July 2

From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Lily Monte Negro ordered from Spring Hill Nursery 3 years ago. The lily foliage is atrocious, but the Rose Campion hides the leaves a bit. For some reason in the picture the pinks are not as harmonious as they are in real life. From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Guara and Purple-leaf Sandcherry From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Mugo Pine and Ribbon Grass From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Black-eyed Susan and Butterfly Weed From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Butterfly Weed Close-up. This is the brightest it's ever been. The orange is the highlight of the garden today. From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Clustered Bellflower From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Darwin's Blue Veronica from Bluestone Nurseries. Love this blue in the garden. The picture doesn't show it well, but it is placed within a bed of Shasta Daisies, which really makes the blue pop. From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Cryptomeria Black Dragon, Variegated Wigelia, and Shasta Daisies From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Love how everyone is leaning to the sun. I think these are Heliopsis, but I am not sure. The grass is Feather Reed Grass, "Overdam". From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) The mailbox path. You can see the Butterfly Weed in the middle. Hope the monarchs find it! From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Claire's Phlox and Spirea in the background From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Nothing says summer like Black-eyed Susans From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Tsuga canadensis 'Moon Frost' and Heuchera "Coral Bells" From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Lavender and Juniper "Mother Lode" From 2011-07-02 (by Eye-Fi) Oakleaf Hydrangea and Astilbe coming into bloom in my dark corner.

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June 18, 2011

It's been a while since I blogged about my garden! It's such an exciting time of year and there is always so much work to be done. But honestly, there isn't much that I like doing more than getting my hands dirty and putzing around in the garden. I posting a blog because I finally got my camera working. Or should I say my technically-savvy sweetheart did. What's amazing is that he got me a card in my camera that automatically uploads all the pictures I take to my picasa album. That makes it so easy to get them onto the blog and I love easy. So I have no excuses for not getting some pictures up more often. Wish me luck! Mt. Laurel I think Carousel, though am not certain on the cultivar From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi) Iris and Fringe Tree (Mt. Laurel is in the background) From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi) Campanula, Veronica, and Daisies with Purple-leaf Sand-cherry in the background From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi) Penstemon, Artemisia, and Thyme From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi) Start of a raised foliage garden. This wall faces north-west and gets too hot in the afternoon for some of the foliage plants I envisioned here. Might have to rethink the whole space. From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi) Annual pots by the front door From 2011-06-18 (by Eye-Fi)

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Late May Flowers

Lupine and Tsuga canadensis 'Moon Frost'

Close-up of the Lupine. The tallest are Russell Hybrids from Bluestone ordered last spring. I'm shocked first that they came back and second how beautifully they are doing. They get morning sun and afternoon shade in well-draining slightly acidic soil, but no special care. If I don't get seedlings next year, they will definitely be going on the Bluestone list.

Lupines and Baptisia

Closeup of Baptisia

Spring colors. Usually I don't go for staying on one side of the color wheel. I'm more of a contrast-y sorta lady, but this works for me. I think the prettiness of the silver Artemesia "Silver Brocade" and maroon "Husker Red" Penstemon foliage together would be lost if the flowers in this area were strong yellows, reds, and purples. I need to remember and go back and take just a picture of the white daisy in front of the penstemon's dark leaves. I bet that would be a nice close-up.

Spirea "Snow Mound" Don't worry. I'll post the whole bush when it is in full bloom. It definitely is a favorite. But just a few blooms in anticipation seemed appropriate today.

Second Try Tulip Success

I got this combo right on the second try. Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' has always been a favorite plant, but one of those shrubs that can go unnoticed in a busy spring garden, so as with the Fothergilla, I thought I'd plant some tulips around it to bring attention to it. My first try was "Pink Impression" which was a total miss. They bloomed too early, too tall, and too bright. The delicate variegation of daphne looked washed-out in comparison. So I moved them across the garden, by the neon-yellow forsythia to create a bright contrast that welcomes spring loudly. In their stead I planted "Angelique", a softer peony tulip which seemed a better match for the small pale pink blooms.

And I'm very happy with the combination. Time to add them again to next year's Scheepers order.

Fothergilla and Mom's Catmint

From April 30, 2010

Three years ago, when I planted this Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy' from Katsura Gardens it had a very understated presence in the garden. I have always loved the blooms; their color and structure are very unique, especially in a spring garden. But I felt like it didn't draw attention to itself. Most visitors missed it unless I pointed it out. I planted some dark tulips which created a nice contrast, but I was still looking for a companion which would really play it up. I noticed that the low catmint imported from my Mom's garden seemed to bloom at the same time, so I transferred all I could find to surround the Fothergilla, and now, I absolutely love the effect. Both plants are very tactile. I just want to give the grouping a big hug! I think I will try the tulips again next year, just have to decide what the right color would be.

Tulips in April

Color in April is a wonderful thing. Today I am going still thinking about what I like about my bulbs and what to add next year. Most of the color coming up makes me very happy, so I took lots of pictures! Here is an over all view of the mailbox garden, where I focused the bulbs this year. I currently have 5 species of tulips blooming or about to bloom, plus a smattering of other things.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Below the crabapple are Greigii tulips called "Professor de Monsseri" which mix well with the small daffodils.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

And a close up with Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' in the background.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Closer to the mailbox, a Single Early tulip named "Flair" is really showing off.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I love the look of paint brush strokes on each petal.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I like that they are close to the street, so they can be enjoyed by walkers in the neighborhood.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

The Hyacinth, Grape Hyacinth and Creeping Phlox in the background are all very blue.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

and are ready for their close-up.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I don't think it's possible to have too much phlox in a spring garden.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Most of the Single Early "Beauty Queen" near the Purple-leaf Sandcherry are not open yet, but this one was early and makes me think I did well on the color match. Hopefully I'll have a good picture for bloom day from this group.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Moving away from bulbs, the conifers are looking positively perky.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' with lots of new growth.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

And a happy Pinus parviflora 'Hagoromo '

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Where in the heck did I plant that...

One of the problems that comes from being a gardener that relies on serendipity is that in general, there is no plan. And when there is no plan, sometimes important pieces of information get lost. I stumbled across an instance of this tonight.

The story actually does start out with a plan. It is spring, my bulbs are up, and this actually is the best time to start planning for next years spring display, because I can take notes on what worked (I love the hyacinth and blue chionodoxa together, more please!) and what didn't (none of my daffodils are early enough and the bulbs near the fothergilla need to be replaced). While researching the names of last year's bulbs, I notice some plants that I purchased at the same time, probably trying to fill up the order to get to a discount. Apparently I bought a Filipendula 'Kahome' and a Campanula portenschlagiana "Resholt Variety". Well, darned if I know where I planted them. For all I know, they have vanished, forever out of sight and mind. Or perhaps one of those small green things nubbing out of the ground is my mystery plant, biding its time, waiting for enough sun and rain to flourish in the perfect place I happened to pick for it last fall. If that is the case, then it will definitely belong in my serendipitous garden.