The Memories that Gardens conjure

I am really enjoying the community conversations which I am having as a front yard gardener! I have lived in my house for 26 years. For the first 24 years, there was a huge magnolia tree out front. Since I removed the magnolia in Feb. of 2015, I have enjoyed helping my neighbors conjure up stories from their past. My neighbor Miss Lisa Lewis told me that my sunflowers remind her of the Color Purple.

My neighbor Miss Jean reminisced about her mother boiling mint leaves in water to create a      soothing tea for tummy aches. Ms. Trina told me that she knew it was time to come inside to get ready for supper when she saw the 4 o clocks opening up. I love the memories which can be conjured up when strolling through a garden! 

Beautiful bugs

I do love bugs! Not the ones which nibble on leaves….the pollinators! Here are a few six legged friends who have been photographed during a visit!

Barb’s bouquets

Three bouquets from this week’s garden.

Lovely

I saw my first lightning bug of the season this evening. It was so lovely working its way around my goldenrod, sunflowers, and red hot pokers (only the pokers are blooming now). The goldenrod and sunflowers are preparing themselves for a late summer show. I cut some “little arrangements” for my kitchen table. Thought that I would share them with you. Enjoy!

Summer Successes!

It has been a while since I have posted. Here are some of my favorite summer successes. Top photo is of Eucomis ‘Montana”. Planted these bulbs in 2009 and am so happy that they are finally blooming.  I have started dropping colorful pots of fleurs into a massive expanse of thick glacier ice ivy growing just outside of my back door.Wish you could enlarge this photo of this mandevilla. That is a huge bumble bee nestled inside…really enjoying watching this vine take off.  This lovely landscape includes Mexican petunia (purple) in the foreground. Red ‘Lord Baltimore’ hibiscus in the background.

Waiting on the fern!!

In early March, I started noticing that Beau was actively, anxiously awaiting the return of his “fern bed”. It’s his favorite resting spot in the yard. He is still waiting……

 

The Winter of Indoor Gardening Projects

Yes….there is absolutely nothing more fun than sinking your fingers into the warm earth. I think that this winter’s indoor gardening projects are helping me to get over the mourning of the gardening “pause” of winter. Remember the mexican petunia which I told you about wintering indoors  (see tall blooming colors from 8/8/12) ….well, it is indeed wintering indoors….it’s dormant but happy. I even took a few shoots from the base of the plant and are rooting them in water ….. will plant them out with the “mama plant” to create a petunia population!!

 

Another fun indoor gardening project which I am really enjoying is pruning a living wreath which I received as a Christmas present.

Tithonia happens!

 

 

After weeks of anxiously awaiting the blooming of my Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia Rotundifolia, Torch). I came home tonite to find a single orange sunflower in a sea of yellow ones. Striking!!

Tall Blooming Colors

All of the heavy summer thunderstorms which we have had this year are helping to keep my taller varieties full of blooms. Loved gazing on the following scene this morning…..a potted Mexican petunia in the foreground….goldenrod pushing out golden buds in the middle….backed by full blooming Lord Baltimore hibiscus.

I have not been successful in the past at keeping Mexican petunias alive outside through a Richmond winter. I think that this one is going to winter in the house. I have seen them do fine outdoors in Norfolk (80 miles east of here). This hibiscus is full of blooms. Love them. They always put me in a tropical mood!!

Kong….and other coleus

I have always loved coleus. I can remember growing them in a little plastic growhouse as a child. For years, I have always planted coleus underneath the (formerly grape) now wisteria arbor. The color varieties recently introduced into these spectacular plants are amazing. Favorite new variety? Definitely Chocolate Mint Coleus. Attempted to grow these by seed this year….they did not make it. Next year, I’ll buy some plants.

One never fail variety is Kong! It truly lives up to its name.

These two are flanking a spread of coral bells (beneath the wisteria arbor).

An amazing thing has happened to coleus. Have you heard the news? Now there are sun coleus. These traditionally shade loving varieties are now being bred to thrive in the sun. Pretty wild. These two reddish coleus (called Alabama Sunset) are doing well in sunny spots of the yard.