Window Box Collapse

We woke up to this a few mornings ago.

Randy told Matt that the boxes needed more support. They are 16 inches by 16 inches and 7 feet long. And they hold a wheel barrow load of dirt.

Matt came over and put supports under the boxes. We need to paint them the color of the house and probably plant something underneath the boxes to hide the supports.

This bed only got one support because we didn't want to put a support board on the pavers. Now we should be good. All the plants were rescued and replanted.

Cooking Class—Crepes

May's cooking class focused on crepes. Thirteen of us gathered in Judy's kitchen to learn how to make them. She has an excellent Brown-Butter Crepe recipe. We practiced rolling them around in the pan using various sized pans.

Judy made a Crepe Cake with Coffee Cream and Hazelnut Praline. It was a show stopper with 16 layers and looked just beautiful before we cut into it.

My favorite was the Baked Crepes Cacciatore with Parmesan Cream Sauce. It may be the best thing I have ever eaten in my life! It takes a while to make....filling, cheese sauce, crepes but it was so delicious.

Side note: our garden is doing very well....heads on the broccoli and a cucumber almost ready to pick.

Echinocereus

There are about 50 species of these hedgehog cacti. They are a lovely burst of color in our yard (where these photos were taken with my iPhone) and on the trails.

The flower buds form inside the stems, then burst through the skin near the stem tips in late spring and early summer.

These plants thrive on full sun. The large, mostly funnel-shaped flowers with green stigmas open fully only in sun and are long lasting.

Most are hardy and can tolerate a light frost.

Some flowers can reach 6 inches across.

The spines vary in color and the berries are wine-red.

West Yard Update

We have finished planting! Now let's hope everything grows. Above is a photo of the Russian Sage and Mexican Primrose ledge between the patio and the garden area.

We used Boxwoods, Sunset Nandina and a Red Maple to fill in this area. Window boxes under the guest room windows are planted with Nadina, Variegated Euphorbia, Vinca and we added some Petunias for color.

A view from the seating area looking up to the west facing deck. Marigolds do really well in the window boxes.

Another view of the wall from the garden area.

Garden area looking north toward the pump house/garden shed.

Cooper waiting for his morning walk.....ready to run!

"Hot Lips" are planted in front and in back of the lattice near the fire pit.

The "island" to the right by the stucco post is planted with English Ivy, Variegated Vinca and a Red Maple.

Jasmine, Manhattan Euonymous and Hosta....

Pyracantha,  Red Yucca, Russian Sage on this side of the lattice.

These photos were supposed to load in a different order....I tried three times and then gave up. We are loving this area and sit in it at all times of day.

Argo Update

Argo is growing like a weed.

He is so darn cute!

He is catching up to Cooper. His paws are almost as big as Cooper's.

He loves to sleep like this. He often steals Cooper's bed in the day time.

Randy takes Cooper and Argo for a run at the golf course every morning. I do the evening shift in the neighborhood.

He is learning not to eat javelina and elk poop.

They are becoming good buddies.

They love wrestling on the carpet in the great room.

West Yard Planting Begins

We got about 70% of our plant order from our local nursery, and with assistance from Kelly, the landscaper, we got them in the ground. This area has a Japanese Red Maple and Boxwood. We will add some Nandina for color.

This area has Manhattan Euonymous, Hosta and a Jasmine. (Near the door to go into the house.)

Another Japanese Red Maple and Jasmine by the gate.....more plants to come in this area.

Knockout Roses were planted between the window boxes. We haven't dealt with the window boxes yet.

This is an Amur Maple.....should get big and beautiful and hide the view of the fence on the south side of the yard.

Raspberry plants will grow along the west side of the fence in the garden area.

This is the wall between the seating/lounging area and the garden. Russian Sage was planted yesterday. We will add Mexican Primrose between each Sage plant.

Come on lettuce!