James, it seems year three is magic for many of us! Your garden is beautiful and has filled in as if it has always been there! I remember when some of these were just new. Quite a lovely sanctuary for you - your neighbours must love it!

Very beautiful garden. How nice it must be to come home to this every day.

Beautiful garden!

What they all said...beautiful garden!

How old is your Jurassic Park? Below is mine...waiting to be planted.

A tiny little feller.

Most lovely sanctuary you have created. The potted plants are so cheery. What is the name of the flowering tree in the first photo?

Beautiful! You have done such a great job creating that garden and I am sure many people enjoy it. I planted some of mine to close together too....so I waiting for my new tree to grow so I have some more shade.

Enjoyed viewing the changes in your lovely garden. You can't win Stoc. Mother Nature is rather fickle at times. I left lots of room for my hostas but after researching about optimum growth, I found that I left too much room, now searching for appropriate fillers.

Beautiful garden! Great job

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure of the name of the tree,I will have to ask a neighbor.Too bad I didn't take pictures last week when the blossoms were fresh.

The Jurassic park is year 3 it didn't do much last year but has taken off this year.Can't wait until they get the 2nd flush of leaves.

I have 4 more coming this week,another Great expectaions,Revolution,Luna Moth,and Brother Stefan. Then I will have to try pots. There is a big area to the left not shown in the pics that has a big strip of Lilacs I may move a couple of them over to that area.There is always the neighbors yard as they have taken a keen interest in the garden.

Beautiful garden! Looks lush and serene.

That view from the third floor would make me happy every time I looked out! Look at how many plants you've brought in. I also see lots of nice flowers in pots and what looks like a Rodgersia that looks pretty big. I can imagine that you're creating more interest in gardening when your neighbors see what you've accomplished.

Your hostas look good and healthy. I also plant close, and this spring I moved some only because they were getting completely covered up by bigger hostas, and one that was blocking a sprinkler when it grew taller than I anticipated. The good news is they didn't skip a beat. Now I feel better about crowding them because they can be moved later. There's always a way to justify squeezing in some more hostas. ;-)

It looks like you have lots of room for expansion if you wanted to. Do you need that grass where you have the rectangular bed in the middle? If not, I would make a walking/working path with some stepping stones and spread the gardens into where the grassy area is now. It looks like you have a nice walkway area already with some more grass to the left. ....Just a thought. I'm figuring out how to rework a portion of my garden, so that's where my head is at right now.

Thanks sandyslopes. I think that is a splendid idea. Don't know if my landlord will go for it,but probably.I put the center bed in after he told me that I had done a lot of work and that it looked good.So I took that as an ok to dig up more grass. The area to the left with grass is basically rock a few inches down so I can't go there. I live in an apartment building and management doesn't stop by very often.My neighbors are very happy with the garden as am I. Nice to hear that you moved yours without a problem. Thanks for saying what I have been thinking.

James, I remember when you were starting and its quite the transformation, it looks great. I love the tree fern. I think your tree may be Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' I have one but not as big as yours yet, if these flowers match yours thats it.

Denis

What a beautiful tree but I am afraid it would not withstand our Canadian winters. . Do the flowers have a nice scent?

I don't smell anything from them. Thanks Dennis.I think you are right.It does look like a type of Hawthorne. If it can survive a Swedish winter it might do ok in Canada. Granted our last few winters have not been very tough however.

I love my Tree fern too-I put it on an enclosed terrace over the winter and it survived nicely.It put out 10 new fronds.I hope I will be able to drag it back indoors this winter.

How are your gardens coming Dennis? Any pics?

A lot of my in ground hostas were hit by frost and hail in may after an early growth spurt from an unusually warm april, some are coming around to looking reasonableish but won't be posting any pics of them. However my pots have done very well, I had to keep them indoors for most of may! I will do a show and tell soon, need to take new photos.

Denis

I'm sorry you got hit with hail and frost that sucks. We just keep having lots of rain and very cool temps,the hostas like it but I want some heat on my bones.

James, thanks for sharing with us. Your garden looks so cheerful! I hope you're able to expand as you want.