The Front Yard: 6/23/15

I headed out front with my camera yesterday, with the intention of taking pictures of two plants.  Two. You'll never guess what happened.

On a side note, all the photos in this post were shot in manual mode.  It was my first time going full manual, and getting out of Av, which is what I use 98% of the time.  I don't know if it made a difference one way or the other (aka better or worse), but I was able to capture true colors for a change, in most cases, though not all.  Especially with difficult (for me) ones, like red and hot pink.  Blue will be my true test, but I'll have to head out back again for that.

I'll start with the flower that I headed out to photograph.  After being teased (affectionately) for having a granny garden, I decided to make it official this year, and grow gladiolas for the first time in my life.  I picked up a box of these bulbs at Winco, of course, and they were labeled Hardy Gladiolas nanus.  They're shorter than the typical ones, which I also bought a box of, and planted in the parking strip.

I'm sold.

They're sorta amazingly beautiful.

So far I got a pink, two cream, and a red that hasn't opened yet.

Yep, it's official.

I love them.

The pot hanging above them is just mixed annuals, but I wanted to note that the 'Cherry' Profusion Zinnias, that I buy every year, are a different color.
I only got a six-pack, so maybe it's a fluke, but these are more of a red, and sooo pretty.

Since we're on the subject of red, I have to throw in a picture of my nasturtium that opened.

It's technically in the driveway, but I figured you'd give me a pass.

What's one, or four, more pictures, right?

Annnnnd, since we're over there.....

Baby ate it today, the first one.

I can't believe the 'Autumn Joy' Sedum is showing color already.

I've decided I have too many of these.

I know repetition is good, but it's hard to justify in a small yard.

I had to take another picture of the Corydalis blooming so good.

I've been meaning to do a post on The Girl's fairy garden since December.

Best laid plans.

It was in an old drawer, but got moved to the dirt the other day.

My grandma's hot pink Phlox is blooming.

I rearranged some things out here the other day.

Don't make fun.

The funky potted maple tree that was here was getting fried, so I moved him to more shade.

Once you move one thing....

I moved the old metal chair, that held up a Dahlia last year, to the bed up against the house, and set a pot in the open seat hole.

The Hyssop next to it came back in a pot from last year.

It was droopin' really bad every day, so I thought it might be happier in the ground.

It still droops every day.

Shoulda put him in a shadier spot, I guess.

Pretty, though.

I took a couple new ones of the window box.

I've grown this Cuphea before, but always in a pot.

I figured I'd try it in the ground this year.

How's about some pulled back shots?

The mixed pot with the peachy Primula in it is so pretty.

Pulled back from the other direction.

Have you guessed what the other plant is, that I initially walked out to photograph?

It's SO pretty.

I've had it for several years now and can't for the life of me remember where I bought it or what it's called.

Well, I know it's a Phlox, but I don't know which one.
I love her.

I'll finish up this, already long, post with photos of the shady spot.

Did you spy my new watering can?

I bought it from Loree (Danger Garden) at the Blogger's Bizarre.

It already had holes punched in the bottom, so I didn't feel bad planting it.

The Caladium is called 'Fire Chief'.

I had never seen one with waxy leaves like a Begonia.

A couple of my hose guides are peekin' out in the pulled back photos.

And last, I stuck Coleus in my fallin' apart pot this year, instead of the usual Impatiens.

That's all she wrote.