Wednesday, July 22, 2026

My busy messy gardens. Hannah update too...

A post by a friend AC, got me thinking about my own gardens and yard. The mowing is done by a zero turn and push mower and it looks pretty nice. Unless you count all the overgrown areas of pasture [not safe to mow] and weeds growing around old equipment.

So I've always tried to make a very colorful and brilliant bunch of little gardens.



They may be messy and weedy, but the birds and the bees are really enjoying them.

Creeping Thyme flowers.


Morning Glories on the porch.


Self seeded Sunflower in the yard.


Happy Birds


Sunlit Nasturtium. These flowers literally take over the SE section of the porch.
 

Not a hummingbird.


Blazing Stars being watered.


My outhouse garden looks amazing and is nearly surrounded by Bee Balm plants. I can sit on the back stoop and watch bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds dodge around in the flowers. 
If I move closer and am patient I can get photos of them.


The East garden. It is one of my free for all gardens. I have creeping thyme, vinca, iris, day lilies [not shown] bee balm, zinnias, cosmos, a pumpkin plant...😁 along with nasturtium and corn flowers. Basically I took a jar of seeds to the one side of the garden and tossed them in, raked, and stomped and thought I'd see what happened.



There is actually a hidden path that goes through the garden. The dogs and I use it.

Yes the garage is still there crumbling slowly. No word from Frank on when he is thinking of tearing it down. I'm okay with waiting because Frank is also busy with working on two farms with crops. He also raises cattle and runs a Excavating and Gravel business along with hauling things for farmers. His wife believes he should clone himself.


Below is another mess. I had Borage Flowers that grew to 4 feet tall and got taken out by last week's winds and 6+ inches of rain. But the surviving flowers are filling in. I don't do a strict border, but just mow close to the plantings. Love in the mist, Borage, Morning Glories, and it looks like some self seeded black eyed susans are going to appear between some marigolds and nasturtiums. I like my untidy messy gardens. Lots of crazy textures to admire.


I've ignored this spot-- below.... 

But this spring I had a tiny field of tall Sweet William which I just let grow. I'll probably save some plant seeds from these and dig the whole thing up this fall to start over or let it grow to grass. It is a mess and overgrown.

I'm going to pick my battles and do less next year as it is obvious I can't keep it all up. I didn't have time to properly care for it last year either. So perhaps it is time to go. Though I hate to dig up the black eyed susans that put themselves here too!


My one tidy garden is this one.
I may do the same for the other half of the porch next year. But I'd rather have cosmos and zinnias along with all the reseeded Love in the Mist flowers.


I love looking at tidy well done gardens, but for the life of me, I like to mix up as many things as possible and see what happens with no rhyme or reason.

I'm finding out what flowers like to grow together on my own and which plants like which places the best.

I suppose I could study some garden books, but the gardens they suggest are too rigid. I like wild and untamed.


Hannah and I saw Dr. Grimm, she is an awesome vet and Hannah loves her! Hannah does have what is called a seroma or pocket of fluid that is to the side of the incision. Her surgical incision is healing perfectly, the seroma is a small concern and we want to stay ahead of it.

So instead of my solution to keep her from licking it open...we changed tactics.
The area must be open to the air yet keep her from irritating it. 
I have a cleanser to swipe the spot twice a day.

So not a gross shot but here is a photo of the incision and the area points to what seems to be a seroma: Clear fluid that is next to an incision. 


Doc and I want to stay ahead of this as it could be serious and hard to treat if not taken care of.

I learned something today!

She has a new look with a PJ top from Olive's house, she gave me some shirts that her kids didn't wear anymore.


So Doc gave me some cotton balls in a solution to swab the sight and she came up with this to keep the area aired out and keep her from licking it.

It is a toddler t-shirt with leg holes. It is super easy to do and she was embarrassed at first, but is not bothered with it by bedtime.





18 comments:

  1. You have a wonderful garden, it’s easy on the eyes!

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  2. Your gardens are in tune with nature and if they are used by birds and bees that speaks of success.

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    1. Yes! I do wish though that I'd see the clear winged moth again this year. So far, no show, or I haven't seen them.

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  3. Anonymous6:44 AM

    I love the wild look of your gardens. RHill, TX

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    1. I guess I don't like to conform to normal stuff. I do enjoy just experimenting and letting it happen.

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  4. Oh dear, that look on Hannah's face, hahahahaha!

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  5. I think your scattered wild garden are terrific. I hope Hannah will be fine, especially in her new finery.

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    1. She will, the medical wipes I got have done wonders over night and of course that t shirt is pretty funny. She got it off during the night, but that is okay.
      She is getting quite tired of wearing 'clothes'. I don't blame her.

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  6. Hannah has a most adorable expressive face. Great idea to put these old tee shirts to good use. Love the look of your garden. Much better for all things in nature that we cherish.

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    1. Oh thanks, I see perfect gardens and then think of my wild ones and wonder why I don't try orderly things. Maybe because I am no quite that orderly!

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  7. Anonymous9:35 AM

    You and Gary have similar tastes in gardens. The bee balm takes up most of the space between our driveways and it's almost 5 feet tall now. Lori

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    1. Yes, some of my Bee Balm is really tall by the outhouse and the ones by the side of the house are only waist high but they are finally attracting bees and butterflies.

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  8. I join everyone else in saying the wild look is right up my alley! Don't take that one garden out. I'd throw more seeds in there and let the flowers take care of the weeds. I have one garden so full a weed cannot survive. Some would thin the plants, not me.

    Hannah has the best expression!

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    1. Part of it will have to come out, it is close to the foundation and the critters love to take the seeds and find their way into the basement. However, I'll keep the sweet william section as it has poppies and a couple of other flowers that just won't quit!

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  9. Your gardens look lovely. (I'm thinking anything growing by an outhouse should do dandy with free pre-compost.) Sounds like a wonderful vet; nice to keep an eye on the funny little bump. Looks like Hannah isn't wanting to continue her clothes modeling career. Charlie must really be laughing. Linda in Kansas

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    1. The outhouse hasn't been used for quite a few years. The vet is wonderful and super caring.
      The magical wipes have shrunk the owie and she is just about ready to rock and roll and expel tons of energy.

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  10. I'm in favour of the free for all gardens!

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