Purple, blue and white...

14 years ago

Things are really starting to bloom, so I've been taking a ton of pictures lately.

From farther back:

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Irises (unknown passalong variety) and centaurea montana, among other things:

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(I couldn't get a side view of this border, because there is a huge pile in the adjacent firepit, from trimming back the wahoo tree last week. We tried burning it on Friday, but it was just too green still.)

The dianthus are still just starting, but you can see some progress here, too. The nepeta is going gangbusters, and the salvia May Night is getting going. Oh, and you can see where I ran out of time mulching! I do really like the look of the leaf mulch, but weeding and mulching was getting old after a while.

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This last photo is from the new shady area - the columbine that is being attacked by leafminers is blooming. For all I know, this may be the only chance before it succumbs, so here you are. It definitely isn't your typical columbine, but since it is from the Garden Club plant sale, I have no idea what variety it is.

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Comments (14)

disneynut1977 ~ Melissa
14 years ago
I have the same arbor :)

Melissa1977
0
plantmaven
14 years ago
Very nice! Isn't it wonderful to see such beauty!
BTW, Leaf miners have not hurt my columbine.

Here is a link that might be useful: columbine leafminers
0
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PattiOH
14 years ago
Irene, that columbine is just as dainty as can be. Beautiful.

I use chopped leaves in my garden too. I like the "natural" look of them.
Lovely gardens!

Patti
0
girlgroupgirl
14 years ago
Beautiful! You've used purple and blue together so nicely.
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gldno1
14 years ago
Love that purple and blue bed. I wouldn't have thought of that combination, but it looks super together.

Everything looks so neat. You are doing a super job.
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irene_dsc
Original Author
14 years ago
Plantmaven - Thanks for the link. It's interesting that they say it isn't fatal, since at my old house, the columbine were so chewed up, they didn't have any leaves left! So, I'm a bit nervous.

Melissa - It's so funny to see that arbor in other places - I've seen it in a couple of yards in the area, too.

This is the first year I've mulched the whole thing with leaves. Last year, I did just the trench around it, but was running out of leaves. This year, since I didn't add any of my leaves to lasagna gardens, I think I'll have enough to mulch at least the old borders. Not sure if I'll have enough for dd's hot annuals border along the fenceline. (The mostly bare-looking area.) We are still watching for seedlings coming up in there, anyhow. I have a bunch of self-seeded cosmos, and I'm figuring that if we have some major bare spots, I'll fill them with cosmos.

Thanks on the compliments - it is great to have it coming together. Eventually I may have the lilac blooming at this time, too. Of course, as it gets bigger, I'll need to move the irises around it.
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newyorkrita
14 years ago
If you run out of leaves, get some bales of straw and use that as mulch. It morks great as long as you pile it on thickly. I use straw all the time here whenever I run out of fall leaves. Those leaves are my favorite mulch, especially since they are free and work great.

Your garden is really lovely. Love your catmints which are a favorite of mine here in the garden.
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irene_dsc
Original Author
14 years ago
Rita - If I want to use straw, I'll need to find a seedless source. I bought a bale at the local hardware store for mulching my strawberry bed - and it was great for planting grass! Fortunately, the seedlings were easy to pull quickly. But, I used more of the bale as a lasagna layer for dd's hot annuals border, and I'm afraid it is seeding it with grass a bit too much, and since they are covered with compost, once I see them, they are more established and harder to pull.
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DYH
14 years ago
Love your garden! The color scheme is really great. The foliage and bloom colors all work so well together.

Cameron
0
PRO
Nell Jean
14 years ago
All those purples and blues with the green look so cool and picture-book pretty.

Nell
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Deb Chickenmom
14 years ago
VERY, very nice!! So beautiful, with lovely colors. I adore blue and your iris are just wonderful!!!! Are they the tall ones? Debby
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FlowerLady6
14 years ago
Just beautiful! I am drawn to all the blues/purples. Love what you've created there.

FlowerLady
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bluesunflower
14 years ago
I love your purple and blue. I have a blue garden as well and I just love the masses of color you created. I bet it looks even more stunning in person.
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irene_dsc
Original Author
14 years ago
Oops - haven't checked the gallery lately!

Debby - not sure what you mean by tall iris, but they definitely aren't dwarf ones. I guess they are about 2' or so, maybe a little taller?

Anyhow, thanks, everyone! The irises are almost done now, but the geraniums and alliums are blooming now, tho more subtly than the iris. Alas, I don't have that deep purple anywhere else in the garden. I took some photos today, but not sure when I'll have a chance to load them and post. At least I finished mulching the main areas today!
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Purple, blue and white...

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disneynut1977 ~ Melissa

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