Bed C--the Infinity Bed

Right along the driveway are a few flower beds.  Bed C is one--it is a figure eight bed that will look decidedly different next year since I redid it this fall.  But this is 2018's summary.  This year it had some crocus, daffodil, and grape hyacinth early--lots of grape hyacinth.  A dwarf white and blue iris in here is always one of the very first to bloom.  Three other types of iris bloomed here in May as well.  But the reason I redid the bed was the fact that it was getting overgrown.  A dark Japanese iris blooms outside this bed when the iris are in bloom.  The only Bush's coneflower is in this bed as well.  Hope it survives the turmoil.  Finally, for most of June and July there are a number of day lily outside of this bed, and some Asian lily inside.  So, here are the pictures from 2018.  Come back next fall and winter to see what survived the makeover. 

The Trek Down the Driveway 2018

The long and winding road that is the driveway could on this day be compared to a small stream.  Lots of rain--and fall in Ohio this year has had lots of rain--plunges portions of the driveway under water.  But beauty rules along the trail during the year.  And the Ancient One--the monstrous red maple at the turn in the driveway and the old dogwood that has been here from the beginning are the stars.  Early, a number of crocus bloom under trees and shrubs along the way, even a hyacinth and several daffodils.  Trees that bloom are the old dogwood, a couple of redbuds, a flowering plum, an old and new apple tree--though the latter took 2018 off for some reason.  A red crab apple is not yet mature enough to bloom, but it's coming.  Other potential bloomers are a forsythia and witch hazel.  A golden barbarry also sits next to the apple trees and two huge burning bush are right before the old dogwood.  Non-bloomers are a gigantic willow--tallest tree on The Acres, a small juniper, and a fern or two.  For summer blooms--June-July--a Japanese iris, some lilies, a large a large sunflower grace the journey to the house.  The last things to bloom are the hosta, a couple hibiscus,  and the Rose of Sharon.  I take many a slow trek down the driveway as a meander home most days.  And I have an old bench under the Ancient One for just sitting and enjoying the entire front of The Acres.

Bed E Square 2018

Nestled between the East Side and the Driveway is a block bed that I have creatively designated Bed E square.  It is square--and is on the east side of the driveway.  Is that a good excuse for my lack of creative naming?  Things start blooming here--inside and out--in March with a crocus or two.  The last blooms--in June and early July--are the lilies outside the bed and a huge queen of the prairie on the inside.  In-between there are some daffodils in late April, a wild geranium in early May, two iris in late May and two Siberian iris in late May as well.  The German iris are a mango and an orange variety.  The two Siberian beauties are dark purplish blue.  It is a nice contrast.  The lilies are a variety of colors, and the queen is pink--and tall.  A lovely dianthus resides here as well.  All in all, it's a lovely little island of beauty.  And not all the iris in here have bloomed yet!  Could be even better!  Oh, a bunch of cosmos comes back every year outside of this bed.