"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, May 21, 2010

Fertilizer Friday - May 21st.

Another week has flown by and it's hard to believe it's already Friday again. The last couple of days we've had some crazy weather. It started off beautiful this week, but as the week progressed we've had some heavy rain showers and quite a bit of wind. Some of the plants got a bit beat up between the rain and wind. I'm just waiting for a nice quiet day to get out and do some work now.

In the front yard the white Lupine is blooming with more Allium 'Purple Sensation' as well as daylilies and lots of Columbines.

Foxgloves are really close to blooming now and I'm excited to see just how many there will be. I've found lots of little seedlings which I'm leaving so they can bloom next year. Baptisia is on it's third year here, and it has begun to leap.

I showed rose 'Abraham Darby' just opening a couple of days ago and now it's in full bloom. There are many buds coming too.

The birdhouse behind the pond has Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' going crazy on it. This is one of my favorite and easiest Clematis. I had tried to tie it up a little, but the wind really blew it around. The Chickadees are busy flying in and out feeding their babies so I'll fix it when they have moved out.

'Ville de Lyon' will open more, but I was so surprised and happy to see them starting to bloom I had to take some pictures.

Clematis 'Miss Bateman' is blooming great too. Clematis 'Alionushka' is the other vine growing and it was also blown over by the wind. I spent part of yesterday going around and tying plants up. The Snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) is so loaded with flowers that they are bending to the ground. I've cut quite a few to bring inside.

Another Clematis 'Crimson King' was doing great. This picture was taken a few days ago, but after the wind beat it up the flowers and quite a bit of the vine are very droopy, I think some stems may have been broken.

Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue' is a new one that I just planted. It's just started to bloom, maybe it liked the wind.

Geranium 'Johnson's Blue' was moved to a sunnier place and already looks much less leggy than it did in the previous spot.

I appreciate all the comments and am doing my best to get around to visit everyone. It has been very busy around here with little time to get on the computer let alone get in the garden. After this weekend things should start quieting down, and I'm sure looking forward to that.
To see who else is "flaunting their flowers" visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time who hosts Fertilizer Friday each week.
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51 comments:

  1. The Lupine is spectacular. They're all spectacular for that matter.

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  2. Catherine that's a great photo of a lovely front yard.

    I bet the foxgloves will be showstoppers.

    Have a great weekend

    Rob

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  3. Your garden is just gorgeous, with so many wonderful flowers!
    Abraham Darby is very lovely!
    Have a wonderful weekend!!

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  4. My Johnsons Blue is not looking so good. Mine is in part sun. Don't know what it wants.

    The clematis is beautiful. Abraham Darby has the prettiest blooms. So that's what lupine is going to look like. I am wondering if I'm gonna have any blooms this year.

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  5. That's it! I am so getting some Lupine seeds....everything looks great despite your wind.

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  6. I love the lupine. Wonder how it would do here, in Central Texas Zone 8A.

    I'm not sure all Zone 8s are created equal.

    Have a great weekend.

    ~~Linda...

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  7. That luscious Darby peach rose picture makes me want to take a bite out of it ! Beautiful garden ! Gina

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  8. You're so true about time flying by! It literally runs with the blink of an eye and you realize you have so much work to do!
    We had monsoon grazing us a few days ago! I was so excited when I saw dark clouds covering what was a bluish white sky minutes before...
    I can never praise your Clematis enough! What a beauty she is!
    Others are equally lovely, but I love Clematis - what an exquisite beauty! Whoa!

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  9. Your clematis are so pretty. Love the birdhouse with the clematis vine. I've done the same thing with a couple of my birdhouses.

    My snowball viburnum is sagging too, especially since the flowers are full of water from last nite's rain.
    Marnie

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  10. Incredible pics Catherine, you have so many gorgeous clematises, I like the one that's gone wild on the birdhouse, it looks very carefree.

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  11. Love the lupine and your 'Abraham Darby' photo is incredible.
    The geranium I'm waiting to see bloom is "Johnson's Blue." I hope it looks as good as yours.

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  12. 'Abraham Darby' looks beautiful fully opened. And I see the Clematis I still want. 'Ville de Lyon' I went looking for it the other day and didn't find it. Didn't you say the blooms are huge?
    Your Miss Bateman is really pretty too. All of your flowers are.

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  13. Beautiful flowers are growing in your area. I love the clematis.

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  14. The Ville de leon is gorgeous. You have such a unique flavor to your garden with a little touch of everything that nature has to offer. It is quite special.

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  15. aloha,

    you have a spring blooms coming out today, i love the rose, i can smell it all the way to hawaii

    thanks for sharing it today

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  16. Ooooo - Abraham Darby is such a handsome man! I think foxgloves are gorgeous and would love to have some (even have a great place for them) but I can never get them established. I've bought live plants (died) and I've sowed seeds (nothing happened). What's the secret?

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  17. Oooppps, just saw those are lupines, not foxgloves. Those definitely will not grow in Mississippi heat!!

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  18. Your garden is so vibrant and pretty! Even with rain and wind. Why do you have the pesticide free zone sign?

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  19. Hi Catherine, Just stopping by to enjoy your Friday blooms. Everything is so nice, especially the rose. One windy day can sure cause you lots of work, can't it? Hope you don't find too much damage. Enjoy the weekend.

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  20. Your gardens are looking so bright and cheerful! Your white lupine is very striking against the blue flowers in the background :)

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  21. I can so relate to the time issue - so much going on in the garden but I don't have the time to even write about it just now.

    Your photos are wonderful - just a pity about all that heavy rain but the ground probably needs it.... the wind sometimes is the worst foe isn't it. The blooms sure do look good despite it.

    Have a lovely weekend.

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  22. Lovely, Catherine! You have so many plants blooming already!

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  23. Hi Catherine. You have so many clematis vines blooming now. I love the Lupine though and the Abraham Darby rose. Gorgeous!. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  24. Catherine, I love that first photo! How gorgeous! I love lupine although they are a challenge around here...I have several beginning to bloom right now, pink, dark pink or red, deep purple, light purple and white. Most of them I started from seed. Love your birdhouse covered with clematis vine too! It's beautiful and I was so happy to hear that you have boarders (the chickadees)!
    Beth

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  25. Catherine, your flowers are absolutely spectacular!! I love the 'Abraham Darby'

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  26. Goodness Catherine, your garden is positively ablaze with blooms! I still love Abraham Darby, it's still one of my all time favorite English roses. I just bought some Penstemon heterophyllus from Annie's Annuals this last weekend, and can't wait for mine to bloom!

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  27. Thank you all for stopping by to comment!

    Lisa - We really lucked out with the Foxgloves. These ones seem to grow wild here and were popping up in our garden when we moved here. I've always just taken the dried seed heads and sprinkled them around. Twice I've bought Foxglove plants and both times they haven't done very well.

    Tina - I got the sign from the Washington Toxics Coalition. They try to encourage less chemicals in the garden. Our water runs off into salmon spawning streams so I've always tried to use only organic pesticides if possible. Like our ladybugs which I'll try to post about next week.

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  28. What a stunning garden, hope you have a wonderful weekend and take care:)

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  29. You always have the most beautiful blooms to show us! My foxglove is blooming, but the stems keep falling over. The clematis is starting to bloom. And it's just starting to get steamy here.
    Brenda

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  30. I love the shots of the white Lupine with the purple Allium and of Abraham Darby. So beautiful!

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  31. I like your colour combinations- espcially with the lupine. Have a happy weekend!

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  32. Wow! I love the lupine. Your snowball bush is so gorgeous. Wow! Thanks for sharing.

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  33. Hi Catherine, You ain't kiddin' about this weird weather! If it's not the wind wreaking havoc, it's that dang hail. What's a gardener to do?

    'Ville de Lyon' is one of my faves too. Your blossom is absolutely delicious. I've got three Villes and none has a bud yet. I don't have Ms. Bateman or Crimson King and all be danged if that ole plant lust is kicking up again.

    Please give the Chickadee family my regards.

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  34. I have only recently discovered your blog, but I love your stunning photos! I am not a garden blogger, but I do post about my garden from time to time. If you have a spare moment, please check ou my post for Sat 22nd May at http://h-little-sealed-packages.blogspot.com/
    Thanks :)

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  35. Catherine girl ! I have the same problems with "tieing up vines" it is my least likeable job in the garden .. I never catch the clematis in time before they take off to the races ! .. and once the wind has been at them it is worse .. ah .. but they are lovely creatures aren't they ? : )
    That rose looks spectacular !
    I know you must be very busy .. take a rest girl : )
    Joy

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  36. I have a hard time even deciding what my favourite is out of all your beautiful photos...I think you have my dream yard lol

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  37. That Abraham Darby is one gorgeous rose. Haven't had much luck with lupines, but seeing yours makes me want to try again.

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  38. As always, Catherine, I'm totally blown away by your garden. I couldn't possibly tell you which bloom I like the best - I love them all. Your garden is truly a paradise.

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  39. Just a beautiful collection of blooms ... not much else to say as it's all been said! Another enjoyable post ... it's always a joy to see your garden.

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  40. Your garden looks absolutely lush! I do like that blue geranium and the rose is gorgeous.

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  41. Catherine, I love your first photo looking towards your home from the garden! My, your vines are so prolific! I imagine the Chickadees had no idea when they moved in! They are pretty daring though... most likely not frightened by what seems to be growing up and wanting to get into their house! ;>) I wish I had your problem. Beautiful selections of blooms too! I hope your busy has been good busy!

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  42. Everything is just beautiful! I love all the different clemetis. The wind was bad here too. Do people walk by and just stop to look at your garden? I know I would. Hope you have more time in your garden this week.

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  43. You have a bird house on a post like I do with vines.Looks great !
    Love the rose and soooo many other blooms.
    May want to try clematis again next year...this year I'm doing annual vines.

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  44. Susan K form Ontario CANADAMay 23, 2010 at 2:38 PM

    WOW - i just found your blog - your pictures are amazing and so is your garden - thanks you for sharing -

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  45. Wow, what a beautiful garden....love all of it.

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  46. What an unusual penstemon, I love it! I'm enjoying my Husker Red pent right now with it's red foliage and white flowers.

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  47. What a lovely garden you have! So lush. That rose is a stunner. What's your secret?

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  48. Dear Catherine, It makes me so happy to see such beauty you have created in your garden!!!! Well done my friend!!!!
    Cariños,
    Maria Cecilia

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  49. You should see the puny little Clematis I planted last year. Maybe I should plant an easy to grow 'Ville de Lyon'....do the Chickadees come with it?

    I remember your white Lupine from last year and I'm still drooling over it. I planted another pink one this spring because I couldn't find white.

    donna

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  50. The chickadees have the prettiest spot in town! So gorgeous and your clematis is obviously very happy. It all looks great Catherine ~ can't tell there's been a lot of wind or bad weather from these photos. The white lupine & purple Allium photo is wonderful too.

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  51. Your flowers are looking so wonderful. My allium are about gone now. I love the white lupines.

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