Pondering Plans for Next Year

Despite the definite change in weather, the garden is still doing quite well. We haven't had a frost yet so even plants like dahlia and fuchsia are putting out blooms. 

Not only that but as I putter and visualize next year's garden, I can hear frogs croaking back and forth to each other at random intervals. If the temperatures remain mild (in the 50s) I'll continue to be enchanted by them.

I was surprised to see buds forming all up and down my winter-blooming 'Freckles' Clematis.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurescens 'Freckles'

This made me curious so I checked another of my three winter blooming Clematis, C. urophylla. Sure enough! Buds.

Blurry buds on Clematis aff. urophylla

Still no buds on Clematis nepalensis but that's okay. The vine looks healthy and that's the important thing.

There are still several summer/fall blooming Clematis blossoms.

Clematis texensis 'Etoile Rose'

Given that it's the end of the season, I'm excusing the mildewed foliage.

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

Clematis viticella 'Abundance' (red) and C. v. 'Polish Spirit'

My longest blooming Clematis is C. integrifolia 'Inspiration' pictured below. It started blooming in May and has not once been without at least one flower since then. I didn't cut it back so there are lots of seedheads too.

Clematis integrifolia 'Inspiration'

This NOID from Deborah Hardwick is still making me happy. Again, the foliage is icky but who cares?

Clematis NOID

Clematis viticella 'Rosalyn'

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

And check out all the fuchsias still blooming!

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedly' (I think)

Fuchsia lycioides

Fuchsia 'Exmoor Woods'

Fuchsia 'Baby Ann'

Fuchsia 'Delta's Angelique'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

Fuchsia NOID

Fuchsia 'Nettala'

Fuchsia 'Debron's Black Cherry'

Fuchsia 'Checkerboard'

Fuchsia 'Galfrey Lye'

And that wasn't even all the fuchsias but I think you get the idea. 

Check out these Crinum lilies that I bought in a bag from Costco last spring. They have proven to be troopers. There are still buds forming on some of the bulbs. 

Crinum x ‘Powellii’

Agastache 'Blue Boa'

Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'

'Paris' Heuchera is another extremely long-blooming plant. This one has been in flower since February.

Heuchera 'Paris'

Rabdosia longituba

Rabdosia longituba

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

I really should cut some of these mums for a bouquet.

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

This Tinantia reseeds every year and blooms in that spot. The flowers are so cute.

Tinantia erecta

Now for some garden shots:

Persicaria 'Fat Domino'

Mukgenia nova 'Flame' next to Rhododendron 'Everred'

Artemisia 'Seafoam'

Leucothoe axilaris 'Curly Red'

I have three spots where I dug out plants that were too big or were otherwise needed moving. You can see the bare spots in the following three photos.

By the outer pond, I had a big Stipa gigantea. I gave it to Heather. In its place, I'm going to plant Nerium oleander.

In this open area, I had a Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' that died. I'm going to plant my Chilopsis 'Burgundy'

And finally, here I had a huge Nandina and spreading Euphorbia. I'm not sure yet what is going to replace them.

Having a bit of bare soil keeps my design proclivities charged and ready. Ooh the possibilities! And not just for plants. Today I lugged home a huge piece of driftwood, aptly named Boris. I'm going to find a place for him in my garden. I'll post photos of "him" next time.

And there you have it. Thank you for visiting.

So Much to Love

We're long overdue for a blog post. The garden is looking superb and I'm spending as much time as I can out there.

Recently, I stopped by the K-Mart in Corvallis to look for something and got stopped by the plants at the front door. When I "heard" this Cuphea calling my name I said, "Oh honey, you're coming home with me!" In fact, two of them were vying! So, yep. I let them both jump into my cart. The flowers are tiny but prolific. Such a cutie pie, it will make a good "spiller". Have you all seen this plant? (It looks similar to Scaevola but it's not. The flowers are much smaller. Info here.)

Cuphea ramosissima 'Cuphoric Pink'

Speaking of Cuphea. I had to have this one too. I grew it last year and was so pleased with it.  

Cuphea llavea 'Vienco Burgundy'

Last spring I purchased Cistus 'Victor Reiter' from Annie's. Her photos of the pink flowers made me swoon. Finally, one year later, mine has blooms. I'm not disappointed.

Cistus 'Victor Reiter'

And finally, flowers on Geranium renardii. I love the leaves, of course, and have had a flower-less plant for several years. The flowers are charming.

Geranium renardii

The blossoms on Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue' are extremely fragrant. I love this rose. Thank you Carol.

Rosa 'Rhapsody in Rose'

Montia is just full of flowers.Thank you Nancy.

Montia parviflora var. flagellaris

Miniature rose 'Jeanne LaJoie' is blooming right on cue with variegated honeysuckle.

Rosa 'Jeanne LaJoie' with variegated honeysuckle (Lonicera perclymenum 'Harlequin')

 This Linaria is finally--after three years--a strong, happy plant. Thank you Diana.

Linaria triominthophora

I succumbed to this purchase a few weeks ago: Papaver orientale 'Harlem'. My thinking is that I have trouble with the fickleness of the annual 'Lauren's Grape' Poppy so this one will serve as a reliable replacement. 

 

 

Papaver orientale 'Harlem'

Another impulse purchase is this red-leaved Begonia. Ooh la, la! The tag just said, "Rex." Online I found it named, Rex Begonia Constellation Series Taurus. (There were several different ones in the series.) Whatever the name, it's pretty. Or gaudy. What do you think?

Rex Begonia Constellation Series Taurus

 May is the month for Dianthus! I love them all so much.

Dianthus

 The mild winter means strong,  floriferous California Poppies. The pink ones are my favorite.

Pink California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

The Astrantia are also looking fab!

Astrantia major 'Abbey Road' (I think.)

Rosa 'William Baffin' is perfect right now.

Rosa 'William Baffin'

 Even this bumblebee thinks so:

Rosa 'William Baffin' with bumblebee

I'm still deciding where to plant this fabulous little red-leaved Rhododendron. Don't you love it?

Rhododendron 'Everred'

Last fall I hauled home this large, hollow log. After getting my son to cut it into threes, it has made a home in my one of my woodland beds.

Log love.

And now for some garden shots:

We had a garden visitor for two days last week. Total cuteness. Sadly, he moved on.

We have a lot of tadpoles in the pond. Here is one their older cousins.

 And finally, a plant I am unsuccessful at growing but my neighbor does so well. The view could be a lot worse, yes?

My neighbor's Delphinium

 Happy Gardening!