Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day – May 2011

I've added a few more photos. Maybe that will help. Click on the picture for a larger view.

WANTED: PLANT ID

My bloom day post consists of one plant this month.

I hope someone can help me identify this pretty little 6 to 8” plant. One of my friends called it a weed. Another called it a wildflower. It has been around my garden for a few years. It self sows but is easy to pull out. It brings a pretty spring softness to the shady garden. The leaves blush redish in late summer.

If you can identify this plant, please leave the answer in a comment. I would love to know its name.

Single plant.


Carol at May Dreams Garden proves “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence. Go over to her delightful blog to see what’s blooming around the country and around the world. We all thank you Carol for hosting this event on the 15th of each month.

Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day – October 2010

October has been a month to enjoy the garden. With rain, sunshine and mild temperatures, the garden has come back to life – the greens are greener and the colors are brighter. Annuals brighten the darkest spots. But mums are the big story this month.

Over the years I’ve added mums and some mums have appeared by magic. I really appreciate the colors in the fall.

Yellow mums

‘Sheffield Pink’mums

Orange mums

and yellow and pink mums

Aster ‘Purple Dome’ – the deep color is pretty despite the mildew problem.


White Japanese anemone - one of my favorites in the front garden


As always, ‘Don Juan’ on the arbor is the last rose of summer.
This tiny bloom on Daphne ‘Carol Macke’ reminds me of Horton’s Whos. Planted last year, it won’t be forgotten. I can almost hear the tiny, “I’m here, I’m here.”
Soon it will be time to put the garden to bed. Pennsylvania’s fall frost date here zone in 6 is usually between October 18 to November 2. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

Visit GBBD host Carol at May Dreams Gardens to connect with other bloggers and see what’s blooming in their gardens in October.

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – March 2010

A few sightings of actual plant life in cold, damp Pennsylvania this morning.


Pussy Willow with frozen rain drops on their fuzzy little heads.

Purple crocus shivering tightly closed.

A row of heather (Erica x darleyensis 'Silberschmelze') fearless against the cold.

My favorite weatherman promised warm weather and sunshine by the end of the week. The daffodils buds are near bursting in anticipation.

Visit other (warmer?) gardens follow the links on our host Carol’s blog at May Dreams Gardens. Thank you Carol!

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Taking a Break

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I’m taking a break from IPM research to enjoy the Bethlehem Garden Club’s Flower Show. (See Bethlehem Garden Club link at right for details.) The show continues today from 10 AM to 3 PM.

I’ll continue with IPM on Wednesday.

Here are some pictures from the show.

Horticulture

Design

Special Exhibits




Bake Sale



Plant Sale
and Raffle

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(Dear fellow garden bloomdayers,

I've cheated a bit here to include this blog as my bloomday post. The show was much more interesting than the yellow Knock-out rose, calendula, sweet alyssum and snapdragon blooming in my garden. Carol at May Dreams Garden is the host of this wondeful event on the 15th of every month. Sorry Carol - The devil made me do it.)

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - September 2009

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I almost forgot about Bloom Day. What happened to the first 14 days of September? I ran out this morning and snapped a few pictures of the blooms in my garden.

Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts this colorful day on the 15th of each month. See the links to what’s blooming in other gardens here. Thank you Carol!

Sedum Autumn Joy. A common fall plant but a reliable performer in the hot sunny, spot with a ground cover sedum.

One of my favorites, Japanese anemone. I also have a pink one but the rabbits chopped off the bloom stalks before they got a chance to bloom.
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The mum Clara Curtis has a long bloom time. It started blooming in August and will go until frost. Here with the ever present coleus.
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I don’t grow tansy for the blooms. The fernlike foliage and medicinal aroma make it a keeper in my garden.
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Phlox David is looking a little raggedy but still producing blooms (when I remember to deadhead).

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The annuals cleome, nasturtium and zinnia add color to the garden.

Fall is a wonderful time in the garden. Now if I could only get September to slow down a bit.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - August 2009

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Hydrangea
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This month I picked Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Venice’ for my bloom day post. It wasn’t hard to pick just one bloom this month. It's one of my favorites. This hydrangea started blooming in the middle of July. Some flowers were deep purple - others bright pink.

After five years my garden, it continues to bloom in different colors on the same compact bush. In recent nursery ads, it’s listed as dwarf or 12 to 32”. Mine is at the top end of that measurement plus.

It has a long season of bloom. Last September 3, I posted a picture of one of the last flowers to open.

(The pictures on the right show the same flowers on July 26, 2009 and again this week.)

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To enjoy other gardeners’ spectacular summer blooms visit May Dreams Gardens August Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol on the 15th of each month.

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(I’ll be away for the weekend so I'm cheating a little by posting this early. Hope you don't mind.)

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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2009

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So many garden writers post beautiful pictures of their garden blooms each month for Carol’s May Dreams Garden bloom day. I challenged myself to pick one favorite bloom from my garden this month. It was tough choice but I picked Lillium ‘American Dream’.

Every year neighbors stop by to see its spectacular bloom.

Dave’s Garden page suggests the height to be 4 to 6 feet. The lily in my garden is 8 ft tall with 50 to 60 blooms. It is extremely fragrant – a delight when we sit on the deck.

I planted one bulb May 2003. It now has 25 growing stems - 8 are flowering.

I feel extremely fortunate to have selected a spot where it continues to thrive. Sometimes a gardener just gets lucky!


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(I will be on vacation until Wednesday, July 29. I’ll keep up with fellow garden bloggers but I won’t be able to post until then. I have some posts in the works from my garden and maybe I’ll have some good stuff to bring back with me.)

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Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day – May 2009

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It’s been raining for the last few days so I’m posting a few pictures I took earlier this week. The garden is full of color and green enough to be the envy of Ireland. Thanks to Carol at (aptly named) May Dreams Garden for hosting this monthly event.

The yellow iris (above) was a gift from a neighbor. It’s a reliable bloomer every year. I hope the rain hasn’t smashed it to smithereens.

Five Lupine (Lupinus Russel’s Hybrid) and a dozen Allium Persian Blue grow well in a sunny spot along a blank wall. They fill in the time between daffodils and canna.

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The fluffy pink azalea reminds me of cotton candy. It’s been growing in part shade of an old hemlock since 2002.

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Bridal Wreath (Spiraea prunifolia) came with the house. The graceful weeping branches soften a corner between house and deck.
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Aaaaah, May Dreams.

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