Fall in the Yard

I think being out in the yard in the fall is one of my all-time favorite things! The grass has slowed growing, most of the bugs are dead or dying, it's cooler so lugging around plants, dirt, mulch isn't as much work and the leaves are putting on a beautiful show! :-)

I came to the conclusion that the last 'lilac bush' wasn't really a bush at all this summer. It was a junk tree. I put off pulling it up thinking it would attract the japanese beetles that killed off my smallest dogwood tree this summer. I abhor those stupid things!

So I finally pulled it out and planted 2 containers of bulbs and 3 small bushes that were given to me as a few friends were cleaning out. Thus, the side garden against the garage went from looking like this:

to this:

 The new bush in a mini rhododendron

and this is where the 4 buckets of bulbs went. 

I might break down next spring a buy a more established lilac.

And the back raised garden bed - the last little one went from looking like this:

to this:

 whew! what a difference a few months make!

 I moved the 3rd NY Astor and planted another hydrangea.

It doesn't look so good right now, but there are green buds on it, so I'm going to give it some love, fertilizer and time and see if I can get it growing again :-)

Pictures I took this morning..... I love my backyard!