Guess Summer Is Here

I guess the rainy season is over. We've had a good run, and I'm thankful for that. Our lakes now have a good amount of water, and this should help them hold up for a few years. Our temps are now getting pretty high. I think we even hit the century mark once last week. and it looks like we may get there again 3 or 4 times this coming week. So, things will be mostly hot and dry for the next 75 to 90 days.

Donna and I have not taken any trips or done anything worth sharing, so I'll keep this short and simply leave you with some pictures of the plants we've been growing in our beds. Just to remind you of what the yard did look like, I'll start with a picture about the time we moved in. It shows the ugly, drab, boring shrubs that occupied the front beds at that time.

Our front yard about the time we moved in. Shrubs along the wall and sidewalk are plain.

Now, here are pictures taken a few days ago. Keep in mind the plants are still pretty young, and that many have been grown from seed. They should continue to bush out and put out new growth and flowers as the season passes.

Here is the front yard from a similar angle as the older picture above. The tree has really grown, hasn't it? The plants atop the wall in pots are aloes and lantanas.

This is what I'm calling the "curved bed". From left, there is a yellow bell, 2 red yuccas, 3 different rose bushes, and some zinnias on the end. Marigolds line the front of the bed in places.

Close up of part of the curved bed showing red, pink, and red roses. Marigolds in front are beginning to bush out and produce good flowers. 

This is what I call the "garage bed" since it is against the garage wall. This is mostly our herb bed. There are marigolds, zinnias, lavender, sage, oregano. and a single rosemary plant.  Off to the left, by itself, is a stand of mint for our tea and other purposes.

Close up of a lovely red rose.

The yellow bell has some blooms, though you have to look for them. Before long, they should be covered in their lovely flowers.

The different colored lantanas are producing some color now, even though they are still rather young.

We have a good stand of mint started in its own section. I hope the brick liner on the right will help contain it, though I'm sure it will eventually seep underneath and come up on the other side. We had been growing this in a pot for the past year or so. It does so much better in the ground. 

I originally wrote this entry Saturday night or Sunday morning. It is now Monday as I am posting it. Rain began falling about 5:30 this morning, and we have received over 2 inches thus far.

I guess I was a bit premature in believing the rainy season was over.

Thank you for the rain!