Perhaps it is because there is only one dog tromping through the gardens. Or, we’ve had the right amount of rain. Or the Garden Lady is working her magic. But I don’t think the gardens have ever been this lush. I did buy seven big clumps of day lilies last summer, all without name tags, and they are thriving. And, I filled in some blank spots with annuals, but I always do that. I could also say that I have spent more time at home because of Covid, but I’m retired. I have a lot of free time these days. But it could also be that my garden guy, Richard, has worked his magic. We make a good team. I’m bossy and he takes direction well.
Thank you to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day each month. This is what is blooming in my gardens today.
The Francis Williams hostas are blooming. The rest of the color in this bed in the front is Caladium. It seems to like this spot under the magnolia. The White Dome hydrangea hedge is doing well, too.Here’s another view that shows off the Caladium better.The catmint needs a hair cut. The hanging bag near the door got badly burned during our first big heat wave and I’ve been nursing it along. The little entrance garden is doing ok. I have no idea what the purple and white pots are. They were on sale and didn’t have a tag. I planted the rest of the pots using Paul Zammit’s advice to pack those pots way past what you think is enough. Paul is the Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. He should know.This is one of the new day lilies, obviously testing the boundaries. Notice the bloom at the top? It’s polytepas. What does that mean? It has more petals and sepals than it’s supposed to have.This little bed got thoroughly trashed last year when the new fence went in. It’s still struggling to find its identity. But, hey, that potted arrangement looks fabulous, dahling.Notice the flat of marigolds? I bought those a few days ago because you can never have too many marigolds. I think this bed in the lower garden will get some day lily transplants. I’d use the standard poodle as garden art but, dammit, she keeps moving. It’s hard to find good garden art these days.This is the “lewd” hosta bed in the lower garden. “Lewd?” Striptease, Hanky Panky, Stiletto, Obscene Gesture, Naked Lady, Climax, Seducer, etc. See how much fun hostas can be?! And, Praying Hands, a really interesting hosta, sits in the middle. Hope springs eternal.The State Fair zinnias are just starting to bloom insuring that there will be lots of bouquets. That is Zagreb Coreopsis in the foreground.The hansa roses need a hair cut, but the red carpet rose and the Red Knockout are bloomin’ their little hearts out. I need to move the tomato plants because I don’t think they are getting enough sun. I’d say the Annabelle Hydrangea is doing well. Egads.And here are some of the day lilies. The pale yellow ones are First Knight. The dark pink ones are Strutters’ Ball, and the peachy ones are Kathy Perkins and Saloam Double Classic. Across the path is, maybe, Druid’s Chant, but I suspect it’s something else. In the midst of moving plants last fall, some plant tags were kidnapped by aliens. Or a poodle or two. The bright red is Crocosmia.This enthusiastic show of colors and textures includes shasta daisies, more Crocosmia, and two containers that have some very rambunctious sweet potato vines. The annual selection at garden centers this year was pretty ordinary. I’m not surprised. Nobody knew whether garden centers would be able to open up soon enough to give annuals a chance. But Mr. and Mrs. House Sparrow are on their third round. I shouldn’t have put that planter right under their front door. It gets “decorated” a lot.Farther down the path in the secret garden is one of my favorite spots. The big chartreuse is Stained Glass. In the back is Krossa Regal. And to the left of Stained Glass is June. The large hosta to the left of Stained Glass is Francee. In the foreground is Allegan Fog. Looking west in the secret garden are more hostas, and that flash of red (other than the Crocosmia) is Red Pinnacle, a day lily that did not bloom last year. .See, poodle garden art moves. Some of the day lilies in this shot were moved from below the Tardiva hydrangea where they were getting too much shade. Several others are nameless and part of the haul from last year’s tromp through a day lily farm.
There are various echinaceas planted here and I’ve lost track of who’s who. But the white ones are White Pow Wow.
I haven’t always been a gardener, but I have always loved gardens. It has taken 16 years to get my gardens into the shape they are today. And, I’ve had help. I’m 74 years old, have rheumatoid arthritis, and had a late stage cancer six years ago. I am, though, intrepid. I’m the kind of person who plods along, tailoring my goals as I go. Last November I had a long overdue knee replacement surgery and I’m hoping this spring, summer, and fall will be able to maintain and find even more joy working in all of my garden beds. Full disclosure, though. I have a garden guy who comes once a week to work in my gardens.
Garden 337 