Monthly Archives: May 2012
I’ve written previously about my love of baseball and even compared it to gardening.
Well, truth be told, hockey is my favorite sport of all. We are knee deep in the middle of the NHL playoffs and my New York Rangers are still alive. This has not happened often over the past two decades so it is a special time.
Last night was one of the most exciting and amazing finishes to a game I’ve ever seen. After the Rangers won, I got an immense boost of energy which carried over to this morning.
I was up bright and early before everyone this morning and figured why not take the camera outside and take some pics while I was in such a chipper mood.
I don’t care if I post too often or take the same photos over and over again; you will have to deal because I am friggin fired up and nothing will slow me down.
Hot damn, I love a close-up view of the blooms on my ‘Winter King’ Hawthorn:
I have no idea what to expect from the black-leaved clover I recently planted. This “Jeepers Creepers” selection looked cool so why the hell not give it a whirl. Go ahead, take over, I don’t care. I gave a bunch of these plenty of room to spread their pretty little wings:
Even poison ivy won’t slow down this Russian Sage. That’s it baby, kick that itchy bastard’s ass:
The ornamental grasses are in full growth mode and they make for such a sweet back drop to all of the emerging perennials:
Yeah baby! My newly planted Geranium ‘Karmina’ plants all have buds with a few sporadic blooms. I think I’m going to like these little ladies a whole lot:
I can’t stop photographing the Alliums as they emerge. Holy s! What a color on these bulbs:
Another new plant for me, Astilbe ‘Amethyst’ is in bud mode and I am so damn psyched to see their unique bloom color. Bring it!:
Yo bud, Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’ has got some buds. I love nothing more than checking them out in bloom in the early morning during the summer:
I like to think that the Campanula ‘Joan Elliot’ are here to greet you on your way to visiting the peonies. A sort of “opening act” if you will:
I’m off to watch a replay of the game from last night to get me even more fired up for tomorrow.
Watch out!
John
There is nothing better than a stroll/sojourn/skip around the yard in early evening this time of year. A nice cool breeze, sun setting, beverage in hand, kids quietly occupied and all is good in the hood.
Here is what I discovered on today’s trip:
The blooms are starting to appear on the Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’:
Soon to be followed by the Physocarpus (Ninebark) ‘Summer Wine’:
Without fail, the Nepeta (Catmint) ‘Walker’s Low’ are back and blooming and sure to draw in the bees by the thousands:
It’s like Christmas Eve with the peonies. I enjoy the anticipation of blooms as much as the actual blooms:
I don’t know which Heuchera cultivar this is but it seems to be blooming sooner than all of the others. Those blooms will be snipped soon as I feel like they take away from the fine foliage:
I am becoming more and more hooked on the Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ foliage and need to add some more soon:
I know I take too many photos of Campanula ‘Joan Elliot’, but that purple color friggin rocks:
Enjoy the upcoming week and we’ll do this again soon.
John
Not every plant can be a super star.
Or the lead singer of the band.
Can you imagine five Steven Tyler’s in Aerosmith? Or 5 Axl Rose’s in Guns N’ Roses? It would be complete and utter chaos; a hot friggin mess.
Today, I wanted to share a plant with you that never wants the spotlight. A plant that does just fine in the background but is a consistent performer. A Tom Hamilton or Izzy Stradlin if you will.
Today’s plant is Achillea (Yarrow) ‘Moonwalker’:
Nothing overly exciting or dramatic but … nice. I have had this perennial for years now and each and every year it returns without issue and blooms throughout the summer and into early fall. I have had issues with other Yarrows where they open up in the middle or flop, but this cultivar has been nearly perfect.
Some additional tidbits for you:
- Average size is 2′ x 2′
- Survives in zones 4-8
- Prefers full sun
- Deer resistant (no issue ever for me)
- Drought and heat tolerant
- Has no real soil preference and has worked in clay for me
- Flowers are a deep yellow and are anywhere from 3″ to 5″ in diameter
- Like most yarrows (if not all?) the foliage is fern-like and a deep green in color
- The foliage is alleged to be fragrant but me and my deviated septum beg to differ
One quick note: Years ago, this was the first flower I cut and attempted to “dry” in my basement and I still remember the look on my wife’s face when she saw it hanging from the rafters. It screamed “Who is this guy I married?” Classic.
Here are some additional photos:
Just breaking into bloom in early June:
Behaving nicely in late June:
Holding its own in a mixed bed:
And even holding up well into winter as the basal foliage remains green below the faded flowers:
One last item before I leave you.
For the first time ever, I have found a number of these popping up in different areas in the garden yet I’ve read that it doesn’t re-seed and isn’t true to the parent. Hmmmm … very interesting. Anyone else having any experience with this? Please share.
“Dream on” and have a great weekend!
John
I am super psyched to have been chosen as a featured blogger on the Birds and Bloom blog.
You can check it out here.
My apologies in advance for the goofy profile photo.
John