Great Summer

BY SKEETER

  How is everyone enjoying Summer? One more month remains for us then Summer begins to wind down. I am seeing Halloween and even Christmas Decorations in the stores now! Wow, where has the year gone? 

Oh, I now have Peacocks in my GEORGIA GARDEN...

 Ha, not wanting the mess of real fowl, I settled for these two bargain birds found at an "Antique Store" while I was in Tennessee this past spring. I put them on the fencing which hides the Propane Gas tank for our home heating. Click HERE to see the Fencing's start. I removed the Trumpet Vines as they were trailing beyond the fence. I tried my best to keep them at bay but they were determined to take over the entire Semi-Formal Garden if not removed. I removed the vine back in Spring and am still finding it popping up throughout the garden today. Grrrrrrr....



This garden has really enjoyed the rain this summer. This colorful garden is located by the Arbor Swing. Click HERE to see the Arbor Swing being built. I love red, yellow and purple's together. 

Miss Huff Lantana had a late start this year but is now putting on a show for me.

 Zooming in to one of the hundreds of blooms you can see why the butterflies, bees and humming birds flock to this bush.

 The Rock Garden by the Patio is still a favorite of mine. I am loosing some things in this garden as it was once a shade garden. With fewer trees in the area now, more sun is hitting shade happy plants. The ivy has really taken a hit but Periwinkle/Vinca is a great filler to bare spots. 

 The Formosa Lily was becoming so large in the Beach Planter, that I divided it and put a couple in the Rock Garden. Here you see one happy Formosa Lily. Click HERE to see the Beach Planter.

 Here is the view one sees of the Rock Garden as they sit at the Patio Table.  

 The Chimney Planter on the East side of the house has been a great spot for the Elephant Ear. This is the Ear I would over winter inside each year. Not wanting to close off a room to our indoor only cats any longer, I left this Ear on the front porch in its pot over winter. I was not sure if it would survive or not but come spring, I put the bulb roots into the ground. And now the results! I shall heavy mulch this area and let her be this winter and hope for the best...

The plentiful rain has the grass looking so beautiful this summer! It is so lush, green and soft to the feet. Keeping up with mowing has not been too difficult as we have had cooler temps then normal. I am mostly push mowing and bagging this year. Thus far, we have had a GREAT SUMMER, In the Garden... 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Far and Near

BY SKEETER

 I am forever showing close up photos of blooms in my GEORGIA GARDENS. Close-ups give glory to the bloom while the plant seems to be lost.

 So today, I will change things up a bit and show some plants currently blooming. Hydrangeas are new to me as I have only been adding them to my gardens the past two years. I knew nothing of the plants but know they are a staple in a Southern garden.

 McCorkles Nursery (Giant Plant Sale) has Hydrangeas at such great prices that I decided to give them a try. I just love this "Mini Penny" above in my newest of gardens.

This Mini Penny is a Repeat Flowering Hydrangea and has hints of a creamy yellow with the blue coloring. 

 This Mini Penny is in the Semi-Formal Shade Garden.

This Mini Penny is the same plant as in the before plant but has more Blue to its flowers. More pine straw in this area for sure. 

 Midnight Duchess, as well as all my hydrangeas, had a rough start being planted during the peek of our 3 year drought. I really babied the Hydrangeas in my small collection during the drought. 

 Plentiful rains during Spring and into Summer have them shining. I really do like those purple-black stems on Midnight Duchess!

 Vitex  or Chaste Tree was added a couple of years ago and is doing great! 

 Bees love these blooms. Can you see the 2 bees in this picture?

 Rose of Sharon is a favorite of mine as it reminds me of my childhood home in Tennessee.  

 Here you see Sharon in the color of purple. I also have her in the colors of White and Pink. See the bug on this bloom?

 Balloon Flower has been with me for several years but will not seem to fill in for me.

 Even though it seems to be a slow grower for me, it does bloom each year. Am sure the recent rains are helping to make it stronger as the drought is finally over! Well, for now...

 I have 2 Trumpet Honey Suckle that are doing wonderful.

 Their bright red color attracts many pollinators.

And they are producing the most beautiful berry's as well.

I almost removed this Lantana from my garden this spring. It was late to return and I was clipping what appeared to be a dead bush when I spotted new growth. YIKES! 

I am so happy I spotted that bit of growth. I would have missed out on some beautiful blooms had I kept cutting the bush.

 Crepe Myrtle is now blooming. This tree is in the mending stage as it is "Miss Myrtle" that did the Splits on me in 2011. Click HERE to see that mishap.

She is bouncing back and blooming FAR AND NEAR, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Yellow

By SKEETER
Yellow flowers and a cute pooch.

Tina, This one is for you girl Have a GREAT DAY!

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Bloom Day-October 2010

From In the Garden

This month's Bloom Day seriously sees the garden slowing down with a few exceptions. On last Wednesdays' post of Plant of the Month I posted a good amount of my superb performers minus a few other fall bloomers, mainly the asters, mums, and a few roses. That is because with the exception of the Tartarian asters most of my asters had only just began blooming when I posted last week. This week they are much further along and doing fantastically so I'll share a few of them with you. For more blooms see last Wednesday's post. Here an unknown butterfly (perhaps a skipper) enjoys 'Miss Huff' lantana in the Vegetable Garden Border.

From In the Garden

The plants that are doing the best in my gardens this year are the ones located around the vegetable garden. This is due to the fact that the perennials and shrubs located here do not have to compete with tree roots like all the other gardens do. Here is a long shot of the front Vegetable Garden Border. Pineapple sage, lantana, and asters grow and bloom here in this garden. The colors of blue, orange, and deep red look great together. Tartarian asters bloom in the Rear Center Garden by the yellow birdhouse that you can just see in the background.

From In the Garden

Just around the corner from the above bed we transition into the Sunny Perennial Border. A David Austin rose 'Falstaff' has thanked me for transplanting it into this sunny border by pushing out some new blooms. This rose has a true rose fragrance and I can't get enough of it! I could start a flower delivery service with these beauties! A true sign of a David Austin rose is the great amount of petals-look at them all!

From In the Garden

Here are some wonderful jewel toned asters my friend Naomi gave me last fall. They are sited perfectly in front of one of my mosaics.

From In the Garden

Lastly I show you a picture of some of my mums. These are by far my favorite fall blooming perennial. They are such stunners and come in such a big variety of colors that there is one for every garden-just beware they can quickly take over your garden if you get the wrong kind. The pink flowers to the left are a Knockout rose. This pink one is a great bloomer.

Also blooming not pictured: Russian sage, impatiens, Mexican butterfly weed, geraniums, coreopsis, 'Chocolate' eupatorium, Chinese indigo, zinnias, verbena bonariensis, hibiscus, veronica, ornamental grasses, silverberries, a few houseplants, melampodium, and sedums...

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month-Septermber 2010

From In the Garden

This month's Plant of the Month has to be the sedums. It was funny too because I truly did not expect to choose the sedums but here they are! The sedums are one of the most drought tolerant plants in my gardens, they have year round interest, there are tons of cultivars , they are easy to propagate, and they make a tremendous impact in a garden. I love them!!

The particular cultivar pictured above is 'Autumn Joy' and it grows in my Rear Center Garden along the south side under some oaks. The location is a very inhospitable place. A place so awful that not even daylilies like it. I have had to switch out several plants in my garden due to drought conditions this year and the daylilies and sedums were two that switched positions in this spot. More on that at another time.

From In the Garden

Here we have 'Autumn Joy' and 'Autumn Fire' growing in the driveway garden. This is a garden under siege from me! It is normally a spring garden which is all good and fine in the spring when we have rains but when the rains stop I wind up with very little to look at. Enter the sedums and other drought tolerant plants. I am determined to water less or not all next year so I've been busy moving plants around lately. This is one garden that has received attention in the form of added sedums. Sedums can't be beat for low maintenance. Yuccas and artemesia also grow in this garden. All three make good companions. As you can see from the above picture this garden is in part shade, actually mostly shade and under a mature oak tree, yet the sedums do okay. You gotta love that!

From In the Garden

Runners up for this month's Plant of the Month were Great Blue Lobelia (thanks Catherine!) These were started from seed back in February and even though I initially thought they were red valerian I am so very pleased with these lovely blue plants! Here they grow in a bed in the vegetable garden but I might move them all next spring to a flower garden. We'll see.

From In the Garden

Hyacinth beans are simply splendid. Not only do I have tons of seedpods but the vines are still blooming. Here they grow on the huge PVC arbor; which graces the entry to my vegetable garden.

From In the Garden

Lastly the battle for October's Plant of the Month had me seriously considering the salvias and lantanas. Here we have Pineapple sage growing alongside 'Miss Huff' lantana in a vegetable garden border. While lantana is drought tolerant and simply stunning this time of the year the sedums had it beat out for this month's coveted title of Plant of the Month....

in the garden....

What is your Plant of the Month in your garden?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month-September 09

From In the Garden

Sedums!

The choice for September's Plant of the Month is a really easy choice this month. It was between lantana and sedums. Both could easily be the plant of the month but the sedums won out by a hair. Do you see what I mean by sedums and lantana in the picture above? They both look great-really fantastic and do shine in the late summer garden. I like the form of sedums a bit more than the lantana though, so that is why the sedums won out. I grow several varieties here at Tiger Gardens. My favorite right now is Autumn Joy. I like it for the uniqueness of its flower shape and form. I also have a flat headed pink variety, 'Matrona', a couple of creepers, and a white looser form of 'Autumn Joy' and all are a sight to behold. Butterflies, bees and other flying insects sure love the sedums when they are in bloom. Sedums are not bothered by pests or diseases. They do occasionally flop; which is most annoying. Some sedums are more prone to this than others so if one does not work for you, try another. Sedums are easy to propagate by pinching them and placing the pinched section in soil. They usually will bloom the same year you took the cutting. Pinching also helps to make the sedums a bit bushier and stronger. I took a cutting of a sedum back in July and, as I am wont to do, I laid the cutting down and forgot about it. Do you know it stayed green and even bloomed while it sat outside? I finally tossed it in the compost bin because I was a bit tired of the guilt I felt each time I looked at the poor thing trying to grow with no roots, no soil, and no moisture.

You just can't beat the sedums for September's blooms and for its ease of care.

What is your September Plant of the Month?

in the garden....

A Planted Heart Just for You

Walking through the garden last summer I spied a heart. The heart appears to be one flowerhead, but it actually is three. I knew it would be perfect for Valentine's Day.

'Miss Huff' is a lovely lantana that is reputed to be hardy in my Zone 6/7 garden. Do you suppose Miss Huff was in love when she grew the heart?

in the garden....wishing you all a very nice Valentines Day.

Lantana-The Wonder Plant

Here are some pictures of lantana Skeeter sent in. I am not sure which variety this lantana is but the scientific name is Lantana camara. My Southern Living Garden Book identifies this lantana as a southern heritage plant. Southern heritage plants grow well in the south and are choice plants for novices. Given a choice between an unknown type of plant and a southern heritage, I almost always choose southern heritage plants because they have been proven. Lantana is DROUGHT tolerant and blooms pretty much non-stop during the growing season so it is a worthwhile plant to grow even for just one season. Lantana may or may not come back so it may need to be treated as an annual here in middle Tennessee. Skeeter reports it comes back for her in Georgia. Her part of Georgia is considered the lower south whereas we are considered the upper south growing region. The pictures cannot show the fragrance of lantana but lantana is fragrant and will attract butterflies. I think lantanas smell a little like peonies, but that is just my opinion. So here you go middle Tennessee gardeners-a drought tolerant alternative to the water greedy begonias and impatiens we all like to plant here. Give it a try if you aren't already.

in the garden.....