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. 

Sun Baked Day

Progressing along today. The 'William Baffin' Rose opened and I gave the tallest of the 'John Davis' Rose something to climb. The sun was out today even for the Coleus 'Coco Loco' which is not in the sunniest of spots. It was hot and no rain. Slow going in the heat but I did manage to get things done. Just not sure right now what all those things were.

Everything is Rosey!

Roses have really started. The 'Therese Bugnet' are always the first and have been full for awhile now, filling the sun gardens with their scent. The wild rose quickly followed but now, they are all opening. The above unknown pink rose came from my Aunt Marilyn. She doesn't have enough sun for roses in her yard so she sent it to me three years ago now. All four of the climbing roses, 'John Cabot' and 'John Davis', are blooming in the sun gardens and I put a willow tent trellis over one of the John Cabot which was desperately looking for something to climb. All the Ferncliff Dahlia got planted today. I am still thinking two more days until everything is in. Might be ambitious at my normal pace. Miles got the swan fountain running at the top of the boardwalk off the back deck and the birds came swarming in. Must have been the running water sound because there were already three very active bird baths set up but the fountain was still a big draw. For awhile today it looked like rain and it did spit on us for about five minutes but it cleared quickly. I also finished planting all the fern that survived the winter in a box beside the house. Don't ask. I still cannot believe they made it through the winter. Thought I'd reward them with a better living condition today.

Seeking Refuge

Caught Hannah seeking shade or a hiding spot from the dogs under the Columbine and Peony. I took another photo of the red Columbine today which I am thinking more and more is the same as the one I lost from the shade bridge garden. All of the roses are pruned now and the sun gardens are officially ready for the expansion plan this year. Three blooms on the poppy. It seemed like it opened suddenly although I am sure I just did not notice it in time. Hard to notice things knee deep in weeds which is where I have been when not still planting. Such an odd year. The end is in sight though on the weed front and with no rain today, dare I say, perhaps on the wet soil front as well?

More Blooms Showing Up

This dianthus has been blooming a couple of days now and the white blooms have also shown up in the mixed pinks patch at the slide base. I am thinking of moving all of the red and some white out of there to another spot. From thinking to doing is going to depend on what else happens out there this year though. Anything that will live where it is, might get left. The Dropmore and Catmint are blooming together in the boardwalk garden. The delphinium, oriental poppy and 'Morden Blush' roses are all in bud. We had sunshine today and no rain but there was rain throughout the night. The decks were wet again this morning. Dry enough to get work done though and as crazy as it sounds for the end of June, I got the Calla Lily all in today. I even got the camera out before dark and managed to get shots of the light pink lupin and medium pink lupin. Another good day in the garden. Three more and I should be able to relax a bit more.

Darkest Lupin

All three blooming Lupin are pink and all of them are different. Still waiting on the yellow to bloom but when they do, it will be stunning. Right now, there is too much pink here with the 'Therese Bugnet' as a backdrop. Not that I have anything against pink but you know how it is when you have a vision and a key element is missing. I guess that is going to happen when the planting strategy is... the next plant to arrive goes in the next easiest spot to dig. Where plants are in relation to each other in my garden generally occurs as happenstance. Of course, that doesn't apply to shrubs. Shrubs I tend to overthink before planting. They are not nearly as easy to move as Lupin. All the dahlia I planted before the rainy season started are up. No drowned dahlia so far and no rain today. Could things be looking up on the dry soil front? 

Waiting Out the Rain

Jake tried hard to wait while I was doing a health check on Linda's Allium patch but Jake is really no good at waiting so this Serenity Now pose did not last long. These days I can empathize with him about waiting things out, especially as today, in the early afternoon, rain clouds arrived and stayed until dark... bringing rain with them. I will not wish the rain away though because I do remember when it was dry. They are equally bad garden problems here. On the bright side, I found two wild rose growing along the bush edge at the front. Right where I planted them. Still exciting though because I have been planting them what seems like forever and although wild rose grows prolifically all over the bush edge, it never seems to want to grow where you actually plant it. I was delighted to see it is finally taking.

Remember when Saskatchewan was dry?

Well, another Summer storm today. Right in the middle of the day. It poured buckets for about an hour. Power was out again. It's been out more than on lately it seems. It passed quick but left everything soaked. I planted anyway. Got the strawberry patch cleared out too. It has grown from three plants to nine. I had to uproot almost as many raspberry which were trying to encroach on the strawberry patch. My raspberry patch moves. It has a mind of its' own and I just let it go unless it tries to move into another garden bed. I won't let it choke anything out but I let it wander anywhere it likes between the drive and the shade bridge garden. The original edge is now in the middle of the patch. I have two new pink carnation blooming but I have yet to find the motivation to look up their proper names. Seems like a winter activity. For now, I am calling them pink carnation One and pink carnation Two. I actually found mushroom in the sanctuary. Usually our soil is baked so dry from the hot afternoon sun that mushroom wouldn't stand a chance. Plants barely stand a chance without a good layer of mulch and an irrigation pump. That is not the case this year. Staying positive for sunshine tomorrow and dry soil the next day. Might be wishful thinking.

Flower Power

A garden journal post with photo links so I don't forget to tell Linda anything :) I am always amazed at what continues to thrive despite my gardening philosophy of what can't survive on neglect should be in someone else's garden. I have no time for fussy plants that need any special attention, nevermind those that need to be literally coddled ! I am so glad there are so many plants that are not fussy. Although it looks like a pink Lupin patch, I planted yellow as well. Six buds opening today and they are all pink. The rainstorm turned the 'Therese Bugnet' into a pink carpet. I got a shot of Benedict's Abu Hassan open although it is just about done. I think if I blew on that flower the petals would fall but it is still stunning. The second bloom of the dark yellow Iris opened while the sun was out along with the red Columbine. The double blue Iris look very purple in the sun and the blue and whites opened on the other side of the entryway today. The mixed pinks - red, pink and white are opening but so far only a single white. The pink spirea, sanctuary peony, and white Bleeding Heart are all in bud. The peony are full of little red ants that bite and I keep forgetting that until I am getting bitten on the wrist, just above the glove. My first food crop besides edible flowers is Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' and they are up. Miles' fern patch got cleared out a few days ago and it has grown to sixteen. Iris was the word of the day though and they are blooming everywhere. Oh, and you asked me to mention when my delphinium started. It was a busy day in the garden here. I couldn't use the shovel so I decided to use the camera.

Tuk & Penny's Latest Gardening Project

Penny started this when she jumped it and knocked a stone down. That got her digging. Tuk finished it with a bit more digging and some rolling around in the wet dirt to make the rock pillow. Three days and ta da! they have a new shade bed. Tomorrow I will move the rock that looks about to fall and break his back although the whole thing could come tumbling down on him any minute they way they have dug it out from underneath to fit their form. I guess I'll check all the rocks above. I have long ago learned that when they make a nest, it's best not to fight with them about the space. It is only frustrating to try and besides, he looks very comfortable.

Stormy Day Blooms

We had a Summer storm today. I was hearing thunder for a long time before the dark clouds moved in but when they did... yikes! Our power was knocked out so the lightening and thunder were entertaining. There wasn't much time in the garden before the storm blew in but I did manage to rescue some allium for Linda in the nursery.

My Mom's Violas

Today would have been my Mom's birthday. Her name was Viola June although she went by June or Junie or Junebug :) In fact, I was an adult before I even heard the name Viola. She loved my garden in the city. She never got to see the garden here but it is full of Violas for her. I don't visit gravesides for so many reasons it would be a rant to list them. What I do is plant Violas every June 20. I think of her much more often than that but this day belongs to her in my garden. Johnny-jump-up is the most common Viola around here and self-seeds rampantly but most other violas tend to disappear over the winter... seeds and all. Likely because I plant so many, this year, I have four varieties other than Johnny that are self-seeded in my garden. I think the credit for those belongs to her as well. Today I added 'Black Duet', 'Erlyn Lemon Bluewing' (both pictured) as well as 'Antique Shades' and 'Valentine'.

'Bonfire'

Ever since I decided I like orange, it seems to be all I plant ! I love this Begonia 'Bonfire'. The color is fantastic. It was one of the plants that caught my eye when I was at the greenhouse trying to spend no money. No rain today. No sun either. It was cool and wet. Still found lots of things to do outside though. The tulips are all almost done. Most dropped their petals with the rain last night. I have a single Narcissus bloom this year with Narcissus 'Tahiti' and am very happy to see it. I have always had limited success with Narcissus and when I planted them last Fall, I told myself I would not plant them again if they did not come up this Spring. Of course I tell myself things I don't believe all the time ;)

Judy's Table

It stormed all night and this morning when I woke up, everything was wet. I decided to go into the city and have coffee with Judy after I drove Nicholas to school. She fell victim to the Safeway miniature Rose display at the checkout and picked up these two little beauties. She was mentioning a cream one that would have looked great with them so she may be planning her second trip to Safeway. I broke down and stopped at the greenhouse to get impatiens for the bird sanctuary and it was lucky I did. They had only 7 left. No color choice. Pink, white and red. I got Coleus to go with them and an orange Begonia that doesn't look anything like any Begonia I ever saw. Anything going in pots got in and I was able to plant late today in the sanctuary. I got a bunch of Dahlia in yesterday and all the weeding I have been doing is definitely starting to show. Even with all the rain it is looking great. The 'Flaming Parrot' is turning white, the pink lupin is opening in front of the 'Therese Bugnet' rose which smells wonderful. I also have an orange and purple Viola that has self seeded which makes for three varieties other than the old fashioned Johnny-jump-ups growing in my garden. These are the busiest days and will stay that way until a few days after the rain stops. Lots of the perennials I was going to move are getting too big on me but there is always next year or this Fall. I made the decision yesterday that any seeds not in are being stored until next year. The rainy season has pushed it too late for seeds I think. They have a better chance of survival in my seed box until next Spring.

Grand Opening

So much more is open today after 2 days of sunshine. This columbine, which is my oldest and moved here with me, is the first to open. The unknown red Columbine is getting ready to open though. (Linda, I don't think it is the same as the one I lost but it is still red. Looks like red and white or red and yellow). The creeping thyme, white spirea, several iris and all of the pinks are blooming. Although the 'Antoinette' are finishing, the 'Ice Cream' beside the Columbine are just starting to puff up. I seeded Cosmos today, got the rest of the annuals in, planted more Dahlia and got about half of the roses pruned. I am resisting the urge to go buy impatiens. I am not buying anything to plant until everything I have here is planted. Really :)

The Sun Showed Up

Planted some annuals that were in danger of expiring in their starter pots, got most of the glads in, weeded and refreshed the mulch at the Chiminea. Started early this morning so I could get Mikaela and Yehoni walked before I drove Nicholas to school. It was a beautiful sunny day but not too hot. Perfect gardening day and it is supposed to be the same tomorrow. I am starting to forget what the inside of the house looks like ;)

Happy Sunday !

It is not open all the way and I am already taken with this 'Flaming Parrot' tulip. In fact, I am really happy with all of the new tulips this year. They have been spectacular. Tulips have come a long way since I started gardening. The 'Gavota'  are just finishing now and the 'Mickey Mouse' are open wide along with the 'Happy Generation' which have finished turning red. The purple have started to open in the 'Plum Pudding Mix' and a single 'Blushing Beauty' appeared under the bird feeder at the end of the path. The 'City of Vancouver' are just starting so tulips are everywhere. Or so it seems. Wile E. is slowly learning this year not to dig in the garden. We had no rain today and quite a bit of sunshine. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday in the garden.

No Rain Today :)

My Siberian Iris are in bud along with the Lupin. All the Lupin came back which I was happy to see because it took forever to get them to turn into a patch. The 'Therese Bugnet' rose is blooming and the Cerastium looks fantastic. I wasn't able to dig today but I got a lot of weeding done and seeded Poppy, Marigolds, Rudbeckia and Calendula all along the front sidewalk around the bush edge to the Hydrangea.

My Garden Shoes

My garden shoes are like old friends so no matter how often I look at them and think I should throw them out, I never do. I probably won't until they don't stay on my feet anymore. We have developed gardens on two properties together over the last decade and they perfectly fit my feet. They have a trench across the sole the exact size of the top of my spade. In a pinch, I can run after a dog in them which is more than can be said of a flip flop. They can be slipped on or kicked off and what more could you ask of a garden shoe? Well, maybe to stay dry but I always forget about the air conditioning built into them until I am standing in an inch of water with wet toes. Still, on dry days, they are great :)

Today was mostly about books and magazines. Sorting, stacking, organizing, packing and some reading. I am revamping the craft room to make more room for Sean. Sunshine finally forecast for the next two days. Of course, it's raining now.

Benedict's 'Abu Hassan' Tulips

Most of my plant experiments are really pushing the gardening envelope and many of them flop. Every once in awhile though, one of them works. These 'Abu Hassan' in the upper level of Benedict's Garden is one of those that worked. They are growing in almost complete shade and are opening about a week behind the same variety in full sun. Next step is seeing if they come back next Spring.

Slide Garden Sunny Spot

Well, if I can't have a sunny day, this view and no rain is the next best thing! I got the Zinnia and Bidens in, several delphinium moved and more weeding done. The 'Happy Generation' tulips are almost done turning red, although I quite like the yellow. The 'Flaming Parrot' buds are opening along with the Cerastium getting started. I reorganized the upper level of Benedict's Garden so the dogs can use their favorite shady nap spot without crushing anything. We will all be happier.

Rainy Day Lilacs

We have had so many days of rain, the grass is almost as tall as many of the plants. I caught the lilacs trying to bloom just off the back deck though. Our water pressure pump went today so we were without water most of the day through the repair and I ran to the city in the late afternoon. Digging again postponed due to rain. Two days ago, sun was forecast for tomorrow but this afternoon I heard an update that said sun only in the morning. I am getting up early !

Turn and Face the Changes

The 'Antoinette' started turning raspberry and the 'Happy Generation' started turning red. The 'Ice Cream' tulips finally started to grow and open today so I expect they will change daily for awhile since they will look much different than this by the time they are fully open and (hopefully) taller. The 'Davenport' also started to open when the sun was out this morning. They immediately closed by 9:00 am when the rain came and the grey stayed. They say no sun until Wednesday now. Sunday was sunny and it made a real difference with the tulips so I am wishing for one more full day of it before tulips are finished. Annuals didn't get in due to rain. Lots of things postponed due to rain. I guess Wednesday will be busy.

'Gavota'

The 'Gavota' opened yesterday for awhile but today we had Sun all day and they opened right up! I have two good sized patches of them and today I dropped Nigella seeds all around them. The 'Davenport' are in bud and if we get another day of Sun tomorrow, I am sure they will still open. I went to the city today and planted my Aunt's garden. Tomorrow, the rest of the annuals I had picked up are going to be planted in mine.

The Chameleon

Today was all about tulips and weeding. We had some sun and the tulips started to come alive finally. This is Tulip 'Antoinette', which opens pale yellow and constantly changes to end up bright yellow with raspberry markings. From the picture of it in the catalogue, I expect the parts that look white in this photo will be the raspberry. It also has great variegated foliage. The 'Happy Generation' were budding up today and should look like Red 'Zurel' tulips with variegated foliage when they are fully open. The 'Lipgloss' are getting more pink by the day and are starting to look more like their catalogue picture too. The Plum Pudding Mix that was looking mostly white got another purple bloom today and I was able to get a pathway shot with the 'Lipgloss' and 'Salmon Impression' together. I tried to plant in the ground but only got a couple of dahlia in when it became really clear it was too wet to dig. Our soil can turn to concrete if you dig it when it is too wet so I settled for planting in the firepit pots. I got a lot done and it was a good thing because tomorrow I am planting my Aunt's garden and I am told that Monday we are getting rain.

Every Plant Has a Story

In this photo you can see both my light pink and my dark pink Lamium. Many years ago, I planted 3 of the dark pink and now have carpets of it. Lamium loves my garden. The light pink showed up at the bottom of the stepping stone steps in Benedict's Garden a few years ago. I have tried to move it and it either does not survive or it comes up dark. Hard to tell which. So it remains an oddity that belongs only to Benedict. It grows in an inconvenient spot in that garden but I am loathe to move or uproot it for fear of losing it altogether. There are few things that don't have 4 legs and bark that I will move a pathway for. This Lamium may become one of them this year. 'Mickey Mouse' tulips and Anemone started blooming today and the 'Monte Carlo' are still going strong. I discovered that the 2 patches of pink tulips uncovered in the Nursery are definitely 'Angelique' and although they are blooming small, there are lots of them. We didn't have a lot of sunshine today but at least there was no rain.