The weather continues to astound me. The rain totals are normal but the temperatures are so mild and pleasant that the plants are as giddy as the gardener.
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| My front door container has a mish-mash of plants that are getting along surprisingly well. |
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Notice the tiny Japanese maple seedling? Cracks me up. There's another one on the other side of the pot.
I think I'll just let them grow for awhile. |
Years ago, I trained two Akebia quinata vines on each side of an arbor. Dumb move. The arbor wasn't sufficient enough to support such manically growing things. After a few years, I dug up the vines and away they went, I can't remember where. Well either bit of root or perhaps a seedling took off and lives on. I'm glad because I love these unique and fragrant flowers.
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| Akebia quinata in bloom. |
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| More Akebia quinata flowers. |
I need to read up on why some flowers are purple while others are pink. Male and female, maybe? I'm glad it decided to stay. I've dug up too many plants that I later regretted getting rid of however, I'll have to keep tabs on this one or it will quickly swallow the neighborhood.
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Loropetalum ... finally a not-so-blurry photo. My camera apparently doesn't like pink as much as I do.
Anybody else have trouble getting a good shot of these flowers? |
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| Such a happy plant. |
In my thirty-plus years of gardening, I've never had the pleasure of growing Pulsatilla or Pasque Flower, until I bought one last fall on sale. Look at how happy it is!
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| Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells' is fixing to bloom. |
I'm not a huge fan of yellow but back in 1997, I dug up a clump of this Leopard's Bane. It's been a reliable spring bloomer ever since.
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| Doronicum orientale |
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Yes, Geranium robertianum is a weed but I like it and therefore always keep a few seedlings
so they can bloom. |
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What you're looking at is my Desert Four O'Clock (Mirabilis multiflora) waking up from its winter nap.
I know, not very impressive but I'm totally psyched that I got it to survive our wet, Oregon winter. |
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Another photo of it. Such pretty lavender flowers rising above a ground-hugging sea of glaucus foliage.
I'm excited to see how mine will grow this year. |
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| I turned around, then turned back and, POOF, all my Japanese maple trees woke up. |
I hope your garden is also waking up!
Loropetalum wasn't happy in my garden but your photos make me want to try it again. Your photos don't look at all fuzzy to me (or perhaps my brain corrects for fuzziness as my eyesight gets less sharp).
ReplyDeleteThat Loropetutum (did I spell that right) is gorgeous!!! I have trouble taking pictures of yellow flowers. The sunlight always seems to glow of of them. Especially the smoother ones. I had a Japanese Maple. Protected for the winter winds and the mice ate all the bark off. Hard to see as it was one of the trees I brought from my house before we got married. As always your flower posts are a joy to see!
ReplyDeleteHot pink is difficult for me to photograph, also.
ReplyDeleteI bought a Pasque flower at the Leach Botanical sale last spring and it didn't over winter. Sooo irritating.
I love, love, love seeing everything growing in your gardens. Some I've never heard of before. Always a visual delight to visit.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter week ~ FlowerLady
I am not familiar with most of the flowers you showed this time. I love the akebia blooms! Yes, spring is here, and I am giddy as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's those wonderful sun breaks that trick us into not noticing how much it rains. Left the house this morning in a downpour and fifteen minutes later, the sun was shining.
ReplyDeleteAkebia Quinata--wow, it looks like something brought in from a space ship. Must be the "feelers!" It's a beauty Grace. And only YOU would find a flower like looks like pink linguini, I'm proud of you making THAT grow in your garden. Everything looks lovely. I spend all of Sunday planting and feeding like mad and boy am I sore! (But happy!)
ReplyDeleteDesert Four O'Clocks--how interesting! You're having an amazing spring, Grace. Enjoy! :)
ReplyDeleteOur garden isn't nearly as awake as yours yet, but it's on its way. You could send us some rain though. We have that same four o'clock, love that plant. And yes, those Akebia vines do like to take over; we have two. Love all your pink!
ReplyDeleteHello Grace
ReplyDeleteAlways beautiful plants in your garden, it is a plant paradise ;-)
Good day
Bye
Gracie girl YOU ARE MAKING ME crazy!!
ReplyDeleteI will have to stop visiting you until I get to see some LIFE in my garden let alone SEE my garden with the snow covering it STILL .. BIG sigh !
But we are due for some rain today/tonight so maybe it will wash some of it away.
I also have the Akebia and am fascinated by their tiny flowers .. it can be a bit aggressive so I have to keep an eye on it.
I can't believe you waitd this long to have a Pasque flower ! They come in more colours than they used to.
That Loropetalum, fringe flower is so pretty in PINK ! .. you are so lucky to have the right zone for it.
OK .. I will stop whining and walk back to my winter land here.
Take care
Joy : )
HI Grace,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see your Mirabilis waking. (I just made a couple additions to our pl information.) I'll be interested to see it when it gets bigger. And the only pollinator info I could find is mention of the Hawkmoth. I'd be so interested in hearing your observations of other pollinators--when you note it in your spare time. Lovely post. Thx.
I love all the lovely colors of Spring Grace, especially in your garden. The purples and pinks are so refreshing and healthy looking. My deck garden is coming along nicely but it will be a couple of months before it's in full regalia. I do love watching the annuals flourish. Happy Easter!...the best part of which is watching Nature bloom in all it's glory.
ReplyDelete