Photo Therapy

WITH THE GARDEN LOOKING more than a little "blah" right now, I thought I'd share some photos from my archives--photos of happier times, when the weather was hospitable and pleasant. Maybe these will jar your memory to that time, many months ago. I especially dedicate this post to all of you who remain strangled by winter's icy grip. 

These photos are all from my "Drive-By (Photo) Shooting" file. They were taken around town during previous summers.

Recently, I bought a large seed packet of Red Flax because of what I saw in this front garden last summer.

This flower is Viscaria. Very similar to Red Flax. 

Dogwood 

Voluptuous Hydrangea

Roadside Chicory Blossom of purest blue

Armeria drinking up the sunshine

Double File Viburnum

Echinaceas in the hell strip

A genius juxtaposition: Japanese Blood Grass and blooming Sedum 

A front bed of Japanese Anemone blossoms

Hardy Fuchsias ... oh I miss those sweet blossoms.

A tad bit blurry, Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin) in its floral prime

How come my Hollyhocks never look like this? 

Finally a bit of humor: 

Maybe the most tasteful rendition of pink flamingos I've seen.
And of course, there's always got to be one rogue. 

No taste here at all. 

Hang in there. Spring is coming!

Drive-By Shootings of the Camera Kind

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAPPENED upon this lovely front yard garden. There was no one around so I didn't get permission to take photos but that has never stopped me and it didn't this time. I've never seen such beautiful clumps of Red Flax.

Red Flax Linum grandiflorum var. rubrum

I wish the owner would have been there so I could ask how she got these
beauties to grow so well. I've never had much luck. 

This looks like German Catchfly or Viscaria oculata also a gorgeous clump.

Other goodies in the garden...

all in this busy, vibrant front garden. 

Beside it, was this tree, a Dogwood of some kind, with ladybug-like fruits...  

on foliage already celebrating autumn. 

Here is another front garden that caught my eye. 

How is this for a gorgeous stand of weeping Love-Lies-Bleeding?

It was also growing along the fence. 

And here we have a "weeping" stand of Joe Pye, after the rain. 

Finally, I had to take a photo of this hell strip planted with orange Zinnias.
I'm thinking this might be in celebration of Oregon State University, just a few blocks away.
OSU's colors are orange and black. 

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I got a lot done in the garden this weekend. After all the rain we've had, the soil is easy to work so weeds are getting the heave ho. I hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Dancing Oaks...Just a Few More Photos

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I thought I'd share a few more photos from my jaunt through the garden paths and greenhouse aisles of Dancing Oaks.

I took this photo in the tropical greenhouse. I'm not sure, but this could be a Fuchsia. 

I just love these guys creeping over the rocky edge. 

Isn't this little thing a cutie pie? 

These little Shooting Stars were in a trough hiding under a Japanese Maple. 

I don't know why I never think to write anything down. I'm guessing this is an
Agave, right, Loree? 

Astrantia--this is for you, Scott. I know you said you couldn't make it
to Dancing Oaks so here you go. 

A pretty bi-colored Iris hidden within the Pulmonaria. 

The upper ponds. 

I'm wondering if this is Dictamnus or Gas Plant before the flowers have opened.
Does anyone know? 

I'm not positive but this might be a Darmera peltata. The leaves on mine are slightly different so I'm not sure.

A tree peony, past its prime but still pretty.

Cool pots!

I love Dogwood blossoms. These were really small and oh so delicate. 

Finally, can anyone ID this plant? The tag below is for a neighboring one.
I looks a lot like a hardy geranium but, I'm not sure and Fred was otherwise occupied thanks
to a hefty turnout that day.

Fortunately, there is a lot going on in my own garden these days. The roses and honeysuckles are beginning to bloom and the fragrance is wonderful. I'll probably post photos next time, unless I get strong-armed into going to another nursery, which is highly likely since I'm such a sucker. 

Garden Voyeurism: Round 2

DON'T YOU JUST love the month of May? I went on a walk during my lunch hour today and with my trusty camera, I got me some eye candy! 

 I'm not positive on the identity of this particular Dogwood but from my Google search it looks like a variety called 'Venus.' Talk about a beacon. Wowzers! 

 This is one of the borders I admired along my journey. I'm afraid the sun was a little too bright to do it justice. 

 Can you believe this 'Doublefile' Viburnum? Pretty classy plant, don't you think?

 Next to the 'Doublefile' was this lovely 'Bridal Veil' Spiraea. Although these are fairly ubiquitous shrubs, I love the cascading form when they're in full bloom. 

 I thought this porch looked lovely. The Pelargonium pots look like they've been wintered-over successfully.

 One block over, I had to photograph this amazing church building. I'd love to take an inside tour someday.

 The trees are finally completely leafed out. There is nothing like a green canopy on a sunny day to make me happy. I had to capture this gargantuan pink Rhododendron framed by all that wonderful green.  

 Years ago, when I volunteered for the Master Gardener program, this space (above) was one of the areas we tended. I love this neat clump of blooming Sea Thrift (Armeria). 

 These last two photos are my favorites. I was elated when I spotted this red-flowering Horse Chestnut tree. It was a small tree and although I was unable to get a good photo of the entire tree, I am very happy with this close up. I so love these exotic-looking flowers.   

 Finally, I love this calming, tidy front yard. Manicured shrubs skirted by several freshly uncoiling ferns look so inviting bathed in dappled sunlight from the canopy of mature trees.  It was a nice way to spend my lunch hour. 

More sun and higher temps are in the forecast. Hooray! 

As always,