For the past couple of weeks, my time spent in the garden has been limited. (Our dog has been deathly ill and I've spent an inordinate amount of time on worry, vetting, special care, and more worry...but she's on the mend now, I hope.) During that time, we've had a few days of really beautiful, unseasonably warm weather, a bit of light rain, and some pleasant, sunny but cool days. And the garden has responded well. Here are a few quick photos, snapped this morning with my cell phone. The first is the usual view, taken from the entry path, facing South. The dark-leaved plant in the lower right is Lunaria annua "Rosemary Verey". I admire the dark foliage and the way the plant bulks up fairly early in Spring. I hope that I can overcome my dislike of its orchid pink/violet flowers--I want to leave the flowers on the plant so I can enjoy the decorative seed heads later on in the season. And, I have yet to see whether the blooms complement or fight with the flowers of the Allium "Purple Sensation" which will bloom in the same area at about the same time, I think. Edging the border near the Lunaria are some new hardy Geranium phaeum "Samobor". I recently added these in an effort to strengthen the dusky theme I've been trying to create.
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| Front border overview. |
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| Close-up of Geranium phaeum "Samobor" taken about a week ago. These plants (purchased recently) are blooming earlier than those that over-wintered in my garden. |
More early risers in the front garden: Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cecily) emerging from a ground cover of Sweet Woodruff, with Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) in the background and Hakonechloa macra in the foreground. I like the purity of the all-white-and-fresh-greens color palette. Other plants contributing to the ground layer are Anemone blanda, Cardamine trifoliata, and a native strawberry--all with white flowers. I also planted a bunch of Corydalis solida in mixed colors, but they did not come up and I'm finding that I feel relieved that they did not.
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| Early risers. |
This (below) is the Carport Bed. It's always a riot of color in early Spring. I recently transplanted some of the Ajuga "Mahogany" to the other side of the path to help unite the two planting areas.
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| Carport Bed. |
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| Carport bed, reverse view. Later-season interest is provided by Hydrangea paniculata "Bombshell", Geranium "Jolly Bee", "Summer Beauty" alliums, and Japanese Anemone "Honorine Jobert". |
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Geum "Flames of Passion" with burgundy-leaved Ajuga reptans "Mahogany", and
Ajuga genevensis. (Photo taken about a week ago.) |
And, finally, this is the sick dog--feeling a lot better and able to enjoy some time at the dog park.
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| Frankie. |
10 comments:
Love the selections and colors, shapes and textures.
Thank you, James!
Ah...Frankie is adorable!!! I'm glad she's feeling better. Oh and that Ajuga...wow...it loves your garden!
Hi, Danger! Thanks. These two ajugas are proven performers for me. I just wish the dog were more of a "proven performer"...
Your restrained color palette fills me with awe and envy, Emily. It's everything that a thoughtfully designed landscape should be (and which the plant addict in me seems incapable to produce). Those Ajuga are magnificent but I admire the delicate white blooms as well. And it all looks healthy and green! (I hear that's what a bit of rain can do.)
I'm glad Frankie is on the mend. She looks ready, willing and able to tackle her next hurdle.
Hi, Kris--thanks! I do unleash my inner pant nerd during the search phase--when I am casting my mind about for the plant which will satisfy a certain set of parameters. But I don't often let myself buy plants without a plan--I hate when they languish and die in the plant ghetto because I don't have a place for them in the garden. And...YES...rain.
I love the way the ajuga weaves through your carport bed. Beautiful! So glad Frankie is feeling better. :o)
Hi, Tammy! Thanks! Frankie continues to improve.
Just going back through blogs and posts that I missed while I was away on vacation. Your cell snaps are lovely, your garden is looking good. You probably know how I feel about that Geranium 'Samobor.' Yours look to be at the same flowering stage as mine that have been in the ground for 3 or 4 years, although my clumps are quite a bit wider. Hope the pooch is still doing well.
Hi Alison! I'm about ready to post updated photos. Everything is growing so fast! Yea! I look forward to the geraniums bulking up a little bit more--I really want them to crowd together and appear as a single big mound or swath.
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