Year Two ...

This is the second year of the first garden I started from scratch. I am pleased with how it's looking and filling out. The building was originally a chicken coop that was converted to a potting shed. First we fixed the building, then....time for a garden! There was a large rose bush where the pump is now that we just moved. I think I will mulch an oval area around the pump as I know we won't weed whack around it!







The right side will fill in more as the summer progresses. I tried marine bells last year and loved how they mounded so I planted them at the front edge of both sides again. The sun drops are huge this year and I love Apple's foxglove behind them. The fever few in the back by the windows should bloom soon. I have little white markers where I planted dahlia bulbs. They should look nice with the marine bells infront.





The left side has really filled out. I did lose one of my three delphiniums so there is a small replacement out front. Last year the pink daisies didn't bloom but they are putting on quite a show this year! I have no idea what the tall white flower to the left of the pink daisies are. It was a plant swap flower that was not marked. I have asked my gardening friends but no one is familiar with it. If none of you know, I will have to break out the gardening books to figure it out! The window boxes have water wells in the bottom which saves me some watering.



A few close ups....

Winding Down

It's our busy time at work and it seems as though I have been there more than at home the last few weeks. It really hit me yesterday when Ron was all excited that I made a ham for dinner...."a real meal." A ham dinner isn't all that hard but no one tell him that, I got great pointage! LOL

It made me think, I haven't taken time to "stop and smell the roses" lately. Well my roses are pretty much done and my garden is definitely winding down. I have even cut a few things back already because they were looking scraggly. I have all kinds of things to move and plant. I intended to play in the dirt a bit yesterday but I didn't make it outside. Today I took a little walk to survey things and decide where I might plant some of my new treasures. I was surprised to find so many blooms. The delphinium I purchased this spring is in it's third bloom! What a deal! Well only one of the three decided to bloom a third time but I'm not complaining! Do you see that little pink guy in the background?

Here's a close up of it. I can't decide if it's a flower or a weed. The greenery on it reminds me of a weed but I rather like it. I am always getting pass-a-longs where I don't know the name and things are always getting moved so I could have put it there.....Anyone know what it is? I just may keep it, weed or not but if it is a weed, I want to know to keep my eye on it!

This is the first year I tried Marine Bells. I had actually never seen them before and bought them just because they were blue. Liz loves blue and always asks why none of my flowers are blue. I added the blue delphiniums and the blue marine bells to the new garden by the green house. The Marine Bells get two thumbs up from me. They are in full sun and it's been a dry summer. They mounded nicely and are still going strong! I have a list of things to research this winter and one is to find out if there are any other annuals in this family that might perform as well. One of the speakers at the symposium last weekend mentioned them too. I was so excited to know about and have one of the plants they talked about! My trumpet flowers are there in the background. They just keep blooming as well.

Hollyhocks are one of my favorites. There were some here when we bought the place but they were all white or pale pink and I wanted a bit of color. I tried scattering seeds but with no luck. Apple convinced me to try seeds inside this year and I actually got them to grow! Baby steps.... I have a lot of color now, the seed packet said "perennial" so I will be curious to see if they really come back next year. I always thought they were all biennials. Today was the first time I noticed the center of the flower has a star pattern (you may have to click on the picture to see it.) Isn't the detail in blooms amazing?

Here is one of the white ones that came with the place, I like how the shape of the flower is a bit different. I wonder how many years they have been coming back? I think it's pretty cool to think someone that lived here 50 years ago or more may have planted them. Maybe some of my blooms will give pleasure to someone long after I'm gone (to a bigger house that is....lol)

Here is my mystery bloom (OK my second one) that I am hoping someone can identify for me. A friend gave me bulbs and said she had know idea what they were but they were pretty. They have been blooming a few weeks and are still going. They are about three and half feet tall and drop down. Very pretty. I had no idea what to expect other than white. It's fun to have surprises in the garden!


This may be my last nice rose bloom as my garden winds down for the winter. I hope you all find time to smell the roses this week.

July Bloom Report

I was just thinking that I need to sit down this winter and find flowers that bloom in July since there isn't a lot of color in some of my gardens right now. However, I do have some great blooms. Both these lily's were gifts from the prior owners. The first one is my favorite.




This is one of two dwarf hydrangeas I bought last year. This is the first time they have bloomed.


This is actually a bush. I had to look up the name on my planning sheet....it's called Katherine Dykes.

I'm blanking on what these are called and I loaned my tell all flower book to a friend. I got them at a plant swap at the Garden Club and they spread like crazy! I like them though, they are different.

One of the hollyhocks. Last year they were all white and pale yellow. I am thrilled to see pinks this year. They look great by the barn.

The fever few in the back aways does great anywhere and is a nice filler. The yellow flowers are sun drops. The reason I took this shot is to show the marine bells (the blue flowers in front.) This is the first time I have had this annual and they have done great. They mounded nicely and I have them in full sun. It's been dry here and I haven't been watering them. They are one of my must haves now.
I love this little pink flower. The name when I bought it was "party girl." I wonder who gets to name the plants? Anyway, I love her. I wish she would spread but I get one plant every year.

The white hydrangea is huge this year. I love bringing the blooms inside. I keep saying I am going to dry some this year but I better get going on that one!

The patch of bee balm took off this year! It makes a great splash of color where everything else is green right now.