Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Backyard Garden Tour For July


DSCN3721
I sure am glad I checked this post last night. I had only posted pictures but no description. Can't believe I forgot that but it happens. I've been busy cleaning the garage, downsizing things, and making other things for my garden so this post really wasn't on my mind. Nonetheless here I am. The above daylily is 'Fooled Me'. It is a wonderful bloomer with lots of flower buds even though it is a recent purchase by way of Walmart.
DSCN3727
I normally don't fill these pots with anything but with the master gardener tour and meeting over here in June I thought I probably should pot up some flowers. I found a great way to keep water in the baskets--hidden in the pot and covered with Spanish moss are pots that hold the impatiens.
DSCN3726
This is a long shot across the yard looking past the patio toward the 'Limelight' hydrangeas. I adore those hydrangeas so much.
DSCN3725
The Sunny Perennial Garden looking toward the Rear Center Garden and the back of the yard are quite full of plants. Next year I vow not to plant marigolds. It's always a hard thing for me because I get in a garden mode and just start annuals and cuttings and all sorts of stuff. I plant the plants out in the spring when the perennials are small hoping for a quick fill in. Unfortunately I not only get a quick fill in but an overfill by this time every year. Marigolds in the forefront are the offending plants this year as they have overwhelmed this part of the perennial bed.
DSCN3719
I took this picture from my deck. The water movement adds a great deal to my garden. Unfortunately my one and only goldfish who had lived in this pond for several years just went belly up. I am not sure why as the water is crystal clear and there have been no issues with this pond recently.
DSCN3717
My summer mosaic is looking good behind a seating area. This mosaic is oriented so the summer sun (which is high in the sky) shines through. I also have a winter mosaic oriented toward the south when the sun is low in the sky in the winter.
DSCN3716
Now to the lovely 'Limelights'. Remember this area used to have a swimming pool in the center of the path just two short years ago. If you'd like to see the changes click here for the making of these gardens.
DSCN3715
A shot from the deck near the house. Can you notice the Joe Pye Weed behind the hydrangeas? There are also Tartarian asters and cup plants planted in this area. This is the look I sought for from my deck. The plants had to make a big impact and be tall because this area is in a low spot. I like to bring the plants up to me. Some other plants in this garden are: cannas, 'Adagio' miscanthus, peonies, skullcap, irises, agastache, daylilies, a Japanese maple, astilbes, hostas, Annabelles, lilies, coneflowers and probably more I can't think of.
DSCN3683
'Diamond Frost' euphorbia is my absolute favorite annual! It blooms all summer long and goes with everything. I think I will for sure keep this one around even if I do get rid of marigolds. I use my 'Diamond Frost' as an overplanting for Pink Ladies which begin to bloom at this time. Unfortunately I just transplanted about 40 bulbs into this area under the 'Diamond Frost', and the bulbs just do not seem to have the strength to bloom this summer. No worries as next summer I am sure they'll bloom nicely.
DSCN3682
My two iris beds were built specifically for bearded irises. You see irises like to be high and dry with no mulch on them. My gardens are full of mulch so while some bearded irises do well in my gardens most don't. Here I have made ideal beds for the 35 or so special cultivars my good friends have gifted me with. I am very excited to see the rainbow next spring. The only drawback to these two beds is that they are just too small. I see I will have to do lots of dividing and will have to divide often. Dividing is something I hate to do.
DSCN3680
Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) is blooming but not as well as it usually does. The drought has probably affected these plants a bit but it also might be too much shade.
DSCN3679
Another look at the Sunny Perennial Border and the marigolds. There are mainly daylilies in this bed and my vision was to edge the bed with short marigolds. Ha, that was funny because 'Pesche's Gold' marigolds are very tall and robust marigolds. The marigolds have overwhelmed the daylilies but that is okay. There is always next year right? The silver leaved plant is night blooming jimsonweed. It was a gift from Geri a few years ago in the form of seedlings that had self sown in her garden. Each year since then I have a couple of seedlings come up in the garden. I leave them alone as this plant is not hardy here so self sown seedlings are the best way to get jimsonweed. It is a night blooming fragrant flower and a lovely plant for a moon garden. 


That's it for the backyard. I have prepared a July tour for the frontyard that will be coming up soon too....


in the garden....




Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

22 comments:

  1. I love it all and your mosaics!! Your baskets look very pretty to!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cherry! I'm working on a new project for the garden too so stay tuned.

      Delete
  2. This is Stellas mom...your garden is very very beautiful...i espically loved the mosaic in the garden...the next time i have a garden question i hope you don't mind if i ask you...i love your daylily picture...we are in the middle of a drought here in iowa so i am struggling even keeping my hostas alive....everything looks very bad! I can tell you really enjoy your gardens!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why thank you Stella's Mom! You may certainly email me anytime but I warn you I don't know half as much as I think I do when it comes to gardening-anything really:)

      Let the hostas go dormant. They'll come back next year or after the rains returned. I visited Iowa City and Cedar Rapids a few years ago as dear friend graduated from Iowa State. You have a wonderful state. Nice people and good soil!

      Delete
  3. I need to divide my bearded irises as they did not bloom well at all this year. I also have a love hate relationship with marigold... I prefer the bigger yellow blooms, those plants seem to play nicer in the garden for me. I remember when you had your pool and were writing about getting in it one summer, time sure gets by doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those marigolds are funny little plants for sure. No, I never posted about swimming in the pool as I rarely got in it unless it was when I was fully clothed and overheated from working in the garden. lol Yes, time passes all too quickly.

      Delete
  4. Well your garden doesn’t appear to be suffering from the heat at all! Everything looks great! I am LOVING the rock border.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so funny Randy because I just read a post on Les's blog where he does not like rock necklaces. I tell you I am happy to hear at least one other person does. The rock is wonderful in my garden and really sets of the beds. Wait until the frontyard as there are several raised beds there that really show well.

      Delete
  5. Now why did I not think to put a pot in my coco planters? Thanks for the idea!! I have not used them for years as they dry out so darn fast but next year I just may use them again. Funny thing is, I also use cement blocks on top of the stone border around the veggie garden to plant the small marigolds in and they would also stay dry so this year I did put plastic containers in them.

    I am with Randy also in LOVING rocks around gardens but I have trouble finding enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea on the plastic containers in the cement blocks Mom. I'm hoping your vegetable garden is doing fantastic this year!

      Delete
  6. I 'love' your gardens, and going back to see how the one area looked before was great, seeing the process/progress. You've done a wonderful job and I feel so right at home and want to look at everything.

    Thanks for the tour.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looking very nice Tina. I love Hydrangea paniculatas and bought a small (4 inch pot) Limelight this year. I can't wait for it to bloom. So far it is about 2 feet tall (maybe). H. paniculatas are super bloomers! Love that red chair in the top of the post!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great tour Tina. The designated iris bed is a good idea to keep them happy. I plant mine with lilies which don't mind the compost mulch, but do like it dry. I think the dry conditions are really affecting the coneflowers this year. Mine are also leaning like they need the sun, but they face South and that is not the problem. I think the roots are too shallow for support because of no rain.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So nice to see some long shots of your garden. The pool area transformation is still amazing to me. Sorry about the gold fish. Your garden just calls to be explored!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your garden looks lovely - you barely need words. My favorite part is your mosaic. I'd love to see a shot with the light filtering through.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love that lily. Will have to check it out. Sorry about the little fish. We don't have a drought problem here, just too much water. Rivers have finally gone down. My hydrangea still hasn't bloomed. May try to move it this fall when it cools off. My iris bed needs redoing bad. Only 1 bloom this yr. Some are re bloomers.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looking good girl! Boo Hoo on the goldfish. Maybe it was lonely... sigh....I was about to ask how do you keep the coconut baskets happy. I am struggling to keep mine happy as they dry out too quickly. Now I know the secret... Next year I will be a bit wiser... that Mosaic just shines....

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your summer mosaic, it makes me want to touch it :-)
    http://www.flowersforums.com/ruth/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful tour Tina. I grow lots of marigolds but for containers and veg gardens only. Those Limelight are gorgeous and I will have to think about a space I might put a few. I love all the gardens/rooms and whimsy. You know I want that mosaic for my garden too!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your garden looks great. You could plant marigolds in a pot. That way you can keep them without worrying that they will overwhelm the garden.

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!