Free perennials, a giveaway win, and today's garden

Recently I received an email from our Master Gardener contact at the Iowa State University Extension Office. She indicated there were free plants available...

A commercial greenhouse closed last year. Just two weeks ago, an auction was held there. The banker indicated there were thousands of plants remaining after the sale, and they were free for the taking.

An hour after I read the message, I was headed to the abandoned greenhouse.

When I got there, there were many dead plants, but there were a lot alive too, albeit dry and very weedy.

I brought back 8 pots of oriental lilies, 2 bergenia, 1 veronica, 1 catmint, 4 geraniums, 3 shrub roses, and a penstemon. Also there: many salvia plants, beebalm,and sedum. Other MGs told me later they made multiple trips to bring home goodies!

Here's what the plants I brought home looked like:

I gave them a good drink, then soaked each plant in a bucket of water and removed the weeds. They are looking pretty good overall. I expect most, if not all, to survive.

Now to today's garden:

'Custard Candy' 

'French Tudor' 

Garden art and flowers in the cottage garden

'Janice Brown' 

 'Blueberry Candy'

 'Sunday Gloves'

 Unknown daylily

'Strawberry Candy' 

Siberian Statice (Kaspia)

Common filler used by florists 

A glimpse at my side garden, where 'Robina' is blooming

 Back to the cottage garden here

 Corn in a raised bed

And now to my giveaway win:

Debbiedoo's and BlogHer sponsored a Darphin giveaway, and I was the lucky winner!

I received skin care products, which I am loving!

Thanks for visiting!

Beth