It’s been a while since I took you for a walk in our garden! For Things I Love Thursday, I thought I’d show you a few of this year’s favorite plants.

This is the first year that we have planted caladium, although we have often admired them in the past. We planted the bulbs in May and by mid-to-late June had concluded that none of them made it… and then they started popping up their lovely heads! Since our yard is almost all shade, it’s hard to find many plants that provide much color, but these caladium work wonderfully!

My love for them my wane when we have to dig them up this fall, but perhaps pictures of them will motivate me to keep them alive for next year. We bought a little pot of these and replanted them – I was afraid they wouldn’t make it, but they have filled in beautifully!

Another flowering option for our shade that has worked quite well are begonias.

We received a couple of begonia plants in flower baskets after my mother-in-law passed away – my husband really loves begonias already, so he is especially attached to these.

By the way… anyone know if we can somehow keep these guys alive over winter? We tried with a different begonia last year but it didn’t make it. I know NP would love to keep these going.

Do you have any favorite shade plants you recommend we try out next year?

For more “Things I Love Thursday” fun, head over to thediaperdiaries!

The kids have gotten a kick out of seeing these unusual visitors to my parents’ birdfeeders almost every morning – and where my parents live is not exactly “rural!” So funny to look out the sunroom windows and see these turkeys grazing around the neighborhood!

I’ve been eyeing glass hummingbird feeders for a couple of years. I really like them… but they’re usually more than I feel like spending. I was thrilled to find this idea in Birds and Blooms for how to recycle a glass bottle and make your own! Recycling and a hummingbird feeder on the cheap – fantastic!

Ours is less decorative, but I think I prefer the simplicity. I found the stopper portion at our local birding store for $3.00, and rescued a glass bottle that had made its way into my garage sale box. We added some wired twine that we already had in my craft cabinet, and voila! A nice looking homemade feeder for 3 bucks!

The key was that stopper/feeding tube. I didn’t know that you could buy them separately! And don’t feel like you have to buy that overpriced instant hummingbird nectar mix… just make your own with one part white sugar, four parts water (I added some red food coloring to ours, since hummers are attracted to red). You can learn more specifics here.

While I’m discussing my nerdy birding habit, my nesting materials wreath has had some activity, and every once in a while I see a bit of white fluff drift down from the tree tops – apparently they liked the fiberfill. :)

For more “Works for Me Wednesday” tips and ideas, head over to We Are That Family.

Everyday my husband and I venture out to check out what’s growing in our yard. Sometimes it is a surprise – every year since we moved in new things pop up in the spring that we never planted – apparently we’ve stirred up the soil enough that daffodils and tulips that had been long forgotten are getting a new lease on life! :)

Sadly, the aforementioned daffodils and tulips have finished blooming, but it’s lovely to see all of the plants bursting to life! Would you like to take a stroll through the “garden” with us this morning?

We’ll go out the front door first. Take a gander up our BIG tree. When I was growing up I always wanted a big tree in our yard. My dream came true… along with an incredible amount of fall leaves and spring helicopter seed things. But I still love this tree.

The first spring we lived in this house I dug around the base of the tree and we transplanted some hosta. They never really thrived there, but apparently they really appreciated our hard work a few weeks ago when we mulched like madmen… they’re looking better than they ever have!

As we continue out the front, take a gander at the front flowerbeds – the hydrangea we planted last year (on clearance at Lowe’s in the fall for $3 each!) are looking good, the hosta are happy, and the purple flowered nameless plants that no one can identify for us are going gangbusters. Know what those are (they grow from waxy white bulbs)?? Do tell!

Around the side, you’ll notice the climbing rose that has completely engulfed the trellis… we don’t know when to cut this back, so apparently our plan this year is to watch and see what happens. :) Behind the trellis you’ll see some iris we inherited from a neighbor… last year they did squat, so I was threatening to pull them out. But lo and behold, we counted 17 blooms that will open soon! It’s gonna be lovely – can’t wait!

On to the backyard…

We didn’t really like these lily of the valley when we first moved in, but they’ve grown on us. Mostly because they seem impossible to kill. We like impossible to kill – that’s why we also have an abundance of hosta. Ferns and hosta… can you tell our yard is almost all shade?

Aren’t these Solomon’s Seal plants neat? Nate’s aunt gave us one of hers and they seem to multiply every year, which is another thing we like… which is why we are huge fans of Sweet Woodruff. We got some free (also from Nate’s aunt), it spreads like crazy, it’s pretty, and it’s impossible to kill. Meets all of our criteria.

And just because I love it, here’s another picture of my sweet new birdbath.

Our God is awesome – how wonderful to see His handiwork all around us! If you’ve got a minute, check out this video of one of my favorite songs…