Early June Views From My Garden

            June has just gotten started, but already I have some new things going on in my garden. I winter sown several varieties of poppies. I have never grown them before, but I am so excited. I have my first of two different poppy blooms. The first to show her face was Poppy Laurens Grape. Unfortunately I didnt get a good pic of it yet. The second was this morning, when I noticed one bloom about to pop.

Stella D' Oro was just showing her pretty face for the first time this season.

I bought these Lillies from Lowes last year during their clearance. Most had already finished blooming, but looked healthy. I think they were only $1. I couldnt pass up that price. I am getting to see them bloom for the first time.This one is 

Asiatic Lilly "Tiny Ghost"

This one is Lillium "Petite Pink"

This Clematis was a total surprise. it is the second season for Clematis Ramona that resides in this spot. Suddenly I noticed another pretty face in the same spot this morning. I dont remember planting another their, but you know how it goes. Now I have to ID it. 

Update: This has been ID"d as possibly Clematis "Black Prince".

I also have a pretty new pink Hollyhock. I must have planted it last year and forgot it, since this is the first year it has bloomed. I love the soft yellow center.

This Rudbeckia just fully opened its face this morning. I know it from its fuzzy leaves.

These Annabelle Hydrangeas were grown from cuttings traded for on Gardenweb several years ago. I just love Hydrangeas, and these are so hardy. they never fail to bloom, and are so easy to root. All my Annabelles came from this original clump.

This bed is along the walk on the way out of my courtyard in the back. To the left is where my stone raised bed is.There is Annabelle here, some Pee Gee Hydrangea (which I am sure will have to be moved one of these days), and a beautiful Climbing rose Cecille Brunner. Unfortunately is only a once bloomer. Also just showing its blooms are a purple clematis slimbing with the rose, and just now starting to open.

Then after you exit this area, and turn around to look back in (the opposite side of the above bed) is my all red and white bed. I didnt plan it, it kinda just happened. You can see the Annabelle blooms hanging over the fence, and then there are a variety of Hostas, and crammed in are the red Asiatic Lillies "Tiny Ghost", a Salvia Snow Hill, and not yet blooming but growing towards the front are Dianthus "Raspberry". When I planted everything the hosta's had just started opening up, and I forgot how big they were. So things really need dug up again, and spaced out forward some more. But I will wait till fall so I dont lose any bloom.

The Grow Project update

       This is an update for the Seed Grow Project for the month of June. it is a little late however, since it was supposed to be posted this past Sunday. I have the first Climbing Nasturtium Spitfire planted in the potager. However, I forgot about a plants tendency to grow facing the sun, so this gal is growing facing the fence of the potager. It still may look pretty nice once it gets more mature and blooms, I am hoping it climbs around the rails as it is growing up. It is about 18" tall and looking very lush and green. No blooms as yet. This one was winter sown in a milk jug, so it is my largest plant. I have done no fertilizing , but it is growing in soil topped with about 6" of aged horse manure. It is in full sun as well. So far I havent had to water. It seems when things are starting to get a little parched, it rains.

This Spitfire Nasturtium is growing in my raised bed in the backyard. It was spring sown then transplanted. Right now it is about a foot tall, and looks very green and pretty as well. I cant wait to see this one bloom. Where it is planted, instead of climbing, I want it to drape down my 30" stone wall that supports my raised bed. I think this will look very attractive. This one is also growing in full sun in my natural clay soil but with only a top dressing of composted horse manure.I have watered this bed a few times when it got dry, but thats only because its close to the hose, and I have a load of winter sown seedlings growing in this 60 foot long bed.

 
"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

Happy Birthday My Son

    Well I wouldnt tell them I said that. They are all determined they are NOT babies anymore. They are big girls! Truth be known they really are growing up way to fast.

The two girls dad, my oldest son, just turned 30 yesterday ( yep....the BIG 3-0), and I had the audacity to forget it. Well actually we had been talking about it clear up to the night before, then forgot it on his big day. We all got-together for a graduation party for my niece. I really felt bad because my husband and I could tell he wasn't enjoying  the get together or his birthday because he and his wife are overwhelmed with sudden job worries right now. And to top it off, his mother FORGOT to wish him Happy Birthday, until he reminded me.Talk about feeling even worse. But I did forget my own anniversary and birthday last year, so nothing really new. But Happy Birthday my first born. The big day might have been temporarily forgotten, but your certainly not loved any less.

                                                                My son and his dad

Dancing on the table tops at an early age. Cute drawers!

6 Days old. The moment you were born, your dad's first words were :

 " I got my boy!"

Me and my baby about  24 yrs ago.

                                    The birthday boy and his younger brother.

My oldest with his oldest. Taken after he finished coaching their basketball game. It all came full circle. Seems like yesterday my husband was helping to coach him in sports.

My New Obelisk

      My pole beans are about 14" tall now, and I finally got my husband to build me an obelisk for them to grow on. He is going to build me one more yet. I plan on painting them a medium blue. I want an "X" pattern between the two cross braces, if I don't get them made from wood this year, then I will probably wrap twine here in an "X" pattern. I think they are going to need this to give the beans a little more to grab hold of.  We got part of  the tomatoes staked last night, but still have about a dozen more to do. I wanted to paint these blue as well, but the tomatoes needed them a week ago. One of the plants had broken off, but it had some small roots on the stem, so I went ahead and planted it back, hoping it will take new root quickly enough to support it. I may still try and paint them yet. I just dont like the looks of the bright bare wood.The Mr. Big Peas, are now about 18" high. Cucumbers are about 6" and the same for the squash. Nasturtiums and marigolds still havent started blooming inside the garden yet. I also planted some Zinnia's inside as well. The 2 plants of the Echinacea Berry Pow Wow are about 2" tall. they are growing extremely slow. I also have some Climbing Black Eyed Susie vines that are about 2" and growing along the fence above the strawberries. On the opposite fence, growing above the bush beans are some Luffa vines.The lettuce has alo been doing well. I have been just cutting off the leaves instead of pulling, and it grows back very well.

My husband built me another one, and added a little more decoration to the top of the original tower. I got them painted, but not without a little mess. While I was in the doorway of the garage painting, we got a sudden severe storm. The rain came down so heavy, gutters were overflowing, and my sidewalk down from the backyard looked like a waterfall. Luckily I was inside when it hit. After things settled down, I took them outside to dry and got them placed in the garden for the pole beans to climb. I really like the bright blue color. I had planned on painting the tomato stakes, but after the time it took on these, I changed my mind.

My Daughter's Photo's

My 20 yo daughter is an excellent photographer, but she doesnt seem to believe it. Below are some shots she took in the garden today.

Blue Flax

    Another blooming winter sown seedling. This is one of the first blooms. Right now it is looking a little sparse with only 3-4 blooms, but I am looking forward to it filling out with maturity. Its very hard to find blue blooms, so I am very grateful for what I have.

Nicotiana Alata "Lime Green"

      As most of you already know, I winter sowed well over 200 containers of seeds. Some of these winter sown plants are starting to bloom. One of them is Nicotiana Alata "Lime Green" or also commonly known as flowering tobacco.( I have read it has nicotine in it). Nicotiana is usually grown as an annual in my area, but in places with mild winters it is actually a tender perennial. It also reseeds well if you dont deadhead. I plan to lest this beauty spread to its hearts content for now. It grows 1=3 feet in height. It likes full sun to partial shade. Its 1" chartreuse blooms ( which are fragrant at night) can continue for around 3 months. It can bloom from early summer thru early fall. It prefers rich, well drained soil. It is also deer resistant, probably due to the fuzzy foilage. It attracts Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees, and Birds. I have mine planted near my Salvia May Night. I think the lime green of these flowers will be a great combo with the purple salvia. Right now both are young plants tho. Cant wait to see them in concert next year.

Wordless Wednesday

These shots were taken on the road home from my son's home after a Memorial Day BBQ with both families.I loved how the fog was already settling in the meadows.

Ruby Tuesday

  My first contribution to Ruby Tuesday sponsored by Work Of the Poet Blog.