Just around the corner...

Despite my best intentions, it has been a few days since I have been around to the front side of the house. In my defence, this area used to be gravel, weeds and a single peony until this year so I am not in the habit of looking for blooms out there. Much to my delight today, when I did my typical early morning nightgown patrol of the garden, I remembered to stroll in this direction. I found this Calla 'Flame' blooming. 'Flame' is a mix of oranges, yellows and reds. The ones I have opening in the Boardwalk Garden look like they will be orange. I also found Dahlia 'Baron Katie' blooming when I had thought 'Gerrie Hoek' was the only dahlia opening yet. Looks like the colours of the self-seeded viola, delphinium and hollyhock will no longer be my only big surprises of the season. This lift in fall stuff is too cool. Of course, I could feel differently when it comes time to lift it all. We'll see.

Speedwell for Andrea

Andrea, my Speedwell is struggling in shade so it is just starting to bloom. This is an opening flower. I posted a photo of a bud with leaf at this link so you can compare that. I also put up a photo of my patch of Speedwell at this link in case that helps you identify what you have. Good luck and if you have any trouble, post a picture of what you have. If I don't know it, my friends Linda or Judy might.

Iris Catalogue Complete

The Iris Catalogue is complete and posted on Flickr. There were seven Iris blooming here this season. I actually had eight different Iris but the maroon from Linda did not bloom this year and I have decided not to include any Iris that did not bloom here this year. I will add them next year. Of course, my Iris count has more than doubled since blooming season. I should be adding 10 next year! How exciting is that?

Note August 2, 2010 - Judy was here for coffee and we updated the names for the Iris that came from her. Princess Street German Purple were growing at Princess Street when Sharon moved in. Judy divided them. Ron Brooks Double Blue and Bessie`s Pale Yellow were divisions gifted to her. Rae Street Blue and White were divisions Bill got from a lady on Rae Street, who's garden was on his walking route. He admired them, she divided them. Finally, Dr. Charles Wattrall Dwarf Purple were left in Judy's office at the College while she was on vacation. When she returned, Sharon told her Dr. Wattrall had dropped off a bag of plants for her. Turned out to be a bag of the Dwarf Purple. Luckily, gardeners find each other! All updated on flickr.

Floating Flower

It was hot today. We followed the dogs lead and stayed still a lot. Still found time to grab a shot of this floating ranunculus which I am really enjoying. Also took some shots of the Sun Garden expansion. In this view, you can see that the Slide Garden has already been extended out to the 'John Davis' rose which marks the path edge . There will be a path through the middle from the road to the firepit. On the road side of the path, the two 'John Cabot' roses mark the path entry and on the firepit side, it is two 'John Davis' roses. I added Linda's lily throughout the sun garden circles and am dividing some of mine in Fall with the hope that next year, there will be lily blooming from one side of the border to the other. Once I move the Speedwell, Summer Phlox, Lamb's Ears, Bergenia, Knautia, Cerastium, divide the Iris, Lily and Tulips, then add seed for next year, I think it will be all connected this year. Then it will be a matter of enjoying, tweaking and waiting for it to mature. Famous last words, I am sure.

A Beautiful Day in the Garden

Everything about today was perfect. Weather, blooms, dogs.... it all came in sync. It didn't get too hot until I had already got back from walking Mikaela and Yehoni. The weeding I have been doing and the mowing Miles has been doing is really making the blooms stand out. Finally the rain has stopped and we are back to more regular schedule. It is dry enough that the fields were hayed today and I even watered the Sun Gardens tonight just before the sun went down. Going to head off to sleep with dreams of tomorrow being more of the same.

A Note on Weeds

I can think of many, many reasons to not bother staying on top of weeds around here. For one thing, the fields come right up to the yard. For another, tall weeds provide shade for the dogs as well as some protection for the frogs. Today, another good reason popped up. If I pulled all the weeds, I wouldn't have seen this and this was worth seeing.

Lily Update and 'Fangio' Patch

Oh what fun to read such optimism from only yesterday. Of course, I didn't get everything planted and if I had thought about what I was typing for more than 2 seconds yesterday, I would have known that wasn't going to be true. I did get a lot planted today but I got more weeding than planting done overall. There were places in the garden that really needed it and I try hard to make sure the weeds don't take over the drive so it was time. Can't fight nature's schedule so I went with it. More lily confusion just for fun. The lily I thought was 'Vermeer' in the Bird Sanctuary is starting to open and for the life of me, looks like it will be white. 'Vermeer' kind of looks like my unknown pink except it doesn't seem to have enough white in it for that. Anyway, figuring it out better than I am now is a winter activity unless I stumble over new information. I am sure I will be able to pin down a couple of the unknowns if I go through my catalogue order packing slips and old maps. Another day, though. Time for Calgon to take me away... well, it's not actually Calgon but Grapefruit and Pomegranate seemed like a mouthful :)

'Olina' Opens

'Olina' opened today which means the unknown purple-red is not it. I didn't think so. I am just going to try and get a photo I am happy with of the unknown and give it a name for now. Didn't get much done in the garden today. Had to go to the city for groceries and the vet for Tuk's food. Sean got water so that was one thing off my list. My plan is to turn in early tonight and get an earlier start tomorrow. No errands so I can be in the garden until I lose the light and should be able to finish the planting that is left. Oh happy day !

Barely Hanging On

Wile E. hates Spiderwort. I don't know if there was an incident that started it or what. He has dug this poor transplant up twice now. Cage and all. This is the first time he has dug up a cage. Normally, a cage makes the plant safe. So to do that twice in two days is very unusual. I am worried for its' survival in light of his new attitude!

Hosta Catalogue Complete

The Hosta Catalogue is complete and posted here. There are 34 varieties of Hosta growing in my garden today with the following notes: Mom's Green and Danielle's Tall may be the same plant. Currently the difference seems to be the size of the leaf but I think that could have something to do with one growing here this year and one growing in Nova Scotia. I will have to watch that for next year. 'So Sweet' and Aberdeen Variegated are the same situation. Leaf size and overall plant size seems to be the difference. Finally, it is also possible, but I don't think probable, that Mom's Green is the same as Aberdeen Solid if it is not Danielle's Tall. The differences in these three plants are minimal. Aberdeen Solid seems to have smaller leaves than either of the other two. Danielle's Tall grows up taller before the leaves fall than Aberdeen Solid. The leaves do not sit just above the ground on the Tall, they sit well above it. Mom's Green, because it is a transplant this year, looks very similar to both. On another note, I came across my tiny white lily blooming today in the Orange Lily Garden. This is the third year it has taken me by surprise. Don't know why I keep forgetting it but I have it recorded now. I knew the plant spreadsheet would come in handy even if it did sound crazy.

Wet Blooms

I planted one stalk of this lily last year and one stalk came back. It is a single stalk but it is full of blooms. It's awesome and I can't wait until it divides and starts a patch. I found pink sedum in the boardwalk garden and nursery today. Last year I had spread it around a bit in an attempt to tone down the yellow sedum carpet and I wasn't sure if any made it. The yellow can be smothering. My new Veronica Red Fox looks very sad but the green blooms are supple rather than dry and I really think he is going to make it. It has been raining all day here. Thunderstorms for most of it with the odd sunny moment thrown in. Long enough for me to get some photos and visit the lily patches, where the Elodie are still blooming, a couple of times. Two more starting to open but I am not yet sure what they are.

Contemplating Yarrow

I would tell you that I have always disliked Yarrow but today I came upon this tiny little patch of pink and white along the drive on the deck side. It struck me as very delicate and I spent a long time studying it from different sides. I think I didn't like it because when we moved in, there were huge, weedy looking patches of it everywhere by the Little House. I have it blooming here in dark pink, light pink, white, and pale yellow. I have ripped out more than I have left. Now I am thinking this would look pretty blooming with lily... white with red, pale yellow with pink... just little patches of it. It can't be any harder to keep at bay than my dark pink Lamium, Summer Phlox or Creeping Charlie. Or can it?

Sad Little Thing

This is a two year lesson in how not to kill a Hosta ! Year one it was under the biggest bird feeder and it almost didn't come up through the layer of seeds over the ground. Year two it was beside a tree that was ripped out at ground level in a storm and barely made it. This year, year three, I moved the tiny little piece that was left into the Boardwalk Garden lower level where I can protect it until it gets big enough to survive without help. I figure I owe it at least that much for hanging on through so much. It is Hosta 'Guacamole' and trust me, it can look so much more spectacular than this and it will again. I am determined. Got shots of the Mystery Double Red and Mystery Double Pink carnations today too. A lot of re-design going on in the Boardwalk Garden. It is starting to look completely different and I have literally trays of yellow sedum in the side yard waiting for a new home.

Can you believe it?

I came around the corner today and the Hosta 'Halcyon' is blooming in the Bird Sanctuary ! I think the 'Big Daddy' is going to be next. With luck, I might actually get that purple Liatris to open. Woke up early to pouring rain and thunder. It ended quickly though and I was outside before noon once it dried a bit. Good day in the garden but the bugs are getting nuts at dusk. Drove me in early for a long break.

In the Pink

I've been looking at desperate plants for so long, it seems, that I decided to post some blooms today. Spirea and Elodie Lily are still blooming together in the slide garden. Another pleasant surprise was the carnation. Last year in late fall, I was given a flat of carnation without tags. I was told it was probably 'King of Blacks' and 'Ballad Pink'. I don't know what they are because I haven't looked them up but what I have is many, many kinds of carnation including this Mystery Single Red and this Mystery Single Pink. There is also a double red and double pink that I will try to get better pictures of tomorrow. The only open flowers on them are fading but there are buds to open yet. I need to move carnation around for sure. I think this makes six varieties now although, I didn't know I needed to keep track so I wasn't.

The Wreckage

Well, I've been planting fast and thinking faster and stumbling a lot ! So there is no real "before" picture but I did take this shot of the wreckage of garden re-design in progress. I am taking advantage of all the new shade plants to finally deal with the Lower Level Boardwalk Garden. This is the Knautia that was dug out and there is more to go but this allowed me to plant what I need to at the moment and the rest I will move later. My "before" photo already has plants but the "after" will be next year when they are looking a little less roughed up. I dug Lamium out to plant 'Big Daddy' - he can just fill that space. There are 'Cinnamon' Fern and light pink Astilbe planted together next and then a little Coral Bell garden. Also came upon another pale delphinium today. This one is a solid pale purple in the Nursery. Tagged it already for seed.

Delphinium Pale Colour Notes for Linda

I've been taking pictures and planting and digging and planting all day :) Thought I would post the pale colour delphinium that are blooming today. These have a bright cobalt blue edge when they are in bud but it lightens fast once they open. The back is an even lighter purple than the front. I am calling this one Nursery Pale Colour Pair. There is an even lighter version of this colour pair that I am calling Nursery Pale Purple because it has a wider purple stroke in the centre of the petal with a slimmer blue edge. The last in that area is the Nursery Light Blue which I would call a bright baby blue. It is different than the Front Light Blue which is a bright sky blue. Let me know if you want any seed in the Fall from any of these and I will mark them before they stop blooming. I have no idea how true they come from seed because mine have been self-seeding in the same spot forever and they are all mixed.

Another day of worry free weeds...

More digging, dividing and planting in Linda and Kelly's garden today - where I don't have to worry about the weeds, just taking photos. More Nova Scotia Garden Centres where I saw a very cool chocolate brown coral bells that I, of course, can't remember the name of. I have been keeping an eye on my garden through Miles' pictures. Looks like I will not miss the lily, they are just starting and will certainly be blooming still when I get home.

Linda's Garden Today

Another day in Linda's garden where there are lots of blooms to admire. We keep digging plants for me to take home and the list grows ever longer. Although, we are not entirely sure how it will all get packed. I think I need to start a spreadsheet to keep it all straight.

Pretty Poppy

We went to Tangled Garden today. I took a bunch of pictures and met a frog.

In Linda's Garden

Papyrus 'King Tut' in Linda's garden today. Another view there. We got all the plants in that I brought with me. Enjoying a garden I don't have to weed. 

Heading East

Last busy day was today. It poured rain most of the day with some small hail showing up for about 5 minutes or so. I ended up resorting to Plan B and potted up all the remaining Dahlia. To do that I had to stop at Judy's garden to get more pots. She also had Lamb's Ear divisions for me that I potted up as well. Everything else can wait until I am back and the weeds can take over for that long. Miles will make sure it all gets water if the rain stops and that will keep it all alive while I am away. It is still really wet with mushrooms sprouting up all over the place. I found more in the top lawn today when going to dig up a Columbine during a break in the weather. I am surprised all the sedum are doing so well considering they don't like to be overly wet. Even my litte aqua blue is holding its' own in what has become the bog out there. The seed potatoe and onion sets were a really sorry sight before they went in and I did not get all the seed potatoes in. I ended up donating three partial bags to the community gardens in North Central along with about half the onion sets. But it is all done now. Nothing to do but weed, enjoy and divide when I get back. All of those can be done at my pace, unlike the last two weeks in which I have had to keep moving at twice that ! 

Berries Almost Ready

The Saskatoon Berries are a couple days away from perfect but I have been eating them off the bushes by the handful anyway because I just might miss them this year while I am in Linda's garden. There are so many berries that the branches at the picking path are about forehead level for me. I won't miss the dark pink peony at the little house because it opened yesterday. Busy day today with another tomorrow. Three days left to finish it all or drop it in the compost before I leave. 

We can actually see the Little House now !

It has been busy days the last few. This yard at the guesthouse still needs some decisions on pruning made but it is much, much better than it was two days ago. Penny likes the new view. Miles has been mowing and Josh has been here running the weed whacker. There is real progress everywhere, especially on the private road that is once again useable. I have been planting still. Tomorrow is my last day and I am still not sure I will get through it all but I am off to visit Linda in her garden so what isn't done will be in Judy's garden or compost. I finally got all the Glads in. The weather has not cooperated at all with planting season and the storm two days ago hit us hard in the Shade Bridge Garden where it took out the lower trunk in that photo from the tree in the top right. Just missed crushing Sean's car. Didn't miss my orange Lily Garden or the raspberry patch. Both needed repair after the trunk was cut up and moved off of them. Better news is that the 'Winnipeg Parks' Rose, 'Morden Blush' Rose and Delphinium continue to open.

Long Days

'William Baffin' started opening a couple of days ago and is already covered. The Poppy patch is stretching to reach sunshine that we have not had. Many of the individual flowers are seeding before they are even fully open. It is storming now. Lightening, thunder and pouring rain. It is quite spectacular aside from a couple of nervous dogs.  It was hot today though so we are under tornado warnings. I am already wondering how the garden will weather this storm. Plants like the Catmint and Columbine, which grow tall and drape, or like the Peony, with flowers that make the stalks top heavy, can fall flat in the rain, sometimes taking days to recover. We had visitors in our garden today including my nephew, his family, a Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker we have never seen in our yard and  Hammy's new baby! Solomon got one of the slower ones last week. Try as we might, squirrels look like rodents to him and he is allowed to hunt rodents. Sometimes the line gets blurred. We were happy to see there was at least one other that made it through the Spring.