Royal Blue Batik Irises

Many people are collectors of irises. They buy unique flowers yearly and are delighted when they get a unique color. If you have not added the royal blue batik iris to your collection then you are missing out because this flower is like no other Iris that you have seen before.

The only words that come to mind are exotic and beautiful. Each flower has multiple blooms that will not disappoint you. Several years ago I bought the Batik iris collection online. The flowers came from Breck’s online Nursery and I have no idea if they still carry this unique iris, but it is well worth your effort to search for these irises at their online store.  As I recall I bought the collection in the fall for spring shipping.  Maybe they still carry the batik irises, I do not know.

In my collection I have two purple irises; Gnu Flash and Royal Blue Batik, then Tiger Honey (gold color with white), and a pink and white one called Baboon Bottom.
Here is a photo of my Baboon Bottom iris

  

The batik irises look fantastic when grown in masses. If you start with 5 flowers then know that this iris does multiple annually so plant them where they have room to grow otherwise you will be dividing them every few years.

Note unlike other irises this flower thrives in full sun to part shade and they choke out weeds. A very hardy iris that is not fussy about soil and is pest, disease, and deer resistant.

Batik irises... are my favorite flower in my garden.   I just love them.  Do you grow batik irises?  Here is a video that will show you how to grow irises.  

Word of Mouth Garden Job

 I have been working on my gardens for the last 7 days.  Know that my yard and garden represents my skills and if I am to get jobs in the neighborhood then my yard and gardens better be near perfect.     

My yard and gardens are not formal because every plant that I grow is to benefit wildlife.  The only way to describe my yard and garden is to say that it is a sensory garden with fragrant flowers, wind chimes and water features.  Plus there is an original (came with the house) American Indian sculpture and cement sculptures that I have made scattered throughout the garden.

Upper-level garden; patio and sandstone walkway

My gardens take up a half acre of land and they are a sight to behold especially when in full bloom. There are three levels of gardens plus paths and garden nooks then a meadow that has a path that goes around it where you can view the pretty flowers, stop to watch the birds at the feeders, sit on the garden bench and read from your Kindle or sleep on the hammock. The meadow is an area that I created for neighborhood children to learn more about flowers and nature.  

Lower level garden by grass garden

This week the bee balm, Asiatic and daylilies are in bloom as well as the roses, black-eyed Susan's red clover, catmint, and coneflowers.  So if you walk down the alley you can look down into my yard and see my pretty gardens. 

Stella de Oro lilies and Black Eyed Susan's in bloom

To make a long story short, people from the neighborhood were walking down my alley to get to the nature trails and a man stopped to look at my yard and gardens.  He came into my yard and took the path that winds around my pond,

Garden path to brick patio and grass garden

I went out to talk to him and we had a nice chat, he told me his daughter just bought a home in Branson, MO and she needed help with planning her landscape and asked if I did this sort of thing.

I gave him my business card and that is how word of mouth got me my next digital garden job.

 

Another Day of Rain: Yard Cleanup will Take a Week

The weather forecast called for sun today and I cleared my schedule so I could go outdoors and start pulling the weeds from my garden beds.  The entire yard is saturated with rain water and there are standing puddles and mud everywhere.  When I look at my yard I do get overwhelmed because clean up will take at least a week.

Rain Rain go away, come again some other day

Rain has made the gross grow FAST.  Need to mow the lawn

Need at least a week to manicure the lawn and gardens.  Too much rain made weeds grow FAST

The only thing I accomplished today was pulling out my rotted vegetables from the organic raised garden bed.  Too much rain, flash flooding and when the soil is saturated with water the veggies will not grow.   To do this garden task really  made me sick because we grow our own food.

I started to clean up the garden mess when the dark clouds rolled in, then heard the lightening in the distance and knew it would be another day of rain.  Hoping that tomorrow will bring sunshine and that I can work in the yard and gardens for several hours.

Before I go, I wanted to share with you all a new organic weed killer that I picked up to kill the weeds between my stepping stones.  The product name is Avenger weed killer and it is available in concentrate or ready to use.

I prefer the ready to use 1 gallon size.  This formula in non toxic and is safe to use around your flowers.   Know that if you plan on killing weeds do not use this product on a cloudy day or when the ground is wet.  For best results use this weed killer on a hot and sunny day.  The heat from the sun will activate the formula and the weeds will turn brown in a couple of hours.

Avenger weed killer does work and it is great for controlling weed growth between sidewalk, garden path and where hand-pull is not easy.  You can find and buy this non toxic product at most home and garden centers including Lowes.com  Homedepot.com  and Walmart.com

Small or Large Garden? How to Choose the Right Size

Whether you dream of a small patio garden or a large backyard garden, every garden begins with intention. I’ve tended spaces of all sizes over the years, and each one reflects the heart of the person who cares for it. From container gardens arranged with love to the estate grounds I once oversaw, every garden has something to teach us about space, creativity, and what truly matters.

Today I had a conversation with a woman who told me about her own garden. She described how she planned her layout so the colors would flow, how she mixed vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and how she hoped to expand it this year. When I asked if she had any photos, she smiled and pulled out her phone.

To my surprise, her entire garden lived in a 6‑by‑9‑foot patio space.

Her photos showed a beautiful small container garden, thoughtfully arranged and full of life. She had used every inch wisely. It reminded me that anyone can have a garden as long as they have sunlight and the desire to grow something.

I complimented her work, and then she asked about mine.
“You always talk about your garden,” she said. “Do you really have one?”

I told her yes  but mine isn’t a container garden. My gardens stretch 157 by 57 feet, and they’ve taken years to build. They’re what most people would call a large garden. And yet, I’ve also worked as an private residence gardener, tending a property two times the size of my own. Those were feature gardens that had to be perfect every single day.

That experience taught me something important:
choosing the right garden size isn’t about how much space you have  it’s about how you want to care for it.
Gardening isn’t about size. It’s about intention, joy, and the simple pleasure of watching something grow.

People love to garden, whether they have a few pots on a patio or a sweeping landscape. The value is the same. Gardening is good for the soul, and everyone benefits from planting something anything that brings them joy.

I grow plants in the ground and in containers because containers add interest and texture to a garden. I find them at yard sales, big‑box stores, and online shops. A good container can turn a simple plant into a focal point and make even a small garden feel layered and inviting.

Here are some photographs from my garden.
I hope they inspire you to plant something of your own no matter the size of your space.

 Wildflower and ornamental grass garden

Garden pavestone path 

Butterfly garden

Hosta Garden

Circular hosta garden in front yard 

Hosta garden by the privacy fence

Lily garden path

Sensory Garden

Dog Kennel Garden

Backyard ornamental grass and wildflower garden

Black-eyed Susans along garden path