Views from my windows...

After our storm, some of my plants are a little better (thanks to the rain!) or a little worse for the wear (thanks to the wind!). Here are some views on what's growing around our soggy, wind-blown yard.

Our favorite this time of year is our steep hill that leads to the lake, which is filled with thousands and thousands of daisies - the pride of the eco 'burban dad. All the neighborhood kids love the "Wizard of Oz" zig-zag path we keep cut through the mob of white petals and sunny yellow centers:

The littlest eco 'burban boy's bean plants, carrots and cherry tomatoes - he found some teeny, tiny green tomatoes and wants to pick them already. Patience is a virtue!

The oldest eco 'burban boy's pea plant - the only one in his science class who got his seeds to sprout, I might add! A hanging basket that apparently loves the humidity!

My herb pot - growing nicely now. And, it looks like there is plenty of sage for some yummy potatoes on the grill for Father's Day!

And, last, but certainly not least... Sunset on our lake. The perfect end to a stormy summer day!

I have rocks in my socks...

...said the ox to the fox. OK, so maybe not in my socks, but in my backyard. I have debated on putting in a rain garden on the blog before, but I am pretty much scrapping that plan. Oh, but why you say?

Because I am moving on to a rock garden. I love my doggies and they love me, but the Dalmatian puppy (the digger has been on the blog before for his diggish ways...) finally destroyed the last of the blue fescue grasses I planted last year before I knew I was getting the little spotted dirt-monger! I had planned to continue to expand the landscaping bed this year, I really have no use for grass. (See my to-do list - less grass = less water)

But, now I am thinking between the doggie pee and the doggie claws I am better off with a rock garden. It won't need any water, I won't get any of the lovely burnt-out pee spots all summer long and there won't be any grass or plants for the sweet, sweet ball of RABID, digging fur to drag around the yard.

I would like to edge the area - it's right by the underground invisible fence system - which is now set on HIGH - so I think it might be safe. I like this picture of a garden I found online, but those yellow flowers might look mighty tasty to a 9 month old pup... Although, I wonder if he would eat rocks?!? I have rocks in my tummy said the puppy to the bunny!

To Do List - Less Grass, Less Water

Here is a topic on a recent addition to my To-Do list. Less grass = Less water. While we don't really water our lawn, we still feel like grass isn't the best use of our property. (However, being this is suburbia, I am pretty sure my underground sprinkler-happy neighbors must love my crispy brown dormant-ness come August!) I also live on a lake, so I am concerned about letting run off, soil and other mystery items wind their way into the lake. My goal last year was less grass and more native plants, grasses and trees. I accomplished much less than half of what I intended to change, so I added this back onto my list. Why is it that the to-do list is always longer than the I've done it list? So, when I saw this article from Low Impact Living in my inbox, I was intrigued.



Creating a "rain garden" using redirected water run off from roofs, hills and driveways is appealing. Not only because this would be an area of the yard that would be converted from grass to native plants, but because it would use water directly from a source other than the hose. Interesting, much easier than a rain barrel and prettier too! And, Low Impact Living breaks the process of building a rain garden down into easy to do steps, so no excuses! Make a rain garden today!