Tag Archives: Flowers

Spring Plantings

Country Life, Gardens, , ,

The weather was sunny and relatively warm, so we got back to gardening and working outside today.

I transplanted blue flag irises, Solomon’s seal, a fern, and a columbine into our new raised beds. I also dig up narcissus bulbs that had multiplied so much that they didn’t bloom anymore from being so crowded, and planted them in various locations.

Then I sat on the patio and read, followed by a walk around the yard. The photos above are of my plum tree in bloom. We have yet to eat any plums from it. Despite being covered in blooms, it only yields two or three plums and the birds beat us to those.

The row of serviceberries is blooming too.

The redbuds are nearly ready to burst forth with their glorious pinky-purple blooms.

The hostas are well on their way for the season.

Even the oriental lilies are off to a good start.

I like to get lots of gardening done early in the season. It really seems to pay off. The weeds are still small and the garden is damp and soft so they come loose with an easy tug. And any plants that are moved when small, grow to be enjoyed later in the summer. Plus, it is not hot yet!

Still Life

Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, Gardens,
The Kitchen Window

Artwork

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Nature is a work of art.

On display in our garden from dawn until dusk.

Showing until frost.

A Grand Performance

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Even though it is officially fall and only one more day until October, the garden is still putting on a grand performance.

The roses look better than they have all summer. Many of them are new this year so they may just be getting established.

Rosebud unfurling.

Rose in peak bloom.

Cleomes’ majesty.

Even Zekie seems to relax and enjoy the garden beauty.

The peaceful days of autumn are some of my favorite. Weeds have slowed and there is less garden work to be done. It is a fine time to read a book on the patio and enjoy the breeze and cricket song.

Country Life, Gardens, ,

Dahlia season has arrived!

Actually, I got them in late so they are running behind schedule.

Perhaps I should plant some early and late next year so we have a longer time to enjoy them.

Not a bad idea. Enjoy!

Dahlia Season

Roses

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Fall may be coming fast on the heels of summer now, but the roses are still hanging in there.

Fall Approaches

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As fall approaches, it is a lovely time to hang out on the patio. Cassius approves. The cooler weather allows more time for focusing on lounging, less time required to keep chasing shade. We move the furniture around when it is hot so as not to sit in the hot sun.

The flowers are not at their peak anymore, but they are still beautiful. The gladiolus are putting on their final show of the season. In a month or so it will be time to dig them up, dry the bulbs for a few days, then put them into paper sacks to await next year’s planting. There are still flowers to look forward to this year. The dahlias will open any day now. And of course it is chrysanthemum time.

And so, the view is good. Next year this new flower bed will be totally different. It went in mid-summer so I grabbed some impatiens to fill out the few plantings we had for it. We will plan over the winter and put in some perennials in the spring.

In the afternoon, there is still time for a snooze after a busy day of frisbeeing.

Friend

Gardens, Thoughts On Life, ,

When daughters grow up and become adults, they become your friend and life cheerleader.

I missed my daughter.

She came to visit yesterday.

She went home.

Now I miss her again.

I hope you have such a daughter.

BTW, the beautiful flower arrangement above is courtesy of my daughter. The flowers are from her garden and she wanted to share them with us.

Seasons of Summer

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Time for a quick stroll around the patio garden. It was hot over the weekend so that is my inflatable pool chair behind the hibiscus.

This is one of my $2.00 clearance finds from one of the big box stores. It is a mounding annual vinca vine.

Another clearance find. This is called pentas. I wasn’t familiar with this one but I am enjoying it.

The coleus growth is slow this year but they do provide a lot of color.

The Peruvian lilies are getting their second round of flowers.

Mandevillas are a perennial favorite at our house. Pun intended.

The hydrangeas are becoming quite spectacular. This one is a little confused. It is part bluish purple and part pinkish. This might be good for a yin-yang theme.

Here is a picture of our newer flower bed with Cassius lounging in the background.

The roses are doing fine and as you can see, it will soon be the season for gladioli.

Summer is good to measure in mini seasons, for maximum enjoyment. Lily season, rose season, glad season, and so on. There is always something to enjoy, and something to look forward to.

Patience Pays Off

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We almost dug up this rose at the beginning of the season with the intent of trashing it in the compost pile. It died nearly down to the ground and had not produced a bloom in two years. We thought the extreme cold for our area over the past two winters had killed the grafted portion. This would have left the rootstock which is likely a wild rose with many thorns and very small, wild flowers. Something more weedy than flowery.

The plant showed new growth so we decided to give it one more chance. We patiently watched while a bud developed. It was nearly ready to unfurl that bud so we could determine the color and see which type of rose it was, when…something, most likely a chipmunk or possibly a skunk, ate the bud! We went out to check the flower the next morning and it was gone.

Luckily, there were more buds on the way. And when they opened up, we discovered that it was indeed the climbing rose that we hoped for. We may have to mulch and cover our roses to help them survive and be healthy if those colder than usual spells continue. But we are glad to see our old friend blooming once again on the trellis.