This gallery contains 11 photos.
Fragrant Gardenia jasminoides ‘Chuck Hayes’ and a few other plants are newly blooming in this Chapel Hill garden today. Long before the garden’s picket fence was installed ’Chuck Hayes’ was planted as a low privacy hedge in the western border. Both evergreen … Continue reading
This gallery contains 12 photos.
Today I am participating in GBFD and examining how foliage enhances the garden. Rising along the southern path medium green, smooth foliage of Hedychium coronarium or Ginger lily contrast deeply with silvery Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear) and Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion). Hedychium has … Continue reading
This gallery contains 11 photos.
The weekend weather has been ideal—sunny with low humidity and slight breezes. With a high of 81°F. today it would have been an enjoyable day to garden. Instead the garden provided perfect surroundings for lunching on the back porch and … Continue reading
Walking the labyrinth late this afternoon provided an opportunity to consider the wall plantings in between the paths. The meditation circle is lush and pleasant now, even the thyme has been rejuvenated. The circle is full of bees humming and buzzing about. The bees are drawn to both types of penstemon found here. The Penstemon mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ (Beardtongue)with its looser habit has already required staking in order to keep the pathway clear. Unless visitors are coming I rarely worry about the flowers tumbling around, I just brush past them as I walk, simply noticing the connection.
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) has been blooming for several weeks and I really enjoy its white flowers. Its growth habit is more upright than ‘Pike’s Peak Purple.’ Even so, the two ‘Husker Reds’ planted last year are getting quite large and recent rains knocked over a few sections of the plant into the path. Trimmings are nice though as penstemon is long-lasting indoors.
Magnolias are blooming. This one was spotted today at the Nasher Museum of Art in nearby Durham, NC.
This gallery contains 3 photos.
Sporting a black stem and black calyces, a single tall flower spike of Salvia guaranitica (Blue anise sage) appeared in the Southern side path earlier in the week. Today several of its tubular flowers are open and one can easily appreciate its cultivar name, ‘Black … Continue reading
The sky was gray since early morning and by early evening soft rain began to fall. At mid-afteroon the garden was a peaceful, serene setting for a leisurely walk.
Echinacea as well as lavender are opening in several places around the garden, just about the same time as last year. Perhaps Spring is slowing down from its frenzied earlier pace. Other observations: Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ will soon be blooming along the southern side path, a bit ahead of that planted in other areas. Liatris spicata is adding feathery softness to the northern border that has been dominated by sword-like iris leaves. Proving to be very weak-stemmed again this year, Achillea x ‘Appleblossom’ is falling over into a thick stand of Shasta Daisies. Many of the perennials attract bees, including Veronica spicata, Stachys byzantina, Nepeta and Penstemon. Verbena bonariensis looks strong and healthy this year and the American goldfinches are loving it.
This gallery contains 10 photos.
Today’s weather could not have been more perfect to have a group of friends visit the garden, walk the meditation circle and share a potluck lunch. Cloudless blue skies, low humidity and temperatures in the mid-seventies made for a fine … Continue reading
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Record keeping: Last in a 3-part series of notes about what is planted and what is blooming currently in the garden. Yesterday I focused on long views of the garden borders to document what is planted in each section. But yesterday … Continue reading
This gallery contains 9 photos.
Record keeping: Part 2 of a series of notes about what is planted and what is blooming currently in the garden. Northern Border The northern border is filled with Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Nepeta (Catmint), Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox), Bearded Iris, and an Iceberg rose. … Continue reading
This gallery contains 7 photos.
Forecasts warned today would be 92 degrees. Since there are a few new things in the garden I spent some time selectively watering them very early this morning. With the garden still sheltered at this time of morning by shade … Continue reading
