Tags
Camassia 'Caerulea', Kousa dogwood, late May flowers in Zone 5b, Narcissus 'Manly', Tuesday's Views
Memorial Day weekend in the United States is the unofficial start of the summer, and many people spend their extra time off working in their yards and gardens. However, for some of us, Memorial Day is the height of allergy season, with tree pollen and fluffy dandelion seeds blowing about in the otherwise refreshing breeze, neighbors on all sides mowing their grass, and the rhododendrons bursting into glorious bloom. It was a beautiful Hell for me and my sinus cavities, and I had no choice but to retreat indoors. More’s the pity, because the weather all three of those days was ideal, IDEAL, I tell you, for working outside!
Therefore, this week’s views tell a story of work to be done!
The rock garden has gone primarily green now that the Basket of Gold Alyssum, Candytuft, and Creeping Phlox have mostly finished. The ferns are staging their annual late-spring coup! The exception is at the far end, where some irises are blooming for the first time in three years, the bright rhododendron is opening, and some Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ are blooming:Across from the rock garden, the “Blue and Yellow” garden features plenty of purple today, with more Allium and a perennial geranium a friend shared from her garden. This bed needs a LOT of work to get up to snuff:In the front garden, here are the glorious rhododendrons. The one on the far left is still recovering from some deer damage it sustained two winters ago:From a distance, the Terrace Garden looks fairly tidy and cared for:Look a bit more closely, though, and you can easily find the work to be done!
The Cosmos which were so beautiful here last summer re-seeded themselves vigorously! I have some thinning to do here:And more thinning farther down, in Dogwood Corner, where the Cleome have propagated wildly! This picture shows but a tiny portion of the ground the seedlings cover:While almost all the shrubbery, planted a mere eleven months ago, survived its first, and very hard, winter, this poor Mountain Fire bush (Pieris japonica) fared poorly and needs to be replaced:And, in spite of my treating them with an anti-dessicant in early December, the Boxwoods in front of the wall sustained some winterkill. Before the pollen descended upon me, I trimmed two-thirds of the bushes, but there are still eight that look like this:All is not gloom and doom, though! There are a few nice blooms in the perennial section of the Terrace Garden, and lots of plants well on their way:A few daffodils are still blooming here and there, in spite of some high heat and humidity in the past few weeks. This is Narcissus ‘Manly’. I think it’s gorgeous:In Dogwood Corner, the Kousa Dogwood is starting to bloom:The flower of the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) is actually the center, berry like cluster in the center of the four green bracts surrounding it. These bracts will grow larger and turn white as they mature. In the fall, the flowers turn into raspberry-red berries.
Also in Dogwood Corner, Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’ has begun to bloom. This is a new bulb to me, and I am very pleased with it so far! (You can see more Cleome seedlings in the background!)
There are also some more Allium blooming in Dogwood Corner. I feel like I need something yellow in there to help balance out the blue and purple. Perhaps some very late blooming daffodils?
Hopefully the trees and grass will soon slow down their pollen production and I will be able to get out there to get some work done so next Tuesday’s view may be even lovelier!
bittster said:
It looks great! The longer views really give a nice impression of how it all goes together and to tell you the truth I forgot about all the perennials you planted last year.
The alliums really accent the front bed. I wasn’t that crazy about them at first (in my own garden) but they have grown on me considerably the last two springs. Would you consider a few bearded iris for that bed? I have a yellow that might go well with the blues and hopefully it wouldn’t take three years off after transplanting!
So you hid indoors all weekend too? The wind and dust and pollen were bothering my eyes and made me feel exhausted as well. The heat didn’t help either! I hope some rain comes along and washes a few things away…. plus my lawn is brown and I’m into the watering routine already- which I hate! So much for the last of the spring transplanting.
Frank
Kimberley at Cosmos and Cleome said:
I would be delighted to have a few yellow bearded iris! Thanks for the offer! Yes, I got hit bad with the allergies and sinus issues over the weekend. My head has felt about three times its actual size! Things are improving, though, so that’s good. And yes, please let it rain! Going out now, in fact, to drag the hose down to the Terrace Garden!
pbmgarden said:
You have lots of interesting plants coming into the mix. The Camassia is gorgeous. I have lots of cleome that self-seeded also and am happy to let it.
The Chatsworth Lady said:
It all looks wonderfull, including your (Maine Coon??) kitty posing artfully near the camassia. 🙂
Kimberley at Cosmos and Cleome said:
Thanks, Ms. Chatsworth! Our cat (Schrodinger, or just Dinger) is actually part Ragdoll. He often wanders by to keep me company while I garden!
The Chatsworth Lady said:
Schrodinger as in the “Schrodinger’s Cat” paradox? 😉
Kimberley at Cosmos and Cleome said:
Exactly. He’s in the box and he’s not!
Donna@GardensEyeView said:
It seems your garden is doing nicely despite the weather and winter….I have had a rough time and little done because we are being overtaken by three times the mosquitoes…even those who do not usually get attacked are now attacked by these bloodsuckers.
gardenfancyblog said:
Kimberley, your camassias and alliums look very nice! I planted a pieris this year and I’m hoping it won’t suffer the same fate as yours. What variety of boxwoods do you have? I’ve had winter burn with a couple of kinds, but Green Velvet has done well here in my Zone 5 garden, even through last winter’s very cold temperatures. I envy you your rhododendrons — we lack acid soil, so mine will never grow as large and lush as yours…. Thanks for sharing your gardens with us! -Beth
Patrick Lester said:
Kimberley, I was wondering if you might be willing to give me a call. I’m a reporter at the Morning Call newspaper and I’m doing a story on the Flower Park in Macungie that you blogged about last year. I was interested in incorporating into my story some of the comments you made about it. If you’re willing to call me, you can reach me at 610-820-6764
Kimberley at Cosmos and Cleome said:
I will give you a call sometime this weekend, Patrick. I’m glad you liked what you saw. It’s a beautiful park!