Monday, July 18, 2011

more blooms

I haven't had time to blog much but I have been taking photos...



from the front garden I have purple cone flower, purple ballon flower and liatris


in a very small and controlled area I have goose neck loosestrife, I've learned these little gals cannot be trusted to stay put!  Although I love them besure to keep them under control. 



This is Nikko blue hydrangea.  I rarely feed her and so I get pink blooms...I'm okay with that.  I've found this plant to be extremely picky.  It doesn't like the sun, it will wilt.  But it has to have some sun or it won't bloom.  It blooms on old growth so be sure to protect it, and it only blooms blue if you feed it acid.  Way too many  "I wants" for me!!  I've not enough time for a "Diva"  so I get a often wilted, sometimes blooming, pink hydrangea.  Which is fine, but my next one will be an Oak Leaf. 

although the blog flipped this picture it's still pretty!  This is Stargazer.  I love these lilies, although shaded in my garden I fear what the heat will do so I cut them and brought them in.  A beautiful addition to my desk!


I've been trying so hard to get a good picture of the "outback garden"  Doesn't seem to matter what time of day I shoot, it's just not what I want it to be.  The colors are so bright and strong but not in the photos.  I'll keep tryin...til then good night and please leave a comment.  I don't want the hubby to think I'm just talking to myself...

It's on!!

OMG, these Japanese Beetles are killing me!  This morning I took this shot of this clematis blooming.  It's been growing so well even in this heat and I've been so looking forward to it!  (this was one you gave me Connie)  This evening I made my usual rounds and I couldn't believe it!!  There were at least 6 beetles!!  Please stop it!  I've been pulling them by hand and squashing them (gross but effective)  but I give up!  Everywhere I look they are eating!  I decided to get the sevin out.  I know, I try to keep it all natural too but this is nuts!!  Here's a look this morning




If you click on the picture you will see my despair!!
Anyway, let me share with you some good images...



George's garden is still very pretty in sprite of the pests!


the liatris, daylilies and Becky daisy are still blooming strong, I'm really surprised how well everything is doing in this heat.  I've been trying hard to keep up on the watering.  By this time I've usually given up and gone to the lake.   



the white ballons flowers are blooming


as well as the phlox. I love this purple with the yellow daylily


This Tiger Lily is new to me this year.  My Mom's had died (or so she thought) so when a friend offered I took some.  More than enough for Mom and I!  I really had planned on giving them away but when time came to put them in or toss, I couldn't do it.  Now I've decided  I really like them!!  My Mom always had them in her yard, back by the swing set where us kids would spend many a hot summer's evening.  Those are good memories!  My brother and I could sing up a storm!  "Yellow bird, up high in banana tree...." 
 Good times!  Hope you have a great one,  I'll catch you later! 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Happy GBBD in July!!

The heat is on here in the midlands!!  It's been hot and getting hotter but I've still enjoyed many blooms. Some sadly, didn't last very long.  Many of the daylilies are still going strong.  Wish I had more names to offer but haven't gotten my research done.  They're still beauties anyway!!  I'll start with the daylilies:












more maroon w/ yellow center

bright red!!



The garden is really full of blooms but time is limited today.  I 'll share more later!  Enjoy your "Bloom Day" and hop over to Carol's May Dream Garden to continue your hop!!   


purple cone flower (the June bugs are really a pest this year)



My "birthday" Asiatic Lily, which is blooming late this year. 
I did divide last fall, I'm assuming that slowed it down.  








Monday, June 27, 2011

more June blooms

June has been a rather strange month....It started out like August, hot hot hot, and now it seems like May with lots of cool weather and tons of rain, 3 inches in the past 2 days.  But I can't complain too loudly, the lilies don't seem to mind.  Here are some current pics.  Remember to double click on the pictures to enlarge them. 



Jackmanii Clematis with Karl Forester grass.  I was very worried about "Jack."  Last year, about this time, a storm took down his arbor.  Wasn't sure how he'd handle the transition.  But he's full and happy on his new home. 


The Eyeliner Asiatic Lily.  This Lily is new to my garden this year, another purchase at a friend's (Sherry) plant sale this year.  It's a beauty.  Large flowers on tall strong stems with a number of blooms per stem.




This close up shows off the very thin "eyeliner" outline around each petal.  Below are a few other asiatic lilies.  Unfortunately I don't have the names of these varieties. 


A very Bright red, thanks Lori!  This was added last summer.  It wintered very well and sent up many additional babies.



I call this one "baby girl pink"  Heck, I gotta call her something!  Many of these
       have been in the garden before I started keeping track of names. 



I believe this is an oriental lily,  the fragance is strong and wonderful!

This is probably the very first lily I started with.  It's "Connecticut King" another Asiatic lily.  Although the voles tried to destroy my collection several years ago I still have quite a few.  They are very hardy and multiply nicely.  (no thanks to the voles!)




The Daylillies are also blooming


Here's another newbee.  "Red spider"  This bloom is eight inches across! 



Last but not least it's a "Becky"  Daisy.  She's not very tall yet this year.  Another new addition.  Take time to enjoy the flowers....I have to go mow!





Hope it logs successfully this time...



Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (GBBD) June 2011

My first Bloom Day Blog!!  Glad to be here with fellow gardeners!  Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this fun monthly event!  Here's a glimpse of whats happening in my garden today...


My Iris are just finishing up.  This one is known to me only as "Blue and White"  a gift from Sherry.

coreopsis
not sure which this is but it reseeds easily and everywhere!  



Tropicana Canna with bandana lantana, a sun impatient, and varigated swedish ivy.  there's also a blackie sweet potato vine and asparagus fern in the back . 


more beautiful Lollipop lilies.  My only lily to be blooming right now.

Lollipops with the unknown clematis behind it.  The tag said Mrs. Bateman but it is not.

another gifted unnamed iris.  I'll just call her Purdy!

My garden seems stuck between spring and summer.  I hope to have more for you soon!  Thanks for stopping!!  Visit Carol at http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/ for more garden sites!!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

comments field

I've been playing with this and I hope I have figured it out!  I'd really love to have your feedback so please leave a comment!!  If you don't have a blog pls login as "anonymous" and leave your name and comment!!  I think I got it!  Just ask google...he knows! 

testing 123...

Hoping to understand and figure out how to post pictures that are in "portrait" rather than "landscape" mode.  All posts so far the blog has changed to landscape.  This is only a test.....Yay! it worked!!  I just saved it in my pictures as another name and the computer didn't "landscape" it!!  Woo hoo, I learned something!  Now if I can just figure out the comments....by the way, this is Orange Marmalade.  I love this hosta, she's so pretty.  And the concrete rabbit...well, that's the only rabbit allowed in my garden!!  Later!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Hooray! The lilys are here!

June is here, the lily show has begun!  My first is always "Lollipop" (makes me want to sing) She is so pretty and has been so good to me!  She has multiplied many times over the four (clearance) bulbs I started with.  A definite keeper! 


My Clematis are finishing up.  Our excessive hundred degree heat cut their life span short, although they did better than I thought they would.  Poor things!  This one I don't know the name of.  A gift from from my hairdresser (thanks Connie!)  Perhaps you can help me?




This is a mini, the flowers are only about 3 inches across.  another gift from Connie.  I don't know the name...do you?

this is "multi blue"  It does rebloom off and on through the season but not as full as the spring.



this is "George's Garden" named after the sweetest fella ever!  He owned the home next door and allowed me to remove all the grass between our homes and "do what you want, Candy!"  Oh my, everyone should respond to my requests that way (LOL)!  Most of my lilies are on this east side of my house.  It's gets some morning and some afternoon sun, but nothing extreme, just like the lilies want!  (look closely and you'll see lollipop!)

the new bed I started out back (on the left) last fall has exploded this spring!  I'll probably have to divide again this fall!


this is the view of my garden from my kitchen window ( I finally figured out how to take off the darn screen)  This is basically the view I also have from my office window.  My customers wonder why I'm so happy in the morning!  I do have the street out back but it's quiet during the day and I have enough going on to distract me from watching the cars go by. 

I had so much fun snooping in other people's gardens this winter through these blogs.  Had to try my own!  Actually my Scrapbook gal got me started, (Shari) I would visit her blog and then take off from there.  Too much fun, and free!  What else can you do in our long cold winters? 

I can't wait to snoop in your garden!!  Leave me your comments and blog address!