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| Gotcha! |
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 6.22.2011
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| From the courtyard garden of The Denver Puppet Theater. Design by Annie Zook |
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Wheat Ridge Garden Tour 6.26.2011
Would you like to see what's beyond the garden gate?
Well, now's your chance... my garden will be part of the first-ever Wheat Ridge Garden Tour!
Jim and I will be here to show you the highlights and answer your questions about gardening, design, and landscape construction.
When: Sunday, June 26th, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Tickets and Maps at the Richards-Hart Estate, West 28th Avenue and Benton Street
Cost: $10.00 (sorry, no advance ticket sales)
Don't forget to bring your camera!
Well, now's your chance... my garden will be part of the first-ever Wheat Ridge Garden Tour!
See the worm farm!
Meet the koi!
Relax in the shade of my favorite tree!
Jim and I will be here to show you the highlights and answer your questions about gardening, design, and landscape construction.
When: Sunday, June 26th, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Tickets and Maps at the Richards-Hart Estate, West 28th Avenue and Benton Street
Cost: $10.00 (sorry, no advance ticket sales)
Don't forget to bring your camera!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Photo Friday 6.17.2011
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| Iris germanica and Tradescantia virginiana (blooming in The Art Garden in early June) |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 6.15.2011
This may well be the most floriferous day of the year!!
My garden is bursting at the seams with blooming plants; some are on the wane, some are in their prime, and others are just starting to emerge. Fifty-two different plants, to be exact.
Only a few woody shrubs flowering now: beauty bush, Apache plume, and and unknown variety of Potentilla. The Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa, has simple (OK, boring) flowers, but just wait till you see the seed heads!
My small Syringa reticulata AKA Japanese tree lilac, is just barely starting to flower - a bit later than usual - but it will look like this in just a few days:
One plant that I always get questions about is this Allium christophii. The flower heads are typically softball sized on 12"-30" stems, but this one is spectacular!
I like the look of the dried seed heads, they remind me of fireworks bursting in the sky, so I've let them seed throughout the garden. A great on line source for these bulbs, and many others is Brent and Becky's. Right now is the perfect time to order bulbs for fall planting!
Another plant that is starting to flower now is this pink Maltese cross, Lychnis chalcedonia
I love the dusty rose color, softer than the traditional - and more common - red form. It can go fairly dry if it's sited to receive afternoon shade.
Crambe cordifolia is another WOW plant this time of year. The large foliage - think rhubarb sized leaves - adds bold texture, and the five foot tall (yes!) inflorescence is spectacular.
The beautiful silver foliage of horned poppy, Glaucium flavum, is a treat all summer, but the orange blooms are certainly cheery in the garden now:
Be sure to join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to link up with all the other gardeners showing their favorites today!
Now, just one more before I go... bearded iris, Iris germanica, are - oddly enough - still going strong. All of my iris have been acquired as giveaways from friends, so I don't have a clue as to their "proper" names. This one is a favorite:
My garden is bursting at the seams with blooming plants; some are on the wane, some are in their prime, and others are just starting to emerge. Fifty-two different plants, to be exact.
Only a few woody shrubs flowering now: beauty bush, Apache plume, and and unknown variety of Potentilla. The Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa, has simple (OK, boring) flowers, but just wait till you see the seed heads!
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| clearly a member of the rose family, Rosaceae |
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| full of fluffy funness! |
My small Syringa reticulata AKA Japanese tree lilac, is just barely starting to flower - a bit later than usual - but it will look like this in just a few days:
One plant that I always get questions about is this Allium christophii. The flower heads are typically softball sized on 12"-30" stems, but this one is spectacular!
 |
| Not a trick photo! My palm is on the flowers, my finger span is 7 inches. |
I like the look of the dried seed heads, they remind me of fireworks bursting in the sky, so I've let them seed throughout the garden. A great on line source for these bulbs, and many others is Brent and Becky's. Right now is the perfect time to order bulbs for fall planting!
Another plant that is starting to flower now is this pink Maltese cross, Lychnis chalcedonia
I love the dusty rose color, softer than the traditional - and more common - red form. It can go fairly dry if it's sited to receive afternoon shade.
Crambe cordifolia is another WOW plant this time of year. The large foliage - think rhubarb sized leaves - adds bold texture, and the five foot tall (yes!) inflorescence is spectacular.
The beautiful silver foliage of horned poppy, Glaucium flavum, is a treat all summer, but the orange blooms are certainly cheery in the garden now:
Be sure to join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to link up with all the other gardeners showing their favorites today!
Now, just one more before I go... bearded iris, Iris germanica, are - oddly enough - still going strong. All of my iris have been acquired as giveaways from friends, so I don't have a clue as to their "proper" names. This one is a favorite:
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| If you like this iris photo, just wait till you see my Photo Friday post...stay tuned! |
Monday, June 13, 2011
Meet. . . Kolkwitzia!
That's right; coal-QUIT-see-uh! Also known as beauty bush, Kolkwitzia amabilis is one of those great, old fashioned shrubs that's experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Why?
First, it's incredibly floriferous at a time - right now! - when few other shrubs are in bloom. The bell shaped flowers are a soft pink that blends well with other colors, cool hues in particular.
Second, the pale, exfoliating (peeling) bark is unusual and a great feature for winter interest.
Third, its large vase/fountain form makes it ideal to use as a single specimen. In fact, with a bit of focused pruning, this plant could function as a small, ornamental tree; mature height is 10-15 feet.
Last, Kolkwitzia is very adaptable. It tolerates full sun or partial shade and has low water needs. Companion plants for my beautibush (below) include Centranthus, Ceratostigma, and Allium christophii.
Bonus points if you guessed that this photo - featured last week on Wordless Wednesday - is Kolkwitzia!
First, it's incredibly floriferous at a time - right now! - when few other shrubs are in bloom. The bell shaped flowers are a soft pink that blends well with other colors, cool hues in particular.
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| I love the golden, lace-like pattern hiding inside the flowers |
Second, the pale, exfoliating (peeling) bark is unusual and a great feature for winter interest.
Third, its large vase/fountain form makes it ideal to use as a single specimen. In fact, with a bit of focused pruning, this plant could function as a small, ornamental tree; mature height is 10-15 feet.
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| A giant beauty bush in old north Denver |
Last, Kolkwitzia is very adaptable. It tolerates full sun or partial shade and has low water needs. Companion plants for my beautibush (below) include Centranthus, Ceratostigma, and Allium christophii.
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| this young Kolkwitsia 'Pink Cloud' in my garden will max out at 6-10 feet |
Bonus points if you guessed that this photo - featured last week on Wordless Wednesday - is Kolkwitzia!
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 6.08.2011
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| This woody shrub is blooming in my garden right now. Any guesses on its identity? |
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
And we Have our Winners!
Marilynn and Deb will each be receiving a pair of tickets to The Enchanted Gardens Tour! Thanks for playing along, and have a great time!
Friday, June 03, 2011
Enchanted Gardens Tour and Free Tickets!
Saturday, June 11th from 9am-4pm
rain or shine
The Conflict Center
4140 Tejon St, Denver, Colorado
This is one of one f my favorite garden tours in the Denver area because it showcases fun, funky, intriguing, and very personal landscapes. Most of the featured gardens are the result of the homeowners' own creativity and passion for gardening. There are no cookie-cutter, production style landscapes here, no sir!
From the tour sponsor:
Tour a variety of Northwest Denver's unique and inspiring gardens and bid on Fantastic auction items (including a design consultation with yours truly!). Then unwind at the after-party, located at the 23rd Avenue Sculpture Studio at 23rd and King. All proceeds benefit The Conflict Center, celebrating 24 years of violence prevention.
For more information on The Conflict Center or the Garden Tour, call 303-433-4983 or click here.
Win Free Tickets!
And now for the really fun part: The Conflict Center has given me two pairs of tickets to give away to my blog readers! If you would like to win a pair of tickets for the tour (a $30 value!) simply leave a comment on this post by midnight, June 6th. A random drawing will be held on June 7th, and the winners announced here. Remember to leave your contact information! Thanks for participating, and good luck...
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 6.01.2011
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| Kashmir sage, Phlomis cashmeriana Read more about this beautiful, xeric plant here. |
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