Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Flowers and Foliage, Oh My

So much is going on. I've been reworking a lot of the blah spots in the garden this year. It's enjoyable but, being a visual person I have difficulty envisioning full-grown plants when they're still dormant. For instance, the Joe Pye and Canna lilies are still eensy, weensy things but in a few months, they'll tower. So how do I place them? Due to my ambivalence (aka "cramscaping"), I suspect there will be some summer amending. Hopefully there will be a few rainy days to undertake the project. Or maybe everything will be perfect. Ha! 

A few years ago my neighbor rooted this gorgeous pink Clematis for me. We don't know its identity. Is it 'Pink Champagne' or 'Asao' or...? Any ideas?

Clematis .... ?

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells'

Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'

 The second rose to bloom in my garden is this one:

Rosa mutabilis

And the second blossom, almost ready to pop.
Note the plethora of aphids too.

Lewisia cotyledon in bloom

Lewisia up close...

Gypsophila cerastioides 'Pixie Splash'

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach' (I think) in front of Weigela florida 'My Monet'

And my favorite Weigela, almost in bloom...

Weigela florida 'Variegata'


Tinkerbell Lilac (Syringa meyeri x microphylla 'Bailbelle')




Variegated Comfrey (Symphytum x uplanicum 'Axminster Gold')
among the throng

Impatiens omeana always look so good before the weevils start chewing on them.

Impatiens omeana

Silver Vein Creeper is really filling in this trellis, despite how shady this area is now, thanks to a burgeoning Japanese Maple.

Silver Vein Creeper (Parthenocissus henryana)

This Silene has reseeded all over my garden now. I like it, to a point.

Silene dioica seedling


Allium schubertii almost ready to pop!

While shopping with my friend Vicky recently, I found this simple birdhouse. I'm hoping maybe a bird family will take up residence. 




Finally, it used to be we rarely saw butterflies in our garden. However, in the last few years we're seeing more and more. Yesterday my daughter and I spotted a pair of Red Admiral butterflies twitterpating and nectar-sucking. Such a regal thing!

Red Admiral butterfly resting on the warm fence boards.

Are you amending areas of your garden?
Seeing any butterflies or other interesting visitors?

5 comments:

  1. I love that Heuchera-Weigela combination! Weigela doesn't handle the climate here but you have me thinking of combining that Heuchera with a Hebe I already have. The butterfly pic is incredible too! It's so perfect I would have believed it was a ceramic ornament.

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  2. I don't know what type of Clematis you have, but it's beautiful! Oh, and that first peachy rose ... sigh ...

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  3. Aphids already?! That's not a good sign. :/
    I love that Heuchera-Weigela combo. And the variegated one, too. And there's that Comfrey. Maybe I'll get lucky and come across one this year.

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  4. I love the peachy Heuchera, Grace, unfortunately it didn't return for me, just the burgundy and a few silvery ones. I like your variegated foliage, that is a favorite for me. The Tinkerbelle Lilac is darling, that would be wonderful since my old variety towers over my head and is hard to pick (but not that hard to smell).;-) My roses and clematis are not blooming yet, but maybe soon, yours are lovely colors! The butterfly's pattern looks like an orange circle with parts missing, I see them or Lady butterflies here often, and the Tiger Swallowtais.

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  5. Hello Grace, this is my first visit to your lovely blog, I can see we have things in common! Love your pulsatilla, ‘Røde Klokke’ (Red Bells), it is on my (very long) wish-list, and I also loved your Weigela, it is now on my wish-list!
    I am creating a new garden since moving house 11 months ago – a very interesting project, but a bit daunting too :-)

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