Well, my carport garden is all done. I had overcrowding issues in this one last year, but I lost many mums in the cold winter we had and I rearranged a few things to improve spacing this year. I do have a bare space in front of the tree, but I'm not sure what I want to put there yet. I was thinking of a nice calla lily, but instead I might dig out one in the back called Green Goddess and see if it does better here.
There is not a lot of colour just yet. I have a couple of dinnerplate dahlias that are not yet ready to bloom, and I am also waiting for the blue blooms on the Caryopteris (the bush on the left with silvery-green foliage) Currently most everything blooming is pink, including a second bloom on some lupins in the back that don't show in the picture. I planted 3 red lupins started from seed across the front, but I'm not sure if they will have much of a bloom this season-next year should be better. My delphiniums appear to be getting into a second bloom-not as magnificent as the first of the season but nice still.
I always add small annuals along the front for interest, and this year I alternated nasturtiums I started right in the garden from seed, and white wax leaf begonias that have a bronzy foliage. The nasturtiums aren't doing much just yet-you can see where they are if you can spot the metal markers I placed behind each one. I usually fill in spots with geraniums too, but I haven't done that this year.
A few nice surprises in the garden include a geranium from last year that I am surprised to find this year. Also I discovered a red waxy-leafed thing growing along the edge not far from the only blue delphinium pictured, and it turns out it's a wax leaf begonia with red flowers. (I don't remember planting this begonia last year)
The few mums left, 3 I think, add nice colour near the end of summer when everything else slows down. Now all I have to do is straighten out the edge. I've removed some larger plants that were hard for DH to edge around, so the shape of the garden can be fixed up again. Oh yeah-excuse the hose. Dh set out the sprinkler just before I was about to take pictures and I was too lazy to move it.
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I'm sure you find my constant offerings would make me an annoying neighbour! Now that I have had success starting stuff from seeds, and I have a lot of things reseed themselves, I am always asking the neighbours
"Are you [SIZE=5]SURE[/SIZE] you wouldn't like some of these?"
:D
You're the kind of person that I love to have living next door. All the benefits and none of the work. :D
Oh I wish they were. I love those and want to get some one day. What you see there is just dahlias. Oh, and it looks more organized than it is: there is no writing on those plant markers. I just stuck them in so nobody steps on my little nasturtiums until they are large enough so people know to step over them! :laugh: My son ofter has to go in and fish out a ball or something.
Oh another nice lush garden. I love the colours. Are those big magenta balls alium (?sp). I've only ever seen purple but those look very pink. I see you are also organized and have little signs. I always forget to do that which makes spring a wonder. Even now, my helpers planted a bunch of bulbs in various places and some are coming up while I have no idea of which ones are what. Guess I get to be patient and wait. Signs could have solved my curiosity though.
Thanks! My gardens are never perfect, but I really enjoy having flowers and finding new plants.
Most of my gardening time this year was spent pondering how to get this one looking better, and the weeds were an overwhelming task that I did in several short sessions starting in spring. I had iberis candytuft mounds along the edge that I had to give up on and dig out because of the creeping grass that was tangled in it. Oh well! I have another 2 that I can enjoy. (when you're beat, you're beat)
Most of my other beds/borders are nowhere near ready for their closeup! :laugh: Here's a shot of the garden I'm working on now: I'm basically extending the garden in the corner to curve out like the one on the other side of the gate, which is the only area of the perimeter safe from the spade! Dh gets all mortified every time I announce there will be more garden. I'm not sure why, as it's not as though he LOVES cutting all the lawn we have, and yes there is still lots of that! I suppose it doesn't help that I have such a hillbilly style-I basically fling the bits of turf onto the lawn, move them where the ground runs low (on my imperfect lawn that is not level) and then I pierce them with the shovel, grass-side down to loosen all the soil from the grass. I fish out the grass skeleton that is left, and rake the loosened soil over the lawn.and water it in. These are just the last bits of shoveled-out turf left, likely around a quarter of what was removed. I"ve been working on it for about 3 weeks, so I don't strain my back. Oh, and LOOK-there's the other hose. :laugh: Oh well, it's a mess back there anyway. All the stuff on the patio/sidewalk had to be put out on the lawn for another outdoor perimeter spray for carpenter ant treatment. I can stand a few ants in the garden, but not in the house!
I'm glad it's raining out because I have an excuse not to go out and take a picture of my flower beds. I will need at least two full days to weed, water and move before I dare post my pictures.
I love your beds. Lots of interest there. I keep telling myself that I love the look of a free growing flower bed that looks great from a distance (that's mine). You have now given me the kick to get out there (when it stops raining of course). Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.
Dawn, what a beautiful garden........you're quite an avid gardener according to all your garden posts
I'm sure you'll have a spectacular garden by the end of this month. Enjoy :)