Serene Scenery Sunday

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave, here with Serene Scenery Sunday.  As many of you know, Mom and Dad have been working really hard out in our gardens lately.  We thought we'd show you just a few of the things out there that made all of us feel really good.  Ready to take a look around?  Let's start out front!

Remember the rocks Zim helped Mom buy?  Mom used them to help finish off one of the retaining walls that curves around the house and into the front yard.  Here's Zim, checking Mom's work:

"Those jigsaw puzzles Mom does on her iPad are paying off!  Nice fit!"

He approved the layout and checked for sturdiness:

"This ought to do the trick!"

Mom and Dad are hoping it will help prevent our garden mulch from washing into Fluffy Black Cat's yard and washing down the hillside.

Guess what's blooming out back already?  The pink/purple Rose of Sharon!

Can you believe it?  It doesn't usually bloom until the end of June or in July!

A couple weeks ago, I showed you the Stella D'Oro Day Lilies in bloom.  (You can also see them down in the yard in the second pic here.)  This week, our Aunt Janet Day Lily has opened up!

We don't remember what variety it is, but our Aunt Janet sent Mom the seeds, so ...

Just across the brick path from that, Mom planted a new-to-our-garden plant!  Check it out:

It's called a Starburst Ice Plant.  Mom put three of them in.  They're supposed to like lots of sun and can tolerate a ton of wind.  Mom thinks they're perfect for our garden.  Behind it, just past the chunk-o-limestone, you can see one of the Echinacea plants.  We got that one from a fund-raiser for the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance last year; we also have a couple of the same Purple Coneflower variety from supporting a MaPaw Siberian Husky Rescue and Referral Service, Inc. fund-raiser!  We like having a special connection to our plants!  Speaking of special connections ...

Mom shopped a bunch of the local nurseries and is trying three more types of Echinacea for our garden - Tomato Soup/Prairie Stars, Flame Thrower, and ... I can't remember the last one, but it's hot pink! They aren't doing much yet, but we'll keep you posted on them.  I like the array of color, being the Guide Dog for the Color Blind that I am, but Zim ... Zim really likes the tag showing where the hot pink one was grown.  Check it out:

"Were they grown by my bestest friend, Huffs?"

Given that Zim's bestest friend, Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat's nickname is "Huffs", he's rather partial to them!

Speaking of friends, look at who helped Mom water the garden and wash the bat guano off the lower deck this week:

Pretty cute, isn't he?  He made Mom feel serene out there; she encouraged him to start eating more bugs.

Last, but not least, here's something that made me feel nice and serene:

Nothing beats playing with a SQUEAKY toy on a cool evening!

Have a serene Sunday, everyone!  And stay cool!!!

Luv,
Dave