Kaseys Korner

meet and greet

Yesterday I was (falsely) lulled into thinking it was cool enough to embark on a makeover of my front flower bed (based solely on the fact that the skies were overcast).  NOT the brightest idea I've ever had.  By the time I was finished digging, I swear I felt a little woozey from the heat and was coated in layers of sweat and dirt respectively. Maybe that's TMI??  Whoever does this sort of thing in the middle of July anyway (that's not getting paid)??  Somebody please remind me to never buy new perennials in mid summer again.  I get too anxious to plant them which always involves revamping something and that's entirely too much work when there's any kind of heat index at all.  Anyway, it's done now and after a good nights sleep, I can grin at my work and feel pleased as punch.  It's something that has needed to be done for a very long time and I've just been too lazy to do it.  In fact my whole front bed could use an overhaul but for now I'm satisfied with the 5' X 4' section I completed.  The new additions (which replaced some veronica that needed thinning) are the Butterfly Bush pictured above (Buddleia X weyeriana 'Honeycomb'), Scrophularia macrantha below (planted for the hummingbirds):

some Texas Betony (Stachys Coccinea) photo below and the following that are not pictured:  Armenian Bellflower (Campanula Collina), Penstemon Pinifolius and one lone Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans 'Balboa Sunset').  The latter will be placed next to a new arbor project (to be featured later).

Whew.  I'm exhausted all over again just posting about it.  I think I'll fix some iced tea and do something, anything, that requires far less effort and energy today.  How about you?

made for shade

Back to containers this AM.  I have six containers in my front yard and six in the back.  This is a very workable number for me.  I've had many more some years and I've decided fewer are better (at least for now).  I also prefer bigger containers, small pots sitting around are not my thing and I like to mix up the contents every year (with the exception of this 'black magic' elephant ear ~ he's one of my "regulars").  My planting mantra is, "the more the merrier".  Although this must be a bad angle because it doesn't look like I stuffed so much into the container pictured.  It's a case of looks being deceiving, you'll just have to trust me.  I will be posting additional photos further into the season because none of my containers has "peaked" yet.  This one will be enormous by Sept. ~ check out the photo below of a previous years version.  I think it spanned about 4 feet??  Back to the 2008 model tho, I started with a 16" wide container, my 'black magic' stand-by was planted in the center, then a croton (houseplant most of the time) nestled next to it, after that, (around the outside) I added 'Sweet Caroline Bronze" potato vine (Ipomoea), 'Creme Brulee' Coral Bells (Heuchera), 'Rustic Orange' coleus, New Guinea impatiens (which recently replaced non-performing mimulus) and another Lime green potato vine.  Okay that's not so much, is it?  I have learned to examine my pots mid summer, pull out whatever isn't working and replace (usually catching the 50% off sales).  There's still time left for the new plants to fill in and for the container to achieve "spectacular" status.  That's what I aim for, don't you?

just......can't......stop....

painting, that is.  lol  What did you think I was going to say?!  In the last few days, I've started photographing some of my containers ~ as I was snapping one of this little pedestal combo, I realized it's also another one of my painting projects.  Oops.  Thought I had posted all of those!  I am a maniac with a spray can, I'm telling you.  I bought a cheap pedestal (from Hobby Lobby for those familiar with the store ~ love that place!), then primed and sprayed it glossy black to match the container I already had.  It looks like the two came as an elegant set now, doesn't it?  It sits on my front step and is my version of the stunning "blue & yellow" cover on Fine Gardenings "Container gardening" special issue (although there is not much blue showing at the moment).  I'll have to revisit this container as the saliva begins to bloom and give you a detailing of the plants included.  For now, just check out my handiwork!!

time travels

Do you have any flowers in your garden that instantly elicit a memory?  or even just make you smile?  Balloon flowers (Platycodon) do that for me.  Every year, every time.  My niece, at about two years of age, is the image that pops into my mind when they start to bloom.  Isn't that funny??  She loved them when they looked about like this (maybe just a touch further along):

Perfect for "popping!"  We often babysat her when we would be in town visiting and we'd usually end up in grandmas garden where she'd make a beeline straight for them.  She wouldn't leave until they'd all been popped.  The buds are almost irresistible that way.  Today she is almost 12 with absolutely no interest in gardening but the memory has stuck.

 

So even tho you'd walk right past them now, I'm thinking of you this morning Brenna, because my balloon flowers have just begun to open!!! 

Hydrangea spectacle

This is one of my favorite photos of the summer (so far).  It's an inflorescence from my oakleaf hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia).  The cultivar eludes me at the moment but what makes the photo special is it's one of many inflorescences this shrub is showering me with for the first time.  I "really" think this is my year in the garden (and I need to soak it in, and up and thru every pore while it lasts).  I bought the plant about five years ago (after reading rave reviews about it in the illustrated encyclopedia of "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs" by the renowned Michael Dirr).  Tho it seemed marginally hardy in my zone (5), I couldn't resist snapping it up when I happened upon a specimen at a local nursery.  In his book, Dirr referred to it as "one of the most handsome plants landscape designers have at their disposal."  I thought if I had any luck growing it whatsoever, it would be worth it based on that description alone.  The conical panicles of flowers appeal to me just as much as the round globes of the more common hydrangeas, maybe even more so.  It's planted in a very protected area of my yard, where it does not receive the harsh, drying winds that I'm sure would be it's doom.  Here is another photo, taken a bit further away, that gives you a look at the handsome lobed foliage (which if you know anything about trees, immediately tells you how the name was derived).

A second & third reason for giving it a whirl, is the peely bark on its stems and the burgundy fall foliage.  I have to agree that Dirr was right on the mark (not that he ever isn't) but this time I have evidence of my own that concurs.  Although I had quite a bit of die back the first few seasons, the last two years there has hardly been any.  Maybe because it took time to establish itself?  or because we've had more moisture those years?  Either way, it's making quite a spectacle of itself right now, showing off for anyone who will pay attention and I am lovin' every minute of it.

tropical beauty

This is a story about taking chances.  Chances that end on a happy note (with a big payoff), that's what I'm talkin' about.  You'll see exactly how when you scroll down to the second photo.   But first, a little history to fill you in.  I bought the hibiscus pictured above at Lowes (in April).   There was no accompanying photo, just a description on the container that said "flowers yellow with pink center."   Sizing up the plant in the container, I was somewhat dubious that it would ever bloom let alone survive.  It really was just that sad looking and all of about six pathetic inches tall.  Why I decided to go ahead and buy it, I'll never know.   Let's just say I am SO GLAD I did.   As in, I got the fairy tale ending I wasn't even dreaming of this morning when the first bud opened:

Isn't she a knock out??  The description on that container hardly came close to doing it justice.  I'm calling it my "sunset" hibiscus because (a) I don't have any clue what the real name is and (b) it reminds me of one of those gorgeous sunsets that turn the sky first one color then another before ending with that perfect golden light we all wish would never disappear.  I think it's exquisite and it's inspired me to take more chances.  If even half of them turn out as well, I'll feel like the lucky girl I think I am today.

Variegated sunshine

Sunflower, sunflower, lemon gold hue ~ who in the world can resist you?  Certainly not me.  I bought this sunflower not for the flowers so much as for the foliage.  Here, in the picture below, can you see the variegated leaves??  They are white with green viens.  

I don't think I captured it as well as I should have but trust me, it's very striking in the garden.  I have it planted next to the "summer sky" echinacea that I posted about yesterday and together they light up their corner of the garden.  The official name is Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine,' ~ it was a "Blooms of Bressingham" perennial last year or come to think of it, maybe it was the year before????  For some reason (most likely space constraints) I only bought one plant but it's definitely one of those carefree, happy-go-lucky perennials that you wish you had more of in the garden.  It will bloom from now 'till frost and that is a good thing!

fiery Echinacea

Check out my 'Summer Sky'  Echinacea that has recently started blooming.  It's like a searing heat wave just to look at it, isn't it??  I received two plants last summer as special offers from Wayside Gardens (when I ordered some Brugmansias).  At the time, I wasn't sure if I would like them or not (since I'm partial to the traditional pink variety) but they've positively won me over. 

There's no ignoring that bright zing of color ~ not that you'd really want to ~ it's like a shot of happy!   Even from underneath....

I had no idea there were so many varieties of this hardy perennial.  It makes you want to run out to the greenhouse, doesn't it??    

splotches of color

Hurray ~ all the painting is done.  I had two additional projects to scrape and repaint and I've finally finished them up and can share them.  The first one is my rocker.  As you can see, I did not take a new photo ~ how could it get any better than this one with my cat all in a huff??  For the record, he was majorly annoyed with me because I hauled him out of a comfortable position in the house to plop him on the seat (thinking he would make the photo more interesting).  Ha.  Never, ever, ever decide where a cat is best suited (or use them as a photo prop if it isn't their idea).   Not cool.  Any who, back to the rocker ~ I repainted it the same "eggplant" color (since it was also peeling) ~ isn't it pretty especially with my containers as a backdrop??   Now that I've used the oil based primer, I'm hoping painting the chairs won't be a yearly chore but can extend to every several years?? 

Lastly, my vintage toolbox got a once over with "sunshine" yellow spray.  It looks so cheery now, much better than the plain wood & metal it was.  I really did a terrible job preparing it for paint ~ as in ~ nothing.(no sanding, no priming, etc.)  Just plain lazy spraying.  I figure if it peels it will just contribute to that "aged" look that's so popular now.  So there you have it, these, combined with my key lime chairs, complete my garden painting (at least for this season). 

patriotic blooms

Because I'm thinking red, white & blue this pre-holiday morning I thought it might be fun to post blooms in those colors?  Here's my American flag colored trio:

Red ~ Crocosmia Lucifer. (bulbs started in March)

White ~ Physostegia virginiana 'summer snow' (obedient plant) just beginning to open.

Blue ~ Myosotis sylvatica (forget-me-nots) still blooming beautifully next to my water spigot.    And that, folks, is my patriotic garden display.  What's blooming red, white and blue in your yard??  or better yet, what's blooming in your flags colors?   One more note, a BIG thank you to Cinj from Cinj's Chat Room for bestowing my blog the Arte Y Pico Award.  I'm so honored that she is inspired by the papercrafting projects I post on here.  I'll have to give thought to who I pass it along to as there are so many worthy blogs that feed my creativity.