Missing My Morning Glories

I never thought those words would come out of my mouth. I've had Morning Glories as one of my most faithful flowering vines around here that produced an abundance of blue flowers that were show stopping. With reseeding easily from year to year I just knew I would have plenty this year. The joke is on me. I have a couple of struggling vines that came up really late this season and I'm not expecting a show from them by any means. My favorite are Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'  *** BLOGGER is not allowing photo uploads today so I will just have to send you to my previous posts: What's Bloomin' 2008 Morning Garden Buzz - 2008 That's just the way it goes sometimes! I am going to make it a point to replant Morning Glories next year. I will be back in business then.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - June 2011

Another month has come and gone and its again another much anticipated "Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day".  A day that is hosted by May Dreams Gardens each 15th of the month. Everyone posts what is blooming in their yard at that time. June is another exciting month of blooming. Here is what is blooming in my yard: Gardenia Hardy Hibiscus Louisiana Iris Mexican Petunia Orange Double Lily Pink Gladiola Shasta Daisy If you see chewed on leaves and petals...well, its grasshopper damage. This is going to be a bad year for them and I'm not sure how many the birds can eat to keep up. With pastureland all around us, we have to take this as part of it living here.

Using Baskets As Planters

If you would like to add a tasteful looking planter to your patio this year, let me suggest using one of those baskets that you have way too many of hanging around. That's what I did. Its super easy and it didn't cost a thing really. All you need to do is: use a sturdy basket  line it with 3-4 layers of newspaper, trimming the edges so they won't stick out around the rim Fill with potting soil - I like to use the "moisture control" kind so it doesn't dry out so fast Fill with the plants of your choice Garage sales and thrift stores always have a plethora of baskets for the picking. Its not necessary to paint the basket or anything. This one came painted and didn't fit in my decor anymore. This same concept could be applied to other containers that soil may leak through. Using black and white newspaper or even coffee filters for smaller containers is all you need. Its a great way to recycle and save tons of money on expensive planters.

A Stroll Through My Garden

This time of year I really enjoy trips out to my gardens looking to see what has changed and what is newly in bloom. Its been raining like crazy over the past week and I've not gotten to take time for pictures. Here are a few of my new finds. Orange Asiatic Lilies  - Lilium 'Massa' I *think* this is a Variegated Fritillary (it wouldn't open its wings) on my Star /Confederate Jasmine -Trachelospermum jasminoides    A free planter I got a few years ago. I added chicken wire and coconut lining to fill out the tiers. Planted are red  petunias and both variegated and pink vinca. My first daylily bloom from two days ago. I am still searching for what cultivar. I got it at a plant swap. Do you know? Good times....

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2011

May is one of my favorite months to participate in this monthly, "What's blooming in your yard?"  blogging day. Its held the 15th of each month and is hosted by May Dreams Gardens. We all link to her blog so we can tour each others yards for what's blooming. Its a lot of fun and there are quite a few people who participate. Stunning photography and beautiful flowers are what make it all worthwhile.

I am in Zone 7B/8A and here is what is blooming in mine:

Click photo to enlarge

May 15, 2011 blooming includes:

Most are listed in rows from left to right

• Double Knockout Rose
• Loose Strife
• Climbing Rose
• Stick Verbena
• Arapaho Blackberries
• Mullein
• Pincushion Flower
• Spirea
• Coriander
• Pink Penstemon
• Columbine
• White Penstemon
• Pink Verbena
• Shasta Daisy

For our area, this is prime time for garden tours to be held. Our Master Gardener Association will choose the first few weeks of May to hold our annual Spring Garden Tour. We usually have a lot of factors that determine how many things are in bloom here during that time.  We always seems to make it work though. We love our garden tours around here.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

To the woman who taught me to love growing flowers of all kinds. Our times together walking through your gardens and yard have been some of my most treasured times with you and dad. If there was a way to get a plant going in our yard, you've tried it and with great success. You're my inspiration. This post is dedicated to you.

Her famous elephant ears and clematis

Below are pictures from her garden from just yesterday. Nearly 600 miles away from me in Illinois, so thanks to my dad I have them!

Weigela - a family treasure. I grew up with it.

Beautiful Irises as always

Last year's Mother's Day gift - Sunny Knockout Rose

Everything looks beautiful, Mom. I really am glad to see the pictures from home. I am reminded why I love gardening and its because of you. I hope this Mother's Day is a blessed one. I love you.

A Day of Deadheading

No, I've not been jamming out to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. It would be interesting though. Too bad that the radio station wasn't running a Grateful Dead tribute while I was out deadheading in my yard. That would really be cool. There are several really strange definitions for the term, so I'd better be more specific. Deadheading -  To encourage continued plant growth and beauty by removing spent flowers and seed pods. By removing the dried-up flowers, the plant can use its energy to produce more flowers instead of seeds. Today I tackled my roses and penstemon. Rose Bush Needing Deadheading Penstemon Needing Deadheading Bucket #1 of 2 Spent Flowers Hopefully over the course of the next few weeks, I will see the new growth and flowering start again. That's what will make it worth the pink tinged sunburn I got today working on this. It was so nice outside I hated to go inside for breaks. Gardening is such great fun! Here is a great guide for deadheading I found from Garden Gate magazine. I have subscribed to them for years and I love how much they help with flowers. This is a pdf file to download if you are interested. -- Deadheading Guide Deadheading today and what tomorrow? I need to start on my garden enclosure, that's what.

Earth Day Tribute - What Type of Gardener Are You?

Grapes are really abundant this year

Pink Verbena

Mullein

Spiderwort The more I garden and visit with other people and their gardens I have started asking this question. Its easy to be defined by a style, but in truth it goes deeper than that. I have found that gardening in many ways is an extension of a personality. Order, whimsy and purpose mark a garden in the same way we dress ourselves and decorate our homes. I think it is why our curiosity is sparked when an opportunity arises to walk around someone's yard or garden. They all tell a story. And we want to hear that story. Being involved with the Master Gardener program allows me the privilege of seeing more gardens than most. It's interesting to know that some gardens are more showy and "out-front" types that appeal to the eye.Those are the ones that make an immediate impression on visitors as one who knows everything about gardening and must be an expert. The truth is, the surface has only been scratched on the levels of gardening and know how. Even among our Master Gardeners if a question comes up about a certain plant or situation we often know immediately who needs to answer that question. That is why we have "Specialists" for certain things such as Vegetable Gardening, Composting, Etymology, Propagation etc. Its just hard to know everything. I often wonder when someone asks to see my yard what they expect. A botanical garden maybe? A show stopping view from the street? That always intimidates me when I think about it because in truth, I'm not that type of gardener. Mind you, I LOVE flowers and blooms of all types. I collect perennials and my inspiration is always an English Cottage Garden style. I fill in plants and collect them as gifts from friends and family. All of my plants have a story to tell. What is my type? I guess I'm really a backyard type of gardener with a cottage style flair. I plant things with a purpose. I like flowers and herbs so my bees and butterflies are welcomed in for a visit and nourishment. I plant vines and trees for shade. I grow food for animals and people. Its a broad spectrum of interests and I enjoy the challenge. It may not always be showy, but boy does it have a story to tell. One thing I can say is this, moving to the country has liberated my garden creativity process. I love the idea of hanging baskets overflowing with massive annual flowers and show stopping landscape design. I am inspired by them and often under my own breath say, "next year I will try this or that". But I often find myself back in the same places year after year building and dreaming in my own backyard. I like that... no pressure. Today I will be planting a few more herbs and filling soil in a three more raised beds where I grow food. I have several plants that have been given to me as gifts from friends that need a home in my yard. I will gladly place them with love and care as I think about my dear friends who gave them to me. New raised garden beds

Bloomin'

A quick spin through my yard and a few photos on a cool misty day. I just wish I would've known the date stamp was turned "ON" on my camera before I took all of these. Who did this to my camera? I've gotta pretty good idea I think and will be investigating the culprit. *wink* Meet Minion "The Gatekeeper" guardian of my front door. My Sunny Knock-Out Rose that I planted last year -- smells great! Honeysuckle and penstemon blooming View from in from of my animal enclosure.. wisteria, roses & grapevines galore Mother's Day gift 2010. Lovin' the blooms Lets see... penstemon, artemesia, peony, flowering tobacco & privet A close up of my climbing roses Clematis -- I love these blooms! I now officially have the date stamp removed off my camera so I'm hoping the next pictures will be better. Things are moving at such a fast pace here that I'm hoping to keep my blogging moving along at a nice pace now. I love Spring! :)

Spring Flowers

The fragrance and beauty of Spring!

Roses,phlox, strawberries, blueberries, narcissus, pink and purple verbena, pinks, violets, irises, fringe flower, carolina jessamine

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - March 15

Here goes... a few blooms to share.

Random Pictures

Here is what's going on in my yard:



..a jumping spider hiding in a gladiola



..my rock rose that I got from this spring's plant swap is blooming



..one of four of my new castor bean plants given to me this spring. This one is a red variety



..a new variety of morning glories that I started this year. I love the color!



..one of TWO lemons on my newly planted lemon tree



..a gulf fritillary butterfly caterpillar on one of my many passion vine plants. This is their host plant. I've had quite a few of the beautiful bright orange butterflies fluttering through my back yard.