Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A Stroll Down Lupine Lane

Lupines are one of my favorite flowers. This year they are present in my garden in abundance. One clump (several plants) has produced 30 blooms thus far, with more to come. Let's take a walk in the cottage garden or as I wish to think of it today, Lupine Lane.

Most of my lupines are Russell hybrids, many planted from seed.

Striking spires of white


Blues/purples are common amongst lupine and my garden is so exception.

Lupine can be difficult to grow. Part of the difficulty may relate to the gardener not realizing that lupines are short-lived perennials. Thus, I plant some every year. They like somewhat acidic soil. Since mine is alkaline, I modify it with sulfur. I also add compost.

I have heard that one should not let the bloom go to seed, as this weakens the plant and may cause its demise.

Lupines develop a long taproot, thus, transplantation is difficult. Another thought: if you have difficulty growing lupines, put a little peat in the planting hole.


Remember too that lupine is an alpine type plant. It may not survive in the warmer climes. 

This lupine used to bloom in red but appears it has reverted to the more common purple/blue.









Thanks for strolling down Lupine Lane with me. Would you care to walk a little more about the garden? There are some other bloomers...
Clematis 'Nelly Moser'


Peony 'Star Power'


Can you guess what this is? Scroll on down...


Papaver orientale 'Royal Wedding'




"There is no gardening without humility. Nature is constantly sending even its oldest scholars to the bottom of the class for some egregious blunder." ~Alfred Austin

Thanks for visiting!
Beth

Linking to Fertilizer Friday

Monday, May 7, 2012

In the Garden, April-May 2012

Hi! Welcome to Beyond The Garden Gate! This is where I talk about my garden, my table (including tea), and my life. Today I wish to share the flowers in my garden this spring.

I'm Beth, the gardener. Let's go outside and take a look around.



Clematis 'Josephine' is filled with blooms. I counted 38!







Clematis 'Multi Blue'



A lupine is peeking out








Papaver orientale 'Royal Wedding'



Cherubs in the garden










 Pansies


Variegated Solomon's seal



Tree peony 'Goldfinch'
It smells good, too!


Archangel, a type of lamium



A Japanese maple in the serenity garden


 Some Danova mix primulas, which are not hardy in my area but will be potted up to winter inside...I just love their cheery little two-color faces.






Have you seen this on your rose leaves and wondered about the cause? Well, wonder no more...



...eeowww! It's a rose slug - hand pick or use an insecticidal soap, neem oil, or Sevin to erradicate.



Verbascum




Thanks for visiting!

Beth

Linking today to Bloomin' Tuesday

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Don's Stunning Woodland Garden

Before I was a blogger, I was a blog-reader. I read garden blogs like An Iowa Garden and A Gardener In Progress, and a dog/farm life blog by Jon Katz, Bedlam Farm Journal.

Since I began my blogging journey, I've "met" many wonderful people online. In addition I have had the privilege of meeting a few in person. Yesterday Ron and I met Don, the Iowa Gardener who has a fabulous woodland garden, and his wife Liz. I took a few photos so I could share his garden with you.

Welcome to Don's woodland garden in eastern Iowa.


Rambling ground cover spills onto a rock wall.


Fungus and moss on a fallen log


Ladyslipper orchid - I've decided this is a must have for my garden - SO BEAUTIFUL!


Rue anemone


Hostas and a silvery green fern


Azaleas, rhododendrons, and Japanese maples abound.


Don has many orchids in his garden, and they are absolute stunners.



Paris lancifolia 


Heucherella 'Stoplight'


Weigela


Euphorbia 'Gloria Hall'


Heucherella 'Sweet Tea'


The leaves of this Japanese maple look almost fuchsia in color.





Glorious color: Azaleas


Arisaema sikokianum


Gorgeous!
Trillium luteum


Serenity in the woods

If you'd like to visit Don's garden online, click here. Although he no longer blogs, there is a lot of fabulous information, humor, and photography in his archives and I highly recommend you visit.

I appreciate the tour of Don's garden, and enjoyed meeting Don and his wife Liz in their eastern Iowa woodland garden.

Thanks for stopping by Beyond The Garden Gate!

Beth

Linking to Fertilizer Friday




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