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

Monday, July 6, 2009

Garden rewards.

I had a day of garden rewards yesterday.  It was hot again, and by hot I mean by Pacific Northwest standards.  That means it was over 85 again!  I've been doing a lot of watering and still doing some planting.  The kids fill up the kiddie pool and bring out the Princess tent and we have picnics and try to stay cool.  As I looked around I was happy to see that some of the hard work I've been doing is paying off.  Combinations are looking nice, new plants are showing signs of growth and not too many are wilting.  Several plants are now in their "leap year" and making the wait worth it.  Definitely rewarding to see.
Here are some things that felt like rewards for all the hard work.

Echinacea 'Magnus' is blooming!  These always say summer to me.

Larkspur that I started by winter sowing this year.  I tried to capture the salvia and silvery poppy seed heads as well.  It just doesn't show as well in a picture, but in person it's beautiful.  A Cabbage White butterfly was fluttering all around while I was taking this picture.

One of the many Phlox that I have.  I've lost track of which is which and just enjoy them for what they are, not who they are.

Cupid's Dart (catananche caerulea) decided to flop down onto the driveway, it probably needs staking.  It's in full sun so I'm not sure why it decided to fall over, but it made me happy anyway.  It survives without almost any help from me.

'Abraham Darby' has been my favorite purchase this year.  The flowers and the scent make it worth finding a spot for.  Knock on wood, it hasn't shown any signs of disease.

'Julia Child' is one of the roses I bought at the Antique Rose Farm a few days ago.  It's supposed to be disease resistant and "easy".  It has a wonderful scent and it's yellow flowers fade to light pink.  I tried taking a picture of the bed it's in, but the light was just too bright.  I'll share one another day.

Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius) 'Yellow Sovereign' is a neighbor of 'Julia Child'.  I've mostly got yellow bloomers or plants with variegated foliage here.  I'm really liking how it looks.  This is one bed I haven't named, maybe when I show a picture of the whole bed I can get some suggestions.

I finally changed the blog header.  This is what it looks like as of yesterday.  I thought I'd try to take a picture of that area every couple of weeks during the summer to show how it's looking.  You might be able to tell that the lilies are very close to blooming.
I hope you have a day of garden rewards; like a new flower blooming, a butterfly or a new bird visiting.  These are the things that make it all worth it!
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40 comments:

  1. I really love your blog banner. Your garden is absolutely wonderful!

    Michelle

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  2. Hi Catherine! Sorry I haven't been here in a while, I can't seem to access my "favorites" in Blotanical and my blogroll on my own site is acting weird too. So glad to see your winter sown larkspur, I was curious how that would work. Great, obviously! I need some "easy" roses, mine all get black spot by this point in the season. No coneflower or phygelius blooms here yet, maybe I've been lagging on the watering! And your soil is probably better too. I am so glad the marine air came back today, have to say - I was tired of being hot and I need to transplant some more "babies"! Looks and sounds like you're having a fun summer so far.

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  3. What beautiful saturated colors - I don't have so much color in my garden right now, and loved seeing your gorgeous blooms.

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  4. Hi Catherine, what superb photos of your leapers! Where has Phygelius been all my life!!! Will have to check that one out to see if it is possible to grow here. Princess tent and pool, sounds like a perfectg combo. :-)
    Frances

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  5. Hi Catherine~~ I can't access my Favorites either and to find you required a bit more scrolling than normal but worth it. Your phlox is mouthwatering. You're right. Who needs a name when such beauty is in front of you? Your banner photo is so lush and full. Love it.

    Thank God for the cool-down! Gardening weather has returned.

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  6. I loved the larkspur, salvia and poppy head combination...a very patriotic color scheme for a patriotic weekend! My garden reward was coming home yesterday from three days away...to find my plants still alive! Many of them are in containers and I moved them all to an area that would be hit with sprinklers while we were gone...a good move! They are all happy and back in place today.

    Enjoy today!

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  7. Your garden looks so healthy! I love my echinacea too. It's fun to see their drooping petals. My husband doesn't like them because he thinks they look like they're dieing, but I love them. I love their uniqueness.

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  8. Look at your Abraham Darby! Isn't it a beautiful rose ? Mine has so many buds ready to open-just at the time most of the other roses are either ended or are building up strength for the next bout!

    Your cupid's dart is fabulous!

    PS its cooler here with thundery rain..Im dancing in it. In wellies of course .....:-)

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  9. Hi Catherine ~ Everything looks beautiful there in your gardens. I love your Cupid's Darts spilling onto the driveway and both of your roses are wonderful. Your weather sounds cooler than ours. Right now it is 91 and feels like it's 97.

    Enjoy your lovely gardens with your girls and your picnics.

    FlowerLady

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  10. The picture in your header looks great! What kind of larkspur do you have? Those flowers look much larger than the ones we have.

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  11. Catherine you have lots of rewards in your garden. That yellow rose is just lovely.

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  12. *Yay for leap years!* I'll be having some leaping next year, fingers crossed. What gorgeous big, bold photos. I love that your photos are BIG. Great header, and that's a cool idea to change that with seasons. A lovely spot you have there! Enjoy the MUCH cooler weather!!

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  13. I have never seen some of the flowers you are showing..they are beautiful!

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  14. What a pretty new banner photo. The yellow rose is so pretty and I know you have such fond memories of that day with your mom and the girls. We are finally getting some rain - YES!!!

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  15. gosh I love that cupid's dart. I wonder if I could grow it as an annual in my cold climate?

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  16. ok....I am still drooling over your shots! Man I HAVE to get a new camera!!!!! That larkspur is drop dead gorgeous.

    On another note, I don't know what is going on. You do know that Mobile and Seattle battle it out each year for most amount of rain. Doesn't seem to be the case this year. We both have gone really long periods without much rain. But hang in there because it is RAINING all week here!!!!!! Do you know how HAPPY I am!!!!!!!!!!!! I am wishing it you way, once it is don ehere :-)

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  17. Dave - The larkspur is 'Shades of Blue' from Botanical Interests. I planted them last year and they didn't get this tall. I think they like the full, hot sun where they are. They are a great substitution for the delphiniums I haven't had luck with.

    Prairie Chicken - I'm not sure if they would grow as an annual there. I think Bachelor Buttons could be a good substitution.

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  18. Just gorgeous! I love garden days like that! It makes all the hard work so worth it! -Jackie

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  19. Like the new header Catherine and what an excellent idea to follow its progress every couple of weeks ! Your flowers are looking fresh despite the heat :)

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  20. What a reward for working so hard! It's beautiful!

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  21. Leap year in the garden is fun and I always look forward to it. The colors of your Larkspur and Cupid's Dart are stunning. Nice header photo.

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  22. Great new header photo! Don't you just love the garden this time of year...chock full of colors! Again, we have sooo many of the same blooms, Catherine!
    Lynn

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  23. If that Magnus isn't the perfect shade of pink, I don't know what is! Your Cupid's Dart is looking really nice- mine is so-so this year. I think I started them from seed last year. Too bad I will be moving because a few things I started from seed the last 2 years are just starting to become comfortable- and then there are the things I planted this year :). Ugh! Starting over, it is bitter sweet.

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  24. Phygelius is great isn't it? Last year I it in pink, red & yellow and now this year, zero. Seeing yours has made me wonder how I could have forgotten it? The hummingbirds really liked it here too which is always a bonus. Your Abraham Darby rose is beautiful. I'm still feeling so happy that I found one. You are absolutely right about the scent too. I broke a blossom off during planting and walked around the rest of the evening with it stuck to my nose, it was so delicious. I think your garden (as always) looks just fabulous.

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  25. I like the new header pic. I always thought that it looks informal and cottagey (is that the word).

    As always I'm taken by how many things you have growing

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  26. Hi Catherine, your garden is beautiful! I can imagine how much of hard work has gone into making it so attractive. LOVE your header! And I so agree with what you say--enjoy them for what they are and not who they are. Your blooms/photos are fantastic!!!

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  27. Beautiful flowers! Are Cupid's Darts self seeding?

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  28. Your hardwork certainly shows, Catherine! Look at that riotous color of the Echinacea! The satisfaction of seeing a perennial blooming years after you plant them is oh-so indescribable!

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  29. Catherine- you have been so busy! I finally decided that waiting for Blotanical to fix was a waste of my time so I am behind and have missed reading my favorite blogs. I am so happy that your garden is coming along so nicely. It always feels good when things work out well! Enjoy the heat, I hear a cool off is on it's way!

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  30. Catherine, you really do have some garden rewards to share. Everything looks so happy and healthy. Note to self: Gotta get more Phlox!

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  31. Beautiful, beautiful I can't really think of more to say than that - my mouth is still hanging open from all that beauty. I still have no Coneflower - it's close but not blooming yet. I have things reblooming like Columbines - very strange and my Bleeding Heart still going. Figure that out! O'well I'll take it since not much seems to be blooming now.

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  32. Those flowers are beautiful, I can't pick a favorite!

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  33. Very nice. I really like that cupid's dart. I love phlox also and put in a few new ones last year (and 'David' this year). I'm hoping they'll bloom this year. It's still just a bit early for mine.

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  34. Thank you everyone! It has cooled down quite a bit and even rained a very little.

    lotusleaf - The Cupid's Dart can self seed, although I've only found one seedling. It does get big enough to divide though.

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  35. Such good photos of such lovely flowers.

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  36. Catherine, your garden is looking great. How is Gracie making out in the heat?

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  37. I have pretty much the same problem. My front yard is a nice sunny location, but my backyard is full shade. I have learned to just flow with it. Shade gardens can be enjoyable and you can work with them even in 90 degree summers :D.

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  38. Truly some stunning photos you have. You captured some beautiful shots.

    Cher
    Goldenray Yorkies

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