Friday, March 27, 2009

A Walk in My Gardens

Cheryl at My Wildlife Sanctuary suggested that we all take time to enjoy our gardens today no matter the weather. Thankfully, the weather here was perfect. Sunny, a light breeze and a temp of about 60F. My kind of weather!

To all of you who are having bad weather-storms, blizzards and flooding, my heart and my prayers go out to you.



After doing some cleaning and clearing in the front garden beds and picking up sticks and limbs the recent winds blew down, I took my garden walk. And surprise! My vinca is blooming. I know we complain about this ground cover spreading everywhere and choking out other plants, but in the spring it is sooo lovely to see all it's delicate blue-lavender blooms. In a few more days I should have a cheery carpet of blooms against their dark green glossy leaves.


The daffodils are getting so close. I had hoped one would pop this afternoon so I could get a picture. I guess I will have to wait a few more days. Everyday, though I notice more are coming up. I think they are the ones we planted last fall when I had all the help from the kids and grand kids. Some may just be later, but I have a feeling some were planted a little deeper than recommended. Good help is so hard to find. :)

Lilacs are budding! I am so excited and can't wait for them to flower. I love the scent of lilac more even than hyacinths. This is the pale lavender that has the big blooms. Sorry no name.


This is the darker one that has smaller blooms, but oh such a heavenly scent! No name for this one either. I planted these long ago before I knew you were supposed to keep track of the names-silly me. I trimmed each of these bushes drastically last year. They were getting way too tall and all the blooms were high on the branches. I was a little worried they might not do to well this year, but they look great and are both loaded with buds all the way up.


This is oriental lily just pushing through the ground, reminds me of an artichoke!



The purple plum trees is also putting on buds. Soon the dark pink blossoms will appear and we should start seeing bees.



Does anyone else see the ragged edges of these tulip leaves as evidence of critters in my garden??? I shouldn't complain too much as I only saw a couple of these and the nibbles won't really hurt the blooms. But lets not make a salad out of my garden, please little rabbits!


This no name clematis is putting on leaves, another surprise. I hope it blooms this year so we can find out what it is.


The hen and chicks, Sempervivum Brannii I planted last year is a little worse for wear. But I think it will come back and fill in.


And now I need help. I think this was a pass along, but can't remember who or what it is? Anyone??

Same goes for this one.... I know I should have written down names and locations.


And finally we have this very healthy looking plant. It is coming up close to where I had the gorgeous blue delphinium last year. But is that what it is, or... is it just a very fast growing weed?
I hope you enjoyed the walk around my garden as much as I did. Spring is a wonderful time of the year-go on take a walk in your garden today!

35 comments:

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

The first one looks like an artemesia. The last looks like it could be a delphenium. No clue on the middle pic.

Blossom said...

Thank you for the tour. That was a pleasing one.

flydragon said...

Hi Beckie,
Great spring tour!! I love lilacs too. My neighbor has one crammed in his back corner along with a zillion little/medium/large trees where the squirrels planted acorns and forgot, and his is also very tall with only a few blooms on top because he never goes back there. Now I need a ladder when I sneak some of his blooms to bring in the house. I wish he'd prune his so I don't fall off and break my neck:)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Your garden is awakening Beckie. Spring is upon you. I agree with ADKM about the flower ID. I think the middle pic looks like Lambs ears. I can't think of the botanical name though. Too early in the morning for me. tee hee... Our lilacs are budding up too. They look about like yours. I hope they don't get frozen off this weekend. It is supposed to get cold here. UGH...

Randy Emmitt said...

The garden plants look great. The lilac photos are wonderful, wish we could grow them her, it is too hot for them.

Rose said...

Beckie, Your garden is really waking up! And I can see you are enjoying your new camera--great photos! Aunt Debbie is probably right about the artemesia--I think I was with you when you bought that. I thought the second one looked liked Lambs' Ears, and I see Lisa agrees; the third one definitely looks like delphinium--mine didn't survive. Your lilac buds really look farther along than mine. I'm hoping we don't have a hard freeze to hurt them.

Thanks for the tour; I'll have to visit it in person when I get back. I was checking, too, to see if my posts were showing up here--you haven't visited lately:)

Laurie and Chris said...

Everything looks like it is coming up great. I can't wait for ours to be coming up so well. We have a few things popping up.

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Good morning! I love it when things start popping out of the ground. I agree the first unknown is Artemesia--Silver Queen. The second one I think is Rose Campion, Lychnis coronaria, not Lamb's Ear, Stachys byzantina. I am not sure about the last one. Keep us posted as they grow!

Gail said...

Hi Beckie, First your photos are outstanding...really lovely. You and your new camera are becoming the best of friends...Now, second...wonderful blooms! I must look to see if my lilac is blooming!
last...I had a wonderful time on the tour...it's a pleasure to see your garden and share spring as it emerges with you!

Have a delicious weekend.

gail

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie....you do make me smile....there isn't anyone in the blogging world that makes me grin like you do....tku my friend...

Love your garden tour.....and vinca is a personal favourite of mine....it grows very slowly here so it does not cause me any problems.....

My tulip leaves have all been nibbled and look very tatty....I am waiting to see what happens with them......

Lilac is lovely......I to love the fragrance, your buds look ready to burst....

Is the first plant artemesia maybe....it looks slightly similar to mine....

I think the second one is stachys (lamb's ears) and the third, I would put a definate on delphinium.....
Whatever they are it is nice to see the growth coming through and is it not fun waiting to see them bloom.....
Thank you for your garden tour, it was fun to walk with you.....

We have had a hail storm this afternoon....I was working in my Mother in laws garden at the time!!!

beckie said...

Debbie, good to hear from you. I planted some of the seeds from the exchange and they seem to be doing well. How about yours? Thanks for the ID.

Blossom, Glad you enjoyed it. Did you get all that wonderful pile of poop spread yet. :)

beckie said...

Flydragon, Just be careful! :0 This fall, when he's not looking, take your loppers and give that bush a good whacking.

Lisa, I think some of the mystery ones came from T. Will have to check with her. I saw the forecast and may have to @ years ago they got a heavy frost and weren't very pretty. :(

beckie said...

Randy, I guess I didn't realize lilacs wouldn't grow in the heat. But then you can grow marvelous blooms we can't. Thanks for visiting!

Rose, I know I read your posts! Must be AAA DD. You should do a post about that. It was to true! :)

Your memory is better than mine so maybe I did buy it. Can't find a tag though(does that surprise you).

Hopefully when you get back, we will have much more in bloom. Have a great trip and take lots of pictures to share with us.

beckie said...

Laurie and Chris, I've been wondering if you still have mountains of snow. Hope spring comes to you soon!

Janet, it IS fun to see something new coming up everyday. Rose says I bought the Siver Queen last year, but my memory is just not what it used to be. :) Thanks for the ID's and thanks for visiting!

beckie said...

Gail, thank you! I am enjoying the new camera-still lots to learn though and still lots of blurry images. But I am getting there, slowly. Spring is my favorite time of the year. We need the new and pretty after the long dreary days of winter.

Cheryl, so glad I can bring a smile to your face! :) I truly do love lilacs and would like more than the 2 I have. But where to put them... I planted vinca several years ago to help cover bare spots and the mulch we have. It has done VERY well here. But I'd still rather have it than the other. I just have to keep it trimmed-pulled around some of my plants.

Those rabbits really do like your garden don't they? I think as long as there is some leaf left the tulips will do fine. At least I am hoping.

Take care dear friend and hope yo have a great weekend!

Laura said...

Beckie-
Thanks for the tour! I thought about taking a walk aroung the yard but the temp. is only 42 right now with a lot of wind and rain is in the forcast. Hopefully, the cold weather that is predicted won't harm the buds and new growth.

By the way, the flower bud you asked about in my post from wednesday is a Star Magnolia.

Robin's Nesting Place said...

I can't wait until my lilacs bloom! It should be soon!

I hope your dad has improved.

Susie said...

Hi Beckie you must be excited seeing all these plants coming up. I think the first mystery plant is an artemesia, and I think that second is a Perennial cornflower(maybe) and the third is a delphinium. Those are my guesses.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

beckie said...

Laura, star magnolia! i remember them from last year around here-they were really beautiful. I will have to see if they are budding here. I don't blame you for not wanting to be out in this weather. It's rainy and cold here too.

Robin, I am so glad to have you showing up again on my sidebar. I hope this coming cold weather doesn't hurt the lilacs. Dad is doing some better-thanks.

beckie said...

Susie, now I remember! The 2nd is a cornflower. I got it as a pass along plant from my cousin. Boy-my memory sucks. :) That delphinium bloomed was past the first frost last year and was beutiful. I can't believe it has grown so mauch already this spring. Super plant! Thanks for the ID's .

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Beckie, What wonderful blooms--I just love the macros of the lilac buds. I'm going to have to ask my friend Carole if her lilac has budded yet. I also feel you on the tulip eating (see my post today!!!), though my edeges are smooth--I guess it depends on who's eating it. I've asked a naturalist for help, maybe he'll say something that will help ID your pest, too. Speaking of walking 'round the yard, I discovered my snow drop and that two flowers of forsythia were blooming at the very bottom of my shrub out front!!!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I hope you don't get any of the snow that's headed my way. I can't believe how far along your Lilacs are and that your Lily has sprouted. The snow shouldn't cause my garden any problems, as it's no where near as far along as yours. I'm sorry your Tulips are on somebody's menu. Let's hope it doesn't turn out like one of mine, chewed all the way down to the ground. Check out this link Clematis on the Web, to try to ID your Clematis.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Aunt Debbi on the 1st and last picture. I think the middle one is Lambs Ear. Your garden is really coming to life quickly!

garden girl said...

Hi Beckie, isn't it fun when everything starts sprouting and budding!

I think your first and third mystery plants are artemesia and delphinium.

I think the second one is centaurea montana, a/k/a mountain bluet, cornflower, and perennial bachelor's button. I LOVE them - got some pass-alongs last year too! So far I see two coming back. I've had them in past gardens and really wanted to try them here. The blue is just gorgeous. And they rebloom in the fall very reliably if you cut them back after their summer bloom.

tina said...

I think that last flower may be your delphiniums and perhaps artemesia for the first one. Not sure the second but it could be bachelor like everyone says. They are late this year for some reason. Love the close up of the lilacs. It looks great!

Wendy said...

Hi Beckie! I enjoyed a tour of your gardens. They really are coming to life aren't they? You are so lucky to have liliac buds already. Ours don't bloom until May!

Sorry, I can't be of help in identifying, but others have been. I never used to name plants either (when I planted them). It's fun to be surprised!!

Some of my tulips have also been nibbled by chipmunks, I think. I've seen those little critters scampering under my back deck so close to the miniscule tulip leaves.
I love spring!!

Kathleen said...

Wonderful tour of your garden Beckie. So much ready to "pop!" My lilacs are no where near as far along as yours. I don't always remember to write down names or save tags either. I'm trying to do better since starting to blog! Glad you have all your mystery plants identified. That delphinium is going to be beautiful. Do you have to stake yours?? The wind usually comes along and breaks mine right when they start to bloom. Happy spring day to you, it sounds like you had a beautiful one indeed.

beckie said...

Monica, I saw that something had been nibbleing on your flowers. :( Doubt there is much we can do. I'm so glad I took the time to see the garden the other day as winter has returned! Hope spring keeps coming in your garden.

MMD, I checked out that site and saved it to check back later when and if I get a bloom. I couldn't believe how many varieties of clematis they have listed and the pictures are gorgeous. Hope your new snow melts quickly and you can get back to spring!

beckie said...

Racquel, I thought I was doing pretty good about name tags and keeping track of what is where-but... Oh well, I'm happy to have the help. :)

Linda, I'm pretty sure you are right about the cornflower. But I didn't know about cutting it back. I'll try that, thanks.

beckie said...

Tina, I am surprised at how early some of my plants are here. Must have been those few days of 70F weather. A little too warm and i hope we don't pay for it with a bad frost. I'm sure your plants are being much more sensible. :)

Wendy, I suppose the new green growth of the tulips looks very tempting to several creatures.Just as long as they don't get piggy. :)

beckie said...

Kathleen, last year I did stake the delphinium bloom toward the end of the season. The bloom stalk was very tall and looked fragile. As I told Tina, your lilacs are being more sensible than mine. They are waiting til a frost won't get them.

joey said...

Yea Beckie, lots of good stuff popping! Saturday was a huge work day here, sunny and cool 50s, perfect for raking, cleaning beds, and scrubbing patio furniture ... Sunday, rain, sleet, and snow ~ classic Michigan spring weather!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Your lilacs have buds! I am so envious. I can almost smell them...almost.
Marnie

beckie said...

Joey, my goodness you were busy! But doesn't it feel great to be outside doing? After our lovely few days, we have a very cold rain on Sat. and flurries on Sun. Brrrr!

Marnie, it's a good thing your lilacs are budding with this crazy weather. I haven't been out yet today to see if the heavy frost hurt them yet. I'm being a chicken!

Jan said...

Wonderful post! You have spring in your yard, Beckie...and I know that just lifts your spirits! I enjoyed every bit of your post. You are an amazing photographer! What gorgeous photos you are taking...I'm sure the new camera helps too;-) Hope all of your plant mysteries have been properly solved by now! I'm not one to help!
I read ahead and saw where your dad is now in an asst. living facility. I am sure you and he will be happy (ultimately) with that decision. It's in both of your interests...though it isn't easy, I'm sure. I hope you're spring just keeps getting better and better! It's April...yay!