Purple in the Garden

Dave often says: can we get some plants that aren't green & purple? I just shrug it off. But then again, another excuse to add to the bag of reasons why I need more plants...

So real quick, here is what is going on in my garden since last week...


Iris about done now (seed pods look good this year!)


Silver... Names escape me. First year I have noticed the blooms on this plant (it's spreading nicely too).


Daylillies from a neighbor. The deer usually eat these before we see any flowers.



Ah, the St. John's Wort... Lovely already!!'


And I wonder what is going on with these cone flowers? Might they be diseased or cross bred in a funky way? This is one from seed from previous years blooms. They are all over the place this year... Will have to see unless anyone has suggestions...


I love getting Chloe garden toys! She and I can go out there for hours if we had that much uninterrupted time...


Her teachers at school often comment about how she does try to "catch bugs" including bumble bees. She is not scared of bugs like the rest of the kids. Pretty cool I think!

Thanks for stopping by! See you next week! I'm off to glaze some of my flower pendants for my Etsy shop...
- Posted From My iPhone

Mid May Garden Update

So as the weather starts to warm up a bit, there are more blooms about...

My neighbor (moved about 3 years ago) mentioned to me that she had dug up some of the Iris's in her garden (like this one) that were from her grandmother's garden. And that if some day, the new neighbors wanted to clear out that garden bed, would I try to dig them up and transplant them? Of course I would!!! But for now, they are still there...

This orange cone flower is new to the garden this year and about to open up...

This is one of the crossed Spiderwort. The original ones in my garden with dark green foliage have magenta flowers. And the chartreuse foliage ones have purple blooms...

Ahhh... The nasturtiums return! I can't wait to see them trailing all over the garden walls this year...

Some Hostas I planted from seeds gathered last fall. I think we will have a lot of hostas to divide and give away next year!

Dave got me a magnolia tree for my birthday this year for the garden. I have wanted one for a while, and had hoped that my mom would have bought it for me (I asked the three sets of "grandparents" to plant a tree of their liking in my garden for their grandkids). My mom never got the chance... But she adored this evergreen variety! He also got me a chainsaw for my birthday (what a guy!!!)

Here are some old rotting roots back up in the woods... quite appealing to the texture loving artist side of me.

I was on the hunt for mushrooms, fungi, and toadstools... to make new clay pieces for house planters (miniature flowers, pagodas, and toadstools...)

There is something that draws me into these flat wide shapes...

And of course, Chloe getting out into the garden with me. Even though she has been sick with a stomach bug for a week now (hopefully done) she was running around like normal, so we got out a bit for some fresh air. She preferred using my gloves... She amazes me every day!

And our little Riley (RJ as some call him: Riley James) almost 5 months old...

Having fun at his cousin's baseball game (three games that evening... got to give my sister-in-law and her husband some credit. That's a lot to juggle with four kids... And Yay to Collin for bringing in a double!)

Riley spends some time in the garden in his little travel swing while I'm piddling around out there. And I'm sure he will be out in the garden with Chloe and I as soon as he is up and going...

Thanks for stopping by!

May 2010 Garden Blog Blooms

So my garden is green mostly at this point and full of potential blooms to come.





I am pleased with how the garden is settling in, and look forward to being able to find more focus on design within the garden...






Next year I hope to have more colors at this point (pansies, where are youuuuu? Being said in Chloe's 2 year old voice).

A new plant to the garden this year: columbine. I just found this picture from last week and wanted to add it to this post...






















I think I am a color & texture gardener first... Layer it on!!!











This strawberry planter has already provided us with so much fun this spring. Chloe and I water it and check for "red, ripe strawberries" to pick every day. Said in the voice of "the big hungry bear" (will forever think of Michele when we read that book!)





And here is Chloe getting ready for some running in between the raindrops!

Stop by again soon to see what colors decide to show up (if I can get pics before the deer eat the blooms!)

Here is a link to see other gardens in bloom right now: may dreams gardens

Pictures taken with my iPhone & Posted From My iPhone...

The Wilmington (DE) Flower Market

Every year the Wilmington Flower Market happens over the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Mother's Day weekend at Rockford Park. There is a lot of information on their website on the history of the Flower Market and how it helps Children in Delaware.

And if you live in DE or close to DE and always thought: oh, the flower market is a place to go buy plants, I don't need more plants (who doesn't need more plants - really? You can always use another plant, or know someone that does). There are carnival rides & games, food of all kinds, live music, handmade crafts, and so much more...

Here are some pictures that we took just to give you an idea of what is there. I apologize now for the quality of the pictures as they were from my iPhone as I walked around with a 2 year old wanting to get on the rides, and a 4 month old in the baby carrier attached to my chest... 

Rockford Tower on the Right...

Fairy Chair Raffle at the Perennials Tent

Donor's Plant Tent

I hope to help donate some plants for next year's show and maybe volunteer a bit (if the little ones are in school). But then they will miss out on the fun of the show... We'll see how things go...

Some wonderful potted planters for sale...

I mean really - these are stunning and varied planters! Not just a bunch of the same stuff over and over again...

Ah, hanging baskets...

A quick photo of one of the many crafts tents...

Chloe was just a little short to ride any of the rides herself (36" for most), so she kept on going on the carousel and I think rode just about every animal they had on it... 

As always, Riley just goes along for the ride and takes it all in...

One of the "kids win every time" games. These are perfect for the little ones...

Then she got to toot her own horn... over and over again...

Here is a selection of the plants I brought home...

Then found the perfect place for them in the garden...

Divided the four toad lilies from the one planter purchase ($6) from the Donor's Plants Tent...

And of course, had to water the plants with our new dolphin watering can...

What a wonderful way to spend the days before Mother's Day...

You should go if you are around! Today is the last day (May 8, 2010) for this year.

And if you don't make it this year, put it on your calendar for next year and stop by the donor's tent in 2011 to see if I get any plants from my garden in there! If I do, I hope to mark them so the person that takes them home has a bit of history about the plant that will now be in their garden.

I love plant history stories...