Grass, grass, grass...

Is all I see...

I can't imagine what the backyard looks like.

Actually, I think I can.

I'm guessing more... grass!

This is a house I drive by occasionally and it just cracks me up.

Fall Color

My mind is preoccupied with the red/purple and green combination right now.

The green color of summer is now commingling with the deeper color of fall,

in my head and on the shelves of garden centers.

My neighbor has Japanese Blood Grass in their yard that I have been eying for several years now. When back lit, the grass just look so fantastic. But at $ 12.99, it'll stay on the shelf.

For now.

I would love to put this Purple Emperor Stonecrop next to my Sedum Autumn Joy. Love the dark deep purple color. It's dramatic, isn't it?

These Coral Bells with frilly leaves are green on the top side and light purple on the under side. Really cute. I think it's got a bit of attitude.

Oooh, look at this cute couple... I want, I want... in abundance in a lightly shaded area - that I don't really have too much of. Hmm...

With an appetite bigger than my wallet, I left the garden center empty handed.

Good girl, wasn't I?

I went home and divided my one and only Coral Bells plant into 7 new plants.

I had been on the lookout for cheap Coral Bells to add to the one plant I had, when blogger friend Margot at Mammas Blommor told me that they were really easy to divide. Why didn't I think of that??? And seriously, I believe it was one of the easiest EVER to divide. Kind of like Hens and Chicks. A gentle pull and the little plants separated into little individual plants. Great! How much money did I just save?

Maybe I'll take that saved money and go shopping for some red/green fall plants.

Free trivet

When I saw this beautiful Fountain Grass,

I was surprised to see that it came with a trivet.*

Not really, actually...

...it was just really root bound.

The lesson here, kids, is to check your pot before you buy it.

*trivet = grytunderlägg på svenska

Boxwood Basil

Back from a great weekend at my brother-in-law's house by the ocean. Two days of fun and festivities celebrating the nation's birthday with family and friends. We had lot's of great food and drinks, lounged and laughed in the wicker chairs on the porch, watched fireworks and grilled marshmallows to make smores. We went to the beach a couple of times to build castles, fly kites and cool off in the ocean. For me, the first dip of the year - whole head under. Had to be quick though, the great white has been spotted along the coast according to the local news. Or was this just my excuse for getting out of the freezing cold water?

Anywho... This is what I came across in a garden center yesterday.

A boxwood basil- Ocimum Basilicum. (buxboms basilika på svenska?)

Fell in love, on the spot. There was never a doubt whether I should by this one or not. It was coming with me. Actually, two of them came with me - the last two remaining. One will go in my vegetable garden and one will come with me wherever I go. Not really, but I need to be able to admire it up close - often.

I guess it was bred in France as a great pesto base and has been around for a while, but it's just a couple of years old here in the United States. It will grown 12-16" tall (30-40 cm) and will grow in a boxwood looking manner as long as you keep pinching it back to encourage the shrubby growth.

Well, that's it for now. My cup of morning coffee needs refill and I need to close the windows and doors. The warm and muggy air is making its way inside. Boston's Mayor has declared a heat wave and we're expecting a high of 97 Fahrenheit (36 C) today. Ugh!