gardening with soul

Fishy

2011-05-10T13:13:00.004-04:00

I'm sure I've said this before, but here I go again: I love my pond! It's my favorite part of my gardens. Even though the waterfall is unfinished (and not even running right now), the water is murky, the weeds are growing around it...it is my heaven.

The most difficult thing about having a pond and koi has been losing fish. There was the giant, fish-eating snake. And the dreaded heron. The snake is gone; the heron is not. The big heron decoy doesn't phase it. I have lost so many of my beautiful koi to it. I'm heartbroken when I remember all those gorgeous fish, so I am trying to enjoy the remaining ones and not think about it too much.

I only have four big koi left.

I will not give in though! I will have a pond of beautiful fish! I'm going to try running a fishing line across the edge of pond where Big Bird does his fishing. Please don't anyone tell me it won't work. I need my little bit of hope.

To restock, I've bought a few koi from ebay. It's my first time buying them online. My local place has closed, so it's my only option. I received the first two today, and they arrived healthy and ready to swim.

8" Doitsu Tancho Sanke

This guy was ready to go and was immediately swimming with the big fish.

5" Chocolate Chagoi Butterfly

I haven't received these three yet. Still waiting to see if I want to bid on one more (just one more!).

7" Kohaku

5" Shusui Butterfly

6" Asagi Butterfly

I wish I could afford to buy bigger fish, but they're just too expensive.

In other ponding news, my little courtyard pond is all cleaned up. I added three little, fancy goldfish to it over the weekend. They seem happy!

I still need to rock around it, obviously.

That's all my fishy news for now.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-09T16:55:00.011-04:00

It makes me happy that I have found my passion for gardening again. Being outside in my yard is my happiest place. I feel most myself there. Neglecting things for a year (two years, actually) really made for a lot of work, but it's fun uncovering and rediscovering everything. Like the book/movie The Secret Garden!

I spent some of my Mother's Day outside, among my dogs and cats and chicken and fish, planting annuals and tomatoes. Heaven.

My father game me the Planter's Peanut jar (in my wheelbarrow) full of lime years ago. He told me to toss a handful in when I planted a tomato plant. I am down to the bottom the jar now. I can't bear to use it all up. I'll have to save just a bit forever.

The sundial with Hen and Chicks was in my mother's flower garden. It's been sitting in my backyard for the past couple years. Husband and son drug it up to my driveway courtyard for me, and I filled up the empty spaces with new Hen and Chicks. The pointy part of the arrow rusted and broke off. I hope to be able to glue it or somehow reattach it. I love having things from my parents' gardens.

Out the kitchen door.

Down the back stairs.

'Cl. White Maman Cochet'

Flower Girl Hill

'William R. Smith'

'Graham Thomas'

One of my favorite roses. The color is amazing.

'Graham Thomas'

'Perle d'Or'

Love.

Front Garden

'Pat Austin'

Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

'Crown Princess Margareta'

'Molineux'

Happy Chickens

2011-04-26T21:45:00.003-04:00

I didn't get anything done outside today, except taking a few photos. I think I'm still recovering from all the work to have Easter here. Tomorrow I must get back to it!

I did order some stuff from Hirt's Gardens. This is my first time buying from them. I did see they have some negative reviews. Well, we'll see.

What I bought:

Strawberry Foxglove - Digitalis mertonensis

Old German tomato plants

Samurai Toad Lily - Tricyrtis

Kuchibeni Chinese Hardy Orchid - Bletilla

Hen and Chicks - Semperviven

I brought this statue from my mother's garden to mine. She loved my white Siberian irises, so this seemed like the perfect place. I'm thinking of painting this.

The gorgeous 'Clementina Carbonieri'

Clementina closeup

'Belle of Woking' clematis

Happy Hens

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

2011-04-24T00:09:00.007-04:00

I know it sounds crazy, but I miss my Clementine so much! She was really my pet. The minute I opened the back door, she came running, with the other girls following. She was the sweetest girl ever.

So what could help me get over my heartache? Only one thing that I could think of: baby chicks!

So I did it. I just ordered four chicks (the minimum order for my area) from My Pet Chicken. They're not scheduled to be here until August 8, so it will give me something to look forward to during the long summer.

Here's what I'm hopefully getting:

White Cochin

Partridge Plymouth Rock

Blue Cochin

Easter Egger

Yay!

Back in Business

2011-04-22T23:26:00.015-04:00

Today's purchases.

I can't believe it's been almost two years since I posted here. More than that, I can't believe it's been almost two years since I gardened. I had a rough spring/summer last year and just let everything go. But I'm back to it now! I have a renewed passion and many new ideas for my gardens.

I also have a few obstacles, the biggest being the dreaded kudzu. A creek runs along the back of our yard, and all it took was a sprig of the horrible stuff floating down and taking hold. I hate even writing about it. It feels like a never ending battle.

The other problem I'm facing is Rose Rosette Disease. I've lost two roses to it, so far. We found a wild rose with the disease, and I'm hoping that after destroying it, the rest of mine will be safe.

The saddest thing is I lost my favorite hen, Clementine, a few weeks ago. She was killed by a possum. I am so heartbroken over it still.

OK, that's enough bad stuff. After a year of neglect, the work is overwhelming, but I'm taking it a little at a time. I have cleaned up my little road garden and my main front garden, and they are ready to explode into bloom. I have already had irises and a few rose blooms.

'Batik'

'Little Showoff'

'Lady Banks'

'Pat Austin'

'Crown Princess Margareta'

'Comtesse du Cayla'

Saturday Project: Moss

2009-05-27T12:31:00.003-04:00

I have a great love for moss. I love the way it looks. I love the way it feels. I can just imagine fairies tip-toeing through it. I discovered a treasure trove of moss on the edge of our lot. I was extremely excited. I had moss plans!

First, I underplanted my potted Japanese Maple.

Next came my poor, neglected Buddha fountain (located beside door into garage).

The Before. So sad looking.

The After. Lovely!

Still need more moss to fill it up.
An experiment, as always. So hope it lives.

Other Stuff:

The Blues (and Whatnot)

2009-05-20T13:19:00.011-04:00

I really love blue flowers. I think they add so much to a garden. They especially look good with my yellow/apricot/orange roses and daylilies. I've been adding lots lately to The Garden of Good and Evil. I recently planted Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue', Echinops 'Plantinum Blue', Campanula persicifolia 'Coerulea', Veronica teucrium 'Royal Blue' and Delphinium 'Delfix Blue'.

Geranium 'Brookside'

Angelonia angustifolia

Delphinium 'Delfix Blue'
Delphiniums don't do very well in the south, but this is a smaller one, and they were selling it here, so I'm giving it a try. It's the most beautiful shade of blue.

I think I've obtained my goal of filling up this garden. I love that all-smushed-together cottage garden look. Plus it cuts down on weeds.

Lilium 'Tango Ladylike'
I love the unusual coloring of this asiatic lily. It's just about all faded out here. My lily love is fairly recent. I didn't like them for years and years. Now I think they're a great addition.

A few years ago, wild snapdragons (Linaria vulgaris) starting coming up everywhere in this garden. I like their delicate look, and they're great for filling in. They're really easy to pull out anywhere I don't want them.

I've received my last roses of the season. These are from Roses Unlimited. They send the healthiest, most beautiful plants. Now I just have to figure out where to plant them all. Only one has spot so far.

I got 'Clementina Carbonieri' (Replacing 'Mme. Charles' in Good and Evil. Now I have to figure out where to move 'Mme. Charles'.), 'Mrs. B.R. Cant', 'Duchesse de Brabant', 'Buff Beauty' and 'Adam'. I'm going to have to expand!

I'm finished ordering/buying plants. For this year. Maybe.

I adore garden statuary. I have several small ones. I so want something large and prominent. I don't even know where to look. Maybe I should hit the flea market.

Good and Evil Girl

Flower Girl, my favorite

This is a busted up statue girl from my mother's garden. She used to be part of a fountain. I'm thinking of using her in my future Ruins Garden.

OK, here are this week's roses:

'Graham Thomas', a favorite

'Mrs. R.M. Finch'

'Fair Bianca'

'Irene Watts'

'Martine Guillot'

On my back porch:

Some critters:

Henderson, being cool

Max, being Max

AmieRuth, being all proper

Clementine and Magloria, being sweet

Look at my lotus! It's huge and so so beautiful!

Please bloom, most glorious lotus!

Planting Again

2009-05-14T16:51:00.002-04:00

After all the rain, I finally got to start planting again today. The ground still could have been a bit drier, but I just couldn't wait any longer. I am overwhelmed with all I have to plant and everything that needs to be done. That happens to me every year though. I'm just trying to take it one area at a time.

So today I moved a rose 'Irene Watts' out from under the giant rose 'Martine Guillot'. I planted it on Flower Girl Hill. I also planted one of my new daylilies 'Madge Cayse' there. And I finally got the rest of my vegetables planted there: Four tomatoes, squash, cucumber and lemon basil. I still haven't finished degrassing that garden. That bermuda grass is enough to put me off gardening. I don't want to spray anything there, since I'm growing food. Plus I don't want to spray where chickens go. Let's face it, I just don't like to spray anything. So I guess I'll be digging it out for the rest of my life.

I cannot WAIT to have tomatoes!

This rose, clematis and foxgloves looked so pretty together this morning.

I think 'Fair Bianca' has the most beautiful bud of any rose.

'The Bride' has a beautiful form. It's just a tiny little plant though. I'm going to really baby it this year. It's on Flower Girl Hill and was being smothered by 'Perle d'Or.' I uncovered it today.

'Triomphe de Luxembourg' looks almost like tissue paper. I love it. It amazes me how many different flower forms roses have.

'Lady Emma Hamilton' is that color blend that I love so much. This one is coming close to stealing my 'Pat Austin' love!

Pond Week

2009-05-12T20:52:00.004-04:00

I'm all about making the pond beautiful now. Even when not looking its best, it's my favorite part of the gardens. I just love sitting by it, feeding and watching the fish. It's my most relaxing spot anywhere.

All the fish are looking healthy. I saw two baby koi today. That's always so exciting to find koi that were born here.

Here are Leo and Frida. Leo is the king of the pond.

The water is just starting to clear up. The whole place has been a mess since being neglected so long while the snake owned it (That's some sentence, ain't it?). I'm taking back my pond!

I worked today cleaning up the umbrella plants and pulling bermuda grass up and out of the back of the pond. (I can't tell you how much I hate bermuda grass. It's the bane of my gardening existence. Every year, it and Japanese Beetles make me question having gardens.)

You can see the black liner of the waterfall in this photo. I vow to have that waterfall rocked this summer.

I got this lotus last year. I was so excited to see it come back all healthy. I can't wait for it to bloom (Please bloom!).

The spring flush is over for most of the roses. A few of them are just starting though. 'Reve d'Or' has had its peak but still blooming a little.

The David Austin rose 'Evelyn' is just breathtaking. This bloom is huge. It's one of the roses on Pond Hill that hasn't grown much though. I'm working on them this year with lots of compost and mulch and food and water. And loving words of encouragement!

The sweet chickens. But what are they doing sitting around my eggplants?

My eggplant! Those darn chickens!

New Fish

2009-05-09T21:18:00.007-04:00

We went to Marsha's Koi today. It's such a pretty place. It's at Marsha and her family's home way out in the country, about 45 minutes from here. Along with koi, they also sell chickens.

I fell in love with their dog. Someone said his name is Fisher, but I always have to give everything my own name (I don't know why that is). He looked like an Oreo to me, with lots of middle, so I named him Double Stuff. I wanted to bring him home with me. I miss him!

"We thought you was a toad!"

They have several ponds. This is the one in their front yard. So pretty.

These tadpoles were giant!

Big pond in back.

I really love this black and yellow koi: a Ki Utsuri (I think. I have a hard time distinguishing between Utsuri and Bekko.).

Back at home, here are my two new fish:

After I said I had learned my lesson, I named this one again after my mother, Dottie II. It's not as dark blue as the first Dottie, but I had to have another similar one. I know I'll always think it's not as pretty as the original. Oh well.

Modigliani II. I think the snake ate the first Modigliani. I have a thing for sequels.

A beautiful waterlily in my pond.

Foxgloves in the Garden of Good and Evil. I so love foxgloves. They really do look like fairy flowers.

The girls have new ankle bracelets. Everyone has a different color for quick identification. Here is Clementine in lovely blue. She is my favorite, but don't tell the others!

An artistic shot. Ha.

Henderson impersonating a gargoyle, guarding the gardens from all evil spirits.

Waterlogged

2009-05-08T23:06:00.010-04:00

I did hardly any gardening this week. It was a week of rain and more rain. Everything is soggy. My big accomplishment was making plant labels! Sad. I will make up for it this weekend though. Somehow.

Lots of my roses are bloomed out on their big spring flush. It makes me sad. They'll be back though, right? Lots of other flowers to look forward to also. I can't wait for the daylilies.

My Antique Rose Emporium order arrived this week. Look at these beautiful plants.

Also received order from Daylily and Hosta Gardens. Big, beautiful daylily fans.

I have sooo much planting to do. The ground has just got to dry out soon.

Here's my Angel shade garden and courtyard area at end of driveway. I want to do something with that little pond thing. I may put a few goldfish in it. Definitely put water plants in it and do rocks around it. I did get white impatiens planted among the ferns.

Here's the arbor and gate in that area to back yard. Trying to decide whether to stain it or paint it white. What do you think?

'Cl. Margot Koster'

Siberian iris

Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

'Molineux'

Geranium 'Brookside'

'Jude the Obscure'
This rose has the most delicious fragrance.

'Phyllis Bide'
I so love this on the birdhouse pole, but it's already blackspotted.

'Teasing Georgia'
One of my favorites.

'Cardinal de Richelieu'
This rose is in too much shade in my Secret Garden.
It's so beautiful it deserves a better spot.

'Mrs. R.M. Finch'
One of my first roses.

'Perle d'Or'
A favorite.

'Graham Thomas'

'White Maman Cochet' and 'Graham Thomas'

For Mother's Day, I get to go to Marsha's Koi tomorrow to buy a new koi, since I lost two to the heron and who knows how many small ones to the snake. I'm still heartbroken about losing Dottie, my favorite. Lesson learned: Never name a fish after your dead mother.

Rainy Day Lists

2009-05-05T13:14:00.011-04:00

I haven't done any rain gardening today. I may go out later to feed the roses. I for sure am going to work on my plant labels/markers. I am finally getting my roses straightened out, and I don't want to forget any again. I still have good intentions of making garden maps.

I placed orders for roses and daylilies in the last week. I can't wait to get them all. I've planned in my head where some of them are going.

List ordered from Roses Unlimited:

Mrs. B.R. Cant
Duchesse de Brabant
Adam
Buff Beauty

List ordered from Antique Rose Emporium:

Jaune Desprez
Celine Forestier
Reine des Violettes
Mutabilis

List of additional roses I wish I had ordered:

Clementina Carbonieri
Cl. Cecile Brunner

List of daylilies ordered from Daylily and Hosta Gardens:

'Cherry Chapeau'

'Court Magician'

'Emperor Butterfly'

'Irving Shulman'

'Madge Cayse'

'Pumpkin Kid'

'Royal Saracen'

'Ruffle Doubled Frills'

(daylily photos from Daylily and Hosta Gardens)

List of garden wishes and dreams:

Ruins garden with crumbling wall, statuary, "black" flowers
Rose tunnel
Border and walkway around perimeter of back yard
Night/white garden

List of pretty, blooming things yesterday and today:

'Lady Emma Hamilton'

My first rose love 'Pat Austin'. I find its nodding habit sweet.

'Molineux'

Digitalis

Peony 'Maxima'. One of my oldest garden plants.

Can you tell I'm a bit obsessed with this arch and 'E. Veyrat Hermanos'?

'Teasing Georgia'

'Perle d'Or'

'Blumenschmidt'

'Rosette Delizy'

Lazy Sunday

2009-05-03T16:46:00.013-04:00

It rained early this morning. That was a good excuse for no planting today. It wasn't a very good excuse for no weeding, but I used it anyway. I really just needed a day off. I did go out to enjoy everything and take pictures though. The roses are peaking here in the NC foothills (at least they are at my house).

Even with weeds and planting to do, it's a paradise out there right now. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Gaze into the garden ball and come on a walk with me through my yard...

Garden of Good and Evil in front. I really need something on that blank brick. Rose? Clematis? Both? Hmm...

Garden of Good and Dizzy!

'Cl. Margot Koster'

'Crown Princess Margareta'

'Molineux'

Around left of house, through the arbor to the Secret Garden...

'E. Veyrat Hermanos' on arch is ready to explode.

It's a jungle back here! 'Teasing Georgia' on bird feeder.

'Apricot Nectar'

The ever elusive 'Marechal Niel' grows on arch at other end of this garden. It was huge, but this year only two or three canes are alive. So sad.

Take a break on the screen porch.

Back outside, around to backyard. Down the steps, through the pergola.

'Cl. White Maman Cochet' grows on pergola.

Behind pond is 'Mme. Charles'.

Look over to the right, a waterlily blooming in the pond.

Look up to see Pond Hill Garden. Don't notice all the empty spaces. Lots of roses and plants coming to fill those in! Also, try not to notice the unfinished waterfall to the left. Rock coming to finish it!

'Mrs. B.R. Cant' lives here. One of my favorites.

'Mons. Tillier'

'Rosette Delizy'

'Souv. d'Elise Vardon' I thought I had lost this rose.

Back up the stairs. To the right is Flower Girl Hill. More roses live here. Also space for my little vegetable garden. I've only planted a few things so far. Don't notice the grass I've yet to dig up.
At the top, look down to see the flower girl.

'Clementina Carbonieri' is at the top of Pond Hill Garden. Another of my favorite roses. It has the most amazing colors and fragrance.

Look down Pond Hill to see...

CHICKENS, of course!

Happy May Day

2009-05-01T16:35:00.016-04:00

While I was taking photos for my front yard tour post, I noticed how much needed to be done on my Front Porch Rose Garden. So yesterday I finished weeding it, moved a daylily from under a rose out to the front and mulched. I also cut an edge between garden and grass with my little hand hoe thingie (that's the technical term).

While I was weeding in front of group of 'Happy Returns' daylilies, I noticed some tiny daylilies in front of them. After going back through my hand-written garden notebooks, I discovered I planted 'Little Grapette' daylilies there. That made me all excited. I can't wait to see how that all looks this year. It's really good to have those notebooks to go back to for reference. I need to make sure I keep up with writing stuff like that down this year.

The lovely edge.

Iris 'It's Magic'.

I was feeling all ambitious, so I dug an edge around my St. Francis garden too. I thought I'd been outside a couple hours. I looked at time, and I had been working over four hours. I was so tired and sore last night I could barely move. I am not back into that kind of gardening shape yet.

Another thing that bothered me was the front of my St. Francis Garden being so bare. I swear every year there is a blank area at the front of this bed, because I can't figure out what to plant. I couldn't take it another gardening season! So I went to Lowes this morning and bought ten Angelonia plants (Angelonia angustifolia 'Serena Series'). I actually planted them right away when I got home. Yay me. Angelonia is my signature annual (That was supposed to sound all Southern Uppity. Ha.).

It looks so much better.

I'm trying to take time out of gardening to actually enjoy how beautiful everything is looking. It's just overwhelming to me. I have trouble with the fleeting beauty of flowers. I get sad about how temporary it all is. I really should have been setting up my easel and painting it all. At least I'm taking photos though, right?

In the Garden of Good and Evil.

'Cl. Margot Koster' rose on pillar.

Roses blooming:

'Mme. Laurette Messimy' (Front Porch Rose Garden)

'Pat Austin' (Garden of Good and Evil) This was my first rose many years ago. I still love the colors of it.

'Lilian Austin' (Secret Garden)

The many faces of 'William R. Smith' (Flower Girl Hill)

'Leonie Lamesch' (St. Francis Garden)

'Mme. Charles' (behind pond)

'Mons. Tillier' (Pond Hill)

'Clementina Carbonieri' (Pond Hill)

I have a few clematises. There not at their growing best though, because I've never pruned them. I need to remember and not be afraid to do that when it's time.

'Multi Blue' (Lady Banks arbor)

'Dr. Ruppel' (St. Francis Garden)

'Nelly Moser' (Secret Garden, on pillar with rose 'Phyllis Bide')

'Belle of Woking' (Garden of Good and Evil)

'Will Goodwin' (Secret Garden, with rose 'Teasing Georgia')
This is my favorite clematis.

Here's my faux Blue Heron. It looks real from a distance. I don't like it, but it'll be worth it if it saves my koi. This area behind my pond is a giant mess. I'm embarrassed to even be posting this photo. We're supposed to be getting a load of rock tomorrow for the waterfall and to replace the gravel around the pond. Lots of work!

My current flower obsession is daylilies. I really do have the daylily lust. I've been going through my old notebooks, making a list of the daylilies I have. I've looked at zillions of pictures online, making my daylily wishlist. It's way too long. I am going to order a few though. Now the impossible task of narrowing it down...

Front Yard Tour

2009-04-29T12:10:00.020-04:00

Part One of my yard tour.

Here is my St. Francis Garden, at the top of my driveway, by the road.
I like the bigger St. Francis statue from my mother's garden. I had smaller one here before that you could barely see after everything grew. I have two roses in this garden: Comtesse du Cayla, a china (back left) and Leonie Lamesch, a polyantha (back right). They're nice sizes for this little garden. I'm not sure about my feelings for the evergreen in the back. I think it's a Globe Arborvitae. I like having something evergreen there, but I would prefer something cone-shaped. I really love dwarf Alberta Spruce, but I'm afraid it would be too hot for it there. We're really not the right zone for it. Maybe I can find something else that size and shape.
Also in this garden are daylilies, irises, hardy geraniums, a salvia, a clematis, an echinacea and a few other things. I still have some blank space at the front. I really need to put something there, but I can't figure out what. I don't know why fronts of borders are so hard for me.

A 'Comtesse du Cayla' bud.

'Leonie Lamesch' and irises 'Good and True' and 'Grapesicle'.

Growing on front of house are Boston Ivy on left and Climbing Hydrangea on right.

On front porch.

I'm going to plant a row of 'Sunny Knockout' roses on the right side of porch, in front of row of boxwoods ( I got the last five at Lowes yesterday!). I want to plant purple daylilies in front of the roses, but I haven't decided on them yet. I've been looking at 'Strutter's Ball', but I'm afraid it's too maroon instead of purple/violet.

'Sunny Knockout'.

Zooming in on the Good and Evil Garden on right of house, in front of garage.

This is my main cottage garden area. I really want it to have that look. I haven't ever had it full enough, but I'm trying to accomplish that this year. Roses here include 'Cl. Margot Koster' on pillar; three of 'Pat Austin' that have never really grown much (I can't seem to get rid of them though, because I love the color so much. This was my first rose and still one of my favorites.); 'Molinuex' that hasn't done much either (I think there's a David-Austin-roses-don't-do-well-in-this-garden theme going here.); 'Sunshine'; 'Crown Princess Margareta' that is doing better than the other Austins here; 'Mme. Charles' that I planted last year. I ordered 'Reine des Violettes' for here just yesterday. I think there's one more in here, but I can't remember it right now. I'll have to look it up in old notes.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is one of my favorite books and movies, obviously.

Moving to left side of front porch.

Roses planted here are (clockwise from front left) 'Mme. Laurette Messimy', a china; 'Second St. Tea', tea; 'Marie d'Orleans', tea; 'Souvenir de Germain de St. Pierre (What a name!), tea. Also, peony 'Gay Paree' and several daylilies, including my favorite, 'Matisse'. I'm considering taking out 'Second St. Tea' and 'Marie d'Orleans', and replacing with 'Mrs. B.R. Cant', which I have ordered. There are three irises planted here, including one of my favorites, 'Batik'.

'Souvenir de Germain de St. Pierre' close, closer, closest.

Even farther left is the gate to my Secret Garden. In front of row of arborvitaes are 'Happy Returns' daylilies and 'Double Knockout' roses that I planted a few days ago. They're so small now you can barely see their red color. In between the daylilies and roses, I want to plant a row of some kind of tall, purple iris that would bloom same time as daylilies.

On this arch is rose 'E. Veyrat Hermanos'. It's full of buds now, and I can't wait until it blooms.

That's it for my front yard!

I Love the Smell of Wisteria in the Morning

2009-04-26T14:04:00.012-04:00

It's already in the high 80s this weekend. I'm not ready for the heat! I want more low 70s spring weather. In spite of the heat, I got a lot of stuff planted. My "pot ghetto" has been greatly downsized.

In the front garden/Good and Evil Garden, I planted Baptista australis 'Purple Smoke' (3) (I've wanted baptista for years but never got around to ordering it. I found this at Lowes. You just never know), Digitalis obscura 'Sunset' (3), Digitalis purpurea 'Apricot Beauty' (3), Digitalis purpurea 'Hyacinth Hybrids' (3) (Yes, I love foxgloves. I think they're the perfect cottage garden flowers), Campanula 'Kent Belle' (3), and Paeonia 'Bartzella' (Leftover from last year).
I really want to fill up every inch of this garden and have a true cottage garden effect.

In the roadside/St. Francis Garden, I planted Echinacea 'Summer Sky' and moved a Stargazer lily here from the Pond Hill. Also, moved the bigger St. Francis statue of my mother's to this garden (I had a small one but it got hidden by daylilies). I need to take a photo of it now.

I planted the six Knockout roses on the left side of gate to the Secret Garden. They are behind a row of 'Happy Returns' daylilies. I'm thinking of getting some tall purple irises to plant behind the daylilies, in front of the roses. I think this is really going to look good.

I planted two eggplants in half barrels on the back steps. I still haven't finished digging up the grass on Flower Girl Hill to plant rest of vegetables but almost! I love the way flowers and vegetables look planted together. I want to do more of this.

Pat brought home this table and chairs. This is at the end of my driveway. I am trying to create a sort of courtyard look here. To the right is a row of arborvitaes, about halfway up driveway. To the left is the shade garden/Angel Garden under the River Birch. I desperately need some big, beautiful art/scuplture/something on this fence panel.
A row of Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) planted in front of same fence panel. I'm thinking of adding white impatiens here.

Oh, I also finished planting Angel Garden. I like this patchwork look here. And the angel had facial reconstructive surgery! She got her face back! Well, most of it anyway.

What's blooming now:

'Belle of Woking' Clematis

Roses:

'Mutabilis'

'Marie Pavie'

'Mons. Tillier'

'Leonie Lamesch'

'Cramoisi Superior'

Irises:

'Grapsicle'

'Little Showoff'

Unknown passalong

'Good and True'

'Batik'

Creatures:

Lucinda

Clementine, my faithful gardening companion

Henderson

Princess ZelZel!

Extra, Extra: A Snakey Story

2009-04-22T11:00:00.006-04:00

I don't dislike snakes. I don't mind nonpoisonous snakes in my yard. I know they're beneficial and all that. This snake though has terrorized us for two years (This would be the third.). It made its home in the deck at our pond that houses the skimmer. Pat told me it was a copperhead. At first, I wasn't sure I believed him, but he seemed certain. Every time Pat had to clean out the filter and basket (which is pretty often), he had to pull off the hatch, not knowing if the snake would be waiting for him (it liked to curl up on top of the skimmer where it was warm). He tried several times to surprise it and kill it, but it was too fast and got up in the deck before he could get to it. It got to the point last year when we just gave up on our pond. I so loved to relax by the pond and watch my fish, but I just couldnt' enjoy it anymore. We even turned off the waterfall. The snake took over our pond.

I was determined to take back the pond this year. I was going to somehow find an exterminator or wildlife person to get rid of the dreaded snake. As I wrote last week, we just got our waterfall going again. We hadn't seen the snake so far. Yesterday, the pump quit and the waterfall stopped running. Pat thought the filter and basket at the skimmer needed cleaning. He carefully opened the hatch. No snake, so he got out the basket and filter and cleaned them. He was trying to get the filter back in, but it wouldn't go. It was hitting something. The something was...yes, the snake! It had crawled into the pump and met its demise. Pat got it out, and it was definitely a copperhead. Even I could recognize it. Also, it had a big bulge in the middle, undoubtedly a fish. I've had several smallish fish that disappeared soon after I got them. I'm sure that snake ate them.

So here are the grizzly photos. Even though I knew this snake was dead, I was still afraid of it and had to use zoom, because I was scared to get close to it!

Ding dong, the snake is dead (and I don't even have to feel the guilt of killing it)!

Back Home

2009-04-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

The trip to Chattanooga was wonderful, but I was glad to get back home to my gardens and animals. It rained again Sunday and yesterday though, so it's too wet to plant again. It's extremely frustrating. Since I can't plant, I buy! My pot garden keeps expanding. I need some drier ground!
Yes, I broke down/gave in and bought Knockout roses. I read something that said think of Knockout roses as blooming shrubs instead of traditional roses. That works for me. I have a space on the left front of my house, in front of a row of arborvitae trees where I'm planting them. There is already a row of 'Happy Returns' daylilies there. I think it will look pretty from the road.

I bought a few vegetable plants yesterday: Tomatoes (Better Boy, which my father always planted, and grape tomatoes. I wanted Sweet 100s but didn't find them.); bell peppers; banana peppers; yellow squash; sweet basil (an herb, I know). I also want eggplants but didn't find them either. I'll have to look elsewhere. I'm going to plant my vegetables on my Flower Girl hill this year. I really want a traditional potager with raised beds. Maybe next year.

'Lady Banks' rose is blooming. It grows in the River Birch and makes it look like the tree is blooming.

This doesn't look like much, but it's an azalea that someone sent when my niece Tracy died in February. I planted it in the Angel Garden (shade garden under River Birch).

Wisteria on the back deck. Wisteria runs rampant, like blooming kudzu, but I love it. Need to keep on top of it better though. There are vines everywhere. The second photo is the pergola overhead. I want to weave little fairy lights through it on this.

The view of Flower Girl Hill from the deck (looking to the right). The pond is just beyond. I can't wait until all those roses bloom.

The view straight out from the deck of backyard. I really want a brick path around the perimeter of backyard, with a border of all kinds of shrubs and big roses and evergreens. To the left of this, the yard slopes up to the sideyard, which is my Secret Garden area. We still need to put steps down from there to backyard. Somewhere along this route, I'd love a long rose tunnel.

I have so many plans! That's the fun of gardening.

p.s. I found the angel face! Well, most of it. Now to find glue...

Shade Gardening

2009-04-15T18:25:00.000-04:00

So, I got my orders from Bluestone and Wayside. The Bluestone plants were really nice; the Wayside plants, not so much. Why did I order from Wayside again this year? When will I ever learn? Most of what I ordered was for my shade garden, under the River Birch. I planted that today. I can't wait until it all fills in. I still have a few empty spots to fill.

I'm sorry for that faceless angel. I was going to try to fix it today, but I couldn't find her face. A missing face. How scary.

Planted:
Heuchera 'Frosted Violet'
Heuchera brizoides 'Bressingham Mix'
Astilbe 'Purple Lance'
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Hosta 'Brim Cup'
Hosta 'Aureonebulosa'
Tricyrtis 'Taipei Silk'
Epimedium 'Pink Elf'

Still left to plant. So far. I'm sure I'm not finished shopping.

I started making plant markers. I'm not sure how I feel about them. I think they can detract from the beauty of a garden, but I don't want to forget names. I could do garden maps, but I haven't so far.

I still haven't figured this one out. I've narrowed it down though. I believe it's Cops, Ingenuity, or Widow's Veil. I can't find photos of them though. Anyone?

SDB Iris 'Little Showoff'

SDB Iris 'Lore'

I know I take a lot of Bleeding Heart photos, but I just can't resist.

I couldn't decide which focus I liked better.

Chicken love.

Sad news: Another koi dead. This time it was my favorite koi, Dottie. I am heartbroken about it. I'm going to have to buy an ugly heron decoy.

Going to Chattanooga for the weekend. It's so hard to leave my gardening! I'll be back at it Monday.

Let's Talk Roses

2009-04-13T18:49:00.001-04:00

The view out my kitchen window on this rainy day. A peek of the pond in the first one. We just got the waterfall/filter turned on a few days ago. The water is really murky right now. I dream of clear water! Sad fish news: Walked down to the pond Friday to find one of the big koi dead on the path. Most likely the work of the dreaded heron. I thought the heron mostly got goldfish and couldn't catch the bigger fish. Wrong. So heartbreaking.
In the second photo, the pergola that Pat built last summer. Cl. White Maman Cochet is growing on the front right. I want to plant something big on the back. I was thinking maybe Cl. Pinkie, which is an Earthkind rose.

OK, roses. I had decided not to buy any more roses, but I really ~~wanted~~ needed another Perle d'Or (also Earthkind) for my front garden/Good and Evil Garden. I love Roses Unlimited's beautiful, healthy, ownroot, one gallon roses. They have a three rose minimum or pay more shipping, so of course I had to order at least three. Well, maybe six. I waited too late to order though, and all but two were already sold out. So were the next four I inquired about. So far, Mrs. B.R. Cant (One of the most beautiful and carefree roses. I already have one.) and Duchesse de Brabant (another Earthkind) are reserved for me, and I've inquired about Adam, Souv. de Mme. Leonie Viennot, Gilbert Nabonnand, Mme. Lombard and Mlle. Franziska Kruger. Notice that this all started with my desperate need for another Perle d'Or, which I'm not getting. By the way, a great place to read about and see photos of specific roses is the HelpMeFind website.
My Mrs. B.R. Cant from a few years ago.

I am down some roses since I made my list in 2005. I'm going to do a formal inventory soon and make new markers.

Next up: Daylily Lust.

An Introduction of Sorts

2009-04-09T19:38:00.000-04:00

Wisteria over deck.

I'm new here to Blogger. I moved my blog/journal over from Live Journal. We built our house 13 years ago on about 1.5 acres. It was just pasture and mud when we moved in, so all the gardens were from scratch. With the exception of trees and a few shrubs, I've planted everything myself that's here now. I like the concept of garden rooms and try to implement that idea. After I get everything cleaned up this spring, I'll do a photo tour of my yard and gardens. Gardening for me is an ongoing experiment, and I garden by trial and error, as do most gardeners, I believe. Oh, and (obviously from the photos so far) I have chickens! I got six chicks last summer: Three buff orpingtons and three plymouth barred rocks. All hens. I love them extremely. My favorite part of my gardens is my koi pond. It needs a lot of work still. I lost both of my parents in the past few years, and as a result of sadness, I seriously neglected my gardens. That is changing this year though! OK, enough babbling! Pretty picture time.

I had forgotten I had a white bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis ' Alba'). I love surprises like that.

I still haven't been able to indentify this SDB iris. It's making me crazy.

This one is SDB 'Jillaroo'.

My Bluestone Perennial order is supposed to be here tomorrow. So much planting to do!

Dogwood Winter?

2009-04-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

Wintertime is back! I can't believe how cold it is. I went outside to check on things, and my hands froze. Tonight is going to be even colder. I'll have to move some stuff into the garage, and I guess I should cover up my irises with buds.

I don't plant many annuals, but I do love Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia).

Photo from 2007 garden.
I usually buy violet/blue, but pink is beautiful too. I just love the form of this flower.

I also bought a few African daisies (Oesteosermum) Saturday. I needed some round flowers in my roadside/St. Francis garden (the names!).

Photo from this morning. Thank goodness I followed the rule about not planting annuals until April 15! I'll have to move these (still in pots) to the garage tonight.

I went to Farmhouse Gardeners's open house Saturday. Even though I didn't buy much, I just love to wander around that place. It's so beautiful. I did get a few things:

Hosta 'Brim Cup' (for under the River birch shade garden/Dot's Garden/Angel Garden)

Miscanthus s.'Variegatus' (for Pond Hill)

Heuchera brizoides 'Bressingham Mix' (for shade garden)

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Daruma' (for Pond Hill)

(I'm trying really hard with the Latin-esque thing!)

Here's my little shade area:

I have several things ordered to plant here also. Notice the concrete angel (Concrete Angel would make a great song title. I'll have to work on that.). My mother's beloved angel. I moved it into my garden from hers, and look what happened to it at my house.

Look even closer!

My guilt is huge about this. It did break off in (mostly) one chunk though, and I'm going to try to glue her face back on! Ha. How sad.

Here's your daily moment of chicken:

Oh, and we're on The Unimpressed Chicken! Yay!

First Iris

2009-04-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

My first iris is blooming. I can't identify it now, but I'm going to check notes and figure out what it is. It's really beautiful.

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra. Sidebar: I read a rant about the evils of writing about plants using their common names, instead of proper Latin ones, and now I'm all nervous about it. I go back and forth in real life.) are one (are one?) of my favorite flowers. I love their delicacy. This is in my shade garden, under a River Birch. I have lots of new stuff to plant there. Its official name is Dot's Garden, after my mother, aka The Angel Garden. I have a real problem with garden names.

Rose arch with 'E. Veyrath Hermanos'. I can't wait until this blooms. This leads into my Secret Garden, which is a huge mess at the moment.

My front garden aka Garden of Good and Evil (Previously know as The Fairy Garden. See what I mean about the name problem?!). I ~~want~~ need this to be FULL.

Today's gardening consisted of weeding (which includes cutting dead crap out of roses) on the Pond Hill. The chickens and I got about a third of it done. Clementine, especially, is my faithful garden companion.

Watch out for hose hell!

Catching Up Already

2009-04-04T23:20:00.000-04:00

So last year I thought it would be really funny to put this rubber snake on a stone in my front garden. How funny when I scare someone, haha! Of course, I grabbed it while weeding, jumped a mile and screamed bloody murder. It was rubber snake karma, I tell you!

I've been doing lots of weeding and cleaning up. I'm ready for planting and plant relocation.

I placed orders at Bluestone Perennials and Wayside Gardens this week.

From Bluestone:
BRUNNERA Jack Frost
DIGITALIS Obscura
DIGITALIS purpurea Apricot Beauty
DIGITALIS Hyacinth Hybrids
CAMPANULA Kent Belle
ECHINACEA BIG SKY™ SERIES Summer Sky
TRICYRTIS Taipei Silk

From Wayside:
Astilbe 'Purple Lance'
Ilex Southern Gentleman (Male Pollinator)
Epimedium 'Pink Elf' PP#17,228
Hosta 'Aureonebulosa'
Heuchera 'Frosted Violet' PP#15,085

Some happy chicken photos.

Saturday Jumpstart

2009-03-22T16:59:00.000-04:00

Went to Lowes and Home Depot today to check out their perennials. It's still really early, but I found a few things.

The haul.

I'm trying to fill up the little roadside garden. I planted Mediterranean pink heather, sedum 'Stonecrop', lithodora 'Heavenly Blue', and stachys 'Silver Carpet'. I also planted a hardy geranium 'Striata' that I never got planted last year.

Stonecrop.

Heather.

Planted hollies in pots and geraniums. I'm thinking of toning down the blue doors with some stain. I really just need new front doors.

I also bought lettuce seeds, gourmet greens mixture, and sunflower seeds.

I moved my good and evil girl.

Pitiful pansies! I haven't finished weeding this garden. I'm hoping to fill it up with lots of foxgloves and other cottagey flowers.

Bad chicken!

It's Spring

2009-03-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

I've been weeding front gardens. I checked my journal from last year, and I'm getting over a month's head start, so that's a good sign, right? I'm trying not to have unrealistic expectations, but I really do hope to have everything looking nice again this year. I have lots of work to do.

Roadside garden weeded and ready for the planting of more beauty.

I have a few things leftover from last year that I never got planted (and they actually lived through winter), one of which is a Bartzella peony. I think I bought it from ebay.

Paeonia'Bartzella' has flowers of deep sulphur yellow with red flames at the center; some blooms can be 9" across. Plants are very big; they can ultimately reach 4' with a similar spread after 5 yrs, although more likely to be 2-3' in height and spread. Plants can take 3-5 years to reach full maturity. 'Bartzella' is a very rare plant, a hybrid of a herbaceous and a Tree Peony. While 'Bartzella' more closely resembles a Tree Peony in growth habit and flower form, its culture is the same as any herbaceous peony, except that it will tolerate partial shade as well as full sun.

It sounds wonderful.

Went to buy chicken feed this morning and found lots of sweet chicks! I resisted.

Long Time No Garden

2009-03-15T22:28:00.000-04:00

I love moss. My happy place is a bed of moss under a tree by a stream. I want to plant moss under my Japanese Maple, around my fountain.

This moss wall is what I really want:

(photo from Moss Acres)

Chicken Fever

2008-09-05T23:06:00.000-04:00

I am so in love with my chickens!

Lucinda, Magloria, Arlene, Clementine, Frida, AmieRuth

I read some Faulkner to them, but Frida obviously wasn't impressed! Maybe it was just the yucky Oprah sticker on my book.

Lucinda is my sweet girl.

AmieRuth's namesake and Godchicken. Isn't she beautiful?

Steppin' out!

Today's Garden

2008-07-05T23:15:00.000-04:00

This is a hard time of summer gardening for me. It's starting the really hot and humid season, and the weeds are trying to take over. I'd much rather be inside. I wandered around outside a little this morning and watered some, but now of course it's pouring rain. It always works out that way! I'll never complain about the rain though.

Farmhouse Gardeners

2008-06-11T09:44:00.000-04:00

I have some updating to do here, obviously. There hasn't been much gardening going on for the past couple weeks due to the horrible heat. We've been in the high 90s. Record breaking for this early in summer. I do have some backtracking to do though. And I have so many things waiting to be planted.

This morning I went to my favorite nursery, Farmhouse Gardeners in Statesville, NC.

I purchased my holy grail of plants: Black Bamboo. I've wanted it for at least 10 years, when I first saw it at the NC Zoo. It's been elusive and more than I could afford. It's still more than I could afford really, but I had to have it. It's going by the pond.

The rest of my haul included varius coleus, an angel begonia, staghorn fern, birdnest fern, basil, bush cucumber, crookneck squash (I should have already planted vegetables, I know) and a 'Carolina Blue' chaste tree.

It's such a beautiful place. I could hang out there all day.

Marsha's Koi

2008-06-08T10:45:00.000-04:00

I had such a fun trip yesterday morning to buy new koi. We went to Marsha's Koi, which is about 45 minute drive away. It's such a beautiful place with beautiful ponds and fish, and the people are so so nice. I got to pet a cat, pet a dog, pet chickens, get my hand sucked on by koi and eat cherries. It was a great morning.

My new koi: Matisse, Calliope, Gauguin.

This reminded me of the cherry tree I had when I was little. I so loved it. These cherries were delicious. I need a cherry tree.

Pond Life

2008-05-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

Even though I haven't been posting, I promise I've been gardening. I have lots of catching up to do here, but I thought I'd do a post about my favorite part of all my gardens: My pond.
Colorado waterlily

Sitting by my pond, feeding the fish and watching the dragonflies and spiders, is the most relaxing thing in the world to me. I just love it.

The water is starting to clear up for the season. In a week or two, it should be completely clear (keeping fingers crossed).

This bridge is from my parents' pond. I'm painting it red. This is the before picture, obviously.

I so love my fish! They have such personality.
All my koi have names:

Leonardo da Vinci (Leo), King of the Koi
Zelda
Frida
Romeo (Juliet didn't make it)
Bou
Dottie
Modigliani
Pablo II
Dido
Salvador
Georgia
Blue Boy
Princess Buttercup
Vincent
Rossetti

Two new baby koi born in my pond:

Suzanne Valadon
Toulouse-Lautrec

I also named a Black Moor, Blackie #2, and a googly-eyed goldfish (which is obviously an offspring of Blackie #2), Mr. Limpet.

Phyllis Bide and Other Stuff

2008-05-13T16:58:00.000-04:00

I received my Wayside order and got most of it planted. I planted the Rozanne geraniums in the Roadside Garden; the Orion geraniums and the blue malvas in the Fairy Garden; and the epimedium pubigerum, which is supposed to do well in dry shade, in the Under-the-Riverbirch Shade Garden (which I'm renaming the Dot Garden after my mother). Oh and I sprinkled some foxglove seeds in the shade garden too. They are so tiny! We'll see what happens with them.

I also planted one of the Vintage roses, Mme. Charles, in the back of the fairy garden.

I have to get my tomatoes planted today! I need to find a bag of lime in the garage. My daddy always told me to throw a handful of lime in a tomato plant hole. I also hope I have some compost.

I need to make a trip to garden center for a couple bags of mulch for fairy garden. Baby weeds are starting to sprout again like crazy along the border. I need to mulch that area to keep them at bay. I also want to get some kind of garden tool oil. I'm ashamed to say I have two pairs of rusty Felco pruners. I need to steel wool and oil them. I want to look for my favorite annual, angelonia, too. I'm going to plant lots of those this year. They're so beautiful and will bloom forever.

Here is the wonderful polyantha Phyllis Bide in my overgrown (I need to get to work on it!) Secret Garden. I think I planted this two years ago. I fell in love with it from a photo in the beautiful book Landscaping with Roses by Jeff Cox. I just love its raggedy goodness!

May Days

2008-05-07T17:07:00.000-04:00

I've actually been doing a little gardening. Yay me.

The roses are just going crazy now. They are making me fall in love with them all over again. Of course, when the Japanese Beetles move in, I'll be swearing off roses forever again.

Oh, I recently reread Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden. That so puts me in the mood for gardening. I love gardening memoirs. I've also read From the Ground Up by Amy Stewart. I'd love to find more books like those.

A line I like from Mrs. Whaley: Everything we use in a garden either adds or takes away from its beauty.

I just got three roses in the mail from Vintage Gardens! My second Mme. Charles, Marie d'Orleans and McClinton tea. Now I have to decide where to plant.

OK, time for lovely photos.

My new favorite rose (this changes daily), Austin's Crown Princess Magareta

Clematis Will Goodwin

Iris to be identified later!

Clematis to be identified later!

Souvenir de Germain de St. Pierre

Mme. Laurette Messimy

Leonie Lamesch

Comtesse du Cayla

my other favorite rose, Clementina Carbonieri

William R. Smith

Teasing Georgia

Phyllis Bide

Mme. Charles

I think this is Polly Sunshine

Apricot Nectar
The amazing Marechal Niel

Last Day of April

2008-04-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

More weeding today. I almost have fairy garden all cleaned up. Then I have a zillion new things to plant there.

Today's lovelies:

Mutabilis I love this China so much that I'm ordering another one. It blooms forever and just cheers me up to see.

I love how these limbs of this redbud are growing.

Mons. Tillier

Ordering Crazy

2008-04-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

I did no gardening yesterday or today. Yesterday I had an excuse: It was raining. Today was just pure-t laziness.

Here is photo I took today of the China rose Mme. Laurette Messimy.
This rose has grown so much in two years. This will really be first year to see it big and full of blooms. I think this one is beautiful, but the photos I've seen of it online aren't that attractive. Looks like it fades fast. We'll see.

All my roses are just full of buds, waiting to explode. I can't wait.

I did do lots of plant ordering/buying the past two days.
Daylilies from ebay (ebay photos):
Edge of Darkness
Mildred Mitchell (which I've wanted for several years)

I also bought from ebay peony Gay Paree and echinacea Twilight. I'm bidding on another peony Bowl of Beauty, which I love love love. I'm going to plant one of the peonies in front of the roses in my Front Porch Garden (gotta come up with better name!). The other I'll maybe put in Fairy Garden, which is also in front yard. I have a white peony there that I'd rather have in the back, but it's so big and established now that I don't dare move it.

I ordered three tea roses (!) from Vintage Gardens:
Mmme. Charles (My second. Such a great tea.)
Marie d'Orleans
McClinton Tea

My Wayside Gardens order (I know a lot of people don't like Wayside, but I've never really had any problems):
Qty 4 Mazus reptans
Qty 3 Malva sylvestris Blue
Qty 3 Geranium 'Rozanne'
Qty 1 Epimedium pubigerum
Qty 3 Geranium hybrid 'Orion'

Stay tuned for actual gardening tomorrow!

Back Again

2008-04-27T18:03:00.000-04:00

I'm really going to make an effort to keep this journal updated again. I neglected my gardens all last year after my mother's death, but my gardening obsession is back full force. Yesterday I planted coneflowers (echinacea), After Midnight and Summer Sky, in my front (fairy) garden. I've been working hard to get all the weeds pulled there. It's in not great shape after a whole year of neglect. All the lamb's ear there from my mother's house died. It had thrived for years. So strange. Anyway, I'm going to add lots more perrenials. I even bought some seeds to try. I've never had much luck with direct sowing but maybe this time.

I have roses blooming!
Iris It's Magic
Rose Leonie Lamesch, Irises Good and True and Grapesicle

Leonie Lamesch
Marie Pavie

Clematis MultiBlue
Mutabilis
Handmedown Iris

September Roses

2006-09-07T18:36:00.000-04:00

The most gardening I've done lately is pulling a few weeds to take this photo! I'm deeply ashamed.

This is the first bloom from my little Precious Dream by Ralph Moore, purchased from The Uncommon Rose. It's so pretty.

Also blooming today is the bodaciously beautiful bourbon, Souvenir de la Malmaison.

Bad Gardener

2006-08-16T18:41:00.000-04:00

Austin rose Lady Emma Hamilton
(photo from David Austin catalog)

I have been so neglectful of my gardens and this journal lately. A comment prompted me to update.

My gardens are all full of weeds and Japanese beetles! It's been so hot, and I've been so lazy. I vow to get out there soon and create some beauty. Or something.

The above rose is one I've been waiting on for two years now. It's finally for sale in 2007. I've preordered, of course. Isn't it beautiful? I have a thing for orange/yellow/apricot roses.

Spanish Lavender

2006-04-25T19:35:00.000-04:00

Spanish Lavender

I gardened for 3 hours this morning. Got some things done from my yesterday list: Numbers 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13. Pretty good, huh? I also planted Irish Moss and Scotch Moss around my Good and Evil statue and planted a 6-pack of Salvia 'Victoria Blue.'

Later this afternoon I want to plant 2 tomato plants: Big Boy and Better Boy. I plant them in half barrels. I only have 4 plants total. Those 2 and Sweet 100 and Grape Tomato.

The many faces of rose 'Mutabilis' The blooms change colors as they age. One of my very favorites. This is in my backyard, near pond.

Polyantha Rose 'Leonie Lamesch' planted last year in Roadside Garden. I adore polyanthas.

Clematis 'Belle of Woking'.

I can't remember name of this clematis. It's planted on arch leading to pond with rose 'Cl. White Maman Cochet'. I promise to go back through garden notebook and identify.

Rose 'Cl. Souvenir de la Malmaison' on left side of pond arch.

China rose 'Slater's Crimson China' planted beside 'Mutabilis'.

Wisteria on pergola over deck.

White Siberian Iris.

Unknown orange iris.

Finally Roses

2006-04-24T20:40:00.000-04:00

Austin rose Lilian Austin

I came home from Tennessee trip to some of my roses blooming. There's nothing quite as beautiful as a rose. Although, the irises I planted last year are making me flower happy too.

I worked in front/garage/needsabettername garden for about an hour and half this morning (Maybe I'll call it Garden of Good and Evil, since I have that statue there. I used to call it the Fairy Garden. I obsess about such things.). I thought I'd get some stuff moved and planted, but I spent all that time weeding and digging up wild violets that are trying to take over.

Here's a list of what I need to do in that garden:

1. Move some of orange lilies to back.
2. Move tiger lilies closer to front.
3. Divide and spread bigger daylilies.
4. Move columbine plants that are now under peony.
5. Move some of back irises to middle.
6. Dig up dead rhododendrons at foundation. Replace with? Either boxwood (boring, I know, but makes good backdrop for flowers) or some type of dwarf hollies.
7. Plant Endless Summer hydrangea in left corner.
8. Transplant some lamb's ear to left side.
9. Transplant some toad lily to left side.
10. Plant Angelonia either here or Roadside Garden.
11. Tie up pillar rose.
12. Plant roses: Marianne and Paul Crampell.
13. Dig up two roses on left that didn't make it.

I think that's it for now. And that's just in that one garden! I haven't even started on the back ones yet. Also I have lots to do in Secret Garden. I'll make list for that later.

Another shot of Lilian Austin

Austin rose Tamora

The ever elusive yellow noisette Marechal Niel.
It's gotten so huge.

Columbine

My little Roadside Garden. This is a new tiny garden area I made last year. Not a lot blooming here yet. The two roses I planted, Comtesse du Cayla and Leonie Lamesch are starting to bloom. There are both still very small though. This beautiful iris below from Zebra Iris is in this small garden bed. I think it may be Bewilderbeast. I will look back at my notes to make sure.

Another one from Zebra Iris. I will check notes for name. Verified name: 'Alpha Gnu'.

Unknowns.

Clematis Will Goodwin in Secret/Bird Garden.

Picture Day

2006-04-12T21:03:00.000-04:00

My garden isn't doing a lot yet, but here are some things.

The wisteria is just starting to bloom. The fragrance is already intoxicating.

Waiting to be planted.

He's all sad with nothing blooming around him yet.

Remember her?
I'll finish her when everything is blooming there again.

Now where did Hendy come from?!

It's Gardening Time

2006-04-11T21:14:00.000-04:00

OK, it's BEEN gardening time, but I am just now starting to get motivated again.

I bought new Felco pruners this morning (#6 for all you in the Felco know) and was all ready to start pruning my 80+ roses, and then it started raining! *sigh*

Is this a sign that I should just give up on the gardening here?

September Day

2005-08-25T21:17:00.000-04:00

Vinca likes the heat.

I all but abandoned my gardens during these past weeks. It's just been so hot. I've tried to keep things watered, but that's been about the extent of it. The weeds have taken over!

I decided to get back to things after the boys started back to school this morning. I weeded my new roadside garden (I'm not going into the split pants incident here!). It was full of crabgrass and other assorted junk. I also planted a few more things there: a daylily 'Matisse', a TB iris from Zebra Iris, 'Gazellegant' (bought from their ebay store), and three 'Hidcote' lavender plants (my favorite lavender).

Not much is blooming right now. Just a few rose blooms and the butterfly bushes. I probably should plant more annuals to get through this part of summer. September should bring another big rose bloom and some reblooming daylilies and irises. I wonder is it too late now to feed my roses once more? I must look into that.

A baby Austin rose, 'Christopher Marlowe'.

I'm going to try to take one area a day (or a few days for some) and get everything weeded. I still have roses to plant! I've been waiting for other things that have to done in that planting area first. Isn't that always the way? What I really need to do is update my planting maps (I probably said that last post) to reflect the irises and daylilies I've planted. If I don't, I'll never remember what is what next year.

Two More Roses Planted

2005-07-10T21:22:00.000-04:00

Rose 'Souvenir de Germain de st. Pierre' Ain't that some name?

I planted this rose and one called Second Street Tea this evening in a new garden area we'll call the Front Porch Garden (I'm so creative!). I grew up on Second Street, so how could I resist? And after reading this description of Souv. de Blah Blah in Vintage's catalog, I had to have it:

An absolutely delightful rose of the Duchess de Brabant style, particularly similar to that rose in its large, globular flowers of bright cherry pink, yellow at the petal bases, blooms opening rather helter-skelter, flamed with white, rather like old parrot tulips in appearance.

Doesn't that sound beautiful? It arrived full of these glorious blooms. I think I have a photo.

Here's another of its blooms:

I don't have a photo of Second Street Tea yet. It's still really small.

I have 3 or 4 more roses to plant in that area. I need to dig up some grass first really. That is so much work. Maybe in the morning I can get started on it. I've got to get those dwarf irises planted.

That's all for today.

So Behind

2005-07-08T21:31:00.000-04:00

Waterlily 'Colorado'

I don't know where to begin updating. I've done lots of gardening. I have kept up with most of it in my written journal. I'll just have to try to catch up.

I've acquired more roses.

From Vintage:
Thomasville Old Gold
Souv. de Germain de St. Pierre
Second st. Tea
Sunshine
Paul Crampel
Leonie Lamesch

From Roses Unlimited:
Eugene de Beauharnais
Duchesse de Brabant
Polly Sunshine
Borderer

And another Christopher Marlowe from J&P.

I finally got Pat to rip out the Golden Thread and rest of juniper from the roadside bed. I replanted with the roses, Comtesse du Cayla and Leonie Lamesch; the daylilies, Strawberry Candy, Happy Returns and Lake Norman Sunset; TB yellow iris; IB purple reblooming iris; May Night salvia. It doesn't look like much yet but hopefully will fill out and look good.

I replanted part of my Secret Garden. The area with the angel statue had a horrible looking Abraham Darby rose that I dug up. I moved a post with birdhouse on top and planted Phyllis Bide to train up it. Also planted two other polyanthas there, Polly Sunshine and Borderer, the china Eugene de Beauharnais, and the gallica Cardinal de Richelieu. I will take photos soon. Oh, here is one of Borderer.
Borderer. Such a sweet, little rose.

Pat got biofilter built for pond. The water has cleared up a little. It's supposed to take 6 to 8 weeks. It's been 2. I can't wait for clear water.

I went daylily shopping at place called Stacked Rock Gardens. Pat was with me, so I didn't go overboard. I bought:
Lake Norman Sunset
Lake Norman Spider
Pink Monday
House of Orange
Little Zinger - bonus
Spanish Masquerade - bonus

Oh, I also got daylilies I bought from ebay:
Spanish Masquerade
Cloth of Glory
Velvet Rose
Eye Catcher - bonus

Today I got SDB irises I bought from ebay:
Jillaroo
Muse
Cops
Ingenuity
Yipee
Widow's Veil - bonus
Lore - bonus
Skyray - bonus
Sea Monster - bonus
Lots of bonuses!

Enough for now! I will update more tomorrow. I'm planning/planting new garden in front.

Pretty Pictures

2005-06-16T21:54:00.000-04:00

I went out about 7:00 this morning, determined to get something accomplished. I planted my new Perle d'Or (I killed my other one moving it. So sad. Actually, I COULD blame it on Pat, since he chopped the roots (!), but I won't. While I was working there (Flower Girl Hill), I saw a daylily hidden under huge red salvia, so I got that moved out. I also did some weeding. Oh, and I spray painted one side of a boring, wooden trellis. I'm painting it French Blue or Garden Blue, as I call it.

I bought my very first ebay rose. Buff Beauty, which has been on my wish list for about 4 years now. It came yesterday. Very nice! I have ordered soooo many more roses. That's it for this year though, I swear.

Nick's radishes. I think it's so amazing to grow something from seed.

New Lights

2005-06-16T21:53:00.000-04:00

Here is one in the set of garden lights Pat gave me for anniversary. They're in my Secret Garden. I just love them.

I got a little more done this evening. Planted rose Veilchenblau at end of driveway, in front of fence section. I had to dig out big white irises there. Now I have to find somewhere to plant them. They didn't get enough sun there anyway. I also potted up two roses from little bands, Celine de Forestier and Comtesse du Cayla. Hope to get them planted soon though. My goal is to have no roses left over the winter in pots. Of course, I have bunches more coming.

I got two today I ordered from The Uncommon Rose: Marianne and Precious Dream. They are bands also. I need to get busy!

After all my hard work, I had a margarita by the pond. I'm quite relaxed now.

The "garden wall" edging I bought at Farmhouse Gardeners. It's around my Bird Garden. I just love it. Need more though! They're supposed to be ordering more. I hope so.

Daylilies

2005-06-15T22:01:00.000-04:00

I love lots of other flowers besides roses. Another is daylilies. My grandmother was a daylily gardener. She did hybridizing even. It was her love. I have some of her daylilies. Also my friend Tim used to grow hundreds to sell. I have some of his too. And some that I've bought myself. I love having plants from people I love. It makes them so special. I wish I had all my daylilies identified. I may work on that.

I gardened for about an hour this morning. Daniel helped me dig up the Austin rose Heritage. I'm tired of its blackspot. I'm going to replace with Duchesse de Brabant. I also gave my Fairy tree a big haircut. It hasn't been looking much like a standard lately, more like Cousin It. Then I moved the daylily Barbara Mitchell fromm the too shady end of driveway to the other side of pond area in front of tea roses I recently planted. I stayed out about an hour. Already hot and humid here. That's all I can do until maybe tonight.

Yesterday I went crazy again with the rose ordering. More on that later.

Busy

2005-06-11T22:29:00.000-04:00

David Austin's 'Tamora'

I've been working in my Secret Garden/Bird Garden the past couple days. I couldn't decide whether or not to get rid of Tamora with all her blackspot but decided to clean her up, spray her, feed her, and give her another chance. Such beautiful blooms!

Today I groomed (my word for deadheading and light pruning) Teasing Georgia and Lilian Austin in Bird Garden and fed T.G., Mlle. Franziska Kruger and Molineux before I ran out of food. Need more RoseTone! I also planted a pink penstemon there and clematis H.F. Young to climb with T.G.

I dug up Abraham Darby. He was such a mess. I did save some cuttings to try to root. Pat moved 4x4 post (with bird house on top) to that spot, and I planted Phyllis Bide there. I'll have to take a photo. I also want to plant a clematis there. Maybe Princess Alexandra (Wayside). I left Basye's Purple beside that area, but I think its time is limited. I'm thinking of planting something big and pink there. Maybe a once bloomer. That area is in some shade. There are a ton of irises there that I need to divide. I think they're the reblooming purple ones, but some are planted too deep and not blooming. I will probably take most of them out and maybe plant some other colors there. I also want to plant some daylilies there. May go to local daylily sale next weekend for new varieties.

Oh, I also had Pat trim up the Birch tree in Bird Garden to give the roses there more sun (Teasing Georgia, Mlle. Franziska Kruger, Molineux, Lilian Austin, Lovely Fairy).

One of my anniversary presents was a set of garden lights! They're so beautiful. Pat surprised me with them and already set them up in Secret Garden. Can't wait to see them tonight!

Irises

2005-06-11T22:12:00.000-04:00

Iris in my front garden.

I went a bit iris crazy. (All photos from ebay.)

Aachen Elf

Bangles

Bloodstone

Clearfire

Erleen Richeson

Foxy Lady

Good and True

Grapesicle

Little Showoff

Princess Caroline de Monaco (will look so pretty with Pat Austin rose)

Invitation

Starlit River

Ashdown Order

2005-06-11T22:10:00.000-04:00

My roses from Ashdown.

Reve d'Or
Cardinal de Richelieu
Cl. Margo Koster
Phyllis Bide (already got planted!)
Perle d'Or (killed mine moving it)

Wednesday Morning Garden News

2005-06-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

This tiny newborn praying mantis came running out of some lavender while I was weeding! Isn't it beautiful?

Also this morning, I deadheaded/pruned Mrs. RM Finch. I've been studying the best book I got from the library, Gardening With Old Roses. It has a great chapter on pruning. I've learned so much from it. I hope I can successfully put it into practice!

Last night, as the first thunder boomed, I ran outside to plant the roses I had dug holes for! I said a little prayer that I wouldn't get struck by lightning and worked as fast as I could. I got Mrs. Dudley Cross and Triomphe du Luxembourg planted. I'm making progress!

I went iris crazy last night on ebay. I'll post what I bought soon. I so love iris. Iris and roses look gorgeous together.

I also ordered two rose books yesterday: David Austin's Old Roses and English Roses and Designing With Roses by Tony Lord.

Already In From The Garden

2005-06-07T22:35:00.000-04:00

It's so humid already! Yuck! I dug four more holes this morning. Three for roses. One for 'Barbara Mitchell' (I think that's it. I should keep up with my daylilies better!) daylily I'm going to move. The holes are on the far side of the pond. I should think of a name for that area. Far Side of the Pond Garden - ha! Anyway, I'm letting the heavy clay dry out some before I plant. Hopefully, by this evening, I'll be able to do it. Evening (7:00 and later) seems the coolest time anyway. I may turn into a night gardener.

I bought plants (trees) from ebay for the first time last night. Such good deals! I hope the quality is good. The place that I bought from is a nursery with a guarantee and good feedback. Everything was cheap, so I'm not too worried. I got my Purple Smoke tree! Also, three Heritage birch trees, a very small Japanese maple (I'd like to grow this in a pot on my deck), and a Paperbark maple. I have my eye on a few other things as well.

My Ashdown rose order is shipping this week!

Someday I'll just sit around in my garden and enjoy. Actually, the fun of it to me is the doing. And like they say, a garden is never finished.

Already Too Hot To Garden

2005-06-06T22:39:00.000-04:00

One of our water lilies this morning.

I've already done my gardening for the day (maybe I'll go back out in the evening). It's so hot and steamy already. Like a jungle. I did get two roses planted though: Alexander Hill Gray (which is so very special after hearing Trish from Ashdown's story of how she grew and babied him!) and Baronne Henriette de Snoy. Don't you just love rose names?

Yay for rose planting progress!

More Wishes

2005-06-06T22:38:00.000-04:00

I want a pumpkin patch. Wonder if it's too late for this year?

I would also love a strawberry patch.

And blackberries. I want blackberries.

I really want/need a farm. Maybe someday.

Weekend Update

2005-06-05T22:43:00.000-04:00

The rain finally stopped, and now it is hot and humid here. Pat was motivated by the I-work-for-rich-people pond man to finally finish it up himself. We went for more rock yesterday. He's building up the top for a biofilter. Then we'll finish rocking the waterfall. Hopefully, the added filter at top will help clear up the water. Then he's gonna fix the UV part.

Over 2200 pounds of rock Pat (I helped load smaller ones until I smashed my finger!) loaded and unloaded yesterday.

We definitely have a frog! Still haven't seen him, but he talks to me when I'm sitting by the pond. I've named him Fred Mertz. I hope he'll get used to us around and maybe come out once in a while. I so want to get a look at him!

So for the planting update. I dug holes for two roses this morning, but the ground was so wet. I'm going to let it dry out some and maybe plant this evening. I did get Creeping Jenny planted between some rocks at pond edge. Also, on Pond Hill, I planted two 'Provence' lavenders and a wooly creeping thyme. I repotted two water lilies (one was just stuck in some rocks) and fed all the water lilies. I had to put my hands in pond water. Blech!

Exciting Frog News

2005-06-05T22:41:00.000-04:00

Pat saw Fred the frog!

Other Garden Wishes!

2005-06-03T22:51:00.000-04:00

(image from www.lancasterfarms.com)

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' (Eastern Redbud) - Saw this at Farmhouse Gardeners. Gorgeous colored leaves! Redbuds have always been one of my favorite trees with those heart-shaped leaves. I must have one of these. Was $75 at F.G. Maybe in the fall.

(image from www.botanicalarchive.com)

Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria

(image from www.waysidegardens.com)

Weeping Redbud ™ Covey
Cercis canadensis var. canadensis Covey

After we get a big problem solved with our creek bank, we want to do a border garden around the perimeter of our backyard with small trees, shrubs (Beautyberry is one I want for sure) and large shrub-type roses. I love that look.

Another thing I have been lusting after for years is Black bamboo! I saw it first at the NC Zoo in Asheboro. It's so gorgeous. I love bamboo. It's very expensive though. But Pat knows someone who's going to GIVE us some! It's a noninvasive type of bamboo. I want to plant it near the pond. I think that will look great.

On the perennial front, I'd like to have more cottagey-type flowers, like foxgloves, hollyhocks, more salvias. I can't tell you how many times I've planted foxgloves. I have no luck with them at all. I know they like some shade. I've tried everywhere! Maybe someday.

Also, I MUST have a Himalayan Blue poppy.
Meconopsis betonicifolia

(image from www.dutchbulbs.com)

Front Garden

2005-06-02T13:24:00.000-04:00

I'm putting in 4 garden-related entries from my regular (as it can be, anyway) journal. I know you've seen these before!

From 5-10-05

My front garden. (This little garden is on the right side in front of garage, looking at the photo of my house.) The roses there aren't really blooming yet though. The Azuro rhododendrons will bloom very soon. That is climbing hydrangea on the wall. Beautiful white blooms in a few weeks.

Two more angles of front garden.

One of my hill gardens and pond in backyard. A few roses blooming.

I think I will paint this scene "en plein air" when the roses bloom around her.

Some Backyard

2005-06-02T13:17:00.000-04:00

Pride isn't a word I use very often. I admire humility in people. I pray for humility in myself. BUT (you knew there was a but) I am PROUD of my gardens. Here's why: When we built our house 9 years ago, it was in the middle of a pasture. Nothing. No trees. No flowers. No nothing but grass. Everything you see here, I did. I planned everything. I dug (almost) every hole. I planted every rose, every flower, everything (except for the big trees). I did it. I worked hard hard hard. I worked in the NC summer heat. I sweated. I got dirty. I loved every second of it. And look what I have now! Pat does help me with weeding. I don't want to leave him out! The pond is his baby (but my idea, ha!). He works like a dog on it. I will post photos of it when we get it all cleaned up for the summer. He did all the concrete step making and the patio paver laying and the gravel pouring. He does the "hardscapes," as he calls them. Oh, and he mows the grass!

This will probably sound extremely corny, but making beautiful gardens feels like my gift back to God.

This rose is Mutabilis. It's also called The Butterfly Rose. The single blooms start out yellow and go through color changes to peach to pink. It really does look like a bush full of beautiful butterflies! It's an ancient rose from China. It loves the South (like me!) and gets huge.

Another view of Mutabilis through the arbor that leads to the pond (going through the other way). Growing on the arbor are Cl. Souvenir de la Malmaison and Cl. White Maman Cochet.

Cl. White Mama Cochet

Mrs. BR Cant. Don't look at the mess around her! Some of Pat's pond supply castoffs. I have so much cleaning up to do!

Clementina Carbonieri. One of my very favorite roses. I wish you could smell her! Lucious.

My back porch! Everyone has a red geranium, right?

Coming up next: Peeks at my secret garden.

Secret Garden

2005-06-02T13:11:00.000-04:00

Walk through the purple gate into my...

secret garden.

When the hollies grow up behind my fountain, this garden will be completely enclosed. On the right of this is my screen porch.

I fell in love with these birds at a little garden shop in the mountains. Pat secretly bought them and surprised me with them when we got home. They are in the bird garden part (of course!) of my secret garden.

Some Roses

2005-06-02T13:01:00.000-04:00

My favorite rose, David Austin's 'Pat Austin'

'Pat Austin' is so gorgeous she deserves two photos.

'Blumenschmidt'

'Mrs. RM Finch' not quite in full-bloom yet, with white hardy geranium and salvia.

'Perle d'Or' A really great rose.

David Austin's 'Fair Bianca'

Another shot of 'Fair Bianca' The most beautiful buds of any rose.

Rain Gardening

2005-06-02T12:51:00.000-04:00

It's still all rainy here. I did feed all my roses in the back though. And I felt so guilty for forcing you to look at old entries that I went out in the rain to take some new photos.

Apricot Nectar with Jackmanii clematis

David Austin's Graham Thomas

Martine Guillot

The Fairy

William R. Smith

I don't remember planting this penstemon, but isn't it beautiful?

Jackmanii clematis climbing through Boston ivy on screen porch

Soggy geranium