of plantings.
View looking across from driveway.
A closer look at daisies and one of several bird baths.
The front of this bed is at the street and has 16 yellow daylilies.

The half acre property looks even more extensive with the various paths, arbors, and plethora of flowering and foliage plants, trees and shrubs.

The property is divided into about 13 garden areas.

The Secret Garden has flowering plants in pink, red and orange.

The Children’s Garden has whimsical objects and plants that appeal to the little ones.

The Hosta garden has some 60 to 70 hosta varieties.

A large tree provides shade for the hostas.
A tiny area is designated the Dogs’ Garden and there rest two family pets.

A Lily Border was established with bulbs given as a generous gift from a relative.


The Street Garden is along a pathway that goes from the street across to the edge of the property. Note how the many pathways are made of wood chips.

Throughout the gardens on can see delightful plants, like these red Double Knockout Roses.

Another red Knockout Rose is behind pink roses and near blue hydrangeas.

Pink and red Astilbe border the back of the house.

Many trees also give shade and provide vertical interest.

A weeping cherry with another bird bath nearby.
Near the side of the house two wooden barrels hold water plants.

There are quite a number of arbors arouond the property. The first leads around the house to the back yard is currently covered in a deep burgundy Clematis.

Another is of wrought iron with carved roses on it.
This arbor leads to the garden extension area. Nearby is an iron bistro set.
At the edge of the extension garden beautiful pink miniature gladiolus blooms.
This one is the entrance to Secret Garden.
Here is a row of four wooden bird houses. The one on the left needs repair and is tilting precariously on its tall pole. However, a growing bird family currently occupies it. Just beyond is the Secret Garden with more bird houses and also large bird feeders.

Another arbor leads to the Vegetable Garden.
The property abuts the back and side lawn of a former mansion, which has a row of towering evergreens as a border to and backdrop for the gardens. Another arbor leads to the back lawn of the mansion, which houses the English Department of the college where we worked.

In another post I will tell about collecting divisions from selected plants which my host dug up for me to use in my own garden.