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

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fertilizer Friday!

I'm finally prepared to join in with Tootsie Time and participate in Fertilizer Friday.  The garden is still loaded with flowers and I've been really good about going out and deadheading as much as possible to encourage more blooms.  Aside from some organic rose fertilizer and compost I don't do any other fertilizing.

 Cupid's Dart (Catananche caerulea) is a great late summer bloomer.  Every single year I forget to stake it up and it lays on the edge of the driveway.  I love the color of the flowers.

 The Rudbeckias seem to have bloomed overnight.

 This Phlox has just gone crazy this year.  I didn't realize how much it could spread.

 A Daylily from behind the pond.

 One of my favorites are Tiger Lilies!

 Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' is one of my favorite and most easy Clematises to grow.  This one and  'Jackmanii superba', 'Alionushka' and 'Etoille Violette' are always the most prolific bloomers and lush looking Clematises in my garden.

 Fuchsia magellanica by the pond has started spreading and I had to cut it back quite a bit, it was taking over everything.

 Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Snow Queen' does very well in dry shade.

 Water lily 'Sioux' has been light on flowers this year.

 'Stargazer' lilies are perfuming the whole front yard.

 Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' is new this summer.

 Some of the front garden.  We've had more butterflies than usual this year, which still isn't that many compared to other parts of the country, but it's so relaxing to watch to them float through the garden.  Just sitting outside today there were 3 types of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies (which were landing on our dog Gracie), hummingbirds and lots of bees of all types.  Seeing them makes me realize I'm doing something right in the garden.

I'm still picking Sweet Pea blooms which has been a nice make up for our cool summer.  Right now the Sweet Peas, Lilies and Butterfly Bush have the whole front garden smelling so sweet.
Be sure to visit Tootsie to see what she and other gardeners are sharing from their gardens today.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

36 comments:

  1. Catherine of course you are doing everything right..

    your choices of plants and the hard work you put into your garden is the perfect recipe for attracting the pollinators we love.

    I so want to be like you one day.

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  2. Gorgeous! That Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' is a beauty.

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  3. everything is absolutely gorgeous!!! I think you have it all just perfectly done!!! I wish I could tour in person!!!
    I shared this post on my tootsie time...facebook...I hope you don't mind!!!

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  4. Great job Catherine. All that hard work on the front is really paying off now. Everything is so full. The waterlilies are gorgeous. Look at those mounds of blooms. Beautiful.

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  5. What a riot of glorious colour and such exuberant growth. What a joy to wake up to each day! I am green with envy!

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  6. Envy of your beauties! Summer heat nearly destroyed our gardens.

    Would you be so kind to leave a comment on my BLOG ONLY, for the Miracle Makeover fund drive. Charlie, 8 yr. old, & his story are fabulous. Every comment brings us a $1 for the next person that will be sponsored.

    Have a beautiful weekend.
    Hugs,
    TTFN ~
    Marydon

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  7. What lovely blooms! The Oakleaf Hydrangea is stunning. Thank you for sharing your wonderful garden.

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  8. Dang it all Catherine! It's a good thing you don't fertilize, your home would be swallowed with blooms. Everything is so gorgeous. (just what do you put in your compost?)

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  9. GREAT post... lovely flowers! (You sold me on the Cupid's Dart!! It was on the "Wishlist" and moved up to the top.)

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  10. Catherine, is is really awesome that you are able to attract so many insects and (humming-)birds to your garden. One little yard can make such a difference! I myself am just starting to plant more with the birds and the insects in mind. Before that I was only going for the look of a plant, but that is changing now. I put in a couple of 'Black & Blue' salvias in the front yard and they attract humming birds. Just this week I bought my first penstemons and the bees are all over them. So a beginning is made...
    Christina

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  11. Wow, I adore that yellow and rust lily. How gorgeous Catherine. I love looking at everyone's lilies since mine are finished now. Your phlox has gotten huge. How beautiful! I wish we could start over with spring again since this years garden has not done very well here. The Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia is another beauty. I started some from seeds this year. I wonder how many years it will be before I get blooms. LOL! Your butterfly garden looks so full and pretty with the monarda. Have a wonderful weekend. And Hi girls!

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  12. Catherine,

    I can't believe you still have lilies. Ours fried in the July heat. That pink phlox is gorgeous!

    Eileen

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  13. Looks great, Catherine! That last picture with all the interesting colors and textures is awesome. My Stargazers and Rudbeckias haven't opened yet.

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  14. Catherine, your garden looks beautiful and the water lily is divine.

    Finally we are having some heat for the vegetables here in the valley... hope yours are doing well.

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  15. Catherine your garden is lovely. Wonder if the Snow Queen would grow in my dry shade, I will have to research that. Enjoy the weekend.

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  16. Your garden really looks great Catherine. The bees, butterflies and dragonflies all agree.

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  17. Catherine, everything looks just beautiful in your garden. I've never seen that lovely dark coneflower before.

    And your phlox ('flox' lol) is gorgeous as well. I think mine might be suffering just a little bit from the dry summer, but they are pretty hardy!

    Cheers from Canada.

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  18. Everything looks just grand! Such colors! I never thought much of Cupid's Dart before, but now I will be looking to add it to my garden. I so wish my hummingbirds would return. In your garden sounds like a good place to be.

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  19. Fantastic flowers, I loved looking at all the lush blooms in your garden! You are a very talented gardener, it is just lovely.

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  20. I'm in love with the Cherry Brandy rudbeckia. Your front garden looks spectacular!

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  21. Your 'Cherry Brandy' looks fabulous with the peachy Agastache in the background. Great combo! When you cut back the Fuchsia, did you use any of the cuttings? They root really easily. I've got four plants now from one original. Your 'Ville de Lyon' looks wonderful. Don't you just love those flowers? And that Phlox! Sheesh! That is just to die for! If it's any consolation, my Cupid's Dart is also leaning. :) Great photos. Any pie left?

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  22. Got some cherry brandy seeds last week. Definitely will try them now. Very nice garden.

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  23. You're flowers and pond are gorgeous! Mine is burned up at this point. I've always loved tiger lilies since I was a kid.
    Brenda

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  24. Love your pink blog, and of course your flowers!That oakleaf hydrangea is fantastic. Never seen one before. Am following your blog, of course.
    Rosie

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  25. Wonderful!
    Nice post! Nice pics!
    Awesome!

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  26. Not sure what it is about water lilies but there's this calming feeling I get every time I see any.

    Give me a garden of all Cupid's Darts and it would be heaven.

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  27. Catherine, I think your climate must be amongst the best for gardeners! Lucky you to have so much still going on in the garden. Love your Cupid's dart, clematis, hydrangea and water lilies; also the daylilies and stargazers. Stargazers are one of my favorite because of the fragrance. I saw your photo on Kylee's blog - glad you all had the chance to meet at the blogger's event. Have a wonderful week, Catherine!
    Blessings, Beth

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  28. Thank you all for stopping by to visit! We've been busy planning and celebrating my Mom's birthday this weekend.

    Grace - I had no idea it was easy to root. I'm going to try because this one in particular is the best one I've grown.

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  29. Your blooms are incredible...you should flaunt them constantly...your pics show them off beautifully

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  30. Everything looks so wonderful, it's certainly nicer to have a under heated summer once in a while. Your garden looks beautiful.

    I fell in love with cupids dart last year, I can't believe I had never seen it before. We were at Van Dusen Gardens, and I was so happily clicking away, when suddenly the sprinklers turned on. In broad daylight, of course I was soaked, and so was my camera....LOL

    When I have a larger garden, I hope to plant them in a huge swath, I so love that color.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  31. It is always so nice to visit your blog. Your garden is looking amazing and I love that you are having some wildlife success. What a year it has season it has been...

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  32. Stunning photos, you should be proud of those.

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  33. Wow! Your garden looks fantastic! I can't believe how much you still have blooming. Very nice!

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  34. Your gardens are so gorgeous, Catherine. I'm loving the Cupid's dart, Cherry Brandy, and pink Phlox. May have to try the oakleaf hydrangea. It looks like 2plants in my shade garden died in the long hot dry spell.

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  35. Wow! Thanks for sharing those lovely and adorable flower collection of yours.

    Cassy from Beginner Free Guitar Lessons

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