Bloom Day-June 2010

From In the Garden

'Glowing Embers' Hydrangea

This month's Bloom Day post sees many things blooming in the garden, too many for me to keep up with but I'll try to list them here. Mainly the hydrangeas are showing us a HUGE show. The best since I've lived here. I have a total of about 50-60 hydrangeas (all kinds) so I am really loving them. (More on the hydrangeas later). Let's look at some other blooms and some gardens here at Tiger Gardens-including more hydrangeas. The only hydrangeas not highlighted here are of course the paniculatas. They bloom in July/August in my garden. They include ('Pink Diamond', 'Tardiva', 'Limelight', and 'Grandiflora'). I'll spotlight them when they are in bloom. Today we talk of mopheads, oakleafs, and smooth hydrangeas.

From In the Garden

Speaking of hydrangeas, this one has been growing on the north side of my home for seven years now and is quite the monster. Several small hydrangeas have started from it and that has been a delight. I believe this cultivar is 'Maresii' variegata. A lacecap big leaf hydrangea. It is hard to tell from the photo but the plant is about 7-8 feet wide and four feet tall. It is loaded with flowers this year. While they don't stand out looking at it directly, from above these flowers look like stars.

From In the Garden

Here is a dry but sunny part of the Northside Shrub Border. I thinned this area out last year and did a way with a lot of wildflowers like Queen Anne's Lace. Right now you see daylilies, a beebalm (perhaps a native one-does anyone know?-it is the pale purple flower, shasta daisies and 'Homestead' verbena. These plants seem to compete well with the tulip poplar roots growing in this garden area. The soil is very poor.

From In the Garden

This is the opposite corner of the Northside Shrub Border. This area is mostly shade and is a moist area-a complete turnaround from the above pictured area of the garden. Here we have a hydrangea, with some 'Husker's Red' penstemon (not blooming it is the red foliaged plant), and lilies just opening up. I really enjoy this part of the garden because it is a large area just ripe for anything, though they have to be most shade tolerant. Goldenrod, a 'Tardiva' hydrangea, 'Mt. Airy' viburnum and Joe Pye weed are also visible in this picture.

From In the Garden

Stokesia, daylilies, yarrow, 'Sunny Border Blue' veronica, and coreopsis share the spotlight in the Sunny Perennial Border.

From In the Garden

A close up of the stokesia, a new addition last year (Thanks Gail for showcasing this wonderful plant!). I'm liking that I found one!

From In the Garden

'Moonbeam' coreopsis and 'Royal Candles' veronica in the Sunny Perennial Border. Love the veronicas! 'Sunny Border Blue' is coming along too. Dianthus is blooming across the path in the Rear Center Garden in the above picture.

From In the Garden

The 'Annabelles' take center stage no matter where they are planted. Here we see them in the 'Greenhouse Garden' sharing the spotlight with a Japanese maple, astilbes and daylilies. This view looks thru from a center lawn area past a relaxing area to the greenhouse. Three gardens are shown here. The relaxing area has its own garden where a 'Red Pygmy' dogwood, hostas and 'Stella' daylilies grow in full shade, and the immediate front garden garden is a full shade garden surrounding an oak tree. Here autumn ferns, astilbes, and colombines grow, along with a special sweetshrub called 'Hartlage Wine', a Raulston introduction.

From In the Garden

Here is the right side of the relaxing area looking thru the trees from the sunny area of the garden toward the deck. Red hot pokers are happy here. These are a later type and vary in color from the normal orange/yellow ones that have already bloomed and are past their prime. These ones still bloom wonderfully. Looking toward the relaxing area we find the right hand garden. This garden sports a 'Vaughns Lille' oakleaf hydrangea, an azaleas, ferns and hostas. My favorite hosta of all time is growing here. I'll disclose it at a later date but think about what your favorite hosta is-how do you choose just one??

From In the Garden

Another view of the 'Annabelles' by 'Burgundy Flame' in the Greenhouse garden. Some garden writers refer to 'Annabelles' as cartoonish. I say bring on the cartoons because these shrubs are splendid performers in my garden and most that I've seen. Besides, white goes with everything and who can deny these whites?

From In the Garden

Sidalcea 'Party Girl'. According to Paghat's Garden this little flower is a native of the northwest. It has struggled a bit in my garden but might actually start to come along now that it has been growing here for more than one year. It is similar to hollyhocks but much smaller.

From In the Garden

Astilbes in the Woodland/Heuchera Garden. Astilbes love it here for some reason. They even do well in the dry shade. I think shade is key for them.

From In the Garden

Northside Border with 'Homestead' verbena, Daylilies catmint, and Yarrow blooming. The lilies in the foreground are getting ready to bloom soon. This border is approximately 110 long by 11+ feet wide. It has been a challenge and has undergone many changes; like all gardens I guess. My challenge is the conditions all along it are different. Some areas are dry shade, some are wet shade, some areas get dry sun and other areas get part sun, still others get full shade. What a puzzle. The entire perennial border is backed by shrubs so I guess it is a mixed border; like all of my gardens. To the right of the Northside border and barely visible in this picture is the Crabapple garden. This circular garden in my sideyard has been a challenge as well, but it blooms nicely all year so I guess I can't complain. What good would it do anyhow since I'm the gardener??

From In the Garden

The Front Center Garden. A wonderful garden placed smack dab in the middle of my front yard between the front door to the house and the road. There is another view of it as if looking out the front door below. This is one of two borders that kind of shield the home from the road. The road would be to the left in this picture. It is an interesting story on how this garden evolved, perhaps I'll tell it one day. So much to talk about and so little time. Sigh. Blooming here are: yellow primroses, 'Blushing Bride' hydrangeas, oakleafs, catmint, Asiatic lilies, oxalis, daylilies and heucheras.

From In the Garden

Butterfly weed is blooming in a big way. I planted about 6 pots late last summer (not this kind). Those plants were awesome last fall and the monarchs flocked to the flowers. The plants did not return:( I think they left behind tons of seedlings though. Please let it be so that I don't have to admit I am nurturing weeds.

From In the Garden

'Pink Beauty' Hydrangea macrophylla blooming in the Hydrangea garden.

From In the Garden

Campanula and oakleaf hydrangeas

From In the Garden

Asiatic lilies, oxalis, catmint, 'Snowhill ' salvia, 'Blushing Bride' and oakleaf hydrangeas in the front center garden.

From In the Garden

Campanula.

From In the Garden

Iris brevicaulis? Growing in my bathtub pond.

Also blooming: oxalis, catmint, hardy amaryllis, lantana, geraniums, pelargoniums, primrose (yellow and pink), merrybells, daylilies, salvia, phlox pilosa, hydrangeas (oakleafs, mopheads, lacecaps, Annabelle), red twig dogwood, campanulas, heucheras, strawberry begonias, foxgloves, cleome, lilies, sidalacea, 'Diamond Frost', salvias, creeping blue star, coneflowers, cleome, bee balm (red as well as light purple), impatiens, melampodium, spiderwort, crepe myrtles (white), mums, sedum, verbena and petunias (Proven Winners), hostas, hollyhocks, bee balm, and that is all I can remember for now. I have put a lot of info in this post-more for me than anyone else. I plan to slow down on my blogging but hope to keep up with my weekly posts so I am trying to make them pretty inclusive-hence the length.

Yesterday was my twin daughters birthday. It is incredible to believe that they are both now nearing 30. I can hardly believe it and have to do a double take each time I think about how the years have flown. I wish them both many many more birthdays! And send all my love...

in the garden....


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In the Garden