Monday, June 8, 2015

One Bloomin' Season - Week Four

As I sit here preparing this post, it is raining - again.  And they say there is more to come.
Here's what's bloomin' this week.  First, the entrance to the North garden got a little more colorful.

This peony was labelled 'Red Charm' but it is more rose-pink than red, so I think it was mislabeled.  The patio furniture is out and for those of you who like eating your food covered with cottonwood seeds, be my guest.  Why do nice elms and ash trees get killed by insects and not these junky cottonwoods????  UGH!

I love this single white peony.  They remind me of eggs sunny-side up.  Like in this shot:

I don't grow coral bells for their flowers, but this old variety does put on a nice show.  This blooming 'Sweet Tea' (below) is grown for its pretty leaves.
I believe this next photo is Sedum selskianum, but not really sure, so if you know, let me know.
Unfortunately, the last two extreme winters managed to kill two of my old clematis.  This one up against a fence managed to survive, but it is struggling.  I need to use some fungicide on it.
This also was the first year that I had to cut all of my roses down to the ground.  I lost two of them, but this knockout rose is already blooming, probably because it spends the winter in a pot in the garage.
And last but by no means least, the flowers on the Kousa dogwood are opening, just not as large as some years.  It was another rough winter.  Oh, did I already mention that?
A few garden chores still remain.  I still have three more honeysuckle bushes to remove and a very old viburnum needs to have most of the old growth taken out.  Maybe by then the cottonwoods will be down spewing and I can just sit and enjoy the rest of the summer.

15 comments:

  1. Your flowers are so beautiful! I'd love to grow peonies but they don't do well where I live. I'll just have to enjoy them via your pictures.

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    1. Thanks. I have several things I cannot grow - like butterfly bush- which always seems to die in my yard.

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  2. Your pictures of your garden are beautiful. We have the same magenta peony. I would only get a 3 or 4 blooms but since my hubby took over-they have just blossomed! I love clematis but never grew any-I hope yours will rebound. I have to ask a garden question. We bought a cherry blossom tree. First off-I am not touching it so it has a good chance to live. It bloomed but we have no leaves. My hubby found out he over-watered it. The branches still look quite good. Do you think he killed it? Of course it's raining now but i hope it will be aok next year. It seems to have buds on it. Just asking

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    1. Well, I have several shrubs that have very small leaves. I think the fact that we had a bad winter and then some real warm temps followed by freezing weather made a mess of things. I am just waiting and hoping for the best. If there is green bark under the outer layer, it may just be in a stress condition.

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  3. I tried growing peonies in NC. Other people had beautiful bushes, I never got anything. Azaleas used to grow really well for me. Your pictures are great Denise. I just get to look at the park, not a bad view mind you.

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    1. My one regret about putting up the fence is that I no longer have the open view to the park. It wasn't much to look at, but made my yard seem larger. I guess I should say that my mother gave me a peony 40+ years ago when I moved in and it has really only bloomed the last ten years or so. I have a lot of patience.

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    2. I never got any signs of anything from mine. I was so disappointed. Think I may have said, couldn't grow hydrangeas either although they grew almost like weeds in the area.

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    3. My sister complains about her butterfly bushes taking over the yard. She should bring them here. Everyone I ever planted died.

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  4. Sure are pretty blooms. It been super hot in North Idaho and plants are using up the water.
    Stop in from AM Ramblins

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  5. I enjoyed your peonies - I have never grown them; don't know why. I own three coral bells. For the first time this year I included their flowers in bouquets. I hope you are finally getting some warmer weather. Rain is so unevenly distributed this year. Alana ramblinwithblogpot.com

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    1. It poured again yesterday morning and more rain expected this afternoon. After the rain I ran out and fertilized the lawn which was looking pretty 'washed out'. Temp got to 89 and very humid which is too hot for me.

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  6. Those peonies are amazing!!! Wow! And that purple flower... it looks a lot like a flower I see around Kyoto this time of year. What is it called? :)

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    1. It's a clematis vine. BTW, your hydrangeas are lovely today. I have no luck with hydrangeas that bloom on the prior season's growth. The winter here just nips all the buds, even though I wrapped all my plants last fall. They only have nice green leaves. Maybe next year.

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  7. Denise-- gorgeous gorgeous blooms!! Such beautiful vibrant colors!! I love peonies-- the pink one is stunning but that white one is over the top beautiful. The purple clematis is also so pretty-- your yard must be a showstopper this summer!!

    Vicki

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    1. Thanks for the kind words. More blooms on Monday. I can't wait for the weather to improve and the daylilies to put on their show.

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