Summer Surprises

Summer has been a continuation of the drought that has been hovering here for some time. Record heat has us in it's grip. Since there isn't a thing I can do about this I have decided to try to take the high road and tell you about all the fun surprises I have found in the garden thus far. I will try not to complain, much. After all we haven't had fire or flood to deal with. It could be worse right??

During a drought you certainly learn to appreciate succulents that you might be growing. Of course Hens and chicks are common but when they put on a show of blooms you forget all about that.

 One of my favorite succulents this year are the Echiveraias that have inhabited this pot for the past 18 months or so. They are the first plant that I have had luck growing in one of these pots. I have tried several different strawberry pots and different plants all without success until this combination. The Echiveraias are growing and I think a couple of them are even going to bloom for me.

Another nice combination is this hollyhock and clematis that are blooming together. I am sorry that I can't take credit for anything other than planting the clematis. The hollyhock chose this spot to grow and the clematis is taking fair advantage of a taller structure to climb.

 This hollyhock is TALL. Here is a picture of me standing by it. I am 5'6" tall and the hollyhock towers over me. And yes, that clematis is that blue even though it normally isn't. It's deep blue must be another affect of the drought.

I admit that I bought some Oriental Lily bulbs from a big box store. I have said before that I wasn't going to do that anymore due to the disappointment they often are. When I opened the package I told myself...here we go again. Such little ole bulbs didn't look promising.

I am glad I went ahead and planted them. They have all emerged and just take a look at this beauty.

I know I am not the only one that likes them either. 

The blackberries are fighting valiantly trying to produce enough berries for our new supply of  jelly. Unfortunately after I picked a nice bowl of berries they seemed to think that was quite enough.

Instead of having enough for a mess of jelly I just have enough for a generous topping on my cereal or better yet on ice cream. Aaaa, you will have to excuse me I think the ice cream man is calling. 

Do you have any surprises in your garden this summer?

Christopher Mello's garden was a treat. While hearing (reading) his last name you might think his garden would be a mello place. Don't even think it. You would be wrong to think this as there is anything mello or yellow about his garden except the dump trucks. Yes, I said dump trucks. Christopher has a collection of yellow Tonka dump trucks displayed in their own compound surrounded by Shovel Henge, which is what he calls his collection of shovel heads erected on various heights of rebar.

His garden I a lot more artsy than mine but we share an aesthetic sense for circles. His Stone Henge is a circular surround for the area of dump trucks and people gathering. The concentric way  he mows the surrounding lawn has  rings of taller vedure as you can see in the photo above.

The outer border of the garden has a path through that takes you past some of his amazing creations and collections. 

Of course you knew I would love the bird cage assembly.

His love of red foliage was what really brought my mind to my own garden because I could certainly understand that desire to collect plants with red foliage.We have several of the same plants. One he had I have never seen or heard of, a red Mimosa tree. Maybe it is a Southern  plant. What ever it is I am considering getting one for our garden. I can just see those big pink blooms on top of that red foliage.

Of course he has his own Blue Pearl Poppy. The bees agree that they are the best.

I want to thank Christopher for inviting our huge group of Garden Bloggers into his garden. It is filled with inspiring art and plants. To read more about it you can go here.

Wamboldtopia

The first garden of the Garden Blogger's Fling tour was exciting. I knew when I walked up to the entrance of this garden that it was going to be something special. The creators, artist Damaris Pierce and Rock Pirate Ricki Pierce, of this garden are sensationally present in all the details.

The details are unique. You can see their hand everywhere. 

There are houses for Elves,

water side accomodations for fairies.

It was such an inviting space. Even the fish were welcoming.

The paths drew you up

and through the garden.  

                                                There were spaces for quiet contemplation,

and gathering in groups.

If you have a chain link fence they can teach you how to make it disappear.

Then there are the details... 

within the details. 

I haven't mentioned the plantings in the garden. Obviously I was taken by the stone work and art work in the garden. There was a palette of plantings to ensure that any plant geek would be thrilled to stroll through this fascinating place.

If you are ever in Asheville you would want to call them for an appointment to see 

this haven of horticulture and creative energy.

I want to thank Damarius and Ricki Pierce for allowing our group to wander through their garden on the side of the mountain in Asheville TN.

Namaste

For more about Wamboldtopia  and all the other gardens toured at the Garden Bloggers Fling in

Asheville you can go here.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - May 2012

This spring the irises have been just spectacular. I don't know why becasue we aren't having much rain. It must be that they like this kind of weather. I always thought they liked more water. A spirea and a double mock orange is also blooming in this photo.

The Hydrangeas appear to be responding to the mild winter we had. If they aren't blooming now they sure are setting buds for a big show. Jackmanii, Climbing Hydrangea and Oak Leaf Hydrangea blooming in the photo below.

Speaking of big shows. The annual Mock Orange stravaganza is in full tilt. The fragrance and bright beautiful blooms show off for everyone. 

This is a honeysuckle that I am making into a standard. It needs a haircut but I will wait until it stops blooming. All the honeysuckle in the garden are blooming now. It is good for the hummingbirds. 

The white climbing rose I got for my birthday last year is blooming up a storm. One of these days it will climb up over this arch where the red one will meet up with it.  

Speaking of meeting up. I am headed to the Asheville Garden Bloggers Spring Fling. I hope to see everyone that pops in here from time to time. If you can't make it to the Fling you can always go to Carol's Maydreams Garden blog and tour all the blooming gardens reported there.

Nature's Miracles

We went to our favorite park for a walk and we were treated to a gigantic rainbow. This rainbow brought the promise of some much needed rain.

Along with the rainbow came thunder which Luna doesn't like. Her tail went down and she gave us strict instructions to head for the truck. 

It didn't rain enough to dampen the day. We sat out on the patio for some time. The mock orange is in full bloom and it's sweet scent seems so soothing. It makes you feel cooler. I just wish it would bloom all summer. 

When the sun comes around to the patio I head for the Casa. For when the sun comes out so do the bugs. It seems like it is going to be a buggy year.  The mild winter and warm spring is inviting to the bugs of the world. Luckily we have had only a few days of those horrid bity bugs that plagued us last year after the flood.

Speaking of bugs. As we were trimming the shrubs out front this winter I found several Praying Mantis egg cases.  I stuck them into the window box outside my window.  I was hoping to watch them open as I had never seen this happen.

Sure enough, the other day I looked out and thought that a bunch of cotton wood tree fuzz was captured on one end of the sticks in the window box. Not many cotton woods close to my home.  Then I looked a little closer. 

The little buggers were hatching out. There must have been thousands of them. 

It was amazing to watch these little beasts emerging from their capsule. It didn't take them long to shimmy up a stem to observe their new world. I tried to turn a stem so my DB could take better pictures but they would just fall to the ground in self defense.

It was amazing to watch these tiny, perhaps half inch long, bugs starting life. They were stalking one another just a few minutes out of the case. Ain't nature grand?

I hope you all are able to get out into the garden and surrounds to enjoy some of nature's miracles.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - April 2012

Once you see what all I have pictured you will be amazed by all the blooms that  my zone 6 garden is sporting mid April this year. I have looked back through my records and almost everything is way ahead of normal spring blooms times.

The Clematis are especially beautiful this spring. Ramona (above) is blooming with the Pink Phlox.

In the picture below the white Clematis (Miss Bateman Donohues) on the back arbor is leaping this, it's third, year.

The Lavender Clematis with pink veins (Fireworks) on the other side of the arbor isn't growing so tall but it is blooming up a storm. The colors of this one doesn't quite come through in this photo.

The bearded Iris are firing up in the garden. Below is an old pale yellow variety that I have threatened to dig out every year but I can't seem to bring mysef to do it. When it is blooming with the honeysuckle, wild columbine and waterplants it fits right in.

I don't know the names of my Irises. They have come to the garden as pass along plants or I have had them so long the names escape me.

The pagoda dogwood is blooming now. The red dogwood out front has finished it's cycle of bloom.

Most of the shrubs are finishing their early spring blooming. An exception is the buckeye shrub (below).

And the Pyracantha is FULL of blooms this year. Last year for some reason it didn't have hardly any blooms therefore not many berries. We won't have to worry about that this year.

Today it is windy and warm once again. We got a good 3/4" of rain yesterday so all is right with our world and may more rain follow.

I hope the pollinators are out and about in your garden. If you have blooms to share this 15th day of April please post and then go to Carol's blog and add yourself to linky to share with the world your blooms. Here you will also find gardens from all over the world posting their blooms. You can revisit fall and  or see what is blooming in gardens all over the world. Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

My list of all flowers blooming:

Golden Alexander

PPP Phlox

Creeping Phlox

Columbine (native and white)

Water plant

Honeysuckle

Iris

Red Climbing Rose

Clematis : Miss Bateman, Fireworks, Jackmanni,

Varigated Soloman's Seal

Lily of the Valley - White and Pink

Brunnera 'Jack Frost"

Dicentra (yellow)

Ajuga: Chocolate Chips

Deadnettle

Spiderwort 'Sweet Kate'

Bluebells

Mayapple

Blackberries

Pagoda Dogwood

Snowball Viburnum

Doublefile Viburnum

Pyracantha

Wedding bouquet Spirea

Kerria (both)

Wigelia (red and Pink)

Broom

High Bush Cranberry

Ninebark