Show Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - July 2022
Comments (10)
brdrl
last yearIt is a good week in the garden! I have been adding a lot of natives for the past 2 years and have many bees but few butterflies for this time of year (3 monarchs and one swallowtail).
The monarch way station area – a lot of milkweed, asters, butterfly weed, echinacea, liatris, golden alexander and monarda. It looks a little wild but I love it.
Tiny Tuff Stuff lace-cap hydrangea and some Astilibe
Gravel pathway with lilies that crept over from neighbor, climbing hydrangea and a lot of Solomon’s seal in the back that has become a nuisance. It comes up in all the walkways and squeezes out other things. I bought 2 years ago and divided them the next year to different shady areas and now I have a problem. Peonies on the left - only 2 blooms this year.
Hollyhock just staring
And of course, they ubiquitous blue hydrangea.
Some closeups of the butterfly garden - Liatris (Kobold but I also have true species not blooming yet.
Butterfly weed
Echinacea - some are 5 feet tall!
First New England Aster bloom of the season
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked brdrlRelated Discussions
Show Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - July 2019
Comments (69)I went to Michael Gordon’s garden about 5 years ago as one of about 6 or 7 gardens in a full weekend of garden visits. He used to keep a blog but I stopped checking it when he seemed to lose interest a few years ago. I guess he moved over to Instagram. I really love those Garden Conservancy open garden days. It has large sprawling rural gardens like mine and small jewel boxes like Michael Gordon’s or Deanne’s just chockablock full of beautiful and often unusual plants, and I learn from them all. I did notice Dr. Gordon’s Stewartias. The first one I saw after hearing about them here on GW is at Cole Gardens in Concord, NH, part of the display gardens there. And several are scattered around the UNH campus so I make time at work to periodically to pass by them, among other unusual trees there. I have tried clematis in a bunch of different shrubs and have had varied success. I’ve found that the size of the clematis needs to not overwhelm the shrub and a less densely leafed clem like Little Bas works better. The shrub needs to have stiff enough branches to support their own blooms as well as the clematis, so Quickfire hydrangea works well, but Strawberry Vanilla hydrangea wouldn’t. Suckering shrubs don’t work, but Donald Wyman lilac, which is a different species than common lilac and doesn’t sucker, works well. And when I plant, they are usually something like 4’ apart, depending on the shrub’s expected size, and planted at the same time. I give the clematis an inexpensive support, usually bamboo, for the first couple of years since the shrub typically takes longer to size up. But the majority of my clematis have metal supports and if they wander into nearby shrubs it is a coincidence like the dark purple one in the elderberry....See MoreShow Us Your Landscape/Gardens - A Photo Thread - June 2022
Comments (46)Deanna - I’ve been surprised that Hostas come in so many sizes. I have some that never grow larger than 12 inches around. Some of the big ones - ‘Sagae’ and ‘Krossa Regal’ haven’t stopped increasing in size yet, five years after planting. I have a ‘June’ that has been in the ground since 2008 and it’s very large now but not as large as the larger varieties and I only divided it once 2 years ago. I just took out a pie shaped wedge and left the rest and it’s filled into a perfect circle again already. I love the large sizes and if they are sited well, you can just keep them there and never have to divide them. That is my limited experience. I wish my Rose corner was in sight of a window, but it is near the gate by the garage that can’t be seen from the house at all. The back of my house faces trees, shade and part shade. The front windows look out on the full sun bed with the other roses in it. Oh well, I’m out there every day any way and purposely walk past the garage rose corner, multiple times a day in June. I’m seeing that the bloom lasts the whole month! And is still a little fragrant which is all from the New Dawn right now. I’ve just started deadheading it which I’ve never done before to see if I will get rebloom on New Dawn, which I’ve only now learned it does do. Dee, Your foxglove is not a biennial? I didn't know there was such a thing. You have the same plants come back and bloom every season? With reseeding, I am getting a ton of Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ I let them sprout at the beginning of the season and just pull them out where I don’t want them. I always have to weed the whole bed they are in at some point in the season and once I have everything where I want it, I mulch. I’m loving the babies of my Penstemon. Even though it is a named variety, I get both, solid green plants that are taller that must revert back to a parent plant and plants that are almost replicas of the dark foliage. Some plants are so vigorous and shapely, some a little shorter and compact. My problem is I love the seed heads and I usually leave them on all season and I haven’t wanted to limit the reseeding until this year. I’m looking at how many I have and I think I’ve reached the point where I have to start deadheading before they reseed. I'm having a lull in the garden right now. Roses are finishing their first flush, Penstemon is showing seedheads, Dianthus is just starting to bloom and with deadheading that will last awhile. But I see Monarda just opening and Lilies getting ready to. After that I'm waiting for Hibiscus and Hydrangea. Cosmos, Dill and Cleome are filling in and not really blooming yet either. And hopefully I will get another flush of bloom on the roses out front....See MoreShow Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - August 2022
Comments (34)Babs, I think you are right - they should be all set now if we don't have a heat wave and drought the rest of the Fall. [g] No, I never get concerned when they report possible flooding because we don't seem to be in an area that gets that. I've lived here for 30+ years and never saw water even collect in the street. I'm very thankful about that. I did see a weather report warning of flash flooding yesterday, but I never pay attention to that. There is a community about 4 exits down the highway from here that gets their downtown flooded pretty frequently in a heavy rain, because they are in a low lying area. But as far as a river overflowing it's banks 2 towns north of us there is a river that overflows it's banks and floods neighborhoods, so I hope they haven't had that problem. We'll have to see what the news has to say by the time all the rain stops. And in NH they have that issue in neighborhoods along the main river that runs through the state. We have family that just moved to NH, but thankfully, not along the banks of that river and they are on a lot that is the high point of the neighborhood, so that works out very well. How about where you are - anyone here that is affected by flash flooding?...See MoreShow Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - October 2022
Comments (22)NHBabs, it makes my heart glad to see you enjoying every last minute of your NH vistas. I am so happy you will be near family, and happy you are soaking in as much beauty of your time here before you leave. I have loved ALL of your natural scenes in all seasons! Fothergilla was one of my "must haves' and I never got one. Yours sure are beautiful! I hope the next person in your home loves the beauty you left behind. Your amsonia color looks about equal or slightly better than mine in previous years. Mine are more full than yours, and I think this year I might actually get some decent color finally...maybe (see below). Thank you for posting a pic. PM, your yard looks amazing after the rains! You would never knew the experienced drought. Your mums look great. Are they perennial or annual? This is the fist year I am seeing decent yellow in my Amsonia hubrichtii. Murphy's Law--must be because I just posted my disappointment in them. here they are with beautyberries. I have a sapling witch hazel which I cannot figure out where to plant. It is in a pot, but this fall I got my first little flowers. I was so excited! My "i hate gardening" friend has some monkshood. Boy, am i going to work on getting some of this beauty! My Sheffield mums get smaller every year. I should divide them, but each spring it seems like they barely come back, so how do you divide that? I think voles damaged my asters, and then the deer pruned them way too late in the season. I am getting flowers finally, but they are all SMALL plants this year! Caldendula reseeds so happily, and it blooms until frost. This is one reseeding annual I am very glad to have. Finally, as the sun heads farther south to the horizon, it's glare on the water sparkles like diamonds. You can't see the sparkle, but I hope in this picture you can expand it and see how it shines....See More
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
last yearDee, that yellow-lilac daylily is amazing! I hope you find the tag. A real stunner. All your yellows look wonderful. I’ve always wanted Helenium but the seeds are hard to find for some reason.
brdl, the variety in your yard is amazing! You have really made the most of everythjing, and it looks so healthy. Are your NE asters early? It’s only July! Makes me feel like fall is around the corner and I’m not ready for summer to end!! Sounds like you enjoy watching your pollinators, and I know you’re keeping them happy!
A lone brave deer is coming right down the driveway, which hasn’t happened often because of the neighbor’s long privacy fence. He even hangs out on the hot tub patio. He’s eaten nearly all my echinacea buds. I’m glad he doesn’t eat my astilbe. I’ve been working on this are for a long time in the hopes of having shades of green and white. It’s finally starting to come together. The astiilbe will filll out more, and as I divide the goatsbeard I’ll have a big mass of that in the background. I love all the shades of green from the hostas, leucathoe, and rhododendrons.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5bRTHawk
last yearDee, I like your Thunbergia Blushing Susie -- maybe I will try it also next year. bdrl, your coneflowers and asters are much further along than mine. Deanna, love your Astilbe.
I think I had more flowers last year when we got a lot of rain in the summer. Everything now feels so dry.
This may be prairie coreopsis - not sure. The grass around is getting browner - I don't water my lawn - actually, I don't really water except the pots and vegetable garden (and new ones I have planted)
My Garden 2022 · More Info
Coreopsis -- this one looks good but I have 2 other patches that didn't flower as much as last year
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Butterfly bush -- I have been seeing a lot of monarch butterflies here. To it's left is Joe Pye weed - that usually attracts more monarch butterflies when it is in full bloom.
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Shasta daisy
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Hidcote lavender
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Hydrangea - some kind of lace cap?
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Pot by front door - it has filled in a lot since I planted in late May
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Tomatoes and cucumbers -- first time I've planted cucumbers.
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My Garden 2022 · More InfoNHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked RTHawkNHBabs z4b-5a NH
last yearI pretty much just have clematis and blackeyed susans along with Quickfire panicled hydrangea. The garden is definitely suffering from neglect over the last several seasons and it is a bit overwhelming.
Here is a small pink bell that selfseeded when the original plant was eaten by voles.
Romantica growing into and over Fothergilla Mount Airy which is otherwise a dull green blob all summer.
This one chose to grow up the center of a choke berry/Aronia.
This combo of Quickfire hydrangea with Little Bas is about 10 years old and still looks good, though it is difficult to remove old bloom clusters or to photograph because it is now between 7 and 8 feet tall, well over my head.
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
last yearWell, one lone brave deer has pretty much eaten my photo ops. Some nights I hear him right outside my bedroom window on the patio, munching away. I turn on all the lights, and he doesn’t care. I have to get my old body out the front door before he feels the need to leave, and he shoots right up the driveway. So much for 2022.
Today I had an exciting discovery—23 large monarch caterpillars on one single swamp milkweed. Then three monarchs were flying around gathering nectar. Either it’s been a sparse monarch year or I’ve just not crossed paths with them in the garden, but today was a joy.
I do have four things for pictures that the deer has not eaten. He seems to be very choosy about hostas, which confuses me. But, he is consistenly fond of all daylilies,
The area above used to be boring standard wintercreeper. The deer actually helped me out with that area several years ago. He ate the wintercreeper in mid-winter so much that in spring I could actually find the main trunk, cut that sucker out, and remove all wintercreeper. Behind the hostas is a wisteria, but it has not bloomed. Got it from a neighbor.
Two daylily flowers that amazingly survived Sir Deer.
Glamour Girl or Coral ?Flame? phlox just starting to come in. ’Hercules’ phlox is also here but is barely holding on in both areas of the garden where planted.
Lavender is nearing the end of its show.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5bNHBabs z4b-5a NH
last yearlast modified: last yearI am sorry, Deanna, about the deer. Have you considered scent deterrents? I don’t have many flowers right now, but have had several stunning sunsets.
This last one actually has a few flowers since my phlox are now blooming, a bit earlier than usual.
Addison in VT z4a
last yearGorgeous sunsets NHBabs z4b-5a NH. At the end of the day last week, I caught this over my dead red pine in the fading sunlight.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked Addison in VT z4a- NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
diggerdee zone 6 CT