Gotta Garden
Showing posts with label Ground Covers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ground Covers. Show all posts

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Lettuce and Other Stuff

So, I'm out and about running errands and I see lettuce starts. Of course, I have lettuce seeds at home, but...I confess, I'm interested. The price of a nine pack is less that a package of triple washed lettuce at the grocery. And, I see a Red Sails pack that is ready for picking now...hmmmm (that's what thinking sounds like)...

It just so happens that I actually (a first) have a place I can plant some lettuce. I should back up and say that my yard is hard orange clay. Not exactly soil (soil? How kind of me.) that one can just drop things in. It has taken me years (emphasis required) of work and countless bags of amendments, but there actually are spots now where one can...plant...without backbreaking labor. Amazing. Usually, I would scout out a spot and drag bags around. I either pocket plant or build up. Lately, there's more of the building up as my digging days are behind me (I hope).

I have very little blank space (ask the dogs). It occurs to me that those spots I am saving for tomatoes could host lettuce. Then, when it's too hot for lettuce (Mayish, I'm thinking), out they go, add some more amendments and in go the tomatoes! Sounds like a plan, right? I'm game.




In fact, I'm so motivated that I actually also planted some peas. How many years have I thought about that (but not done it)?? Well, we'll see how they do....their trellises are not exactly the best and who knows if the weather will cooperate, but, hey, sometimes you experiment.

Best of all, I had a little salad...almost home grown (very tasty)...so, no matter what happens, I got my money's worth.



*****

As the early blooms begin to pick up steam, it's hard to keep up...but I try...so, here's a few more things:


I thought this crocus was a bit unusual. Most of mine have stripes (that have stripes, of course) on nearly all the petals...like these:


The Roman Hyacinth (one bulb) has apparently increased! Multiple stems this year! And, with our mild winter, I didn't get the usual frozen one first.


Saucer Magnolia right on schedule (for it)...early...this means a freeze could be in our future (let's hope not):


Look closely and you'll see a bird's nest:


The first of the tulips surrounded by larkspur seedlings:


An early daffodil, an unknown, though I think if I could find a daffodil hunter, it might be identified with that distinctive orange ring:


What's interesting with daffodils is that one day you might have one open....then by late afternoon or surely by the next morning, the whole group bursts into bloom...and they last for a number of days.


Another variety of iris reticulata...this was a little mix...will the yellows make an appearance...who knows.


The very first flowers on one variety of creeping phlox. There's a Korean Spice Viburnum above this one and I noticed the buds swelling on it...won't be long!


And, lastly, Glory of the Snow, thankfully, no snow...

Well, that's all I have time for now....it's a bright and sunny day...I think it's calling me.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Lewis Ginter in May

As promised in the Pamela Harper post, let's take a little stroll at Lewis Ginter. I didn't arrive quite as early as I hoped/planned, so we have to hurry a bit. Going out the doors into the garden, the first thing you see are these planters:


Along the main walkway, new plantings have just been installed. I always enjoy seeing what's going on along here as it changes seasonally.



It's always lovely along the way to the Japanese Tea House. Note the sign in the bottom left corner. I'm going to show you a close up as it was quite informative.




The peonies were in bloom.


Here's Amsonia, a plant that always seem to attract ardent admirers.


It occurred to me that I had never been here when the roses were in their prime.


Aren't they something! What I've missed!





Guess what I see! Do you see it? Hint: a favorite clematis...


Now you see it, right! Clematis Armandii...


Surrounding the rose garden is this cottage garden border:


I must locate these for my garden! Every time I come, I take pictures of Sedum 'Sea Stars'...I just find them adorable!


I took this to show you how beautiful the lake is and to tell you it will be stunning shortly when the Japanese Iris are in bloom.


I had just barely snapped this picture when a great flutter went up near me...I'm guessing ten or fifteen feet away...and then flying over my head was this:


I'll try for a bit closer:


Of course, having said the Japanese Iris weren't in bloom, look what I found:


Another place I like to check is here...this Japanese Maple is 'Waterfall' and I watch it see what mine will be when it grows up!


Sorry about the glare on this picture...but it is beautiful...


There were still some rhododendrons in bloom...I liked this one, 'Gekko'...


Yikes! Look at the time! I'll have to hurry to get back in time for the lecture....I had meant to go to the shade gardens and look at ferns...but there's no time....time seems to go so quickly here...as I rush by, I can't resist the Kousa Dogwood:


One last quick view and then I have to get inside. This is the Healing Garden...


That's all for now...you know I'll be back again...

Friday, May 11, 2007

Photos and More Photos

One of my favorite shrubs in spring:

Variegated Weigela even without the flowers has stunning foliage. It's one of those old fashioned plants and will take a lot. I suppose I should prune mine, it's gotten quite large, but I don't know...I rather like it dripping with blooms.

Here they are closer, you get pink and white together...



Needing no introduction, the first of the peonies:


I'm not really fond of the single ones and didn't realize I had any (I apparently have two...exactly the same!)...I'm going to blame it on mislabeling and/or my penchant for buying a mix (not so big on that any longer with space at a premium). Never mind, the doubles will be starting any day...and I will bring some of those inside!

Remember my white trillium(s) I was so proud of...Look what it/they did:


According to this site, these trillium(s)s do this after they have been pollinated. To my surprise, that which I thought gone...is here...and blooming:


Look above the fern (Ghost, if you're wondering), under the clematis (Polish Spirit) and mixed in with the bee balm (Raspberry Wine)...and there it is! I surely thought something had got it...so I'm very happy. The last/other trillium is not blooming but I found it hidden in the monkshood foliage...all present and accounted for. Next year, assuming I get them planted, I hope to have some other varieties. This white trillium (probably Great White) is much larger and taller than the now pink one:


The last daffodil blooming (still are a few buds to open as well):


Albus plenus odoratus...(it was blowing around, sorry for the odd picture)....for those not tired of daffodils (not me!), I will get to my review and will have pictures of some I haven't shown (just ran out of time)...with over 100 varieties (and still adding), I can go on for quite a while with them!

This will give you some idea of how large my sweet shrub aka Carolina Allspice is and why it is so deliciously fragrant (many buds!):



For those of you wondering, here are a few things residing together (I do cram)...how many can you find??


While mine is just a baby, it has started blooming...in full bloom, these trees, Fringe Trees, are stunning and fragrant:


I'll have to look as I believe I had pictures of larger trees from Maymont and Mount Vernon.

The first of the thymes to bloom...English Thyme:


Woodland phlox and Spanish bluebells:



A lone allium...when I moved things around, I apparently moved this one...good thing as I must have tossed most of the others with the bathwater:


Another Dianthus makes an appearance:



Anthemis just getting going also:


A new creeping phlox now residing under the Mohawk viburnum...aren't those variegated leaves adorable!



Speaking of variegated, how about these columbines (they're starting to seed around...which is fine with me):



And this one (sigh) growing in the weeds under...of course...the silver maple:




A cause for celebration...look closely, scapes on a daylily (Royal Eventide...usually my first)...I do have scapes on a couple of new arrivals, but I don't count those as they aren't home grown.


A cause for dismay...spiderwort! How did that find itself here??


Heucherella Sunspot....but what I really like here...look closely...poppy seedlings all around!


That'll have to do it for now...more, as always, to come. I'll just do a separate post of iris, clematis, ground covers...whatever! Still a few visits, too...Mount Vernon and Hahn Horticulture Garden...plus, I dug out a couple daylilies (REALLY need to do more of that...lol) and I'll show you how that went....I figured if I wrote/listed these...I might actually remember to do them!
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