The months are flying by so fast I forgot again about joining in with Helen at
The Patient Gardener's Weblog for the end of month view. I joined in taking pictures of my entry garden last September. When looking back at September's post I saw that it really didn't look that much different as it does now. Things were just finishing up for the season and the Japanese Maple's leaves had just barely begun changing, where as now the plants are just getting ready to start blooming. But if you want to see how this same place looked in December click
here. Now that's a big difference!
Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki' was worth every penny we paid for it. It seemed like an overpriced stick when we planted it about 6 years ago, now it looks like a real tree. The Hydrangeas have grown much larger than I ever expected them to. They are both loaded with buds.
Blooming under the tree are two different types of Jacob's Ladder (
Polemonium) neither of which I know the names of. I have a variegated type in other parts of the yard but they seem to bloom much later. This taller purple one reseeds and smells like grapes.
Heuchera 'Crimson Curls' and Astillbe.
Heuchera 'Caramel' on the right and 'Dolce Key Lime Pie' on the left. There are several other Heucheras in this bed as well, and some have just begun blooming. The leaves coming up between them are from Trollius 'Cheddar'. I'm really happy to see it coming up, the yellow flowers smelled like jasmine.
Helen is getting her garden ready for the Malvern meetup which is coming up soon. Many garden bloggers will be meeting for the Malvern Spring gardening show in the UK in May. I wish I was going to be one of them, maybe another year.
Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki' was worth every penny we paid for it. It seemed like an overpriced stick when we planted it about 6 years ago, now it looks like a real tree. The Hydrangeas have grown much larger than I ever expected them to. They are both loaded with buds.
Blooming under the tree are two different types of Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) neither of which I know the names of. I have a variegated type in other parts of the yard but they seem to bloom much later. This taller purple one reseeds and smells like grapes.
Heuchera 'Crimson Curls' and Astillbe.
Heuchera 'Caramel' on the right and 'Dolce Key Lime Pie' on the left. There are several other Heucheras in this bed as well, and some have just begun blooming. The leaves coming up between them are from Trollius 'Cheddar'. I'm really happy to see it coming up, the yellow flowers smelled like jasmine.
Oh wow! What a huge difference from December! All that brown! It really looks lovely now. A delightful garden.
ReplyDeleteoh Catherine you have such a lovely show of flowers - I can't believe how big those hydrangeas are - there will be some colour later when those blooms open. After seeing those I am convinced that digging mine out of the front garden was the best thing I could have done this week - it never did well and after this winter it would have taken years to recover.
ReplyDeleteI love the heuchera so much - the caramel really jumps out of the photo at me. I think I have that one but its still so small.
I too would love to go to Malvern but the company does not allow annual leave in May due to it being gardening high season - we've too much work on the books. I never managed to get involved with this meme this month either - maybe next month........... bye for now :) Rosie
That Carmel Heuchera just pops on amongst the greens.
ReplyDeleteHave a Good weekend.
Lovely, lovely flowers, colors and combinations. Always a delight to see.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Your garden looks so lush, how wonderful it must be to be surrounded by so much growth.
ReplyDeleteI love spring, I cannot get over the wonderful acidic green of fresh life - amazing.
Gorgeous ..your garden always look so beautiful! Wonderful! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
You heucheras are so nice. I tried some once but I think we get to hot and dry for them. Maybe I'll find a micro climate for them again one day. Thanks for sharing your garden.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I think the biggest difference I saw by looking at your December photos was the difference between zone 8 and zone 5.
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking to myself as I would look at your daily blog, oh we are a little behind Catherine, but not that much. Then I looked at what you had coming up at the end of December, as we were still buried in snow. I certainly have a different view now of zone 5 versus zone 8!
Eileen
That is so amazing how it has all filled in. I remember your earlier spring picture when it was just starting to show green. That is why we like to garden as it is so magical.
ReplyDeleteLove the jacob's ladder.
ReplyDeleteI've got a heuchera 'caramel', now in it's second year so starting to fill out. I moved it to a much more shady location so we'll see...
What a transformation from December to May! Have made a note to smell my Jacob's Ladder when it flowers. Would have loved to have met you at Malvern Catherine - hopefully next year :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again for joining in this month Catherine. Your border looks very lush and I think your tree was worth every penny you paid for it.
ReplyDeletePity you cant join us this week, but to be honest I am amazed that Gail and Frances are making the trip
Excellent photos. Those Japanese maples are glorious.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful and exciting transformation in your garden, Catherine. And the maple is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere are blossoms and fragrance everywhere we turn, and the Bearded iris are bulging in anticipation. Once they blossom, you'll have to tell me which ones you would like.
That is an amazing transformation! I don't like to photograph scenes like that winter bed, but having that photo really shows the difference. I love all of the plants you grow...hydrangeas, astilbe, and, oh, that Japanese maple! Gorgeous! Of course, I can't grow a single one of them down here.
ReplyDeleteYour Maple is wonderful - so that is what I have to look forward to, mine is only about 3 ft. tall. Love all of the Heuchera's. How many different kinds do you have?
ReplyDeleteEverything is filling in nicely around your place.
Love your Japanese Maple Catherine ~ I've been wanting one forever but still haven't broken down.
ReplyDeleteI might have to buy a carmel Heuchera tho ~ it's so eye-catching.
I like the way you've underplanted the tree. It makes a pretty spring garden. Do you ever have problems with your Polemonium? I had to take mine out as they got severe mildew. The same thing happened in my last garden. However, I miss the lovely blue spring flowers on them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful garden and a select inventory of your beautiful selections.
ReplyDeleteIt is a mystery to me how things can look so different in a matter of months. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi dear Catherine,
ReplyDeleteJust returned home for three days and had to drop in for a visit. LOVE the Heuchera. They are one of my soft spots. I go to the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens to pick up excellent varieties, and of course from Dan Heims.
My garden, which always suffers my travel, is now being helped along by a lovely lady who is a hort student at Cal Poly. Instead of coming home to a disaster last night, I found love lavished on my beds. Things deadheaded, fruits picked, weeds pulled. What a gift to have her in my life if only for a couple of hours a week.
Sending love,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
That is such a lovely acer! They can be a bit temperamental if you don't site them right. Yours looks like it is in just the right place. Love the Heuchera too, such vibrant colours. Mine is 'plum pudding' don't they have such wonderful names?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Catherine! I love what great pairings you've made - and thanks for the scent comments. Too bad we can't find an "ap for that" (I mean smelling each other's gardens, that is).
ReplyDeleteLinda - I'm not sure how many Heucheras I have, probably more than I need :)
ReplyDeleteNortheren Shade - Yes, the Polemonium I show in the picture gets powdery mildew every year. It's too bad because the foliage is so pretty I hate to cut it back.
Thank you all for visiting and commenting! I appreciate them all.
That combo of bright heucheras and blue muscari is wonderful. Wouldn't it be fun to join the UK bunch someday? I can't wait to read about their meet-ups!
ReplyDelete