Garden Journal

Oakleaf hydrangea, foxglove, Rozanne geranium. And a bench that could use a coat of paint, but let’s claim that’s intentionally picturesque, shall we?

I love my Jackmanii clematis, but I do occasionally think that it would cheerfully smother me if it had the chance…

Turning off internet again for the day. Plan: write for an hour, finish assembling sandbox and fill with sand, divide some perennials (I know it’s the wrong time of year, but it’s cool and overcast today, and my Walker’s Low should’ve been divided in the spring; it’s making the path hard to walk on) and

  That’s *one* Rozanne geranium. Splendid!   It’s clematis time: I’m afraid I can’t remember what this is called; I like it best in its early stage, as shown here, when it’s a pink; it fades to a very pale purple as it finishes opening. Jackmanii has burst into profuse bloom, twining with the white rose, Darlow’s Enigma,

One of my better decisions. When the garage floor needed to be re-paved, I asked the contractors to leave two rectangular holes in the apron. They looked at me a bit askance, but did as I asked. Three years later, my Blaze climbing roses are doing splendidly. I don’t think I have room to build

I was going to dig up two of my irises and move them to the feet of the clematis, which have long bare stems…but I put the spade in the soil, found it dry and hard to work, and remembered that it’s supposed to thunderstorm tonight. Tomorrow will be a much better day for moving

From a week or so ago — forgot to post these. The irises are mostly done now, but oh, they were glorious while they were here. And that week when the lilacs, roses, and irises overlap — just splendid. Porch photo included mostly because I am a bit bemused that it took me six years

It’s peony week. Every year, I have the same conflict — peonies are so gorgeous, but they only bloom for a week. Are they really worth the space they take up? Yes, of course, we do not love beauty less because its life is fleeting (perhaps we love it more) — but how *many* of

Graceful white Siberian iris, fairy bells allium bulgaricum, bold peony, floriferous and long-blooming Rozanne geranium, and delicate little allium unifolium / American wild garlic.