Nothing signals the end of summer like Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) and hydrangeas cut for drying. The hydrangeas are cut with some ‘old wood’ I find they hold their shape better that way. Later, when I arrange them, I will cut the stem to whatever length required. Sometimes, when cut on the tender green stems, [...]
Archive for the ‘Shade Gardening’ Category
CLEMATIS, HYDRANGEAS & BURNT SUGAR
Posted in autumn colour, Camellias, Clematis, Cutting flowers, Hydrangeas, Shade Gardening, tagged cercidiphyllum japonicum, clematis, dry flowers, fall colour, Hydrangea, Katsuratree, Sweet Autumn Clematis on August 28, 2011 | 3 Comments »
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Posted in Garden house, Garden Rooms, Hydrangeas, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Gardening, tagged garden room, hydrangeas, plant cuttings, shade gardening on August 22, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Earlier this summer, as I sat in the Circle of Friends, I realized that after the first major flush of bloom my ‘interesting hydrangeas’ really had no impact at all. What was needed was more of the strong blue mopheads. So cuttings it was, since that particular hydrangea is an unknown variety and I have no [...]
HYDRANGEA, LILY, LILY……
Posted in Bulbs, Cutting flowers, Hydrangeas, Potager, Roses, Vegetable Garden, tagged cutting garden. cutting flowers, Hydrangea, lilies, Lilium, potager on June 28, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Recently, Little Augury posted about Lilies. The Regale lilies in her garden, John Singer Sargent’s Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose, and Beverly Nichols’ love of Lilies. All favorites of mine. Below, an interpretation with what I have in my garden now. Alas, no rose, no carnation, no children playing …. but Hydrangeas & Lilies in profusion. Lilium ‘Touching’ above, supported by [...]
SHOCKING 2
Posted in Clematis, Companion Planting, Focal Point, Roses, Whimsy, tagged Clematis Catherine Clanwilliam, Clematis Purpurea Elegans, Elsa Schiaperelli, Focal Point, Rose Pink Knockout, whimsy on June 19, 2011 | 1 Comment »
I LOVE the Schiaparelli Bench!! In context, with plants of like colour. This garden space, which separates the “Pleasure Garden” or Viburnum Court from the Potager, has long given me grief. Originally it was conceived as a Rosemary Walk; a brick lined, grass path, planted on both sides with rosemary. Meant to make contact as [...]
SHOCKING!
Posted in Accessories, Focal Point, Roses, Whimsy, tagged Elsa Schiaperelli, Focal Point, hot pink, knockout rose, whimsy on June 16, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Think pink! Shocking Pink! Schiaparelli* Pink! Same colour as the pink ‘Knockout Roses’ below… BUT the main purpose was to detract from the mess weeds in that garden space. Distraction as a design tool? It works! (Paint Behr 680B-5 Strawberry Freeze) *Elsa Schiaperelli, provocative fashion designer, rival of Coco Chanel.
HYDRANGEAS, HYDRANGEAS, EVERYWHERE!
Posted in Companion Planting, Cutting flowers, Hydrangeas, Shade Gardening, tagged companion plants, cutting flowers, hydrangea macrophylla, hydrangeas, Oakleaf hydrangea, shade garden on June 3, 2011 | 10 Comments »
In the summer, Hydrangeas form the backbone of the shade garden, they will carry the garden through the summer and keep my vases filled as well.. In The Circle of Friends, the camellias are now backdrop, and these beauties are showing their stuff. Most Hydrangeas are rounded in form. From a distance they are indistinguishable… On closer inspection [...]
“ONE SICK PLANT”
Posted in Hydrangeas, Shade Gardening, Shrubs, tagged hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey', oakleaf Hydrangea 'Little Honey' on May 12, 2011 | 1 Comment »
My husband came in from the garden and told me I had ‘One sick plant in need of some nitrogen’. Ha! introducing Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) ‘Little Honey’ . It seems to bloom a little later than the species (seen in the background), and I do love the golden foliage. More Hydrangeas in the next post.
THE MEADOW…YET AGAIN
Posted in Companion Planting, Flowering Trees, Garden Design, Groundcovers, Shade Gardening, Wildflowers, tagged dogwoods, garden design, native phlox, trillium, wildflowers on April 7, 2011 | 2 Comments »
The meadow is once more looksing like an impressionist painting. Swaths of blue native phlox (Phlox divericata) make their way between the daffodil foliage and the ‘Wake Robin’ ( Trillium cuneatum) . The trees are now playing an important role, so the focus changes. This is The Meadow viewed from the driveway on [...]
WILD THINGS
Posted in Companion Planting, Groundcovers, Perennials, Shade Gardening, Wildflowers, tagged companion planting, groundcovers, native plants, perennial, plant realtionships, shade garden, wildflowers on March 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Time for the WILD THINGS! Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) popping up in the meadow. The name is derived from the red sap which bleeds as the stem is cut or the root disturbed. The Indians used this sap for paint and as a dye. Trillium cuneatum naturalized in the meadow. I cannot take credit [...]
A QUICK TOUR
Posted in Companion Planting, Garden Design, Groundcovers, Shade Gardening, tagged garden design, groundcovers, helleborus foetidus, helleborus orientalis. flowering quince, shade garden on March 9, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Spring is unfolding ……….. Suddenly, everything is so far along ! The trilliums are coming up. Flowering Quince In the Viburnum Court… Helleborus foetidus top & Helleborus orientalis above. All Nature’s Masterpieces. © All photos & text 2011
NATURE’S MASTERPIECES
Posted in Camellias, Garden Rooms, mixed border, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged Camellia Betty Sheffield, camellia magnoliaeflora, camellia Rev John Drayton, camellia Rose Dawn, camellia taylors perfection, camellia White Empress on March 7, 2011 | 2 Comments »
These are some of nature’s masterpieces. Every bit as beautiful as roses… don’t you think? REV. JOHN DRAYTON MAGNOLIAEFLORA TAYLOR’S PERFECTION WHITE EMPRESS ROSE DAWN BETTY SHEFFIELD The above Camellias all reside in the ‘Circle of Friends.’ Just a thought… there needs to be a larger more interesting focal point there.
CAMELLIA MADNESS
Posted in Bulbs, Camellias, Companion Planting, Groundcovers, Shade Gardening, Uncategorized, winter garden, tagged camellias, companion planting, helleborus, Meadow, narcissus on March 3, 2011 | 3 Comments »
The Camellia Walk is in full flower. The Helleborus are also at their peak, I love them together, makes for a lush planting…the only kind. Just about here, I turn around to see……… The daffodils in The Meadow. Up close & personal……… © All photos & text 2011
FABULOUS FRAGRANCE!
Posted in Shade Gardening, Shrubs, winter garden, tagged Daphne odora, shade plant, small shrub, winter garden on February 23, 2011 | 7 Comments »
The moment I walked out the door I knew it was blooming. Winter Daphne (Daphne odora aureomareginata) the most powerful fragrance imaginable. To quote a delivery person “That is LOUD!” She is not hard to look at either. Fragrance reminiscent of Lilac…but more… and hauntingly beautiful. © All photos & text 2011
FRECKLE FACE!
Posted in Groundcovers, Perennials, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged helleborus, perennial, shade garden, winter garden on February 18, 2011 | 5 Comments »
All of the Helleborus in my garden are seedlings. Each one has different colouration …. all stunning, all with freckles. Only one named variety from the Heronswood ‘Party Dress’ Strain. It is a double, and not open yet. Perhaps because there are so few blooms at this time of year they are all the [...]
MEANWHILE, IN THE GARDEN..
Posted in Camellias, Companion Planting, Flowering Trees, Garden Design, Groundcovers, Perennials, Shade Gardening, Shrubs, winter garden, tagged acorus gramineus 'ogon', Camellia, evergreen shrubs, garden design, helleborus, Prunus mume, winter garden on February 12, 2011 | 1 Comment »
On a tour of the garden today, signs of spring … The Meadow is coming alive.. Soon I’ll post the results of 13 years of rescuing daffs and trying to achieve the ‘English Thing’. Meanwhile the Winter garden is doing what it is supposed to and is at its peak….The “peak” lasts a [...]
