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

Friday, July 2, 2010

Fertilizer Friday, July 2nd.

This was definitely a good week for me, nothing like having your birthday stretch out for a whole week!  I enjoyed time with my husband and kids, dinner out with two of my sisters, plant shopping with my girls and breakfast out with my parents, kids, sister and nephews.  On my actual birthday I told my girls they had to come with me to as many nurseries as we could fit in, which was about 4.  I think going to Dairy Queen for dessert helped make it worthwhile.

During a day out last weekend my husband told me to pick something out for the garden.  I found this trellis with a bird finial.  I'm drawn to anything with birds on it.  Another thing I'm drawn to is something to grow a Clematis on, so it was an extra great gift.  This is the new bird trellis, it's about 6 feet tall.

One of my sister's gave me a gift card and the first thing I thought of was, "now I can go plant shopping!"  I found a new Clematis integrifolia 'Pamiat Serdtsa' which means "memory of the heart".  It will grow 4 - 6 feet.  I love when plants have special meanings behind their names.  This will always remind me of this birthday.

Here they are together in the bed behind the pond (although you can barely see the Clematis now).  I didn't plant any of the Poppies, Larkspur or Bachelor Buttons this year, all of them reseeded from last year.  The Larkspur that I started by winter sowing are not growing at all.  I think just letting them reseed on their own will be how I let things happen back here from now on.

A side view of the "driveway bed".  These plants take many beatings from basketballs, and aside from the roses all seem to handle it pretty well.  My poor unknown pink rose really got hit with rust and blackspot over the last week.  I cut a lot of the diseased branches off, being sure to not leave and leaves behind in the soil.  The 1/2 wine barrel has just been planted by the Littlest Gardener and I, she named it the "family garden".  We planted Cosmos, Zinnia, Agastache, Coneflowers, Coreopsis, Liatris, trailing Lobelia and million bells in it.  Now I have to decide where to put the other half of the barrel.

Fleabane in the driveway garden had to be staked up as usual.  I love how bright purple the flowers are.

Rose 'Tamora' is still too small to be seen from behind the Lavender in that bed so I have to get down and look for the blooms.

 Astillbe is just starting to bloom.

 This is the bed that I planted the rest of my new flowers.  The short rose struggling in the back is 'Gertrude Jekyll'.  I don't she likes this weather one bit.  In front I added Campanula 'Cherry Bells', Campanula 'Mouse Ears' and Scabiosa 'Beaujoulais Bonnets' - I hadn't seen or heard of this type before, the pictures of it are very pretty.  As I was looking at this bed I realized I have four different types of Campanula in this bed.  I think everything in this bed is awaiting some real hot and sunny days.  (Another day of 63 degrees and rain for today.)

And in case anyone remembers the little lemon on the Meyer lemon tree, you can see it's still hanging on!  It's a little bigger than a golf ball now, but I'm really rooting for it.

To see who else is flaunting their flowers this week visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time.
If I don't get a chance to post on July 4th I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday! 
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43 comments:

  1. The driveway bed is drop dead gorgeous!! A very happy birthday to you Catherine. And have a fantastic weekend!

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  2. Absolutely love your new trellis. It looks like an antique.

    I've never seen fleabane that color. Very striking, I really like it.
    Marnie

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  3. I visit your blog just to look at your yard and be inspired. Absolutley beautiful!

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  4. Gorgeous rose, and that purple fleabane is to die for! How wonderful that you have so many self-seeding perennials. Your garden is looking so lovely and full.

    Happy Birthday to you! Sounds like you had a great one. Love those gifts you chose. Won't that be pretty when the clematis climbs up next to the other one. (Oops. I just realized I had a bd myself a couple of weeks ago. It kinda got lost in the wedding chaos.)

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  5. Your garden is so beautiful Catherine! So many different flowers and plants ~ looks like you have put so much work in to creating so a wonderful yard ~ good for you!

    Sounds like you had a terrific birthday spent doing your favourite things. One should stretch their celebration out for a whole week! :)

    Love your new garden trellis with the bird ~ good pick!

    Have a Happy Weekend Catherine!
    xo Catherine

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  6. what a great birthday!! everything looks wonderful...

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  7. Wow, gorgeous as always. No weeds! Speaks of good upkeep. I love your new trellis, it's so very "Paris Flea Market!" Your group of Campanula are all just splendid. Have a great rest-o-birthday, keep it going! Chhers, Bonnie

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  8. Your gardens look great! Regarding birthdays, I've noticed the celebrations become more extensive with each new year... My birthday was yesterday and invites, special get togethers with friends and family are slated for the next week and a half... now isn't growing older fun!? Larry

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  9. What an awesome birthday you had! Love the new trellis with its bird finial. All your flowers are just beautiful! My Astilbes are not even close to blooming, even the ones I planted last fall. My Larkspur that I winter sowed are still very small too, but they are hanging in there, I hope I get some flowers from them eventually.

    Hope your lemon hangs on till it ripens!

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  10. What a beautiful pictures again !! and have a wish you a happy birthday?????...congratulations !!!! happy summer vacation....enjoy !!! love Ria...

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  11. I am so glad you had such a wonderful birthday week! I love the idea of going to as many nurseries as possible on your birthday. I have to see if my daughters will do that for me next year :-)

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  12. A birthday of flowers and the Dairy Queen. Who could ask for more?

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  13. I'm glad you had a wonderful birthday week, filled with family and friends. Those are the best kind :-) Everything looks wonderful as always.

    I love the clematis and the trellis with the bird finial. What a lovely accent to have in the garden :-)

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  14. aloha,

    every flower looks fantastic, love the color of the fleabane, but that rose is amazing, wow!

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  15. The fleabane color is so gorgeous. Do you dream flowers too? I do all the time :)

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  16. Everything looks great. I'm rooting for that lemon, as it looks like it would fit nicely into a gin and tonic.

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  17. Happy Birthday and I love the present to picked out. The clematis will look perfect on it. Beautiful garden, have a wonderful weekend celebrating the holiday.

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  18. Happy Belated Birthday Catherine. It sounds like you had a memorable day. Your flowers are looking so pretty. I bet your neighbors take their time walking in front of your pretty yard taking in the sights and smells! Wishing you all a great weekend.

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  19. I really understand the difference now in our climates when I see a lemon tree. We are going to be very hot the next two days, 90's, but then we get much colder than you do in the winter. I do like garden ornaments, your present looks great.

    Eileen

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  20. Well Happy, Happy Birthday friend. What could be better than flowers or flower shopping. Your trellis is so pretty and what an unusual clematis. I like the windmill bloom on it. Tamora has a beautiful bloom. I love the peach color. I just planted a Gertrude Jekyll rose to replace some of the red. It has one bloom LOL!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  21. Happy, happy birthday!!!
    The new bird trellis looks right at home with all your flowers. Hope the clematis climbs fast!
    I've never seen Fleabane before. I like it!

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  22. Hi Catherine, I've been on the hunt for this Scabiosa for a long time. I hope maybe you can keep us posted on how well it does.

    My Gerties are having just the opposite problem--growing like crazy and top-heavy, not to mention being smothered by neighbors. Black spot sure has been an issue this summer, so far, hasn't it?

    Excellent choice for a birthday gift. Love the bird trellis and the clemie. Happy birthday to you!!

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  23. Beautiful...haven't visited with you in a long time...happy to see that you are still the gardener/blogger extraordinaire!!! I love that fleabane...it is so vibrant!!!

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  24. That is a great new addition to your garden.

    I am jealous of your lemon growing abilities.

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  25. Hi Catherine, Your larkspur, bachelor buttons and poppies look great! Love the fleabane too. The Cherry Bells is very pretty. I bought some this year but got them mail-order and they are very small - healthy, but don't know if I can expect any blooms this year. I'll just enjoy yours! Glad you had a good birthday, Catherine!
    Blessings, Beth

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  26. Happy 'late' birthday Catherine. Sounds like it was a good one! You picked great presents. Love your new bird trellis and the Clematis to go on it. Hey is that tall dark pink one ville de lyon? It's huge and really pops out at ya. Everything is beautiful!

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  27. That fleabane is just gorgeous! Glad you got a week out of your birthday! Sounds like fun!

    Hope you have a great weekend!

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  28. I think flowers that reseed and volunteer themselves (providing they're well behaved) are the best. Those are the sorts of surprises I enjoy in a garden. I love your new little trellis and it's new companion clematis, I can't wait to see it all filled in!

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  29. Belated Birthday greetings to you Catherine.

    I think you chose well - that trellis is very eyecatching in its design along with the lovely clematis that will grace it in years to come.


    I hope the weather improves for you soon - I can't believe that you are getting such low temperatures still. Btw that fleabane is just amazing.


    Have a great holiday weekend with the family

    :) Rosie

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  30. Hello there Catherine ! Every time I see your avatar it reminds me of my water lily girls ? LOL
    Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday(s) with perfect gifts and activites .. I love your new bird obelisk ? ... that wrought iron twisted top is my favorite .. I have one with them and they are so pretty ! especially when plants are growing on it : )
    Your gardens are wonderful and so full of memories .. that is lovely : )
    Joy

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  31. Happy Birthay. Sounds like you had a terrific one filled with family, friends and flowers. What could be more perfect. Your purchase of the obelisk with the bird on top is a perfect addition to that terrific garden. Love the penstemon - Huskers Red?

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  32. Your birthday gifts will be just perfect where you've set them, Catherine! Happy birthday (late)! Beautiful things are always happening over there. (When basketballs were flying at our house, very little could grow next to the driveway, so your efforts look great!)

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  33. Catherine, Happy belated Birthday! Wow, a whole week of celebrations with your loved ones! I do so enjoy a glimpse of your garden this summer. Happy holidays and 4th of July and have a great weekend!

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  34. Happy NEXT birthday! (I'm early)

    Girl I remember the first lemon my Meyer produced. I could hardly believe my eyes. I am sure I have pictures of it at all stages. Let it go from pretty yellow to orange yellow, that is when it is fully ripe. If you just have the one, I'd make a gentle flavored ice cream; maybe a meyer-lavender ice cream. If you have had lavender ice cream (many in Washington have) then you will be able to detect the subtle meyer. If not, then the lavender might overwhelm your taste buds. Hey, if nothing else, slice it into bubble water. They are so good!

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  35. Hi!!every flower looks fantastic, Happy Birthday to you

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  36. Happy Belated Birthday to you. What better way then to spend it at a nursery!!! And what a beautiful trellis and clematis. Your new plants are going to look gorgeous and your front yard garden is awesome and your barrel is a gift planted by little hands, what a treat.
    It's very hot here and everything is taking a beating. Send some cooler temps my way :) Great blog...

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  37. A belated birthday wish. You sound to have had a lovely time and one more clematis is always easy to squeeze in.

    The garden is looking lovely.

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  38. Happy Birthday Catherine!! Your beds are looking wonderful. It's amazing how resiliant plants are to basketballs, dogs and even foot traffic. I'm so glad you posted a picture of flebane daisies, I have a mystery plant starting to bloom and I couldn't recall the name!

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  40. A slightly belated Happy Birthday Catherine - I hope you had a lovely time! :)

    Your garden is looking lovely and your new bird trellis is gorgeous.

    Thank you for your lovely comment about my schools gardens guest post - I hope your new Head lets you do something in your daughters' school garden. I've left a short explaination in my comments box about the role of a UK School Governor. I hope you find it helpful!
    Have a great week :)

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  41. omg, I love your bird trellis too ~ I would have picked it out for myself!! Glad you got it and that you had a great birthday. Your garden is looking phenomenal. I can't believe larkspur gets that tall! Who knew? Mine certainly don't ~ they are about half that size.
    My 'Cherry bells' are in almost complete shade. It will be interesting to see how they do getting so much more light.
    Happy for you about the water lily buds too ~ I keep looking for some in my pond but nothing so far...

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