Then and Now

August is near its end; it's a good time to browse though my garden photo collection to view the changes that happened in my garden. I share with you some of the result of this summer's incredible record precipitation, along with persistent weeding and cultivation, and ongoing battle with the mosquitoes who love the moisture as much as my plants!

Then: Here is my front perennial garden planted in the Fall 2007. This picture was taken on May 19, 2008.














Now:This photo, a south-facing garden, was taken today. It is a sunny day so the colors are a bit washed out despite much editing. The annuals: pink & white cosmos, golden yellow annual rudbeckia, dazzling fuscia zinnias, delicate pink and white cleome. What the photo doesn't show is the variety of textures and shades of green and gray-green.









Then: My Spring garden as taken on May 19, 2008. The foundation plants (evergreen) and the iris came with the house. The bits of green growth are the perennials planted from last fall.










Now: The self-seeding Impatiens balsamina came with the house as well and they are great for filling in any extra space in the flower bed. They come in as pale pink, dark pink, red and dark purple so they blend well with the rest. This salvia 'May Night', which has become one of my favorites, has been flowering all summer although the spikes are not as showy as the first blooms. The yellow marigolds in the foreground and the yellow bidens to the left of the photo complements the dark purple of the salvia.

All corners of the backyard garden have been providing me a glimpse of panoramic colors which I hope will enlarge as the years go by. Also, it's been a delight to see the veggies survive despite the constant onslaught of snails, slugs and whatever bugs that decide to feast on them.

Now: From left to right, Heliopsis (false sunflower), pink Coreopsis, Rudbeckia hirta (black eyed susan), Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush), Delicata squash, Heliopsis,Coreopsis, Zinnias, Buddleja, Rudbeckia, Heliopsis, Physotegia (obedient plant), 'Sprite' Astilbe, 'Pumila' Astilbe, Helianthus annus (sunflower), Roma tomatoes.