Mrs. Blossom's Garden

Yep, it's August!!

I''d know it was August by no other reason than color. yellows, oranges, bright pinks, yep it's all here. Liking these glads for the double color jolt.  Just plunked in some BARGAIN Russian Sage (Peroveskia) and great pots of Angelonia 7 to a pot! (an annual that will go through frost).  Each found at Stop & Shop and on sale!!  Winners all around!!   Liking August but not this underline!!!

It's July in the garden!!

And that means lots of color!  Daylilies, dahlias, black-eyed susans, stokesia, phlox, morning glories, Russian sage are all flourishing! Finally got out there to do a little weeding and deadheading with that marvelously cool weather last weekend.  Zucchinifest will be next week when I am unindated with those yummy green squash!  Bouquet is morning glories, Asiatic lilies, purple phlox and coleus!  Happy Summer! 

SNOWDROP TEA!

My friend Barbara and I attended a benefit tea party yesterday - celebrating snowdrops and tea - a great combination and benefitting the Thornton Burgess Society of Sandwich.  I loved his stories of Mother West Wind as a child. My first introduction to the wonders of nature!  In addition to the marvelous tea and delicious home baked goodies, we also got a garden tour where we viewed over 100 varieties of snowdrops - who knew there were so many!!  Lovely, lovely day.My friend Ba

Tips Tricks & Tools

 

Ah, one of my favorite lectures to give which I did yesterday to a lovely group at White Pines Adult Community in E. Bridgewater, MA.  About 40 enthuiastic attendees who were happy to listen and share a few of their own successes.  Me, I brought my tips, tricks, many tools and, of course, my TOP TEN LIST to be a SUCCESSFUL GARDENER!!  Always fun to share what I've learned along the way and greet old and new friends.  It's unusual for a group to meet in the summer and yet it really makes a lot of sense.  Fun time and, yes, gals, I did find my way home on those back roads!!

Summer Solstice + 1

Isn't she lovely?  And to think I got her for $4 end of season Home Depot last year! Score!

I no longer turn up my proverbial nose at Home Depot of Lowe's plants - many do very well.  It's up to the buyer to beware - that they are well watered, in bud, not flower, not potbound.  Plant with compost in hole, water well, shade with pot for a day or two and it's all good (and you've saved some serious change, too!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very proud of these!  Canterbury Bells grown from seed last year (they're bi-ennials).  You hardly ever see these in a garden because we are so lacking in patience!!  They were worth the wait!!  And they were Jim Crockett's fav flower!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly but by no means least!  These are Drift roses - a dwarf version from the Knock-out family, same vigor, same ease, good disease resistance, lovely colors (yellow, peach, coral, pink).  Many, many flowers!  Lovely with catmint (of course!) However, the Japanese beetles do love them come July.  Hand pick into soapy water -vigilance you organic gardener, you, vigilance!!

Ah, June that feels like April...

The front garden just before the monsoons hit.  Really we have had 8" of rain since late May and it's raining as I post this!!

I hate to water but really this is not to the plants liking!  Dahlias are rotting in ground from way too much moisture and cool temps.  Feast or famine!!

Yesterday went to my fav nursery The Farmer's Daughter in R.I. with my gardening/art friend Chris.  Actually purchased 3 dahlias which are in bloom!

A few other goodies but I'm finding there really is no room at the proverbial "inn" read garden for many new plants.  Ah, the sorrow of the mature garden and gardener!!

Another June favorite - Verbascum "Southern Charm" grown from seed (Burpee) and a reliable re-bloomer in Sept.  Love the colors!

Five teeny, tiny baby Carolina Wrens living in parent made nest at the bottom of this wreath which has also housed two years worth of robins in the top nest.

Birds - what's not to love (well, maybe those wrens at 4:30 am!!)

FINALLY!!

The snow has melted, buds are appearing and, yes, Mother Nature will once again triumph - Spring has finally arrived here in Zone 6A!!

I am very far behind - not having started any seeds (OMG) due to lethargy and short trip to what I had hoped would be warmer climes - Charleston, S.C.!  Which proved to be VERY chilly - like downright cold to those of us unsuspecting tourtistas not toting fleece lined parkas!!

So back home to fallen branches and the general detritious of winter/spring.  Clean up scheduled and I'm hoping my mood will also improve with the sprouting of my spring darlings.

 

 

Boston Flower Show

After several disappointing years as the Flower Show settled in to its new location, I'm happy to say this year's show was a real treat!  Manageable size gardens, well forced plant material, great use of stone, inspiring hardscape and a general feel of far east peacefulness - all made for an enjoyable experience.  For me, having my granddaughter, Ebby, along added to the fun as I introduced her to the wonderful world of horticulture! 

Several exhibitors had live birds on display in their gardens - the most beautiful (to my eye) was the Demoiselle Cranes - there were also colorful parrots in imaginative cages - nice!  All in all a lovely day made all the more so to spend it with Ebby amidst all that beauty!

Lots of great container ideas,  brilliant use of foliage plants, amazing stone work and water features

Finally, going DIGITAL!

Ah, I've finally retired my Kodak Carousel Slide Projector after 20 yrs of faithful service showing slides for my garden lectures. And in its place,

Drum roll...

Introducing FIONA my new digital partner in garden lecturing crime!  Having spent the snowy month of February converting hundreds of garden slides to PowerPoint presentations, I will now have FIONA to assist in showing them.

As my card says, "have lectures, will travel" and I know I will be seeing quite a few clubs over the next months so be sure and say "hi" to Fiona. She'll be great once I digest the 124 page owner's manual!! 

Splendor in the Garden

These beauties - peony 'Do Tell" are truly amazing in that the inner boss petals are upright, wavy and shades of pink. Wow!

Elsewhere it is (as my friend Lynn likes to say) a moment in the garden - iris, salvia, baptisia, lychnis, dianthus, mini roses, catmint.  June - when beautiful gardens happen (and in May if we have the weather we had earlier this year!!!)

Today with the help of a very dear friend's husband (thank you again, Rick), I put in my first raised bed veggie plot.  I already had 7-8 pots on the deck but this is for pattypan squash, cherry tomatoes, pickling cukes and cantelope!!  Can not wait for all this GOOD FOOD!!

It's 5:47, the sun has eased and I'm out to weed and plant dahlia tubers.  

Not sure I've actually known very many veterans but my dad was an avid gardener so perhaps today I've honored and remembered him.

Peace - a fervent wish for us all.