Kaseys Korner

Siberian Iris 'Pink Haze'

along with an assortment of other (new) blooms ~ you knew there couldn't just be one focus, didn't you??!!  Not this time of year!!! 

'Pink Haze' was added to the garden last summer along with 'Sky Wings' and 'Heliotrope Bouquet.'  All are lovely and seem to last longer in my garden than Bearded Iris do.  I'm really digging the daintier appearance of their foliage as well.

Of course having "pink" as part of its name didn't hurt either!!

Which is how the Bearded Iris below got into the garden:

In a moment of weakness, I broke down this spring and purchased 'Beverly Sills.'   I'd lusted and lusted and lusted (you get the picture) after it for years on end.

One of my neighbors grows 'Beverly Sills' in their garden but even tho I'd dropped numerous hints and admired it profusely, a single rhizome was never offered.  :(    Oh well, it's here now and that's all that matters.

Yesterday I moved the birdhouse (on post) around to the front garden.  You might remember I had Clematis 'Josephine' growing up it in a container?  

Notice the pink iris (a bit blurry) in front.

Once I'd moved 'Josephine,' it seemed logical to start fresh with that container.

Btw, best move ever (I've already told you) ~ taking 'Josephine' out of the pot!

It is REALLY blossoming (lol) planted in the garden.

I've never had her look so gorgeous or bloom so profusely.

Patting myself on the back for that one!!

oooh, speaking of Clematis, I finally found one I'd been oogling for a while now ~ 'Betty Corning!'

I often thought of mail ordering her but could never quite bring myself to do it.  This year she showed up at a local nursery. 

I immediately took it as a "sign!"  You would too, wouldn't you?!!!!  ;)

Above:  looking toward side gate. 

The tiered topiary reminds me of my latest project ~ learning to use hedge shears.  I hope it's a quick learning curve and that the boxwoods & yews are forgiving of mistakes!!  So far, I have a tendency to be too cautious so no big holes (yet!)  Afraid to scalp the poor things...

Finally ~ I sure have rambled on and on tonight ~ I'm busy as many of you are ~ planting containers.  Thanks to my pinterest obsession, I was inspired to turn an unused light pendant into a container:

I debated and debated what to put in it and finally settled on a 'Black & Blue' Salvia & two nasturiums.  I know ~ maybe it needed something a little more "out there??"  I'll keep thinking.  Meanwhile the sparkle from the drop crystals is making me totally happy.   :)

Now that was quite a bit more than just 'Pink Haze,' wasn't it?!!!!

 

 

 

 

a sea of roses

is keeping me adrift these days (and away from the computer.)

'Abraham Darby'

The garden has never had more.

'Crown Princess Margareta' buds

This gardener couldn't be happier.

'Golden Celebration'

 The scent wafts over, around and thru ~ permeating the air.

'Winchester Cathedral' buds

Single blooms are clipped & the garden is meandered with them stuck to the nose.

'Winchester Cathedral' Tree Rose

There's no better way to breathe....

'Crown Princess Margareta'

Miniature Rose 'Cupcake'

'Abraham Darby' bud

'Teasing Georgia'

The photos above seem to reveal what the preferred rose color is ~ surprised even me ~ I thought it would be pink but it definitely seems to be hues of yellow????  

There IS pink tho ~

Pink roses threaded thru the rusted iron obelisk. 

Clematis 'Hagley hybrid' rambling among the same pink roses.

'Hagley Hybrid' is easy to miss, if you aren't looking.  It made much more of a statement when it climbed the antique birdfeeder but unfortunately, raccoons knocked that over one too many times this past winter and broke it.  :-(

I've heard much of the country is sweltering in heat this holiday weekend, not us.  I wouldn't go so far as to say it's cold but it's cool(er), blustery and we've definitely had more perfect outdoor/grilling weather.  That's okay, along with enjoying the roses, there's graduation & accompanying parties to keep us busy.  Whatever is happening in your area, enjoy the Memorial Day weekend & thank you men & women of the Armed Services.  We never forget you!

 

 

girlie gardener

I garden in lipstick, sometimes it matches 'Southgate' Fushcia:

sometimes not, depends on my mood.

I always garden in nail polish ~ it's good for hiding dirt!

'Coral Charm' peony fading to buttercream.

I have birds to keep me company:

as well as bees & butterflies. 

When my mojo is sagging, a quick inhalation of intoxicating 'Charles Darwin' usually turns it around.

Oh yeah.  I can do this all summer long baby.

Flip flops or heels.   Girlie from head to toe but hardcore all the way!

kitchen window view

It's hard to wake up on the wrong side of the bed when you look out the kitchen window and see this:

the arbor smothered in pink roses & honeysuckle. 

bliss, bliss, bliss.

That's looking left.  The view looking center is the birdhouse tuteur bed:

The view looking right:

Hawthorne tree in bloom (with ladder left over from last nights grackle eviction.)

The blooms are usually covered with bees & the sound of their buzzing noticeably loud. 

Unfortunately, last week I learned the neighbor discovered a colony of bees in the spruce tree behind my house.  Instead of calling a beekeeper, he called property management.  You can guess what happened ~  extermination.  It still makes me sick.  I've seen very few ever since...  :-(

Not out the kitchen window but next to my sink:

A double pink gloxinia!

No excuses to be grumpy, right?!!

Peony 'Coral Charm'

I'm fairly certain that even if you're a regular reader of my blog, you won't remember how I lusted after a certain salmony-pink peony seen on one of last years garden tours???  or maybe you do (because I made such a scene about it??)

Here's the peony that had me whipped into a frenzy:

and guess what just opened in MY garden??  Do you think they are one & the same???

Me too!!!!!!  I'm beyond excited ~ you cannot imagine.  I looked up every coral colored peony I could find after that tour & narrowed it down to this one (then crossed my fingers & ordered.)  Thank you Jesus, I believe it's a match!!  Only two buds this year but next year & the year after, look out!!! 

Okay, I can't just post about 'Coral Charm' ~ well I could but you may not be feeling her the way I do ~ so let's update the rest of garden while we're here. 

The latest photo of tree peony 'Happy Days:'

The longer it's open the more creamy-yellow comes out.  I think that makes it even more beautiful ~ who knew that was possible??!

Waiting in the wings, buds on the yellow foxtail lilies:

and we can't forget a certain other peony ~ 'Bowl of Beauty:'

So, so pretty.  How is it possible they just keep "one-upping" each other??

For some reason, I like this photo of it as well:

Looks so fresh.

'Phlomis tuberosa' didn't want to be left out:

It likes the prop of the old iron fence & I can't say I blame it.

Another shot of 'Mango Popsicle' Red Hot Poker with the dragonfly sundial in the background:

It's deepened in color too ~ must be where that saying "better with age" comes from??  Why should that only apply to wine & cheese??!!

Finally, a couple longer shots of the front garden.

It looks crazy good right now despite any intervention on my part. 

I wish you could see the whole border in its entirety ~ the way it's laid out it's almost impossible to capture.  I seem to have more luck doing it in sections.

The tiny little pond is located on the backside of the Siberian Iris (and Husker Red Penstemons) if that helps at all.  It has a major algae bloom right now which I'm hoping will correct soon.  Green water is not the look I'm going for!!!!

On that note, I think I'll call it a day & head to bed.  Thanks for letting me share my excitement (re:  'Coral Charm'!)

 

Clematis 'Silver Moon' & 'Josephine'

Awesome individually but even more impressive intertwined. 

(for those of you not familiar with these two clematis ~ 'Josephine' is the double pink & 'Silver Moon' is the single lavender)

'Josephine' had been growing in a container the past couple years but never seemed happy there.  She produced a couple of blooms each season but never put on the show I had envisioned.  Last fall, I finally took the hint & decided to release her from the confines of the pot & planted her in the garden.  Her position, next to 'Silver Moon,' (shown below in the foreground) was decided mainly because it was the only location available.

Turned out to be a good site & you can see how she responded! 

There are many, many buds to come (for both clematis) so I don't think I'll be putting another clematis in a container again...lesson learned!

Something else that came out of a pot ~ not by my hand but voluntarily ~ are these strawberry plants:

The original plants were planted in a strawberry jar (they didn't survive the winter there) but the runners that dropped & rooted in the cracks between the flagstone pavers have started to flourish.

right down to producing berries:

Aren't these two perfect examples of plants telling the gardener what they need??!!!  I'm glad I listened regarding 'Josephine' and fresh strawberries are a side benefit I sure didn't know I'd be harvesting!

 

 

Tree Peony 'Happy Days'

plus a couple other "fresh faces" for 2012. 

'Happy Days' was purchased and planted last summer but sadly (maybe not so unexpectedly?) only produced one bud it's first year in the garden:

That one bud-turned-bloom is absolutely phenomenal tho! 

Blow me away!

It looks like an ice cream sherbet or something equally scrumpulicious.  Oh-My-Goodness, a purchase to never, ever, ever regret... 

Feel free to gaze upon it as long as you like!!!  ;-)

When you've "drunk your fill," proceed to Aquilegia 'Ruby Port' ~ a "fresh face" started from seed.

I was on a double columbine quest last summer (after falling in love with the pink & white ones courtesy of Catherine) and started a number of different varieties.  Hopefully you'll see the (remaining) results of that quest very soon.

If nothing else were blooming, you'd think these two would be enough, right?

However, we all know gardeners are never content (!!)  The search for new "wow factors" never ceases.  'Mango Popsicle' Red Hot Poker (who wouldn't love anything with that name??!!) fits nicely into that category: 

How gorge is that? 

Now that I've seen this color, I'm so over the original variety!  Is that a bad thing?? 

I envisioned it paired with Clematis integrefolia (seen above in the background) and I'm not disappointed.  Now it just needs to hurry up & form a massive clump!

I'm thinking 'Princess Alexandra of Kent' is the perfect wrap for this post (in the same way a sweet treat tops off a great meal.)

My Mother's Day gift (to myself)

Because I always know exactly what I want!!  ;-)

There will be more fresh faces, they just weren't ready this go 'round.  Hopefully you'll stay tuned and meanwhile, between mowing, planting and weeding, I'll be making the rounds to see your new additions...

 

Cattleya Orchid 'Greenwich'

When a bud began to unfurl on 'Greenwich,' I wondered if it would be any less exciting (considering the exuberance of Spring in the garden right now):

Not so!!!  Just as during the dregs of winter, I found myself eager to see it open again (you might remember this orchid was purchased in bloom last spring.) 

Today, the anticipation came to an end:

It's every bit the thrill as last year.  Maybe even more so because this time, I'm the one who got it to this stage (a major accomplishment for someone still new to the world of orchids.)  It wasn't a complete success tho, there were a total of three buds ~ the other two turned black (rotted??) and fell off the bud scape when they were still quite small.  I'm still trying to figure out why (??)  If any experienced orchid grower out there can suggest an answer, I'd really like to find a fix before the next go around.  Can you imagine three of these gorgeous blooms???  It would have been amazing!

I have to tell you, 'Greenwich' also has a heavenly fragrance.  I wish there was a way to send a waft over the air waves...

I guess there's still room for Internet improvement!!! 

Tulip wrap up

Is anyone else a little bit sad that tulip season is almost over??  It seemed shorter than ever this year and maybe it wasn't just my imagination ~ I think the unseasonable heat "helped" speed along the blooms?  Whatever happened, my garden is (already) almost completely devoid of them and Alliums are quickly taking over the spotlight.  Before they're gone, I hope you'll indulge me a couple more images?? 

Too good to pass over ~ a couple lily-flowering varieties ~ first 'Ballade' (lit by morning sun:)

and a clump of 'Elegant Ladies:'

but the ones you really have to excuse me for are 'Charming Beauty:'

Above mixed with Japanese Maple 'Red Dragon' and below, blown fully open by midday sun:

I've made a fool of myself over them ~ pointing my camera in their direction every chance I get.  I thought 'Sensual Touch' had won my heart but when 'Charming Beauty' followed, that fickle little thing called love made me switch gears!

There, my fellow tulip lovers, is a little bit of sheer heaven, don't you think?!!  They are already written on my list to re-order so try not to clean them all out before I get a few more!!  ;-)

Now a few Allium images (since I mentioned them earlier.)   'Globemaster,' ''Gladiator' and 'Purple Sensation' were added in multiples last fall.  Today, rewards of that effort are being reaped by winged friends and gardener alike.

Above:  one of the many Red Admiral butterflies we've had in the garden this spring.

Lining the curve of the new raised bed:

the repetitive pops of purple, a visual delight:

drawing the eye ever upward.

Above:  Alliums in garden bed on east side of house.

I guess it'll be okay to say goodbye (to the tulips) since a wonderful progression of blooms is waiting to follow.  Some long time residents and others, new attractions.  In the latter category would be these double pink impatiens I recently found:

Can you say my fickle heart has a new fancy??!!  Tiny pink rosebud blooms. *sigh*  Oh, it's good to be a gardener where finding a new love is as easy as visiting the greenhouse...