Kaseys Korner

Oh "Hail" No!

Friday evening, June 28th, the sky turned white, clouds swirled and all "hail" broke loose.  Wind, rain, and dime size ice balls pounded the garden. The latter hurling thru the air sideways, with a fierceness that had me afraid windows were going to shatter and worse...

Scary stuff.  So glad the hail wasn't any larger. 

Scarier still when a survey of the garden was conducted afterwards....

The succulent container was pretty much destroyed.  :(

My one and only yellow foxtail lily (the other nine buds froze in one of our late spring snowstorms) had toppled in half.

Let's not even go there with what happened to the beautiful roses I had just posted about.

Remember 'Crown Princess Margareta:'

GONE.

Thank you to the inventor of photography for allowing me to preserve my memories into infinity ~ despite Mother Nature.

'Charles Darwin' had the odds with him that night.  He was protected from the driving pellets of ice that stacked up like snow all around him.

Many other plants, pots and trees were not so lucky.

Over the weekend, I filled my yard waste cart with debris from the storm clean-up, I couldn't believe how much there was...

If I'd been watching the birds that evening (and not the sky) I would have known something was brewing too.

Bullocks Oriole on sugar water feeder.

They all disappeared and the garden got eerily quiet.

It could have been much worse.  So grateful it wasn't.

The garden will regenerate. 

I just hope it's quickly...

p.s.  My Clivia's are blooming:

Thank goodness the hail didn't maim them!

David Austin rose photos

June 2013 can be summed up in four words:  fire(s), wind, allergies and ROSES. 

Most of all, ROSES.

Afterall, it's *their* month and this year they've totally outdone themselves.

My favorite ~ the David Austin residents (of course.) 

Above & below 'Abraham Darby.'

'Abraham Darby' was the first David Austin to grace the garden and, if it's the hour of truth-telling, still my all-time favorite.

Which doesn't mean the others are anything short of first rate ~ case in point: 'Golden Celebration:'

and 'Teasing Georgia:'

'Jubilee Celebration' added last year:

Still getting it's roots set and not (yet) as prolific a bloomer ~ but every bit a looker.

I broke my self-imposed rule of buying only one new rose per season by also adding 'Princess Alexandra of Kent' in 2012:

Just because it was such a luscious shade of pink!  :)  

This year, 'Lady Emma Hamilton' standards were purchased to flank the fireplace urns.  (overview photo to follow later)

Their bold coloring is definitely a deviation from my "norm" choices.

And the fragrance ~ oh my ~ it's absolutely sensational.  The best in the garden.

A prime example of why it's good to get out of the "comfort zone" and try something different...

Which could explain why I broke that same "rule" two years in a row by also purchasing 'Pat Austin:'

Looks like I have a thing for Orange this year??!!

Tho I'd like to have every David Austin in his catalog, I'm running out of room and I only have ten!

Only ten you say???  Sounds spoiled put that way! 

Above:  'Charles Darwin'

I confess, I've been willing to invest because of how well they perform even in our harsh climate.  Colorado has temperature fluctuations that are as hard on plants as anything.  During the winter, it can be zero one day then five days later in the 50's or 60's.  With all the wild weather, I've only had one casualty ~ 'Jude the Obscure'  ~ who was planted in a raised bed. 

'Crown Princess Margareta'

It's nice to know roses this beautiful can also be just as hardy!

'Winchester Cathedral'

Now, who wants to bet there will be another variety next spring that I'll just "have to have??!!"

 

 

 

 

weathervane birdhouse & more

I haven't had much time to write lately which is the reason I've delayed posting. 

I figure the quickest fix is to share some recent photos with minimal verbiage... 

Rustic birdhouse tucked into pink shrub roses. 

Fell hard for the chicken weathervane!

Someday I *must* add chickens to the garden if only to get over the obsession!!!

Also lovin' the double pink impatien container placed inside the lantern. 

The lantern was a fantastic purchase. 

So versatile ~ I've used it every season (as many of you may remember) and every single different look has been a great addition to the garden. 

Definitely a buy you get your moneys worth from....

Who doesn't love that??

I have a feeling these sweet lanterns will fall in the same category.

They are mounted on 3' stakes, so very easy to reposition and use around the garden.  I put flameless tea lights in them last night and can't tell you how beautiful the effect was....

The garden by flickering candle light is truly wonderful.

Succulent container. 

I haven't planted one the past few seasons but I have to say, this one's doing it for me.  It may inspire a repeat performance next season...

Lastly, Phlomis russeliana:

Situated in front of Clematis 'Silver Moon' ~ a fortunate happenstance!

Purple & yellow are a pretty unbeatable pairing...

Okay, that was WAY more writing than I intended!

Next post is all about roses, hope you stay tuned... 

 

'Miss Kim' Lilac Standard

and other random photos...

at it's peak last week. 

Remember it was added to the garden last spring??  (to anchor the center of the yew bed)

A decision I'll never regret.  The structure is as wonderful as the scent.  'Miss Kim' and the honeysuckle blooming on the arbor teamed up to create an intoxicating fragrance ~ if someone would bottle the combo, I'd definitely wear it!

David Austins 'Golden Celebration' contributed to the mix too ~ blooming for the first time since purchased last season:

If only every plant had a fragrance as sweet as their bloom. 

Enjoying it all are the many baby birds found in practically every corner of the garden.

The robin (above) is one of three I've been watching for over a week now.  They could hardly fly at all when they first left the nest.  Look at those precious tiny tail feathers!  Now the two remaining are at least able to get off the ground and up into a bush or tree. That makes me feel better about their survival.

Finally, two new perennials for the garden; Delphinium 'Pink Punch:'

Am I ever a sucker for anything pink!

and German Bearded Iris 'Impressionist:'

All that remains is to find an empty space to plant them! 

What a problem to have, right??

 

 

Tree Peony 'Happy Days'

Already bloomed and gone before I could post.

I always think of sherbet when I see it.

Maybe raspberry lemon???

or watermelon cream??

Unfortunately, the only three blooms it produced, lasted as long as sherbet too ~ which is hardly any time at all...

Why does it seem all good things have that habit??

2013 Boulder Garden Tour

It's garden tour season!   

How happy does that make me??  I can't even say.  Especially after recent events.

I need it like air... 

Last weekend (first tour of the season) was more about the homes than the gardens tho ~ so different than normal.

They were gorgeous homes, don't get me wrong.

that were beautifully landscaped.

but only one had any kind of extensive garden.

That one home had the added bonus of keeping bees.

Look how colorfully the hives were painted:

LOVED this one:

Nestled among roses, alongside an arbor ~ so picturesque.

Then there was this one:

The sign on top says "the Bees Needs."  As you can see, there were various size holes drilled into the front of the box which were also numbered & alphabetized.  Not sure what it all means???  Anyone know??

I would never say a garden tour was a "bust," since I always enjoy the outing.  Besides there were many appealing home features I found interesting ~ like the second story pergola/terrace below:

And I could totally move into this house tomorrow ~ I found the entry SO inviting:

Many homes (not on the tour) had interesting features worth photographing ~ like the entry gate below:

and this beautiful fence that I wish fit the style of my house!

Hopefully the next tour will have more actual blooms to drool over but this was a wonderful day (and pleasant diversion) nonetheless.

 

 

 

'Bowl of Beauty' Peony

first buds unfurl; a plant on the verge of exquisite loveliness...

A testament to the very necessity of perennials ~ they bloom even when the gardener doesn't.

Amen to that.

For in this garden, there are still so many unplanted containers.

and excuses are running out for not having filled them. 

Flats of annuals have been purchased ~ all they need is to be grouped and dug in.

A quick solution?   Plop a large foxglove container into planter and call it good!

Also serves the dual purpose of bringing those marvelous thimbles to eye level.

A longer term fix can be arranged down the road...

Thank goodness some containers can stand on looks alone. 

Meanwhile

hail to the perennials for covering my slack....

p.s.  Regis remains "at large."  :(

Clematis 'Asao' & an update

It's been an exhausting week. 

Still no Regis.  Not a happy household.

But thank you all for your helpful suggestions.  We've tried them all, and so much more.   Even tho none have netted us the desired results, we're still not ready to give up. 

At least we have the garden to provide some welcome solace.

Clematis 'Asao' ~ oblivious to our loss. 

Thank goodness for some normalcy.

Nature and life, always moving forward, ready or not....

David Austin rose 'Pat Austin' (named after his late wife,) the first rose to bloom. 

Also the newest addition to the ever growing David Austin collection.

Red Rhododendron bud.

'Dalmatian Peach' foxglove (impossible to view enough.)

Antique turtle "frog" in the garden.

Lovely double pink Aquilegia.

The picture perfect way to end the post....

and now the search efforts resume ~ keep wishing us luck.  We need every bit of help we can get.