Double Rose Peony Poppies Blooming

Posted on | July 9, 2010 | 16 Comments

The peony poppy seeds I planted in early March are starting to bloom. I got about four plants out of one seed packet. The flowers last about three days. But maybe they would last longer if they weren’t being tortured by a mid-summer heat wave? Once the petals drop the inside looks like a poppy pod. Love! I hope they spread…

My First Garden Bouquet

Posted on | July 1, 2010 | 24 Comments

Last night, I made my first bouquet ever from flowers in my own garden. None of my plants are really big yet so I can only pick small pieces. How pretty are the hydrangeas! I can’t wait for my lamb’s ear, sea holly, and peonies to grow in so I can cut big chunks.

Lesson learned don’t use catmint if you own a cat. I was admiring my flowers on my nightstand last night when my cat came out of nowhere pounced on my bed and launched himself onto my flowers. He immediately starting ripping my bouquet apart till he found two sprigs of catmint. Cat!

I had a great night sleep with the windows wide open and a cool breeze breeze wafting in. I love cool nights after a few days of extreme temperatures and air-conditioning. I’m not a hot weather girl. I prefer sleeping with a wool blanket or a down comforter all year round.

Category: flowers

Pink Ombre Lupine

Posted on | May 27, 2010 | 10 Comments

I’m totally in love with this lupine blooming in my garden. Doesn’t it look ombre? I love how the light petal pink blends to a darker hot pink. So pretty!

Category: flowers, garden

New Perennials In Garden: May 2010

Posted on | May 7, 2010 | 10 Comments

From left: Echinacea ‘Pink Poodle’, ‘Appleblossom’ Hollyhock, Echinacea ‘White Swan’, ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ Bugbane, Bergenia, and ‘Regal Red’ Lady Fern.

May is the month to plant perennials and shrubs in New England. I’ve been a little crazy buying plants the few last weeks. I feel a bit guilt. Plant shopping for me is like going to a really good sample sale. You buy everything you ‘like’ because your so freaked out all your favorites will be snatched up.

I planted a lot of perennials last year including Baptista, Peonies, Phlox, Lilies, and Sedum. I’m trying to fill in spots without going overboard. The plants do get big overtime so I need to be careful not to put in too much. Still on my list Bee Balm, more dwarf Delphinium, Lupine, and lots of different hostas and ferns for the back shady part of my border.

Last night, Greg had to break up about 400lbs of concrete and blacktop that was hidden under the end of my border for my new ‘Josee’ lilac—new variety that blooms multiple times in the summer. This one particular spot gets lots of sun which lilacs love. Next to it is shade where I have three Endless Summer Hydrangeas in a row. Thanks Greg for helping me with my vision.

My garden gets a lot of afternoon sun. Before noon it’s mostly in the shade. See photos below. By mid-summer the garden gets even more sun in the front part. The back stays shady with about 3 hours hours of hot afternoon sun.

This weekend I will be up in Maine for Mother’s Day. My mom and I are going to do some plant shopping. Hopefully we’ll find some nice healthy boxwoods for my front garden and more shade garden items.

Whef! All this planting buying and planting is exhausting. Below a list of plants I purchased so far this spring. I ordered a few plants via catalog/online—something I’ve never done before. My two shipments from Klemns’ Song Sparrow and White Flower Farm have been great. I’ll let you know how the plants do as the season progresses.

Full Sun
Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Poodle’
Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’
Delphinium Hybrid ‘Connecticut Yankee’
Alcea rosea ‘Appleblossom’ Hollyhock
Bachelor Button
Salvia pratensis ‘Pink Delight’ (Meadow Clary)
Double Rose Peony Poppy (from seed)
‘Provence’ Lavender
Syringa x ‘Josee’ Lilac

Sun to Part Shade
Actaea Ramosa ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ PP9,988 Bugbane or Snakeroot
Athyrium n. ‘Regal Red’ Lady Fern
Thalictrum sp. ‘Black Stockings’
Bergenia ‘Rotblum’
Campanula persicifolia ‘Blue’
Camelot Rose Foxglove Digitalis ‘Camelot Rose’

garden in late may 2010 New Perennials In Garden: May 2010

Eventually the backside of the house will become a patio. The hydrangeas will grow up and give us a little privacy from the street. Someday we are thinking about putting a fence all the way down the side. And yes, the house will get painted!

Category: flowers, garden

David Austin: English Roses For Shade

Posted on | April 7, 2010 | 15 Comments

We had our second architect visit today. I’m still trying to wrap my head around our renovation, the architect’s thoughts, and fees before I comment. I need to gulp that we could have gotten ourselves into a 100-200k renovation. Stay tuned…

It’s warm and 80 degrees here in Marblehead. The leaves and flowers are popping. Last night I was up late cruising the internet for English climbing roses. David Austin’s are beautiful and from what I have heard the most fragrant. I would love to do a wall of them down the side of our house. I know the house looks terrible now but imagine a fence and climbing roses between the windows? I think the house is going to be gray with black or dark green shutters. Pink, reds, and creams might be good accents? Below a few I picked from the site that were shade tolerant. I only get about 5 hours of direct sunlight on the side of my house.