Flowers In TheGardenLady’s Garden with a Few Photographs

Garden Bust by Dara Mina Ceramics with plant in head behind and primroses that are in seed in front.

I try to have flowers blooming as long during the year as flowers will bloom. That means that only when there is snow on the ground is my outdoor garden without flowers. Most of my flowers are in the sunny part of my property-in the front. The photos you see of my grounds are mostly taken on the sides to show how wooded and shady the property is.

People passing TheGardenLady’s yard have asked how many different flowers I have planted in my garden. I have never kept track. But since so many people have asked, I forced myself to sit down to make a list of plants on my property this year. I mostly have perennials growing.

Each year I plant some new perennials and some favorite annuals. I may plant new plants because some of the perennials plants do not return. For example, I have planted numerous heuchera but they didn’t seem to like where I put them and have never returned the following year. I love Spigella marylandica and have tried planting it twice but it never came back. One nurseryman told me it is a tricky plant in my area. The first year I planted the Trillium grandiflorum, it came back for a few years. Beginners luck. Since it disappeared, I have tried to replant it a few times but have not had success. But I don’t give up easily and will replant all these plants with the hopes that they will one day be happy in my garden. I replant those plants I love, but lost. I like to get new plants that I have never had or are new to the market. And I like to add annuals to the mix to be sure that I have flowers all summer long. Some of my favorite annuals are the common ones like marigolds and zinnias.

As I age, I want big flowers that will be show-offs in my garden. As much as I like the small gems of flowers that surprise when they are discovered, I want flowers that explode like fireworks. I enjoy it when walkers or drivers tell me they must go past my yard every day just to see what is in bloom. I am flattered beyond belief when I get compliments; like when my sweet French neighbor called my garden the Giverny of my town. But I also love it when birds-and hummingbirds- as well as butterflies and bees love what I plant. I love to watch the bees sucking furiously on the lavender, oregano, bee balm and other nectar plants.

My property is basically a woodland property. There are lots of trees and wild shrubs. And a stream bisects the property. So how do I get flowers if I have woods? Some plants tolerate some shade. I do get partial sun, about 5 hours, along the front of my property. Then I learned that my town allows planting between the sidewalk and the curb. Since this is where the sun shines on my property all day, this is where I plant most of my flowering plants. Since my property is a right triangle with the longest side along the street, I have a long strip to plant. The only problem is dragging hoses to water the plants at the bottom of the strip.

Right now the ‘ fireworks’ in my garden are the lilies, like the Asiatic lilies and the Hemerocallis or day lilies. Besides the lilies the most showy flowers are the hydrangeas, both blue and white. And though these beautiful blooms are the most striking, other flowers are in bloom like zinnias,marigolds,verbena, Albizia julibrissin- Mimosa tree, Echinacea, etc., etc., etc.

None of this would be possible without the products in the market that keep the deer away. I use lots of Liquid Fence. So far the stinky stuff has prevented the deer and rabbits from sampling my plants.

An incomplete list

Rudbeckia -Gloriosa Daisy ‘Tiger Eye Gold’ in sculptural basket with Hemerocallis fulva- the common orange daylily in the back

Crocosmia   crocosmiiflora
Crocus
Cyclamen   Dahlia
Delospermum   Iceplant

Deutzia

Dianthus   pinks

Forsythia

Lonicera sempervirens-Honeysuckle vine ‘Blanche Sandman’ climbing up an old ladder.

Gaillardia x grandiflora   Blanketflower
Galium   Sweet woodruff

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ on the side of my property in front of Rose of Sharon bushes, next to a Hosta plant.

Lilium asiatic -Asiatic Lily growing in front of my property with Chrysanthemum maximum -Shasta daisies behind them

Rose of Sharon

Rudbeckia   Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan

Viburnum carlesii   Korean Spice Bush, V. plicatum ‘popcorn’ and others

Papaver orientale Oriental Poppy Flower

Vitex   Texas Lilac http://www.plantanswers.com/vitex.htm

Hanging baskets with Impatiens walleriana double and single hanging on the side deck overlooking the wooded back yard. Also, sitting on the steps is another Rudbeckia’ Tiger Eye Gold” and a primrose, Primula Salvana, sits in a container.