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.

Springing-a-long

The garden is now in full-throttle bloom mode, and the incredibly mild winter that was not, is long gone. It seems as if everything has bloomed at once, the Daffodils, Tulips, Azaleas, and countless others that could not wait, and it takes my breath away to watch all this live happening action.

Winter's Blooms

The Mid-Atlantic winter has been mild & moderate, and in addition to the great many plants in my garden that are beginning to break dormancy, several early varieties are blooming earlier than ever before.

Helleborus







Pieris Japonica

Spring 2012 New Designs

As winter sets in, I am dreaming up grand new plans for my 2012 Garden. I will expand the Sun Perennial Border at the face of my house, to allow for 3 full rows of shrubs/perennials/annuals, and I will incorporate more plants that will create 3-season interest and a long bloom season.

Back Row: Satsuki Azaleas, Rose 'Harlow Carr', Itea 'Little Henry'
Middle Row: Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Lavender 'Munstead', Euphorbia 'Blackbird'
Front Row: Zinna Pinwheel 'Raspberry Lemondade', Garden Mums, Dianthus 'Baths Pink'


On the opposite end of this border, I will also widen it by about a foot and add a few additional plants.

Mid-Back: Baptisia Australis
Front: Fountain Grass 'Hameln'
Front Edging (left): Centaurea "Gold Bullion"



It will all be so AMAZING!!

Ice and Fire

As Christmas descends upon us, I find the greatest gift of all to be a simple day spent outside. These early weeks of Winter have been so very mild, often almost Spring-like, and the more time I spend outdoors the more I yearn to add more winter-interest to my garden. I have great appreciation for plants that manage to look good in the depths of December or January, and below are five favorites:

Carex 'Evergold'
This gorgeous evergreen mounded grass perennial is worth it's weight in gold. It literally requires no maintenance and is a standout in shady areas that needs a pop of pizazz.



Nandina 'Firepower'
While not my favorite shrub by any means, I can't dismiss the appeal of an evergreen that keeps a compact habit and glows red all winter long.



Mahonia Bealei
This burly yet beautiful shrub has some fearsome thorns, yet the most exquisite flowers and berries in Spring. Already the yellow flowers are waiting to unfurl themselves, and I can't wait to see it.



Euphorbia 'Rainbow ascot'
I bought this perennial on a clearance table last summer, and have been wowed ever since, so much so that I believe I may try to find a spot for it in the garden. Currently it's in a container on my deck and doing fine, but I'd love to add whole swaths of it in the garden somewhere.



Nandina domestica
The traditional Nandina, with it's graceful cleaved foliage and bright red berries, has now settled in nicely after being transplanted too many times to count, and I just love the bright red berries. They really sing *Christmas*.

Autumn Glory

Today was another wonderfully sweet Autumn weekend, and I went apple-picking with my family at Stribling Orchard which was quite the fun adventure. Upon arriving home, we all headed back outside and spent the afternoon puttering around the deck and working on yard projects, and I managed to do a walk-around the property to take some snapshots of the garden in its Fall Glory.

Front Entry Garden
The Japanese Maple is now blazing red, and I've set up a Fall Harvest Scene in front. The Sedum 'Autumn Joy' has now turned brick red, perfectly complementing the Maple.





Sun Perennial Border
Last year, I planted Garden Mums as annuals, but they overwintered so well that I went ahead and kept them, and now this year they've come back bigger and badder than I could have expected. I wish I had more sunny spots in my garden for more Mums.




Kousa Dogwood
The bright orange leaves of the Kousa make a real impact, and this is one of the most high performing trees in my garden. I adore this tree.



Rock Garden
The Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' has officially been in my garden for one year. It was a perfect addition and the leaves are coloring up nicely, and I couldn't be more pleased with this all-star understory tree.



Assorted Woodland
The trees at the back of my property are lit up with color, and the birdhouse that my husband built fits in so perfectly among this backdrop. The Redbud 'Forest Pansy' trio is golden yellow now, and a favorite shrub of mine, Bottlebrush Buckeye is also aglow with golden leaves.




I am so grateful to be the caretaker of this great garden, and I look forward to watching it continue to grow and thrive and flourish.

Sensational Shade Shrubs

Thankfully there are a great many shrubs that will thrive (and flower) in the shade, and just a few days ago my Aesculus parviflora ('Bottlebrush Buckeye') came into full bloom. This is really an outstanding shrub, and the large wispy flowers are mildly fragrant and last a long time. The Aesculus is definitely happy in its home and has produced double the flowers compared to last year.



I planted a grouping of three Hydrangea 'Blushing Bride' shrubs next to the floating deck earlier this Spring, and they have really taken off in only a short period of time. They wilt on hot sunny days, but otherwise this is a wonderful shrub and Hydrangeas are always a great edition to any shady space.

Then (April 2011):


Now:



During the 2011 Spring, I have added installed several additional shrubs to my garden, including Viburnum 'Carlesii' and the supremely elegant Hydrangea 'Twist-n-Shout'. Hydrangeas are so hard to resist, and I'm sure to add more of them as soon as I find a place to put them.



My most ambitious project to date in the garden, has been the creation of the Woodland Side Border. I installed a mixed evergreen hedge to the back along the property line last month, using 3 Skip Laurels, 2 Sasanqua Camellias which I transplanted, and 2 Azalea 'Delaware Valley'. These shrubs will provide much needed winter structure. I also put in one more tree, Cornus Kousa 'Samaritan'.





I love my trees, but it's the shrubs that get me most excited each season.

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).