Well it's too wet to work in the garden this morning so I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up sorting photos, instead. Here's what's happening out there right now:
In the front welcome garden, which you can see I still haven't finished mulching, has ornamental alliums, dwarf bearded iris, euphorbia (cushion spurge) and grape hyacinths in bloom. Yarrow and daisies are sporting big buds right now and I'm looking forward to them.
In the front entry garden, white is predominant with lots of anemone sylvestris and lily-of-the-valley. You can notice in the top right photos, the lily-of-the-valley is contained in a spot between the patio and the house foundation - perfect to keep it from spreading. There's also an alpine clematis in bloom (it was new last year and I'm looking forward to it covering the chimney some day) and the brunnera is finishing its bloom as well.
On the other side of the front steps is the front shade garden, with leopard's bane, grape hyacinths, and lamium in bloom, and bleeding heart just starting.
Walk around through the side garden and you'll see the snow-in-summer is starting to bloom. Hesperalis matronalis and daisies are also about to open up here.
In the butterfly potager the spinach and chard are growing to snip-worthy size, and lilacs, chives, ornamental alliums and blue centaurea montana (perennial bachelor's buttons) are blooming.
In the back shade garden, the tulips are still in bloom (everything's a little behind in this area because of the shade), plus white anemone sylvestris, pink bergenia, orange geums, yellow leopard's bane, and pink lamium.
In the adventure garden, the iceland poppies are still blooming although it's time to deadhead and start pulling some of them out before they take over. The dwarf bearded irises are finishing up here, and the ornamental alliums, sea thrift, and perennial geraniums are in bloom.
... and last but not least, the strawberries are in bloom. I'm trying to keep my 2-year-old from picking the flowers so that we'll actually get fruit...
Love your pictures. I've planted alliums for the first time this year and I love them! But I need to find something to plant with them and I love how you have some silvery foliage planted with them in your adventure garden. Is it silvermound? Love them with the geraniums too!
Posted by: Kim | June 16, 2010 at 12:21 PM
I agree the garden looks great. I have tried to grow Lily of the Valley a couple of times, but it doesn't seem to work for me. Do you have any tips?
Jenn
Posted by: Jenn | June 16, 2010 at 08:08 PM
Lily of the valley? Really? Hmmm. Thats a tough one. It should be easy to grow once established, and it likes dry shade. So the possible problems could be that you didnt water it enough to get it established, or perhaps in its location it gets too much moisture or sun...? My patch is established and a very dry, shady spot (under a spruce tree and under the eaves of the house on the north east corner!). I literally do nothing to it. Nothing.
Janice
Posted by: Janice Miller-Young | June 17, 2010 at 06:54 AM
Hi Kim,
I love the alliums too. Every fall I plant more. My girls love them too and pick them for magic wands after theyre finished flowering!
Yes, thats silvermound in the adventure garden. Thanks for your comments!
Janice
Posted by: Janice Miller-Young | June 17, 2010 at 06:58 AM
Nice Post.......
Nice garden, looking great. It has lots of variety of different flowers.
Thanks.....
Posted by: Williams-Lake flowers | June 30, 2010 at 04:37 AM