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

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Weekend flowers.

What a great weekend in the garden we had.  The weather was pretty good, the sun came out and it was dry.  Lots of new flowers seem to be appearing everyday.  I love this time of year when there are so many daily surprises.  I finally worked on the entry garden and it's looking pretty good so far.  Most of the rest of the time was spent doing some weeding and just enjoying the garden and my family.

There is so much color right now, and there is still so much to bloom.  This is the view from the front porch looking to the right.

I've always walked along the sidewalk of our front yard to see what it looks like to people walking by.  The only thing I wish was different was that we had more vegetables growing.  It's just not gotten warm enough consistently for much to happen yet.

An Iris I bought two years ago finally has it's first two blooms.  This is 'Loop de Loop', it smells almost like lemons.

Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mar' is huge and full of flowers.  Its' the first Penstemon to bloom so far.

Yellow Daylilies that came with the yard.  I'm not sure what they are, but they smell really good.  They are blooming with white Columbines.

The Spanish Poppy has a really nice scent, I love this new plant.

In an earlier post I said I'd post a picture of this new Clematis fully open and give it's name.  I have somehow already lost the tag, so if anyone knows what it is I'd love to know what it's called.  When it first opened it was more red that purple.

Nigella with a little visitor flying by.

Peony 'Sorbet' is having it's best year yet.  These huge flowers were worth waiting for.  Peonies have taught me patience in the garden.  It takes a year or two for the first bloom and then as years pass you will get more and more flowers each year.

A new Dianthus by the picket fence.

This is the entry garden I've been working on.  I dug almost everything up and tried to plant them in a more thought out way.  I put evergreen perennials like Hellebores and Heucheras in front of Hostas and Astillbes so that in the winter there would be something to look at.  In the sunny part I planted a new rose and transplanted a Geranium 'Rozanne'.  I feel like it still needs something tall in the center, but a tree is out.  Maybe some type of trellis?

We have cotton fluffs floating everywhere from the Cottonwood trees, it looks like it's snowing.  I've also noticed there seem to be no honeybees around.  I saw a few a couple of months ago, but none in my yard recently.  Lots of Bumblebees and Carpenter bees though.
All photos and words property of A Gardener in Progress.
Pin It

38 comments:

  1. Your garden looks beautiful! I like that Spanish poppy. I am envious of your cool and wet conditions. We've been dry now for about 3 weeks and hitting 95 degree heat on a daily basis. Not normal for June!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your garden looks fabulous!! It looked great before but what an amazing transformation. Love the daily bloom surprises. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Catherine, You've got lots going on in your gardens. Love the Iris. 'Catherine de la Mar' is just starting to open in my garden. Could the clemmy be 'Sunset'? Gorgeous peony! Rain here this afternoon but I got a lot done before it hit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Catherine, Wow - your yard is so colorful and full - it looks so good. I love the new entryway garden. A trellis would be very nice in the center. My favorites today are the peony and the iris. Hope you all enjoy the week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the view of your house from the sidewalk, it reminds me of a garden that I used to pass while walking when my son was small, it was a very inspirational cottage garden. At the time (about 25 years ago) I had never encountered a cottage garden before, so the fullness of it really wowed me.

    Love all your flowers, especially that bearded iris. And your entry garden is looking great, I don't think you need to add a thing to it. All the little spots of blue look so good with the blue of your house.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Catherine, your garden beds are looking so good, and the flowers obviously love your weather!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yours blooms are looking fantastic, that Iris really caught my eye. I personally don't think I can have too many Iris's, maybe thats because I don't have enough of them! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your garden is looking amazing and it's so exciting to see all the new areas in full flush! Wonderful results in your entry bed which was so bare in winter after you'd cleared it of the tree and hacked back and removed so much. It's also a treat seeing your new front spaces looking so beautiful and established after all the hard work you put in. Your flowers are superb!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are just so far ahead of us -such a short distance, but such a difference in the garden.
    How about some type of obelisk in the middle rear of that bed? I think a wooden one would look good with your picket fence.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You have a beautiful rainbow of color in your garden and a lot of plants! It is so full and lush. I really like the blue on your house too. Great color.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Catherine,

    I always find a new flower I have to search for when I read your blog. This time it is the pink penstemon, very unusual looking.

    I wish I knew the name of that clematis, but so many look alike, I'll keep thinking.

    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful! The flurry of blooms is coming to an end here. We have layers of greens, form and texture now to enjoy throughout the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your garden is beautiful!!!! I know you are happy so many things are in bloom. The Peony 'Sorbet" is stunning. Thanks for sharing!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like it all, and you even have scented flowers...sigh.

    Everything does look great this year. Maybe it's because of the long spring.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, the garden is so pretty! I hope you find the name of that Clematis. I'd love to have some!

    ReplyDelete
  16. FAB-ULous...Catherine you are definately a Garden Goddess...you have a magic way with nature..and it shines through all your blooms and all that you create..so beautiful and inspiring, magnificent!!
    Kiki

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was going to say it was all so colorful when you beat me to it! Do you know when I was a kid and first exposed to cottonwoods I thought someone was flipping cattails. I had no idea a tree could put out so much fluff. They take me back!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Catherine I like the way you have re-arranged your plants, they look very nice, and the front garden is pretty and colorful.

    The cotton blowing from the cottonwoods are all over the place here. They are so abundant that I am not able to put on any mascara because they blow in through my car window and get stuck to my lashes while I'm driving.... Not good!

    ReplyDelete
  19. So much color in your garden. I really like how you have so many containers tucked in by the beds. We just finished the cottonwood tree snow here.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your garden is so beautiful! I'm sure you get lots of walkers choosing to go down your side of the street! You might like to try putting a tree rose in the front garden where you want something tall. We've had good luck with Iceberg. It's a lovely white rose that blooms all summer long. Just an idea ;)

    http://milepost8.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Just look at all those blooms. Your front yard is a riot of colors now.The Penstemon is so pretty Catherine. It has so many colors in its blooms. I love the looks of Nigella and will have to try one someday.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So many beautiful blooms! I've added some to my plant desires list. The Peony Sorbet is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Catherine,

    Funny we have had snow for weeks. Our black willows are really snowing this year. You gardens are looking fab!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I can't believe how your garden just exploded with color! You would never know this was all new beds. Just wonderful Catherine!
    I think a trellis would be good, something tall for a focal point.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your garden transformation this season is just wonderful Catherine! I love the little Nigella blooms. I saw a friends garden this weekend that had been practically consumed by those little blooms! I'm not surprised by your absence of honey bees though. It's been a tough spring for them this year. I hope some find your garden soon.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm so happy to have found your blog, and it was pure serendipity that I did. As a consequence I have become your newest follower and can't wait to see how things progress in your beautiful garden. I see that you, as I, have taken advantage of the new colorful tomato towers offered recently. Why did it take manufacturers so long to come up with these? I love having that extra bit of color in the garden, particularly in the early stages when things are just starting to grow.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey Catherine, we had spring 'snow' this weekend too! My allergies are in a roar! Your gardens are so pretty and boasting such bright color! I like your new entry way garden redux..in the center a nice cast iron tall four sided trellis, like a tower would look pretty and decorative, but not take up too much space...hmmm, maybe a new clematis for your collection? :) Jenni

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful no matter where you look in your gardens!! The drought has slowed the progress of blooms in my gardens. I too walk along the street to see what others see. :) An obelisk type trellis would be gorgeous in the center of that garden...even without a vine on it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow - GREAT job with that front entry garden! Everything looks great! I love the idea of a trellis there...another clematis or some sweet peas would be nice - and those would also be fragrant, which is always a bonus.

    That bearded iris is so beautiful, and that peony looks absolutely worth the wait! The penstemon are gorgeous too - so many lovely blooms and lots more to come from the sounds of it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love all the color - that penstemon looks especially nice. I'm having the same problem with my veggies - they just sit there in the cool weather. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 60 degrees - what??? In the middle of June? Crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Catherine dear,

    It is so nice to visit your garden and NOT feel like I have to bend my tired back and WEED. Are you doing lots of that now??

    Your photos get better and better. Love them, especially the one with what looks like a syrphid fly?? I can't see wings.

    Love to you,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

    ReplyDelete
  32. Catherine - your gardens look amazing and the flowers are beautiful, but that Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mar' knocked me off my chair. It is simply gorgeous and I was sad to see it's perennial to Zone 6 - and I'm in Zone 5... :(

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow it's really coming along and it looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your garden is looking lovely, as usual. Love that penstemon.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Finally it is done! You have a nice garden.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.