Worth the Wait

Well, it's the middle of April and we've already had two "heatwaves." This is really unprecedented and for the most part, quite nice. Except for the middle of the afternoon when the 80+ degree heat forces me to find shade. And except for the fact that I'm already watering. But who's complaining? At least slugs haven't devoured my dahlias and hostas, knock on wood. 

My garden, if I do say so myself, looks better than ever this year. This is the great thing about gardening. You can learn from your mistakes and make changes that improve things dramatically. It'll never be perfect but it's sure gratifying working towards that end. 

Last year I found two Ragged Robin plants at two different nurseries. One plant is a tall variety, the other a dwarf. Here is the tall variety in bloom. Isn't it exquisite? 

Ragged Robin or Lychnis flos-cuculi

Ragged Robin or Lychnis flos-cuculi

A year ago last March I purchased bare root columbine plants by-the-bag at Costco. They performed really well that spring and this year they look fantastic. They're just starting to bloom. 

Pink Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris plena 'Barlow Pink'

You know me and my pink flowers... I couldn't resist purchasing this little creeping baby's breath a few years ago. I keep it in a pot so I can see the flowers up close. Its main show is in spring but it will put out a few blooms all season. 

Pink Baby's Breath Gypsophila repens 'Rosea'

Saponaria or Soapwort is a common plant. I had it years ago then pulled it out to make room for summer bloomers and now I'm back in love with it. What can I say? I'm fickle.

Soapwort or Saponaria ocymoides 

A few days ago I was chatting with Tammy about plants. She was talking about her recent purchases and mentioned a plant called "Pink Hairy Chervil." I had no clue what it was but when I looked it up I was like, "I have that plant!" I just didn't know its common name. I showed Tammy an inspiring photo (taken by Grace Hensley) of it partnered with a peony.  

Grace Hensley photo, used with permission
Joan Bentley's garden. Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty'

I don't grow this Peony, but I have tons of Silene in my garden so, heck why not pair the two? Well, mine isn't exactly a match but, not terrible either. 

Silene robotti and Chaerophyllum hirsutum 'Roseus'

Confession: I've never met a Dianthus I didn't love. They're so easy and their blossoms are fragrant and even when they're not in bloom, the foliage is interesting. I had to buy this one when I saw it at a variety store (BiMart) last week. Four-fifty for a gallon pot! 

Dianthus 'Spotty' I think D. plumarius 'Scent of Heaven - Angel of Desire'

This Lychnis is blooming its head off. I've had it forever and while it only blooms in spring, it has tidy, evergreen, low-growing foliage for the rest of the year.

Lychnis viscaria 

Here is a close up of one the flowers. The bees love them.

Lychnis viscaria 

The Weigelas are in bloom!

Weigela florida 'My Monet'

Weigela florida 'Variegata'

And the Geums are happy.

Geum 'Cosmopolitan'

Mostly Geum 'Flames of Passion' but a few 'Cosmopolitan' in the mix

Thanks to a mild winter, last year's seedling bush morning glory, (Convulvulus) is just starting to bloom. 

Convulvulus cneorum in front of variegated Iris

Such a pretty blossom

I purchased this cute Nicotiana from Annie's Annuals. This is it's first blossom. 

Nicotiana alata x sanderae 'Crimson Bedder'

Clematis 'Multi-Blue' is living up to its name.

Clematis 'Multi-Blue'

Thalictrum ichangense 'Evening Star'

All of the spring-blooming hardy Geraniums are happy.

Geranium maculatum 'Espresso' and tiny friend

The first blossom on Geranium x magnificum

Geranium 'Birch Double'

The north end of the garden

South Island Bed

The 'Seiryu' Japanese Maple is really growing this year.

I need to get one more little blue Fescue for this border.

Gardening often requires patience. Here are some cases in point.

I purchased this Anemonopsis two years ago. I was worried it was not going to survive but it's got lots of green this year. I'm pretty sure it's going to bloom for me. Stay tuned. How's yours doing, Mindy? 

Anemonopsis macrophylla with Phlox glaberrima ssp. triflora 'Triple Play'

And my Lobelia tupa, also purchased two years ago, grew last year but didn't bloom. Look at it now! I counted nine stems! Hopefully we'll see red flowers in July and August.

Lobelia tupa

And finally, last year I sowed Geranium palmatum seeds. They germinated readily and the plants grew nicely but didn't flower. Thanks again to the mild winter, they stayed alive and evergreen. Isn't the foliage nice?

Geranium palmatum

And now, I'm proud to announce, there are flower buds. I'm excited. Stay tuned.

Geranium palmatum flower buds!

What plants are you waiting to see bloom?

Sloppy, Soggy, Soupy and Saturated

That little alliteration pretty much describes my garden of late. March came in like a lion and took up rainy residence, leaving us with only brief, fleeting patches of blue sky. Despite the fact that my garden puttering has come to a virtual halt, the plants are taking it all in stride and waking up and stretching out. 

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum)

I really love the red coloring on this ornamental rhubarb.

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum)

I'm excited by this new flowering current. Look at all the buds! And I just bought it last fall!

Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet')

Little bits of color all around the garden...

Bergenia cordifolia

Hebe albicans 'Pink Elephant'

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Lathyrus vernus 'Albo Roseus'

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain' with Impatiens omeiana 'Silver Pink'

Osmanthus x burkwoodii

Years ago I had this Osmanthus (above) but pulled it out for some stupid reason. I saw it again at a nursery for cheap so I'm going to train it up like my friend Carol has done with her plant, (below). Such a pretty thing, and fragrant too!

Carol's Osmanthus x burkwoodii out of bloom

Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'

Skimmia japonica (male)

Last week, my sister and I visited Trina Studebaker at her home/nursery, From My Bed to Yours. Unfortunately it was really raining so we didn't get to spend as much time looking as we would have had there been sunshine. We did get a few plants though, including this new (to me) Sedum, (below). Have you heard of it? Do you grow it? We couldn't resist the pink-ness of it. 

Sedum 'Winky'

I found this "Hairy Canary" last fall. It is doing surprisingly well considering all the rain that has pummeled down on it. I love the way the water glistens on the silver tips.

Hairy Canary (Dorycrium hirsutum) 

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

Doronicum orientale with Persicaria runcinata 'Purple Fantasy'

The primroses have survived a few years now in my shady bed. Their biggest enemy is the slugs. I have to constantly be on slug patrol. 

Primroses

Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold'

Wow. A brief, two-minute break in the clouds, (below)!

Euphorbia mysinites

Duke is an early blueberry variety and just about to pop open its pretty bell-flowers. The other blueberry plants aren't quite as awake yet. 

Duke Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke')

This sweet violet (below) hitchhiked on a nursery purchase. It is spreading around now and because I really like the leaves, I'm allowing it.

Viola koreana

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

A few weeks ago, my friend Carol and I went to Rocky Mountain Nursery in Independence, Oregon, not too far from here. I was thrilled to pieces to see that they had Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'. A five gallon pot cost $15.99! Below is a photo of Carol's plant in bloom. Don't you love it?

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'

Okay enough of my blathering. Below are a few photos of the garden at large, such as it is.

Looking south 

Looking south

Looking north... the bare patch on the right is where the pear tree was. I've got bare soil, but not for long!

North

Hopefully the snow has melted (Joy) and you too are garden puttering!