Back Flowerbed, Mid-August

 

This, friends, is the face of neglect.

This poor flowerbed needs some attention and has not gotten it for several weeks.

 

I've watered it...occasionally.

It has been hot and smoky and can I whine a little more?

 

This post can serve as my checklist for what needs to happen out there.

 

Still haven't cut off the dead rose branches.

Also some serious weeding needs doing.

More weeding.

Cutting back those dead poppies would also help.

Despite everything, look at this!

My Abraham Darby rose is in bloom again, as are the penstemon and yarrow.

 

In another week or two the sedums will be blooming, which will help spark this area more, as well.

 

Perhaps this week I'll make it out there for a fall tidying-up session.

Then I can post some "after" photos. :)

May Bloom Day: Geums and snowballs

Welcome, Bloom Day friends!

I don't know about you, but my list of spring chores just keeps growing, while my time to do them stays about the same.

 

I love the month of May!

Everything is so green and beautiful flowers are bursting open every day.

 

Here's a peek at my garden:

 

Back flowerbed:

 

My geum 'Totally Tangerine' really sparkles this month.

In fact, it pretty much carries the bed between tulip die-off and rose bloom.

Every year I think I need to fit a few more in back there.

 

Do you see what I see?

Huge fuzzy poppy buds! I'm so excited!

I watched a little girl the other day who, unbeknownst to me, picked some off. No doubt she was also delighted with their fuzziness. I was very sad when I found the buds on the deck later.

I have not yet reached poppy abundance, where the loss of a few buds doesn't matter, but I hope to get there someday!

Dwarf iris 'Bubbles' just starting to bloom, with hardy geranium in front.

Back flowerbed, long view looking toward deck.

The lilies in the foreground were a Mother's Day gift.

I can't remember the name offhand.

I'll have to check the tag and get back to you.

This iris is not supposed to be in the back flowerbed.

They all got moved up front, except this one.

I have no memory of deciding to leave it or plant it here.

Ah well. Now that it's blooming I guess it can stay for a few more weeks, at least.

Fruits and Veggies:

 



Strawberry blossoms.

June is coming!!

 

 

(above and below)

Tulips on the back slope.

They're all bent over following a rainstorm we had.

 

 Front flowerbeds:

 

Sem False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) with columbine.

The colors echo so nicely, it almost looks planned!

Front tulips, lamb's ears, and candytuft in the background.

These flowerbeds face north, so the bulbs here are about 2 weeks later than in back.

I like it--I get to enjoy the tulips longer this way.

Snowballs in spring.

This shrub is quickly becoming a favorite.

I'm impressed with how heavily it blooms here in its second spring.

 

A few mini daffodils.

I'm not sure which variety this is, but it is the latest to bloom of all my daffodils, by at least 10 days.

Wide view of front beds.

Okay, I had to include this shot, because you can see the iris buds better.

So close to blooming!

Any day now...

Front bed, next to the house:

My dicentra is still going strong.

It's right next to the front porch, so I get to check in on it several times a day.

 

Lovely little heuchera ('Sweet Tart', I think), with oakleaf hydrangea, astilbe, and euonymous foliage in the background.

 

I didn't include the shade bed this time, but I may get out there to take pictures for a separate post.

I have a volunteer forget-me-not blooming right now, which is just delightful!

 

To see what else is blooming around the world right now, click over to

May Dreams Gardens.

 

Thanks for visiting! See you again soon! 

Roses, Daisies & Salvia: GBBD June 2014

Better late than never, right? 

 

The bad news is: the irises are already done.

 The good news is: I've got all kinds of other stuff blooming right now.

 

Let's get to it, shall we?

 

In the back, shade bed:

 I still have some columbine going strong.

There are some violas and pansies back here, as well.

 

On the shady side of slope, the hardy geraniums are battling valiantly against the grass.

 

Slope, sunny side: we've got wild daisies and wild lupines

I just love that combination!

Back flowerbed: 

'Yellow Topaz' rose

You can't cut this one to bring in, as the petals fall off at the slightest bump, but it's a star right now in the June garden.

mockorange starting to open up

 

Between the Topaz rose and the mockorange, this section of the backyard smells heavenly.

 

My poppy bloomed! I was so excited, as I just put it in last year.

I love that color, too.

 

Heading to the front:

Dutch iris

 

 The salvia really bring some great color to this bed.

And of course, that dianthus won't be ignored, either.

 



 I was tickled to see so many blooms on this peony this year.

This is its 3rd summer and the first time it has really bloomed.

More salvia, with lamb's ear going for broke, and a few small petunias.



Believe it or not, these daises are wild.

They just happen to grow right here at the end of the flowerbed proper, and they're doing so well I decided to leave them.

The daises in the background along the side of the house: also wild.

Some people pull them out as weeds.

I don't mind them a bit.

 

I can hardly believe how huge this salvia has gotten.

I like the contrast with the foliage of the Sem False Spirea right next to it.

 

 

Speaking of spirea, this little shrub is blooming again.

Last but not least, the 'Watercolors' rose that I moved up front.

 

Take a look at other gardens, too:

http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/

 

Happy Bloom Day, friends!

 

Flowerbed Tour: Back

June 4:

 

Overview from gate side to deck.

Penstemon and the poppy show up.

Overall overview.

Again, a few splashes of color, and the rose is blooming.

I think I need to add something that will make more of a bold statement back here.

Anything pastel at all fades into that blue.

Also, a climbing rose or something similar on the left end would balance it out a bit more.

This rose bush is simply lovely in bloom.

Shape is a little odd, but I can continue to work on pruning as we go.

Check out these penstemon!

They're going for broke!

One perfect poppy.

 * Love ! *

(Those are the geums in the background.)

 

 

 

Flowerbed Tour: Back

May 5:

 

Those tulips are so beautiful.

{sigh}

 

Overview from the deck-side.

...and from the gate towards the deck, complete with dead rose bush on the left.

 

Mockorange, surrounded by tulips.

 

May 23:

 

Overview

End of May is a lag time for this bed, without the big purple irises.

Tulips are done, mockorange and rose have yet to bloom.

I may have to do something about that.

 

'Yellow Topaz' rose.

Lots of buds--it should be gorgeous in another week or so.

Plus, see that one random iris in front?

I swear I did not plant that there.

It will have to be moved. 

 

Geum 'Totally Tangerine' is picking up the slack down on the far end of the bed.

Plus, poppy buds! (right side)

This dwarf pink iris 'Bubbles' has been a welcome addition.

 

The lipstick pink penstemon is going crazy this year!

I have 2 varieties planted, and they are both covered in blossoms.

 

Overview from the gate-side down.

Full, just not much blooming at the moment.