Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - June '09

Here we are in the middle of June already! Time really flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? I have lots to show for this June Bloom Day, so let's take a tour. I hope you're not in a hurry.

Outside the back door the cheery yellow Evening Primrose has just begun to bloom. I've been planting window boxes and containers these past few days. Once they're finished I have annuals and perennials to plant, weeds to pull, perennials to thin....the list goes on.....but that's gardening, always a work in progress. Spring is an especially busy time with so much to do all at once, but it's so good to be outdoors, digging in the dirt again after those long months of winter.


Most of my gardens are messy at the moment, but this Rose/Clematis garden is the exception. I usually work on it first so that I can walk out the back door and see at least one area looking tidy. If you click to enlarge the photo you'll have a better view of the following few plants...

Clematis Carnaby, to the right of the window, has all her blooms down low at the moment.

Iris Beverly Sills is tucked in on the other side of the window, beside Clematis Jackmanii, which is full of buds, but not yet blooming.


Just before we turn the corner there's a lovely patch of Sweet William. Pansies are smiling amid the self-sown Alyssum and Johnny-jump-ups.


Turning the corner we see columbine in a deep wine shade, a container of pansies, and another with red ivy geraniums.


Looking up the driveway toward the barn we see a nice clump of Iris Siberica. This clump will need thinning in August, but it's certainly putting on a wonderful show at the moment. Posted by Picasa

Heading down around the corner to the Spring Garden we find Bleeding Hearts blooming their heads off. The last hard frost on May 19th damaged the pink bushes quite badly, and turned most of the lovely pink strings of hearts to a pale, shriveled version of their former selves, but they have since rebounded nicely and are looking bright and pretty again. The white bush was hardly touched....I suppose because it's tucked into the corner and a little more sheltered.

Forget-me-nots are still blooming here, there and everywhere.


Hannah followed me today as I wandered around taking photos. She loves to be in the garden with me. That Bleeding Heart to the right of the steps has grown huge this spring, and with the hosta reaching over from the other side it's becoming a bit difficult to use the steps. I need to get busy with my nippers and tame them a little.


Looking up behind Hannah you can see the overwintered geranium, Vancouver Centennial, in the same container as last year.


I'm so happy with this lovely basket I put together of Pink Morn wave petunias and lavender trailing Lobelia. Posted by Picasa

Before we head down the lawn let's have a look at the Top Driveway Garden.....


where Lupines stand tall and elegant...


...next to this perky red and yellow columbine.


Further up, on one end of the grape arbor, I planted a honeysuckle last summer....a passalong from my friend, Marie. I think it's a coral honeysuckle like the one Annie in Austin has in her Texas garden. Look closely and you'll see an ant of one of the tubular flowers. Posted by Picasa

Heading down the left side of the driveway we find the magical tissue paper-like blooms of the Oriental poppies.

In vivid orange-red....


....and soft salmon pink, my personal favorite. Posted by Picasa


In the row of lilacs on the bank, the little Miss Canada, planted just last year, is a late bloomer. Her leaves were damaged by the frost and we thought at first she was dying from a dreaded disease. It was a great relief to see her recover and bloom.


We find this pretty yellow sedum down in the Rock Garden.

And over in the Lily Garden is another gorgeous clump of the Siberian Iris. Isn't the color amazing?


If we look beyond the iris we see the Driveway Garden, but let's go first to the Fence Garden at the bottom of the driveway. Posted by Picasa

Here we have white Lupines and pink Fox Gloves looking lovely together, with columbine in the background.


I love the white against the clear blue sky. We only had a few hours when the sky was clear and the sun shone warmly today. Rain showers kept spoiling my photoshoot and planting endeavours.


There's a lot of green in the gardens but we find clumps of color here and there. The pink and red is Sweet William, faithfully blooming in time to grace graduation party tables.


The Lemon Lilies are just beginning to open, and there's more Columbine. Posted by Picasa

This Salvia is a passalong from our DIL and son's garden.


Palest peach Verbascum grows in delicate spikes.


And pink columbine looks like little fairy frocks.

Next we find the Lilac Garden with more Columbine and Bearded Irises. Posted by Picasa

Pretty purple....

Two shades together with a touch of gold.....

Almost black tones, with a rich purple.


The lovely Beverly Sills again. Posted by Picasa

On the other side of the front porch Brunnera Jack Frost is surrounded on either side by a pretty Euphorbia and hostas.


See the tiny caterpillar on the Brunnera blossom?


On the north side of the house is the Daisy garden. I love the combination of pink Columbine and white Daisies.

The veggie garden is over to the left but we won't go there this tour.


Jacob's Ladder is one of many flowers growing in the North Side Garden.


Here we are at the Pink Garden, opposite the back door. The Lamium has spread into too large an area and needs to be cut back. I'll plant some as ground cover on the front bank, down by the road. Pretty purple Aubrietta is still blooming. It lasts longer than Creeping Phlox. Posted by Picasa

Outside the back door blooms a basket of one of my favorite Petunias...Rasberry Blast (a Proven Winner). This is the 3rd year I've bought this one because it lasts so well. I feed it a weak solution of plant food each time I water it. Posted by Picasa

Now are you ready for a nice cup of tea or coffee, or a tall glass of iced tea?

To see what's blooming in many more gardens, go and visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, where Bloom Day's seed took root over 2 years ago. It has grown amazingly well since then!

Happy Bloom Day everyone!

51 comments:

joco said...[Reply]

Good morning kerri,
You were up late last night to post this ;-)
I am just getting my elevenses, whilst your show unfolds.
It takes a while for us dial-up ladies, doesn't it?
See you soon.

joco said...[Reply]

Right, I am all set now:refreshed by the lovely coffee and cream cake, with my shoes on ready for the walk.

What strikes me rightaway is how broad your season is: you still have flowers which are long gone over here (forget-me-nots and columbine), and also those that are not yet in bud in my space ( poppies and Oenothera).

That salmony-apricot iris is liike an orchid. Does it last in water?

I like the long shots, when you can see where things are actually growing.

Tell me about your white Dicentra: is it in a moist or a dry spot? I always thought it had to me kept damp, but it has had no watering in my sandy soil and is flourishing against expectations.

That basket with the colour coordinated two plants is indeed lovely. Usually people cram in too many colours.

So that thing is actually a honeysuckle. Never had one of those. Plenty of others. Does it have a good scent as well?

Oriental poppies in a NY field. That would make anyone smile. Great pictures.

What a hefty clump of Siberian iris. I'll have some when you split it :-)

Lupins have to be pure white. No other colour will do. Next year you will have thousands. Unless, like me, you have earwigs.

Sigh: all those leafy plants without holes. You don't know how lucky you are.

I can see why you were getting visual and emotional overload last week. It can be almost too much at times, can't it.

Shoes off. I'm ready for another cup.
Thanks Kerri. A real walk.

Marrissa said...[Reply]

I never get tired of looking through your amazing garden! And I love seeing those sneaky cats of yours trying to steal the show haha! Thank you for dropping by my blog too by the way :)

verobirdie said...[Reply]

Oh Kerry, your garden is so beautiful right now. I realize your flowers have to bloom all at almost the same time, whereas they have more time to do so here. (In fact, here they never really stop and there is never a true explosion). And their colors are so vivid. it is really a pleasure to follow you in your garden!
Thanks also for visiting my blog and leaving so nice comments :-)

Tabor said...[Reply]

What a rich reward for your hard work. I am learning from your combinations...although our blooming times are also more spread out. I have had very little luck with poppies. I think we are too wet. I will see how my few plants do next year.

F Cameron said...[Reply]

Kerri,

I loved ambling around your garden with my coffee this morning. I must say that I was still peeking over your flowers to see the surrounding countryside with cows and barns. So idyllic!

The black iris with silver foliage companions is so striking! I've never thought of pink columbines with daisies, but that's just so dainty and pretty. A combo to put a smile on your face.

The lupines and fox gloves in pink and white are another one of those amazing combos!

Your baskets of annuals are already so glorious! Do birds try to nest in yours? I almost lost my begonias because I couldn't water them while a pair of wrens raised their young.

Thanks for the tour this morning!
Cameron

Cathy S. said...[Reply]

What beautiful flowers, I don't know where to begin, I love all of them and your garden is really beautiful.
Have a great week!

Beth said...[Reply]

Kerri - I just love your garden. It was fun to take a tour with you.
My gloriosa seeds and larkspur are coming along great! Hope to be able to post some photos in another month or so when they start blooming!

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

After that long walk around the farm I could use a glass of ice tea;)

I almost got a white bleeding heart this spring. Your pictures make me sorry I didn't. It is lovely. I did get some poppies like yours but I put them in late. Your foxglove/lupine combination is sure pretty. Love the sweet william, mine is blooming now too but my patch is much smaller than yours.
Marnie

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

I just love your bloom day posts. Your flowers are so beautiful but I would still have to choose the pink iris and lovely poppies as my favorite.

Curmudgeon said...[Reply]

So much to do... and only 24 hrs in a day! I'n on a two week break right now and my "Garden To Do" list just keeps getting longer and longer. LOL! What a show your garden is putting on Kerri! Just lovely.

sweetbay said...[Reply]

Thank you for the delightful garden tour Kerri. You live in such a beautiful countryside and your garden is glorious.

The purple/ silver combination is stellar, and of course I'm beyond green with envy over your lupines. Everything looks wonderful!

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...[Reply]

Kerri, Your place feels like a little bit of heaven on earth. Not only are your extensive gardens just breath-taking, but the barns and out buildings are wonderful! Also, can't have a farm without a cat!

How do you water? ...do you get enough rain that you don't have to worry about it? Here on the coast of central California, I have to use soaker hoses because the ocean influence makes everything damp... lots of issues with molds and rust. It looks to me like NY state is pretty close to heaven for a gardener! And I didn't see a single mess you claim to have! (:

I love your Bleeding Heart, and the view with poppies in the foreground is wonderful! Thank you for sharing~

Jan said...[Reply]

It was a pleasure touring your garden. It is lovely this month.

Jan
Always Growing

Philosophical Karen said...[Reply]

Oh, I always love to look at photos of your garden, Kerri!

Dee/reddirtramblings said...[Reply]

Kerri,

It is so beautiful there. I am amazed at all you have blooming. Just lovely. That first hanging basket is one anyone would love to have. Beautiful color combination.~~Dee

Unknown said...[Reply]

Oooh... I stopped by for some garden eye candy, and of course I wasn't disappointed! :) I adore those little columbine, but the knockout for me was the deep purple iris with the artemisia. I love that!

I'm definitely going to pick your brain about overwintering that 'Vancouver Centennial' geranium in a few months, by the way. I was able to find one at a local garden center this year, and I love it planted up in my urn planter. :)

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...[Reply]

I noticed that you've got your Evening Primroses confined by concrete. I love the look of them, but I'm afraid to grow them. Your planting looks like a good way to do it. Your barns make such a great backdrop to the flowers, especially the blue of the Siberian Irises. The photo of the Lupines with the cows in the background is awesome.

Debbie said...[Reply]

Kerri, everything looks lovely. I just love all your gardens, tucked here and there around your place. Just beautiful!

Shirley said...[Reply]

Hi there, Kerri it’s been a while :-)

Wow… doesn’t really seem to say enough! A truly wonderful posting of blooms and views of your garden! I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit and I thank you for sharing your garden with us. I just cannot pick a fav pic or plant! Mm… maybe if you twisted my arm I’d go for the columbine in the deep wine shade! Happy Bloom Day :-D

My post is up too if you would like to visit. I’ve videos for this month :-D

*Ulrike* said...[Reply]

Just love your garden! I am busy planting things after having them in pots for 5 years. You also have some petunias that we do not have here in the south. Or I just haven't found them! Your season is very long, but I've noticed tonight on the weather channel that it is cool and wet up north. Here lately we are very hot with no rain in sight.
I also love that geranium, Vancouver Centennial. I have bought so many geraniums this year that hubby has said the spare room will be full to the brim!!! I can't wait to see more pictures.

Linda said...[Reply]

Beautiful Kerri! I confess to being just a tad jealous :-) Of course, if I worked as hard as you do I'm sure my yard would look a little prettier.
Thanks so much for sharing all your lovely flowers. I loved them all.

Kateri said...[Reply]

That pink iris is so lovely!

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

I am always amazed at your extensive gardens Kerri. You need a long winter to rest after taking care of so much. Everything is so beautiful. I really like the idea of having "fairy frocks" in the garden. I can just see the fairies arguing over who gets which frock. Tee hee.... Happy GBBD.

Pat said...[Reply]

So many spring blooms ! Can't imagine what the summer will bring.
Honeysuckle is so sweet..can't find mine this year since I cut them back.

Diana LaMarre said...[Reply]

Wow, Kerri, you sure have a lot of lovely spring blooms! The lupines are pretty impressive and I do love that pink poppy. I bought some new poppy colors last fall and am waiting for the pink one to open. I hope it looks like yours.

Another blogging friend told me that her colored poppies revert back to orange after a couple of years. Have you found that to be true? I sure hope not!

It was so nice catching up with your garden.

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...[Reply]

You have an amazing garden! So glad I stopped by. I love the old red barn as a backdrop. -Jackie

John said...[Reply]

Kerri:

Great post! Really enjoy this time of year, with all the great colors.

How are the strawberries comming, our strawberries are ripening nicely?

Again enjoy your posts.

Alice said...[Reply]

I'd leave a comment but I'm just off to put the kettle on for a rejuvenating cup of tea after that long walk around your garden....care to join me, Kerri?....lol.

Your garden already looks beautiful, yet there is the promise of even more colour and thrills to come as the summer progresses.

I love what you achieve with your hanging baskets and window boxes, and after seeing some beauties in Europe in the last few weeks, I'm really looking forward to trying again. My aim is to 'match Kerri's'.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with Solanium (Potato Vine)? We saw the common one with the little white flower, just like a potato plant (and commonly regarded as a pest), used in hanging baskets in a Swiss garden centre. Looked fantastic.

Thanks again for the garden tour, Kerri. Always a delight. Now, was it milk and one sugar......?

Sue said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri
I just stumbled over from "Through the Garden Gate"....love your site!! You live in such a beautiful setting. And your flowers are amazing!

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

I always love visiting your garden. Looking over your photos reminds me of plants that left us like our lupines and foxgloves. I have no idea why those have such a hard time in our gardens. I really like the Beverly Sills iris. Gorgeous color.

Terri said...[Reply]

Just gorgeous Kerri!

EAL said...[Reply]

Lovely flowers, especially the sweet william and lupins which so suit your country garden, and I love your barn!

joey said...[Reply]

Your gardens and photos are lovely, Kerri. June has been very kind to you thanks to your creative tweaking :) Happy Summer!

em said...[Reply]

wow! caboodles of blooms!

Gail said...[Reply]

Kerri...So much gorgeousness! It all makes me smile and wish I could take a walk with you over the hills and around the corners! gail

Connie said...[Reply]

Your blooms are just gorgeous and it looks like the area surrounding your place is wonderful and scenic, too.

Kylee Baumle said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,

Wow, how do you stand it, looking at such beauty at every turn? One gorgeous flower after another! Thank you so much for taking the time to give us such a great tour. I know how much work it was to do this post.

I'm so jealous of your peach poppies! Well, poppies in general. I'm trying again this year, but I've not had luck at all in the past with Oriental Poppies, for some reason.

Your honeysuckle looks exactly like mine, which is 'Dropmore Scarlet.' Do you have problems with powdery mildew on yours? Mine doesn't right away, but it is having it now. It has good circulation, but still has a problem with it.

I hope you're having a great summer!

~~Rhonda said...[Reply]

Thanks so much for posting pictures of entire beds and not just the individual flowers, though those are lovely, too! But there is so much one can learn by seeing the whole picture, by seeing how others are putting together their own gardens. Hearing the names of your beds reminds me of our own garden...the front birdbath bed, the east redbud bed, the fenced garden, etc. :)

The colors in your garden are beautiful. The garden looks inviting and relaxing. Thanks so much for sharing!

~~Rhonda

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

A few comments back Kylie said it exactly - "how do you stand it, looking at such beauty at every turn?"

You have the most beautiful bloom day of anyone, Kerri - had me at forget-me-not, then hit me with white lupine and finished me off with the siberian iris. And you don't show us little bits of flowers but large, established clumps in bountiful borders.

What a pleasure it's been to see your world through your camera.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

PS Remember when you told us to never leave the house without the camera? Because I listened to your advice I was able to catch a goofy photo for my blog!

Meems said...[Reply]

Oh my, Kerri,
No wonder your blog is named colors of the garden~~~ what a wonderful little walk through your garden. I'm glad I poured a cup of coffee just before I started the stroll. One thing about northern gardens is all those amazing perennials that bloom so profusely. When I think about all the snow photos you showed in the winter and to think it turns to this every spring. It is just so remarkable to this Florida girl. Can I tell you something? Your barn is as attractive to me as your gardens. Really. I LOVe the whole look and feel of your property. So very beautiful.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

Your gardens are lovely Kerri and the flowers are exquisite. You must spend a lot of time caring for them. The Beverly Sills Iris is really gorgeous. I have one too and have been fighting the slugs in order to save it.
I have a huge patch of iris that need to be separated one of these days. So much to do, so little time.

LostRoses said...[Reply]

Kerri, your flowers look like some of the luscious garden catalogs I swoon over, I'm jealous! What wonderful beds and a huge variety of plants. No wonder you've been too busy to blog!

Pam said...[Reply]

That Beverly Sills iris is so lovely. I didn't know they came in pink. And your garden in general.. and your life... swoon.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Even though summer is a bit late to arrive there in your corner of the world, I'd say it was more than worth the wait! I love all your flowers, but my favorite is also the salmon colored poppy. Or maybe Clematis Carnaby. Or maybe the lupines. I can't pick!

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

Time certainly does fly in June! I'm shamefully behind. Everything was looking lovely for you last month and I assume in the natural progression of things that some of what you highlighted here is done and other things are just coming into their own. I hope you're enjoying your days in the garden and the cool temperatures we're having.

Ana-Maria said...[Reply]

Nice photography flowers!Congratulations!

sonia a. mascaro said...[Reply]

Hi Kerry, how are you? It has been a long time since I have visited you...

Wonderful photos as always.
Fantastic and beautiful flowers, I can almost smell this wonderful garden!

PS: Did I told you that I return to post on Leaves of Grass?

em said...[Reply]

kerri, just reading back through these comments, jo said that you have a broad season and she is right. that must be the upside of the shorter season, that so many more things are in bloom at once! sure makes for a spectacle!

say, if you are visiting family in nyc, let me know and you can stop by, if you like. we are on the way.

Barbara said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri
finally I find some time to visit "my" blogs I like to read. There is so much to see in your June garden. Now I really realize what a different zone you live in...there are so many flowers blooming together which here either bloom in Spring or in summer. A few days ago my first V.B. started to flower (the blue plants you saw in my post were lavender), they never did it so early before. My roses have already faded, and the garden acutally looks a bit "dull" ;-). Therefore it's a great pleasure to see all the colours in your garden paradise.
Have a good time and don't work too hard !
Best wishes, Barbara

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...[Reply]

i swear Kerri, if I ever get a chance to see your garden in real )which I so hope that I do some day), that would be my heaven.....i would be dancing from one colorful corner to the other.....:) i love, love, love that salmon pink poppy and that basket you put together is dreamy and so ROMANTIC!!!!! :) the red barn shot with the tractor in the background is my total favorite too... :)