Year number three living in our Eagle Bus on our beautiful 8 acres in Bakersville, NC. I stayed in Rochester this winter to install a new computer system at Craft Company which was a good choice as this was the coldest winter in history with lots of snow. Every time I talked to Gary he said, "Be glad your not here. Your weather is better than ours." Gary only took two pictures of the bleak winter but he did a great job take shots of my spring flowers. I had put in lots of bulbs the previous year and it paid off. We sure have come a long way from the colorless landscaper of previous years. Violias are one of the first plants to show their pretty face in the spring and they sure bring a smile to my face.

I planted forsythia on this hillside in 2007 from tiny cuttings off the Sigler's big bush. This year it finally took off but still has a long way to go as I eventually want it to cover the top of the hillside,

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Tulips do not do well here because moles eat the bulbs, but the one on the left made it. Fortunately moles do not like daffodil bulbs so they are plentiful and a favorite of mine. There was a big clump of creeping phlox on the hillside by the bus when we bought the land and I have added more over the years. It does so well here and is a great hillside plant. 

Flowering quince is another favorite of mine. I put in about 18 bushes on the hillside coming up the drive behind the pear trees. They are still small but will be spectacular in a few years. This bush is by the bus and was planted in 2007. It needs lots of pruning to keep it a manageable size. ​

Eighteen Cleveland Select pear trees line our driveway. They were planted in 2007 and really grew this year. Between the trees and the road are Hellier Holly. You can see a few of the quince behind the trees on the left. Myrtle is used as ground cover between the pear trees and holly.

I planted several different varieties of lilacs to remind us or Rochester near the bus. So far all are doing well. Tickseed (Coreopsis) is a real favorite of mine and a great performer in this area. I use it a lot. 

Creeping Jenny is another favorite. When a bought this a man came up to me and asked why I was buying it. He said it was everywhere on his land and he was ripping it out. He was very adamant and said I would regret it. NOT TRUE! I love it. I need things that will take over and spread, plus lime green is my favorite color. I am now happily taking the excess and starting it in new areas.

Gary got creative with this shot of white pine tips. There are many on our land and we love them. They are easy to transplant and I have started small ones in many new areas. The do however produce lots of yellow pollen which covers everything. 

A narrow, long bed of purple and white Japanese Iris line a dry bed drainage ditch and are spectacular when in bloom. Cotoneaster is blooming along the driveway.

This is the newest section of "lawn" which is basically cut weeds that we cleared at the end of the 2009 season. It was just starting to grow spring of 2010 and filled in nicely by summer (photo below).

We refer to that big expanse of green as the "great lawn" and it is a favorite place for the dogs to play. We frequently play fetch in the evening. The image below on the right shows part of the "great lawn" from the bottom of our land.

I have started to line the driveway with white rocks, collected from the land, to help with water runoff control. Maintaining this road is a constant battle. Another project of the summer that Gary and I worked on together was building a playful grape vine fence around the cabin garden, We pulled down grape vines from the trees with the tractor and ropes. Some of these vines grow to the top of very tall trees and have a trunk up to 6 inches. 

The picture above left may not look like much but that slope between the road and grass was a nightmare of horrible vines, weeds and poison ivy. It is now planted with Russian sage and low spreading juniper along the top. I recently add lambs ears as a border along the grass and planted daffodils, hardy iris, geranium and poppies. The plants along the bridge over the drainage ditch are doing have really grown since last year, 

Fall already! The fields are turning gold which is pretty but Gary suffers with allergies. Regardless it is beautiful here in the fall and it's probably both of our favorite season. We y especially enjoy our walks to the pond at this time of year. 

​The last project of the season was to clear a section at the lowest part of our land. The red arrow points to the survey stake at this corner.

​We have cut walking trails through the brush from the other side of the land. Someday we hope to clear the whole field. 

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And once again time to head to Rochester for the winter. Pear trees (shot in early Nov.) are the last too lose their leaves and give the final show of fall color.

Click this link to move on to 2011 Our Maturing Gardens