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| From In the Garden |
Bloom Day this month is much welcomed because the weather has cooled and I can work in the garden-finally! The above 'bottle blooms' are part of a HUGE new project in my garden involving TONS of soil. This is just a sneak peek. When it is all done I will post about the new gardens. If you look just past the bottles you'll see some great sedums blooming. These are wonderful butterfly magnets in my garden and are only now coming into bloom.
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| From In the Garden |
Here is another about to bloom flower with a small skipper perched upon it. I wanted to show this red valerian that I started from seed. Catherine of A Gardener In Progress sent me the seeds for this valerian, great blue lobelia, and 'Lilac Fantasy' veronica. All seedlings are growing great and are finally being set out in the garden. I am ever so excited to see these bloom in a nursery bed in my vegetable garden as there are tons of these flowers all in this state in one bed.
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| From In the Garden |
Lantana 'Miss Huff' is a REAL winner in my garden. I winter over cuttings of this lantana. I have about 10 started already but noticing how special these plants are in spite of the drought makes me want to start about a dozen more. They are easy to winter over and root from cuttings. These cuttings from last year are now about 3'x'3 and a big draw for the butterflies.
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| From In the Garden |
Indigofera amblyantha or Chinese Indigo is a winner. It has been blooming non-stop since May. I just noticed a few seedlings underneath the mother plant and am excited about these. A few garden friends have voiced that they would like a start of it so I plan to spread them around.
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| From In the Garden |
Here we have zinnias, cosmos, and Verbena bonarienis growing in the vegetable garden among a foundation of bricks. I don't know what it is about bricks but these self seeders love the brick and have done well all summer growing through the bricks.
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| From In the Garden |
Phlox 'Flame White' and impatiens growing in the Sunny Perennial Border. 'Flame White' is a dwarf phlox (only about 12"-24" tall) and is a rebloomer. It is stunning!
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| From In the Garden |
Lastly we have 'Sunny Border Blue' veronica. I love the veronicas and have made a big effort at spreading them around my garden. This veronica blooms all season long. And just look at the bumble bee. See all that pollen on its legs? It is a happy bee!
Also blooming not pictured: buddleia, 'Tangerine Beauty' crossvine, hyacinth bean vine, sweet autumn clematis, milkweed, 'Chocolate' eupatorium, melampodium, catmint, bouncing bets, woodland phlox, perennial ageratum, 'Limelight' hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, 'Knockout' roses, mums, cleome, some unknown 'wildflowers', pot begonias, and turtlehead....
in the garden....
Also blooming not pictured: buddleia, 'Tangerine Beauty' crossvine, hyacinth bean vine, sweet autumn clematis, milkweed, 'Chocolate' eupatorium, melampodium, catmint, bouncing bets, woodland phlox, perennial ageratum, 'Limelight' hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, 'Knockout' roses, mums, cleome, some unknown 'wildflowers', pot begonias, and turtlehead....
in the garden....
On a sad note, Joe Allen, a fellow nature lover, who was a longtime writer here locally and had a book published by APSU passed away recently. I did a post very early in my blogging days (nearly three years ago) about Joe and wanted to let these original commenters and a few other bloggers know about his passing. If you'd like to read the post about Joe you can find it here. He was a very kind and gentle person who truly loved all things nature.
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Love your 'bottle blooms'. I've got a bucket of green bottles to soak labels from. I look forward to seeing what you are up to there in your gardens. You have a lot of colorful blooms still going on and flying critters enjoying it all too.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
The indigofera reminds me of wisteria. I am sorry to here about Joe Allen.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all! Flowerlady what are you plans with your bottles?
ReplyDeleteLes, I can see the resemblance too. It is a good shrub for my garden and doesn't take over like that wisteria. Thanks on Joe Allen. He was much loved by the community.
Hate to hear/read the sad news..
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are looking good...curious about your new garden area...
I'm looking forward to seeing the new project area! I've noticed those same self-seeder sowing around some grave areas. Some plant really do like that gravelly surface to grow through.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about Joe Allen!
Your chinese indigo IS a winner! Love it, as well as all of your beautiful blooms!!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue bottles. Great idea. Great capture on the bee.
ReplyDeleteYou have lots blooming. I can't wait to see how your new bed is looking. It's so fun getting a new project finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny that you mention the seeds I sent today because in my post I mentioned you :) My 'Lilac Fantasy' just started to bloom too.
You have a lot of beautiful flowers and friends in your garden right now. Neat to know lantana starts so easily. Wonder if I could keep one going. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies for your friend.
I know, by seeing with my own eyes, how large your new garden will be so I am anxious to see the outcome. I was thinking that maybe you would move a garden from Mr Fixits garage area so he could once again, extend it out a bit. Hum, I wonder if he thought of that or not? Hee hee...
ReplyDeleteI often think of Joe Allen when in the garden. I enjoyed his articles in the newspaper for many years. He was a special man and will be missed by the community. I hope he finally got that window during his last days on earth...
My prayers are many these days…
I am reading your blog with envy right now, well, I am commenting now but you know! I love all the blooms! Here in Edmonton it looks and feels more like late fall than anything and it is still officially summer!
ReplyDeleteHappy GBBD! I love what you do with bottles. Isn’t blue glass the nicest?
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry to hear of your loss of Joe Allen.
So since I'm a beginning gardener, I ask for your patience with me in advance, but what are the bottles on the poles for?
ReplyDeleteAnd also, as I was looking at the beauty of the flowers, I was looking a little past that, and see alot of leaves. Do you use leaves as like a mulch, or that just happened randomly?
Thanks all for you comments.
ReplyDeleteShirley, Hello and welcome all the way from Edmonton Canada!
ZZ, That is a good question on the bottles. I am a very visual gardener and like color and shine all year round so the bottles provide a bit of both when my plants are dormant. Even when all is growing I just like glass in my garden and have lots and lots of it here. One more benefit of the bottles are that I keep them out of the landfill. On the leaves-good eye!! I use all leaves on my gardens for mulch. They are free and readily available the grass thanks me for removing the leaves from it and placing them in my garden. The leaves break down slowly and add organic matter to my soil over time so of course they are replenished each year. In fact, while I don't have to rake yet the leaves are a falling in the garden...thanks for the questions.
Condolences on the loss of your friend, Tina.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing all of these, but I'm mostly intrigued by your new project. The mystery deepens...and it looks like the soil will too.
Lantana is on my list for next year for sure.
I cannot wait to see the red valerian bed in bloom Tina. What a healthy plant! Great shot of the skipper and Swallowtail too. I love the delicateness of the indigo... you have so much going on there, where here the garden is winding down. Beautiful light in your photos. ;>)
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the Bottle Blooms. May I borrow your idea?
ReplyDeleteLots of pretty blooms. Do you have a white Lantana? Could I root some over winter in case I loose the main plant? I have several colors.
So sorry about Joe Allen. I too hope he got that window that he wanted. I was thinking about him the other day & wondered how he was doing.
Many prayers are being said. The PT is causing more pain for me.
I'm anxious to see what the new garden will look like. All this knee stuff has kept me from getting my Back Corner Garden finished. Maybe when I get "sprung".
Hi Tina -I was sorry to hear about Joe - and I too hope he was able to get that window view that he deserved.
ReplyDeleteI am anxious to see what your new area will be like -don't keep us in suspense too long, okay? :0)
Hi Jean, Lola, Skeeter and Nina -hoping you are all doing well. Ciao!
Lola, You can surely borrow my idea on the bottles. I wouldn't think your lantana would die out but if you wished to you could easily winter over cuttings. I usually keep them in the garage where it is unheated or in some window. They need little care except for a drink of water occasionally. I hope you start feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI really like the accent of your blue bottle blooms--now there's something that can survive a hot, dry summer:) Still you certainly have lots of blooms for this time of year, Tina. I'd like to know more about the Chinese indigo; I just saw some at a local garden center on sale, but I'm not familiar with it at all.
ReplyDeleteRose, You would be on the edge of the indigo's hardiness zone but it is worth a try. It grows to 4-6 feet tall and I've read where it spreads by underground runners. I haven't dug my 'volunteers' up yet but will soon and let you know if that is the case. I love it so much. It has grown here about 5 years and has never failed to bloom all season long. The shade it casts is light and airy. It is drought tolerant-a real keeper. I'd say go get that one on sale at your garden center. I don't know of any other shrub that blooms as long here in our zone.
ReplyDeleteooh, can't wait to see your new project Tina. I'm sure it will be wonderful ~ you always do such a thorough, thoughtful job.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the Swallowtail on 'Miss Huff' is pretty wonderful too. I should try taking lantana cuttings and overwintering them ~ do you keep them in your greenhouse or indoors? It would save a lot of money if it would work since I buy quite a few plants.
Sorry to hear the news of a fellow nature lover passing. It's a loss to everyone when that happens.
Love those blue bottles. Fantastic how the light hits them. I can't wait to see what project you are up to now!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your friend.
Hugs,
Rosey
I agree about Miss Huff, she's a real trooper in my garden. Luckily she is winter hardy in my area. But I could make me some more bonus plants by taking cuttings! Thanks for the inspiration. :) Sorry to hear about your friend passing.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Joe. My first thought when I read that was I was glad he got a bed by the window. Am I wrong that he did not. Well if he did not, he will now forever have one.
ReplyDeleteLovely blooms Tina especially the bottles :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blooms. When you take cuttings from the lantana, do you keep them in water all winter, or do you plant them in potting soil after they root? Do you have to use rooting powder? I haven't used that stuff since I first started gardening. I think it was African violets I used it for.
ReplyDeleteHey, I have some rebar posts like yours! Thanks for the idea of putting bottles on them! Now, I need to see what bottles I have. I have some glass vases of different colors. I wonder if they would stand up to the elements outside.
Sue, I take cuttings of the lantana and dip in the rootone then put directly in flower boxes with a good quality potting soil in it. I winter the pots over in my garage or this year my greenhouse as it may be. It is most rewarding keeping the lantana each year. As you know it can grow rather big in just one season and boy do the butterflies love it. You are welcomed on the rebar posts. I love the effect in my garden. Most glass will stand up to elements but may fade in full sun.
ReplyDelete