Gail's Garden

2008-07-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

Our first open garden of the summer was on June 28th when the temperature in the garden surpassed 100 degrees and just about everything, both plant and animal, drooped and swooned. The daylilies were late and there were only about a half dozen cooked blossoms open that day. I promised to have the garden open again when the daylilies began to bloom and the weather was cooperative. It looks like a window of opportunity will open this coming Saturday, so we'll hope that the forecast is accurate and will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on July 19th. There should be plenty of summer color to enjoy.

2008-07-15T13:10:00.001-07:00

When Crocosmia 'Lucifer' bursts into bloom, I know that summer has arrived at last.

2008-07-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is a very round and ruffled seedling from my hybridizing efforts. Even with all of the frilly edging and heavier substance, it opens well here.

2008-07-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

The daylilies are finally providing summer color after being set back by the unusually cool Spring weather. Although I missed having the earlier bloom, I will enjoy having the blooms around longer than usual - some of them up to two weeks later.

After many years of planting seeds from my own crosses, I am enjoying many wonderful new creations of my own. It is exciting to be there when the first blossom opens. This one is an unusual form with petals that twist and curl. The flowers on plants created in our area seem to be better suited for our weather conditions, opening well and having better color after cool nights.

2008-07-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

One of the first fuchsias to begin blooming every year is F. 'Whiteknight's Pearl'. The pale pink flowers look like ballet dancers gracefully suspended from the arching branches. In the background is Clematis 'Alionushka' leaning into and through Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief'.

2008-07-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Clematis 'Betty Corning' marks the beginning of later blooming clematis season. It has a wonderful light and sweet fragrance especially pleasant on warm summer evenings. An easy to care for vine, I cut it back completely to the ground in late winter/early spring and it rewards me with lush new growth filled with lovely lavender-blue bell shaped flowers in summer.

GARDEN IN JULY

2008-07-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Early in July, later season Iris ensata (Japanese iris) are blooming. I love this combination of I 'Sea of Amethyst' with Astrantia major, a plant that begins blooming in late spring and continues until frost.

2008-06-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

Most of the bloom is about two weeks behind schedule. Peonies are still blooming on June 23rd.

2008-06-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Dracunculus was such a surprise because it was not planted by us. It first appeared last year, but did not bloom until this year. It must be gift from some bird with a talent for garden design because it is in a great spot. After thinking it should be moved because of the offensive odor, I read that rinsing it off with water will eliminate the aroma of rotting flesh. I'll leave it in place and try rinsing it next year. The color is stunning.

2008-06-23T21:29:00.001-07:00

Masses of double blossoms cover the huge arching stems on our unnamed old Philadelphus brought from our previous home. The side garden is filled with a light and sweet fragrance and branches provide a nice frame for Ken's flag.

2008-06-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

Large flowered clematis bloom is just beginning. There are lots of buds so with the warm, sunny days predicted for this week, the fence should explode with color just in time for our open garden on Saturday, June 28th.

The Garden In June

2008-06-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Cardiocrinums were right on schedule and bloomed for almost three weeks beginning on June 1st.

The Garden In June

2008-06-23T21:11:00.001-07:00

Hostas have been spectacular this year. They enjoy the cooler weather. Unfortunately, the slugs have also enjoyed the cool, moist Spring weather. Even bait and nightly "slug hunts" with scissors don't seem to be keeping them in check this year. I've resigned myself to accept the damage and vowed to fight on and begin reducing next year's numbers now.

The Garden in June

2008-06-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

June's warmer temperatures and sunshine have been so welcome and the garden is beginning to catch up as it quickly changes and each daily walk along the paths is an exciting adventure.

2008-05-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

We are used to rainy Spring weather in the Pacific Northwest, but this Spring has been unusually cold. I can handle the rain, but it has been just too uncomfortably cold to spend the amount of time I would like in the garden. Thank goodness for big windows where I can enjoy the changing scene from inside the house with a hot cup of tea.

Hostas have emerged into their full glory and the garden is now full of lush green foliage. H. 'Regal Splendor' looks grand in a large clump.

Some early peonies like 'Sidney' have already bloomed and others will soon begin to pop open like P. 'Pageant' whose buds are showing lots of color. I am anticipating that they will begin opening with the arrival of a warm sunny day.

Large flowered clematis are beginning to bloom. C. 'Pink Champagne' had two beautiful flowers open today.

The weather is supposed to begin warming up tomorrow, but today was still cool and rainy.

I'm looking forward to the sunshine and warmer temperature forecast for tomorrow.

Gail

2008-04-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

It looks like spring might finally be arriving. The weather has been so unseasonably cold with foliage damaging frosts. Concern for fungus disease to get hold made me spend two days cutting back all of the daylily foliage right to the ground. The spit bugs were beginning to hatch and there were many slugs and a few cutworms chewing the leaves, too. They have all been recycled along with the trimmings. I try to get out with my scissors and hunt slugs and cutworms every day and they are much easier to spot with less foliage to hide in.

The hellebores are beginning to fade. Within the past week hostas have emerged unfurling their bright, fresh new leaves. Big fat buds on some of the peonies are beginning to show color and with just a little more heat, they will burst into bloom. Some of the Trilliums are beginning to fade, some are in full bloom, and some have yet to open. T. ovatum, T, kurabayashii and some of the sessile trilliums are the first to bloom while T. erectum and T. albidum extend the bloom season a bit. I am especially enamored with T. ovatum floro plenum this year because it has grown into an impressive clump.

The first Spring blooming clematis, C. alpina 'Blue Dancer' and C. macropetala 'Markham's Pink', caught my attention this week. They are ushering in the garden transformation that will soon take place when peonies and large flowered clematis replace the subtle woodland flowers with a showy display of color.

This is such an exciting time in the garden. Even the cooler than normal temperatures and unpredictable downpours cannot dampen my enthusiasm when there is so much beauty to behold.