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

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

I like it when that happens!

Yesterday was gray and overcast.  A little wind, but no rain.  I didn't mind though, I got some things done that I've been putting off, like cleaning and organizing the outdoor shed.  While Sweet Pea was at a friends the littlest gardener joined me outside with a very drippy popsicle.  We walked around the front yard and she helped me find some new flowers.  Don't you like finding something you didn't realize would happen?

How about the big Lace cap Hydrangea that I forgot to prune?  This thing gets beyond huge and I usually prune it very early in the spring, and it always blooms great.  It has such a pretty color, almost the same color as our house.

Here is littlest gardener before she was covered in purple drips, just to show how big this shrub is.  She's around 3 feet tall, this has to be around 8 feet tall.  It seems to have done just fine without it's pruning.

Another Larkspur that was started by wintersowing.  I guess this is 'Shades of Blue' too, it looks different from the rest.  I love the blue and purple together.

'Jacob Cline' has a top hat on several of the flowers now.  I agree with Dirt Princess that it looks like a jester.  This is now taller than me and I'm about 5' 4".  Pretty good for only it's second year.

This first time I've seen this combination all in bloom together.  The Hydrangea 'Preziosa' is blooming the best ever.  It's flowers change color as it ages.  The shrub in front is Abelia and Veronica is in front of it.  With the overcast skies the picture isn't very good.

Here is Abelia 'Edward Goucher' a semi-evergreen shrub with these pretty bell like flowers, it's just started blooming.  This one should stay smaller, around 3 feet or so.

Hydrangea 'Preziosa' is changing to a lavender color now.  It started more white, then had speckles of purple, and now here it is.  Beautiful!

It looks like another overcast day, with little chance of rain.  I guess I'll be watering again, and it looks like it'll be warming back up starting tomorrow.
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35 comments:

  1. I think I just got a glimps of HEAVEN viewing your wonderful blooms this morning! Thank you for sharing. Love the blue that Hydrangea is putting on for you.

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  2. Good thing you live far away as you might wake up one morning missing that huge hydrangea:) I love it!

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  3. Such lovely hydrangeas. What huge blooms too!

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  4. That hydrangea is absolutely wonderful. You have such beautiful flowers and your little garden helper is a real sweetie pie.

    Enjoy the loveliness you have created around you.

    FlowerLady

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  5. I like the huge hydrangea. If it were me i would not trim it :D.

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  6. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!
    Now, if some of that overcast and cooler weather could come this way
    :-)

    Michelle

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  7. You must have two green thumbs!! Love the Lacecap and the drippy popsicle gardener. I'll get you a couple of crocosmia, water until established and see what happens. It's free so what the heck!!

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  8. Isn't this weather perfect for getting something done? I worked out all day yesterday and headed out today too.
    I just checked my 'blue' Lacecap yesterday and it's turning blue now too. Looks just like yours only a few feet shorter. What a cute picture of your littlest gardener - the Hydrangea looks huge with her in front of it - guess it is.
    But I have to tell ya - I hope your Abelia Edward Goucher is somewhere you don't mind it getting taller than 3 feet because ours has taken over the picture window (I planted it in a corner not thinking this would happen) at around 7 feet tall and maybe 5 wide. We will have to move it now.
    I love that Larkspur. I did some seeds but . . . well you know.
    Although I do have one about 4" tall. LOL
    Your Hydrangea 'Preziosa' is a gorgeous color - I love that.

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  9. HA to what Tina said! I have to agree, that is the largest, prettiest hydrangea I have ever seen anywhere! Even the heights of the other plants are double or more what they grow to here in drought land. Green with envy.

    Frances

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  10. I love the photo of the hydrangea, abelia and veronica - I would love to have my garden looking all lush like that and full of beautiful blooms :-)

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  11. OMG!!!!!! my jaw dropped at the hydrangea photos!!! I am just green with envy!!!

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  12. What pretty colors Catherine. The Little Gardener is cute as can be!

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  13. Hi Catherine~~ I for one am loving this weather. By mid afternoon the sun pops out and by evening there isn't a cloud in the sky. By morning the clouds are thick again. I like that it's staying cool since I'm moving plants around. My 'Preziosa' is looking great too. It's a real keeper. Your unnamed Hydrangea is monstrous and absolutely stunning. I must admit, however, that your little one steals the show.

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  14. What a wonderful blue hydrangea! How stunning. Here I have a very alkaline soil and so white or pink is the order of the day.I am sooo envious!

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  15. Beautiful flowers, and colours! I also love the views showing the mixed plantings which give an idea of the variety in your garden. It looks so exuberant and lovely!

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  16. That hydrangea is stunning! I want you to photograph the shades of progression for me. Mine was deep blue similar to that, and then it turned pink. It would be neat to see the progression.

    The larkspur looks photoshopped! I know it isn't, but the colors are so vivid and bright!

    Your "jesters" are looking good. Mine are just about done.

    The prettiest bloom is definitely the littlest gardener!!

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  17. I'm amazed at the lacecap, which is astonishing and wonderful, but all the photos are fabulous. "Grey and overcast' has been the order of the day for three weeks now...getting tiresome here!

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  18. Beautiful photos! Love the 'shades of blue' too!
    I've decided to optimistically look at dragging hoses around as 'exercise' each day...with plenty of it in the foreseeable future!

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  19. That first picture of the blue hydrangea is an award winner. What a plant you have there. All of your flowers that follow are wonderful. I loved your words about your son and his drippy treat. Great blog, have a great rest of the day.

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  20. That lavender hydrangea is just beautiful Catherine. Of course, so is the blue. I can't believe how big and healthy it is.

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  21. I love all those blue flowers.Your pictures are stunning!

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  22. Wow! I thought I was going to have to get out my sunglasses! Great photos and what a beautiful Hydrangea! (and a cute little "Sweet Pea!") ;-)

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  23. Your little gardener is too cute for words, dressed in blue & yellow and eating a popscicle. She's by far the most colorful and prettiest bloom in your garden.

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  24. Hi Everyone!
    Tina and Frances - If there is any suspicious activity around the hydrangea I'll know who to look for :)

    Linda - I hope it doesn't get that big! My friend has a different variety that's huge and I thought this was a smaller one.

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  25. That is one ginormous hydrangea. I'd say don't ever prune it again! WOW. Your littlest gardener is so sweet too. I wish mine were still dripping popsicles around!

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  26. Catherine, amazing how tall and big the jacob klines are this year..for everybody! Must be from all the rain! Cutie patootie you have there!
    Lynn

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  27. Oh your lacecap hydrangea is so beautiful. I would really have a hard time pruning it. I just love its beautiful blue flowers.
    Debbie

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  28. Wow. Looks like Jack and the Beanstalk land with some of the height of those flowers!
    Pretty!

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  29. Wow, nice! Our monarda gets about 2 foot tall and that's it. Yours looks great.

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  30. The big blue hydrangea is just beautiful! You have so much color in your garden. It's wonderful. I love the 'Preziosa' Hydrangea too.

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  31. Catherine, you have some beautiful blooms flourishing. I love the Jacob Cline and loved the description of it looking like a court Jester! It TOTALLY does. Made me laugh at the description. I didn't realize some of these blossoms get so tall! Lovely.

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  32. What a beautiful deep blue hydranger and the delphinium is a good colour too. All your photos are great.

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  33. The hydrangea is knock me over gorgeous! Goodness, here it would never get that tall....unless i stood over it with a water can all day! ...and your littlest gardener is precious~~gail

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  34. I love the bee balm Jacob Cline monarda. Such a unique kind of flower. Very tropical looking I think. Your blue hydrangea is just beautiful as are all of your other flowers. You have a beautiful garden!

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  35. I really adore the Monarda!! A fab plant and yes very Jester like!

    Ryan (http://ryans-garden.blogspot.com/)

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