Our Return Home

 Thursday, July 16, 2026

We were gone for about a week and a half. Here's what the yard looks like.

I admit it's a little overgrown in spots but it's not as bad as I anticipated.

The annuals did really well despite the heat we had. Dale said we got a pretty good amount of rain while we were gone. That helped. 

The Backyard On Halloween 2025

 Friday, October 31, 2025

This mum I planted a couple years ago is finally showing some flowers. Pretty late in the season but better late than never. Hoping to get the potted mums in the ground soon to try and get another season out of them. 

Glad I worked on uncovering these garden stones this year. They look great. 

Will be cutting the hostas back soon. 

Norway pine. 

Should probably bring the red chairs in soon and then get in the habit of bringing them out only when needed so they don't get left out all winter. 

And, should probably cut this back a bit more so that it's not such an unmanageable job in the spring. 
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Remembering May 2012

 

Photo taken back in May of 2012. Our next door neighbor at the time trimmed back his bridal wreath spiria and I was pissed. I think it looked more beautiful in our yard than it did in his. The branches draped over into our yard and the white flowers that appear in the spring looked beautiful. It was like a waterfall of white. Anyway, they grew back eventually and looked great again. Now, in 2025, the bushes are not as full as they used to be. Maybe they're just old. 

Lily of the Valley in 2012.

Snow on the Mountain, 2012.

Another photo from 2012. The hosts around the back yard pine tree don't come in as nicely as this either. 

Bleeding Hearts, 2012

MN State Fair 2011

Dale and I went to the State Fair last night. Outside the Agriculture/Horticulture building I saw these hostas with unusually large leaves.

Backyard Pine Tree

I mowed the lawn today and then spent a good chunk of time trim-

ming edges. I worked particularly hard on cleaning up the base of the backyard pine tree by trimming grass and cutting back the hostas a little bit.

Hostas

The hostas are starting to flower.

Hostas

They're on the way...