Purple is Pleasing

April flowers have brought many beautiful May flowers, including Spanish Lavender, Dianthus, Iris, Peonies, Clematis, Snowball Viburnum, and late-blooming Azaleas.  My spring show of Tulips and Daffodils have wound down, but I always have something new and lovely to look forward to in the garden.

Patience, Perseverance, Pleasure

The days move forward, the years march on, and children grow up.  I can't put these precious moments into a time capsule, and the clock can never be turned back, but the lesson that gardening teaches is that tomorrow comes again, and each day or season brings the gifts of our past efforts to fruition.  With patience, and love, all the hard work and perseverance of the past turns into the pleasures of the future, and history lives on.

Garden Flashback #1:  The Sun Perennial Border has been tweaked many times, with different plants being swapped in/out, and the 1st photo is a bland sea of green.  Fast-forward three years, and the color, texture and contrast of the border is a big step ahead.  The border has now been expanded to allow for 3 full rows of plants, and the chartreuse Sedum 'Angelina' makes all the difference in the world.

July 2010

May 2013

Garden Flashback #2:  The Mailbox Garden was planted 2 years ago to replace a weedy neglected section of the garden, and to take advantage of the limited amount of sunny spots on our property.  I wanted butterflies and a joyful trip to check the mail each day, and definitely I got that with this new garden addition.  The bare earth has flourished.

April 2011

May 2013

As I walk through my garden, I'm coming to terms with the fact that my garden is maturing, and that the days of thrilling shopping adventures at local Nurseries may be coming to a close.  I am running out of space, the garden will be all growed up at some point in the not-so-distant future.  Alas, when one chapter ends, a new chapter can then begin.  It just may be time to start another garden, and somehow a seed has been planted in my head, and I'm exploring the possibility of purchasing a vacation getaway (with land) in the rural Shenandoah Valley.  Oh what I could do, to start anew...

Brilliant Blooms of May

Definition of SUPERB : marked to the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence

My garden hit peak bloom about a week ago, the perennials and shrubs metamorphosing into a blooming machine, and I am savoring every moment that I am present to behold the magnificent glory of Spring. This year marks the fourth season in which I have gardened on this property, and I am truly reaping the rewards of all the metaphorical seeds that I have sown. The borders are lush and full and diverse, and my plantings are now well-established and thriving.

I had the great fortune of inheriting a very lovely collection of Trees & Shrubs when we bought our home, and the Kousa Dogwood looks especially spectacular this time of year. It is covered with blooms of the purest white.

While the Dianthus 'Bath's Pink' have now faded, this side of the border will ratchet up soon with the blooms of Lavender and the trio of David Austin 'Harlow Carr' roses that I planted behind the Pinks.

My son enjoys romping about in the garden, and he's growing into a wonderful little helper. He has quite the imagination too, and I love to watch him get lost in play.

The Butterfly Garden is especially favored by my son, and by me too. I started this bed from a barren patch of grass just one year ago, and as I watch it flourishing with every passing month, I feel a flush of joy that I now have this happy stretch of Sun Perennials to greet me each day, upon my arrival to my home.

Falling for Garden Mums

With the arrival September, I had been looking to add a splash of Fall Color to my Mailbox Butterfly Garden, and so I swapped out the Salvia 'May Night' for a trio of hardy Chrysanthemums. I never much appreciated Mums before, but after discovering that they actually do over-winter quite well and are not mere disposables, I have a new found respect for hardworking Hardy Mums. They light up a garden and contribute flower power just when it's needed most, and so I will always make a place in my garden for this great Autumn wonder.

What's In Bloom?

It's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - August 2011 edition, and here in the Mid-Atlantic Zone 7a our gardens are at last getting a reprieve after many many weeks of hot dry weather during the month of July. Currently the following perennials are in bloom in my garden:

Anemone 'September Charm'


Daylily (unknown cultivar)


Fountain Grass 'Hameln'


Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'


Butterfly Garden
The real standout of the moment are the Acidenthera, a fragrant flowering bulb native to Ethiopia. I'm not sure if they're a keeper, but for now I appreciate having them since the rest of this bed is winding down.





Hosta 'Royal Standard'


Hosta 'Fragrant Dream'

The Essence of Summer

If I have another daughter, I may be tempted to name her Daisy, as I adore the cheerful sunny Shasta Daisy 'Becky' and all the other flowering perennials which mimic her. The Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' and Echinacea 'Magnus' pair spectacularly with Shasta Daisy, and the trio are super easy to grow and require practically no maintenance to boot. My Butterfly Garden has really come into its own, with all the flowers now in peak bloom, and the Shasta Daisy is the star.

What's In Bloom?

All across the U.S.A., gardeners are rejoicing at the beauty of JUNE BLOOMS. To catch a peak of at least 150 gardens for this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, go check out Carol's blog "May Dream Gardens"! In my own garden there are sun-perennials blooming, as well as hydrangeas and a few roses, and I love how fresh everything is looking.

Front Entry Container
This container was planted up in late-April with Cordyline Australis 'Red Star', Marguerite Daisy, and Mandevilla Dipladenia. After shearing the daisies in May, they've just pushed out a fresh crop of new blooms.


Daylily
I wish these were the re-blooming type of Daylily, but alas I enjoy them when I can, and they add so much cheer to the entry garden.


Lavender
This fragrant herb is a hit with the bees, and I'm so happy I chose to plant it.


Astilbe 'Maggie Daley'
I am very impressed with this lovely magenta-hued Astilbe, it is a true knock-out and so richly pigmented.


Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'
A great blooming shrub for shade, I am wowed with how long the cut flowers last in a vase. However I am not pleased with the droopiness and all the wilting during the heat of the day. I plan to install Peony hoops to give these two a lift.



Rose 'Sunsprite'
This is a new addition that I recently found at the grocery store, and it is being grown in a Container on the Deck. The fragrance is really spectacular.


Asiatic Lily 'Vermeer'
This is a gorgeous lily, the pink-white color really pops.


Mailbox Butterfly Garden
Considering there was nothing here at all just three months ago, I am completely thrilled with my new Butterfly Garden. It has filled in so well and looks great! The color theme has now transitioned from being predominately purple (Clematis, Irises, Salvia), to mostly white and yellow (Yarrow, Daylilies, Shasta Daisies and Zinnia).