Sunday, May 29, 2011

Getting Going in the Garden

Seems all we've had lately has been rainy, cold weather. But things are moving along in our garden regardless, so that I feel the need to share.....

The bluebells (hyacinthoides) are blooming in the Moongarden. I thought I had ordered a mix of blue, white and pink. But they're all blue.
I don't mind.





































Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) always looks nice during the growing season, with white blooms in the spring. This plant does great in our garden and I love it as a ground cover since it isn't too invasive. My friend Teresa told me about using it in a May wine recipe and I may just try it this year. (Although it will more likely be a "June" or "July" wine.)



These Mountain Bluet (centaurea montana) are blooming all over the garden since they re-seed a lot. I like them for their spring color but the foliage gets tatty looking later in the year. I usually try to cut them back when that happens.






































I like this Amethyst in Snow version I bought a while back but I need to move it out from under the rose that is threatening it.

Another great ground cover is Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum). It too likes to spread but who can resist it's cheerfulness? This plant enjoys full sun and doesn't need a lot of water so it also does well on mounds.










































And of course Soapwort (saponaria ocymoides).



Our viburnum is blooming.





This shrub took a while to get going but I just love the flowers.






We're still seeing Indigo Buntings around. It would be great if they stayed for the summer.








And this lone quail made itself welcome at our birdblock.





Two more pics. (I know this is a long post.)


Kim took this picture without my knowledge. We're enjoying the back deck.





And from our back porch you can see that back deck in the upper left corner.





OK, that's it. I think I'll go check some of my favorite blogs now and see what you've all been up to.

Oh, I think I found out what killed my roses........here.

14 comments:

mmichele said...

Gorgeous!

David said...

Your garden is looking beautiful. What a great view from your back porch! Those indigo buntings are amazing, it's so great you get them in the garden.
David

Goneferalinidaho said...

Lovely. Thanks for the pics of the indigo bunting. A friend of mine has spotted them in his yard and didn't know what they were.

Emily said...

those last two pictures are fantastic. what a stunning eden you've created for yourselves.

Capucyne said...

fantastiques oiseaux, inconnus pour moi!!! Les fleurs roses sont, je crois, des asters de printemps.
Les fleurs que tu as actuellement sont défleuries ici, c'est intéressant de voir les différences dues au climet

garden girl said...

It's so gorgeous there Victoria! You have some of my favorites in your garden - sweet woodruff, mountain bluet (needs more sun than we have to really show its stuff, but I grow it anyway,) and the bluebells.

I recognize those socks, and sure wish I'd been more patient as a kid when my mom was trying to teach me to knit!

Kathleen said...

Victoria ~ your garden is SOOOOO pretty. You've really done an amazing job. I love the photo of the viburnum with the birdhouse in it. Just caught my fancy not that everything else wasn't gorgeous too.
Your weather sounds like ours. It's been a long time since we've seen a full day of sunshine. So strange.
The indigo buntings are beautiful. I've never had them visit my garden but wish they would! I hope they stay all summer for you too.
Happy Memorial Day!

Janet said...

Such a beautiful garden! And I love the bunting and quail pics - adorable. I hope the rain and cold go away soon. It's time for spring already!

D said...

Victoria, your garden is beautiful and love that shot of you and Kim on the back porch...
PS: I think we are supposed to have some sun one day this week. ;)

Anonymous said...

Wow, your garden is lovely! I love the Viburnam and the way it presents the flowers somewhat laterally. I also love sweet woodruff and don't have any so have to put that on my list. And the 'Amethyst in Snow' variety is also very beautiful along with the little birds. Thanks for the great post. I also read the article you noted about what may have killed your roses. Thanks for sharing....

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Love your view from the porch, great place to sit and enjoy your garden. What neat picture of the Quail!!
We tried growing Sweetwoodruff in Virginia and it always seemed to just hang on, perhaps it was the spot? Love the sweet little blooms on it.

Belladonna said...

I have the blue and the amethyst versions of Mountain Bluet (which I just call Bachelor Button) but that snow in amethyst you have is STUNNING! Isn't there some commandment that says "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's flowers"? If so I'm in big trouble.

Hey do you want any Pieris japonica - "Lilly of the Valley Bush"? I have too many so I'll be taking some out in the next week or two. Send me an email and let me know.

Belladonna said...

HMMM - what's with the broken link? I'll try this ONE more time:

Pieris japonica

Belladonna said...

Well that's odd...don't know why blogger isn't cooperating with my hyperlink. Ok, here's the site the old fashioned way: http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Pieris_japonica.html