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

Friday, June 3, 2011

A sunny start to the day.

After several days of downpours and cooler weather we woke up to actual sun today!  It was amazing how fast we were all able to get up this morning when the brightness of the sun lit up the rooms.  The forecast is for temperatures in the upper 70's and sun all weekend.  The garden seemed greener and happier than it has in a long time.  I have a feeling by the time the weekend is over there will be lots more new blooms too.  I'm also hoping the seeds we sowed last week will begin to sprout as well.
Today I cleaned up the raised beds where the blueberries are in the side yard, planted Sunflowers and Cosmos and Nasturtiums and did a little work on the pond.  I took a visit to Russell Watergardens earlier in the week and got some great planting ideas from the owner.  If you live nearby it is so worth going for a visit.  I'm hoping that we will visit again this weekend so my husband and older daughter can see it again.  I did a post on it last year, you can read it here.

The lighting was pretty this morning when I went to take some pictures of the newest flowers.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' has quite a few blooms open now.

She's growing up the arbor that leads down the pond.  Right below it are Linaria that are very close to blooming.  The plants along the deck are all self seeded Geraniums 'Wargrave Pink'.  On the left Old-fashioned Bleeding Hearts still bloom and self seeded Foxgloves are growing taller everyday.  You can also see the big red Rhododendron blooming down the path, it's way behind schedule.

Clematis 'The President' is starting to bloom on the trellis I spray painted awhile ago.  I love how the purple looks against the turquoise.

Dutch Iris blooming by the pond.

Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' is covered in bees all day.  In fact today there were more bees around than I've seen in forever.  Also spotted were damsleflies, Cabbage White butterflies and lots more bees.

Geum 'Double Bloody Mary'

An iris my sister gave me a couple of years ago.  She was going to throw them away!!  I was happy to take them.

Lupine that I started from seed last year.  I've started lots more again this year since they are fairly short lived.

The shed garden is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the garden.  I still can't believe this was all new early last spring.  I also can't believe how well everything is growing when many large cedars are right on the other side of the fence.

I hope you are enjoying the sun and your garden, although I know there are some gardeners in the south that are having a little too much sun.  Hope some rain makes it's way down there soon. 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

44 comments:

  1. Great photos. I love all of the clematis. I don't have a lot of luck with them. Everything is so green. Looks good. Thanks for the tour.

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  2. Your garden has much more blooming than we do. I think we might be about a week behind. Still no clematis and the delphiniums are just beginning. Are the self seeding foxgloves pesky? We have them coming up all over the place and it's making me nervous. I don't really want a foxglove garden!

    http://milepost8.blogspot.com/

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  3. Yes, those clematises are beautiful as is the rest of your garden!

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  4. Looking so good! Your Clems are all beatuiful, and I love the color of that Erysimum.

    I was thrilled to pieces to see the sun this morning. I spent a good four or five hours out there planting and weeding.

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  5. Your pond iris is absolutely scrumptious!! Everything looks great Catherine, your side garden is my all time favorite. :)

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  6. The gardens are looking great and I love the turquoise trellis too

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  7. Hi Catherine, I love hearing the cheer and excitement in your post! It's wonders what the sunshine can do to the spirit! Such pretty blooms and such a great pic of your lupine! I need to start some next year :) I love the vivid blue of that Dutch Iris! Have a great weekend and gets lots of natural vitamin D ~

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  8. So many beautiful blooms on this rare sunny day. I know the flowers are happy for sunshine, like us! Your garden is beautiful and I especially like your trellis painted that color.

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  9. We too got sun yesterday,all day too, such a treat to all the rain. I really like your path to the pond, so shady and cool looking. I like all your blues in the garden, built and flowering.

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  10. Our clems are finished here in the midwest except for a few late bloomers. Wish I could get foxglove to grow but just can't seem to get them to start and you have self seeders. Thanks for sharing your garden.

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  11. Catherine, all of your plants look so healthy! I am a tad bit jealous of your rainfall...my plants are taking on a yellow glow without water from above...your trellis is blue, Grace's is reddish, mine is still brown....must correct that!

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  12. What a treat to have the sun shining ....and some gorgeous blooms. We on the other hand could use some more rain. Grass is always greener,right?
    Love the big columine 'Spotlight' it just stands there so big and bold.
    Your Erisimum took my breath away, such a gorgeous shade of purple!

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  13. So pleasant to visit your yard today. The shed & its garden are very attractive. I like the way you painted the trellis blue, too. It's all very, very beautiful.

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  14. Isn't it gorgeous? It's such a treat to wake up to sun, instead of rain.

    I love the punches of color on the structures in your garden. We need more color during these grey springs, and you have inspired me.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  15. FINALLY! We're so long overdue! Your garden looks great and I see you painted your trellis. I love it. And it looks doubly nice with the clemmy clamoring up it. My 'President' and 'Nellie' are also blooming. Sounds like the bees are hungry and making up for lost time. Have a great weekend.

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  16. Isn't it great to finally have some warmth and sunshine!? We have waited a long time for this day.
    Your garden is looking so full and beautiful. It's hard to believe that it was so raw and new in spots as spring came along. Well done!

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  17. Catherine, it is all filling in now. I am always amazed that those blank spaces this time of year is no where to be found. Love your shed! Do you do what I do in the hoop house? When I go out there, sometimes I just stand inside and look around. Have yourself a beautiful and sunny happy weekend. We deserve it. ;)

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  18. Looking lovely!
    Lupins are quite spectacular and they have a very distinct scent...I had some years ago..the Russell Hybrids.

    Enjoy the sunny weekend...I'll be out pottering in my patch too!

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  19. The Geum is so pretty Catherine. I cannot believe how full and lush your Shed Garden is looking. It does look like it has been there for years now. That Iris is so pretty with the touch of yellow against the blue. I hope you have warm weather from now on but your garden is looking wonderful anyway. Have a wonderful weekend. Hi Girls!

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  20. Hi Catherine,

    I has Nelly Moser but I thought it had died last year. Then something came up where it was this year, but I have tried nother clematis in this spot with Rouge Cardinal, so I am not sure what is going to bloom.

    The Iris look wonderful, finally Caesar's Brother is blooming again after I moved them last year.

    Eileen

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  21. The shed garden is really nice but all of your garden is good. You have great blooms!

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  22. Hi Catherine All looking good in your garden sounds like you are having more rain than we have here in Surrey UK. I seem to be spending most of my time watering rather than gardening. Your clematis are looking good.

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  23. Everything is absolutely gorgeous. I would love the 70's. Hugs!

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  24. Thoroughly enjoying the garden tour - just beautiful!!

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  25. Your garden is looking so lovely, and I just LOVE your little blue shed. Thank you for the rain wishes for my neck of the woods. :-)

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  26. Great pics, I really enojoyed the one of your lupine. I started a few from seed this year, but they are still so small I'm not sure if I will see any blooms

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  27. Kimmie - No the foxgloves are bad, I just pull up the ones I don't want and sometimes move them around. They are really easy to pull. I find them all over my yard too.

    South Coast Guy - Some of my lupine bloomed last year that I had started from seed, just way later than the rest. I hope you get some surprise blooms.

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  28. Catherine, I'm really loving all the mauve, lilac and pale blue colours in your garden. Simply splendid.
    The garden around your shed is truly a delight too and, yes, is has grown so quickly.
    Always a real pleasure to visit you.

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  29. It looks so wonderful and lush! I'd be interested to hear what you did in the shed garden that allowed you to grow so much with the large cedars on the other side of the fence. I've got a section I can't even dig in because of the roots of the trees on the other side of the wall. I've got containers there now, but it's not my ideal solution.

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  30. Your gardens are absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful pics!

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  31. The garden is wonderful! The shed area is very inviting.

    Thanks for the reminder to get the sunflowers planted. I will find a spot this week. Hope to see you and other Sagbuttees this summer.
    Paula

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  32. I think the blue of your potting shed looks marvelous amid all the shades of garden greens. Everything looks fabulous Catherine!

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  33. Your gardens and property are just SO beautiful I can hardly stand it! That arch with the clematis! Those clematis! Love the purple against the turquoise trellis too - great idea to paint it.

    How wonderful to see everything thriving - it sure doesn't look like a new garden! Congrats on all of your happy, thriving plants!

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  34. Glad you finally got some sunshine Catherine. I would have laid out in it & soaked it up after the long dreary period you've had!! We actually went from the 60's to the 90's this past weekend too. Felt so HOT after all that cool weather. I love it tho.
    I agree it looks like your plants are happy in the sun. I love the color you painted your trellis ~ the perfect complement for the clematis. Hope your good weather continues.

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  35. WOW!!! COLOR, exuberant growth, a charming, charming little shed. All this filled me with joy.

    Hurrah!!!

    Love,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  36. Everything looks amazing! As always, I love your path surrounded by Geraniums...so idyllic! I have just started seeing bees around here...there don't seem to be as many as previous years.

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  37. Enjoyed all the photos- the first one is my favorite I have to say. Your garden is beautiful!!!!

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  38. So happy the sun came out for you! Your garden is looking most happy bathing in it all. Thanks so much for your kind words about my BJ.

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  39. This has to be my fave blog on the net. Well done and I love the shed.

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  40. Your dutch iris sure trumps my flag iris. That is wonderful. I like the blue trellis and everything is blooming so wonderfully.

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  41. All so VERY beautiful, Catherine!

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