Backyard plants and insects

   The first step of my new backyard project is to put gravel along the fence, the shadiest zones, most plants don't like it. To cover the total area with certain thickness I ordered 1.5 cubic yards 3/4" gravel, I searched the density of 3/4" gravel, the total weight comes out about 1.6 ton. It took me 3 evenings to move the gravel from my driveway to the backyard. Then laid out different planting zones, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and so on.   I spent pretty much the last three weekends  in the backyard, digging, building, planting. Unlike the traditional houses come with relatively large lots , the new constructions are putting bigger & bigger houses into smaller & smaller lots. In Toronto, there are 3000+ sqft new townhouses.   My property is no exception, my backyard is fairly small, the overall landscape is not particularly attractive. Here I picked up some microscape views. 

1.  Tomato

2. Little rock garden corner，the succulent plants are used to add tones or fill some gaps.

3.  this is a 芍药Peony, I also have 3 young 牡丹peonies but have to wait one more year to see flowers, hopefully.

4. White 芍药peony

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7.  葛巾紫与玉版白，name after LiaoZhai , 【葛巾玉版】

8. British lavender

9. British lavender

10. Spanish lavender

11. Some chrysanthemum kind flower

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13. Hydrangea，Do you know that Hydrangea flowers change color with soil PH value?  They appeared blue at soil PH<7, pink at soil PH>7, at PH=7, it's most purple, sometimes blue and purple appear at the same time from a same plant.   

14. Oriental Lily “Chill Out”香水百合，Very strong smell, like perfume, 

15. Blueberry flower

16.  Blueberry

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19.  狗子看老牛津津有味地吃草，好奇地问草什么味？ 老牛说草莓味，狗子很高兴啃了一口，怒斥老牛骗它，老牛说我告诉你了草没味，你不听非要去尝，还怨别人

20.  Strawberry flower

21. Fruit fly? size about 1/5 of common house fly.

22. Soon after this photo，one morning, the pot was tipped,all fruits including red & green were stolen.

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28. Next time I will try to catch some other insects, insects are fascinating so as spiders.