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

Friday, May 28, 2010

Fertilizer Friday - May 28th.

May has been an unusually wet and cool month for us. We've had a total of 4 sunny days, the rest have been cooler and rainier than average. I'm definitely hoping that June brings us some more sun and dryer weather. Part of living in the Pacific Northwest means we have to put up with a lot of drizzly and gray days, but it sure pays off on the sunny days of summer when it's not only clear and bright but there is so much green around us as well. On these rainy days I try to remind myself of that. Some days that helps me, but right now I just want to go outside and garden.
As well as hoping June will bring better weather, I can already tell the garden is going to be at it's best then. Peonies and Poppies are about to pop, Foxgloves are beginning to flower and rosebuds are bursting. The Hydrangeas seem to have many more buds than usual. I can't wait!

Persian Cornflower (Cenataura dealbata) has it's first bloom with lots more on the way. I love these flowers. I'm going to have to see if I can divide this one.

Pincushion flower (Scabiosa)

I wanted to show just how much work the ladybugs have gotten done in the week they've been in the garden since I posted about releasing them here. This one is working on 'Honey Perfume'.

I couldn't believe Strawberries were already forming. I better start putting the beer traps out for the slugs before they discover these berries.

Very exciting to see pears forming on both of our little pear trees. These are on the Littlest Gardener's tree.

I planted this Ninebark (Physocarpus) 'Coppertina' last Fall for the foliage. I didn't realize it would have these cute pink flowers. This shrub is growing like crazy. I've read it can be prone to powdery mildew, hopefully I won't see any on this one.

For some reason I've been buying lots of Dianthus this Spring aside from starting a couple of different types from seed. This one is called 'Spotty'. I love the clove scent the flowers have.

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' fully opened.

Awhile ago I posted about being surprised at a Clematis that I thought was supposed to be something else. Well I finally solved my mystery. This is 'Piilu'. It has very bright pink flowers with a ruffly edge.

My newest Clematis 'The President' came with one lonely bud that looks a bit tattered. I'm hoping it will brighten up this back fence once it begins to grow.

Visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time to see who else is "flaunting their flowers" this Fertilizer Friday.
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35 comments:

  1. Catherine, your garden is LOVELY! Your leading cornflower photo is fantastic, as is your Ninebark. Your fruit is coming along so nicely...those PEARS!!! YUM! And, I'm glad to see your hardworking ladybug doing her job.
    Have a great weekend, Catherine!

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  2. That cornflower is pretty. The rain has done it's job, it seems. Lots of pretty blooms.

    Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

    ~~Linda...

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  3. Our May has been dry and hot, hot, hot! What a fantastic cornflower and I love the Ninebark, cute flower--added bonus!

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  4. I'd have to say 'The President' is one of the most beautiful large flowered clematis I have... love it! Occasionally it gets clematis wilt, but since I plant the crowns deeply, it has always come back to bloom again in a year or so! Larry

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  5. I may want your weather lately as it is a sweltering 94 degrees and humid as frigging diggings here. Whew, hot days to garden or anything, garden looks lovely ! take care, Gina

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  6. Loved that piilu clematis....you know, with the double vowel in piilu, I bet that was developed in Finland...how do I know? Because my married name has double vowels and so does my son-in-law's last name and his family is Finnish too.

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  7. Coppertina is such a nice shrub. I love all the ninebarks and it is helpful that it is native. Such a pretty color. I've never seen one get mildew so hopefully you are safe.

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  8. Wow, those little ladybugs have been busy. They sure have gotten the aphids Catherine. Honey Perfume is a golden yellow isn't it. I miss my yellow rose LOL! But the new Sunny Yellow Knockout will bloom soon. Strawberries, yummy. The Ninebark is so lovely I love the dark foliage but the pink blooms makes it even more beautiful.

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  9. Catherine, everything is so lovely! That Ninebark is stunning -saw them at Home Depot last week by Proven Winners. I just kind of passed it up because I didn't know anything about it. I think I will be going back to give it a second look.

    Those ladybugs are really working on those roses.

    Eileen

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  10. Wow, those ladybugs had quite an appetite! I have The President clematis with several buds, none open yet, but I'm in love with the rich blue-violet color.

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  11. Hi Catherine. It's been raining for a week here (not that I'm complaining!) Hopefully dryer conditions will greet you in June.

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  12. Love all the purple colored flowers.

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  13. Everything is so pretty...how do you keep the birds from eating your strawberries...they're getting fat and sassy on mine...

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  14. Love seeing people with flowers I don't have.
    The Ninebark is new to me unless maybe it's also called something else....Great red foliage and flower.

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  15. Sorry that your May has been so cool and wet Catherine. If I remember correctly you had a warm April so you must be due for some better weather come June. I have 'Coppertina' too - did not realise that she has pink flowers. You strawberries look much the same as mine - not long to wait :)

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  16. I always enjoy your pretty blooms. Years ago, we had lots of pincushion plants ~ I like the way they sway in the breeze. Have a good holiday Catherine.

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  17. WOW! As always your flowers are amazing ! Thanks for sharing thse pix!Paula from Idaho

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  18. I envy your garden for having lots of beautiful flowers! They truly are so well taken care of.

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  19. I enjoyed seeing all of your blooms. I like that dianthus. I don't think I've seen that one.

    I'm glad the ladybugs are eating the aphids on your plants.

    How cool to see young fruit.

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  20. Remember last summer when you had the heat wave and LOTS of sunshine?? I remember being jealous ~ because that's normally our summer weather (well, maybe not extreme heat but definitely lots of sunshine). Does that mean things are back to "normal??!!!"
    Your garden is gorgeous ~ I don't think it minds the gray and rain at all! Those lady bugs are making QUICK work of the aphids! That's wonderful. Hopefully you'll be rid of them completely soon. Such beautiful clematis too ~ 'The President' is such a rich purple ~ maybe I need one more?!! ha. Happy Memorial Day weekend Catherine ~ I hope you get at least one sunny day!!!

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  21. If 'The President' becomes well established, you will have a glorious show of rich purple on your fence :) What a beautiful colour!

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  22. Ahhh that 'Ville de Lyon' is so beautiful - I've been looking for it and haven't found it yet. ;-(
    In answer to your question I don't think it's ever going to stop raining. I hate to sound negative but seems to not be showing any signs of slowing down. I have SO many flowers I bought just waiting to be planted! It HAS to stop I'm going nuts here!

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  23. You captured some lovely blooms to flaunt this week.

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  24. Wowwwww...your blog is beautiful !!.i follow now...please come to visist mine..............and maybe....you wil folow me too.....happy sunday.hugs from Ria

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  25. Wow, those ladybugs made a huge difference. I just bought a nine bark coppertina for my mother in law for mother's day. It looks great! I have strawberries growing too....but nothing yet.

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  26. Good job with the ladybugs!!

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  27. GORGEOUS! SUCH lovely and wonderful blooms and photos you have. Thank you so much for sharing! I LOVE using ladybugs to do some dirty work in my garden too!

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  28. Go, ladybugs, go!

    I can understand why you would be picking up extra Dianthus, since their scent is so delicious. The carnations, along with lilacs and lily of the valley are the plants that will entice me out a few extra times a day when they are in bloom, just to enjoy their fragrance.

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  29. Hi Catherine our centaurea are out in flower too. If yours is like mine then you should find it easy to divide. Mine can be a bit of a thug (a blue one) and I'm never done pulling out the seedlings.

    The clematis are so beautiful. I think Mr President will settle into his new home just nicely. Piilu is such a beautiful bloom too.

    Good to see that the ladybugs are thriving.


    PS my son got home fully dry - he only got wet last night. Thankfully they did not get the rain we had.

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  30. Hi Catherine...every photo is enchantment and beauty...every time!! YOu are an amzingh photographer!! Gorgeous!Another beautiful post!
    Kiki~

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  31. Hi Catherine, I have to laugh, because my sense of smell isn't so great... it takes a Huge Scent to make me stop in my tracks... so I'll have to get on "all fours" tomorrow to see if my dianthus have a scent. ;-) Your first two photos come in blue around here (at least that's all I've ever seen). I really like the pinks!

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  32. Catherine, Everything is looking so beautiful!!! You definitely have a green thumb, and your photography skills are excellent. I do so enjoy visiting your blog!
    Beth

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  33. I have this same clematis in my garden in London. It is in full bloom now and looks wonderful!

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