HYDRANGEA, LILY, LILY……

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 Oak leaf Hydrangea     (Hydrangea quercifolia). Below, solo, three stems in Tulip shaped vase .                                                              

This Lily  is best  in the vase. The flower head is so heavy it breaks the stem.

                                                                                       

                                                                                          

A wonderful addition to the Cutting Garden.

MEANWHILE, in the Potager,  Blueberries are coming in and Figs promise  a bumper crop soon. The figs are ‘Brown Turkey’ & ‘Celeste’. Tune into LINDARAXA where my friend Julieta, will devise some recipes for all that comes in from the Potager.

© All photos 2011

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN / POTAGER

The Vegetable Garden, my POTAGER…is a dream come true. I wanted to go into the garden and bring in fresh organic vegetables, the best varieties of course, and turn them into delightful & healthy meals.

                                                                                 

Although I am a fairly accomplished cook, I get  overwhelmed when the harvest starts coming in.  Time and again I turn to  Julieta Cadenas’ blog  LINDARAXA to find recipes to inspire  me.

                                                                                              

                                                                                        

I am  excited and honored  to be teaming up with her. As the harvest comes in we will link to each others blog and, she will create  recipes for all of us to enjoy.

Julieta is one knowledgeable lady, a former investment banker, lifelong food aficionado, great cook and a delightful & generous  friend. Check out her blog, she writes about more than  cooking.

So, as soon as I saw these in the garden…

                                                                                             

                                                                                        

I immediately went to LINDARAXA  for inspiration. Soon my kitchen will be overrun with squash. and I want to be prepared.

Last year, for winter use, I roasted and froze some  squash.  This year  I’ll do the same. They were wonderful ! I used them with scrambled eggs, I added them  to a saute of  onion garlic, red pepper, and some artichokes & served with pasta.  But I need to ‘do’ something NEW,  and as usual Julieta has some inspiring dishes.  Here is Julieta’s Squash casserole .

Enjoy, my husband can’t wait for the squash to come in! Once again Julieta, thank you. You STAR in my kitchen!

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SHOCKING 2

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 one passes and release its glorious fragrance.

                                                                                            

Alas, that failed miserably..  The soil here is heavy with clay, and although it has been well amended, it is still not light enough for a mediterranean herb. BUT it is perfect for Roses with Clematis as companions.  I also allow some Cleome to seed itself…..  Still under construction. …. A garden in Homage to Elsa Schiaparelli “that Italian artist who makes clothes!”-  Coco Chanel

SHOCKING!

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.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT

While trying to decide what to get my husband for Fathers day, someone brought this site to my attention.  http://www.interflora.co.uk/category/fathers-day-gifts/

What a great idea! Instead of another wheelbarrow I could send my husband some fabulous gift that he could share with me!! I am thinking …

                                                                                               

This great picnic hamper…  we could share the wine, while we decide where to plant  the David Austin Roses that are also available .

                                                                                        

This is a gardeners dream! Also I am not too late to order!

I used to give my parents perfume for their anniversary… for my mom to wear & dad to enjoy the fragrance!!

BLACK POOLS

Black pools reflect the sky, clouds & trees. 

                                                                                          

There are NO reflections with turquoise…..

                                                                                     

Which do you prefer?

© All photos 2011

FUN & GAMES

Chess anyone?

                                                                                          

Come out to play!

                                                                                 

Or perhaps you prefer to walk on water.

A garden is more than the sum of it’s plants. Have some fun!

© All photos 2011

HYDRANGEAS, HYDRANGEAS, EVERYWHERE!

                                                                                     

 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 however……

                                                                                         

many are quite distinctive, above Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Jogasaki’

                                                                                         

                                                                                         

The lacecap Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lanarth White’ above.

                                                                                         

Hydrangea quercifolia & Hydrangea macrophylla above. Although I do enjoy the delicate lacecap flowers, the big blue or white balls are certainly  eye-catching in the landscape.

                                                                                   

Above, Oakleaf Hydrangeas mark the entrance to the Viburnum Court.

What carries your garden through summer?

PENNY MCHENRY HYDRANGEA FESTIVAL

                                                                                        

If you are in the Atlanta area this weekend , do visit the Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville. Lots of vendors, good food and a Garden Tour. ($25.00) My friends Susanne Hudson &  Tara Dillard have built a show garden.

Knowing these two ladies, there will be lots of inspiring ideas. Hope to see you there.