Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Garden In Late May

It seem's we've gone from winter to summer in the blink of an eye. Wasn't it just the other day I was stressing over the fact that we got snow, after I had already begun planting?

Well, this weekend it was HOT!! And I normally do not complain about the heat, I just deal with it. But this was a tough weekend to be out in the garden. The humidity was brutal, and I had to take frequent breaks with a nice frosty iced tea. 


Despite the hot, sticky weather, I managed to get everything planted that was waiting on the sidelines. And believe me, there was quite the pile!

It's all in. 

Now what?

I don't know what to do with myself!


Believe me, there are plenty of projects on my list to keep me busy. 

But, for now, I'm just going to enjoy the garden. 

I grabbed my camera and went for a stroll around the property. Here's what caught my eye:


The Chives are blooming in the perennial bed. The Chives on the deck are right behind them. 


Now this is Snow in Summer I don't mind seeing!


I put in fifteen new Dianthus plants this spring, five different varieties. They are just such a happy plant in bloom, and the blue tinged foliage is a lovely contrast in the garden when they are not blooming. Dianthus is perfect at the edge of a bed, where they get lots of drainage. 


The Pansies and Violas are still going strong, but they wouldn't be able to take that heat for long. Thankfully, things will be cooling off around here now, and we don't typically get hot spells too often up here on the mountain top. 


The three mature Lilac trees are all in bloom right now. I think the white is my favorite - the flowers are absolutely lovely, a bright spot in the landscape. And the aroma, oh my! Heavenly. 


Another Dianthus, a smaller variety. You may also know Dianthus by their common name, Pinks. 


Accessories are like jewelry for a garden. This is the same angel Brenda has over at Cozy Little House....I fell in love with it instantly when I saw it on her patio. 


It's impossible to capture just how glorious the new tree is in the afternoon light. The sun shines through the red leaves, and they glow like stained glass. I am so delighted with the choice I made, it's a perfect addition to my landscape. 


The Rhododendron is just starting to bloom, and the flowers are so gorgeous! The foundation plantings around the back and one side of my home are a mix of Rhododendrons and various evergreens. I've started adding to that, for a little contrast. I've never been much of a minimalist, that's for sure!


Look who was peeking out of one of the evergreens! There's a family of Robins in there right now, and I see the parents pulling worms out of my veggie garden each morning to feed their growing family. 


There are 4 or 5 babies crammed into that tiny nest - it won't be long before they are out on their own. 


I've been adding birdhouses around my property to entice some new tenants. No takers yet!


I love the color of this little blue flower. I can't remember what it's called, but it caught my eye immediately at the garden center. 


Even the Rhododendron buds are gorgeous! 


Looks like I'm going to get a few Strawberries this year. I guess they are happy planted under the Currant and Raspberry bushes. 


The Currant bushes are absolutely loaded with berries - how exciting! This is the Red Currant. 


And the Black Currant. I can't tell you how thrilled I am! 


I think I'll get a few Blueberries this year also! That is, if the critters leave me any. 

What's happening in your garden? 

42 comments:

  1. After all the hard work, isn't it fun to walk around and admire everything. Your plants and flowers are just beautiful! I love the new bird house, oh, and the nest of Robins...I just love Robins!

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    1. It sure is! I'm out there multiple times per day, carefully examining every little thing!

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  2. I love that tea kettle bird house! Everything is looking lovely around your place...your hard work is paying off already ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Lori! Even if no birds take up residence, it still makes me smile each time I look at it!

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  3. What a nice garden you have made. Thanks for the virtual tour.
    You evidently know what you are doing with the plants etc.
    I love birdhouses. Eventually someone will move in. :)
    But beware of the bears in the neighborhood cuz' they will destroy them. Nature.
    Enjoy your hard work,
    Monica

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    1. Hi Monica,

      Thanks for visiting! I don't know what I'm doing with every plant, but I do love to garden and learn more each and every year! That doesn't mean I don't have failures...I do. Stay tuned for a blog post on that!

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  4. Sit down and enjoy it all! I wish we didn't get hot spells here. We surely do.
    Brenda

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    1. It's been about 80 here this week, much better than last week. And cool in the evenings, love it!

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  5. Hi Deborah: We are just over a heat-wave, too. High humidity. :( My gardens are coming along. I love to pop over here and see all your beautiful flowers and was delighted to see the family of robins. How sweet. I, too, have a new family here; House Wrens. :) I spent a bit of time doing the same as you; walking around and admiring.

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    1. I don't think I've ever had house wrens nest at my house, but perhaps I just didn't see them? Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful property, Deb!

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  6. Oh gosh, it was sure a hot one this weekend. I think Saturday was unusually hot for Upstate! We were up there with a few friends trying to get the garden beds filled and it was brutal under the sun. Around 2PM we had to stop, and drove for ice cream. We drank so many gallons of water over the weekend. Thankfully the night cooled down a little bit and we were able to have a nice outdoor dinner but the day.....yuck!

    Anyways, I love seeing all your flowers and color your garden has! Looking forward to see what else you're growing!

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    1. I haven't had an outdoor dinner yet, hopefully tonight. The bugs were pretty bad this spring, probably because of the mild winter!

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  7. Finally, a few minutes to enjoy your hard work. I love the bird pictures and the new house. We've had nothing but rain here. I ought to have a jungle by next week.

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    1. Oh boy, send some of that rain this way! My well is crying with all the watering I've had to do!

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  8. Oh, the humidity - not fun at all, but glad that it is passing quickly. Your flowers and fruit all look amazing! Loved seeing that family of robins up close! I'll be putting in my garden this week. Locals around here say don't plant warm weather plants until June 6, but we are supposed to hit 91 on Sunday here, so I think we are safe, lol! :)

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    1. Ha ha I would think so!! We got stuff in a week or two early this year with the bizarre heat wave. Hopefully it will pay off at harvest time!

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  9. There's so much pretty blooming in your garden! I was waiting for the warmer weather too and boy oh boy did we get hit with it. I was melting at the garden center just buying the plants. ;)

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    1. Looking forward to seeing what you do with them, Kim! I'm sure you spent time in your pool already....jealous!!

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  10. Lovely tour of your gardens and flowers! I'm not sure what that blue flower is either, but there are phone apps where you can take a photo and it will tell you what the plant/flower is. I have those "Pinks" (Dianthus) in my butterfly garden. They're in full bloom right now. My lilacs have been gone and dried up for over a week now. It was hot and humid here this weekend too, but now it's cooling off a bit. Hope the same holds true for you!

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    1. Oh that's so cool, Melanie, I'll have to look for that app!!

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  11. Everything is coming along nicely!

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    1. Not everything, Debbie...just the things I showed you - ha ha!!

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  12. Loved the walk around your yard! It is such fun to do at this time of year. I still have a few loose ends on my picnic table which need to be potted. There is always room for a few additional pots!! Say, if you enjoy using flavored oils, take your chive "flowers" and cut them off at the tip and put in a glass jar. Cover with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and set in a dark place. Turn it gently a few times a week. In a few weeks you have lovely chive-flavored olive oil for cooking/ marinading/ salad dressing, etc. Just a thought. We started ours this past weekend.

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    1. I actually drove to a local garden shop today and didn't even go in, can you believe it? I glanced around outside, but never even took my wallet out of the car! Ooh, thanks for the tip on the chive oil, I'm going to give it a try!!

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  13. It's looking so pretty on your mountain. It is hot here, too. I go out early and work in the yard/garden for a couple of hours until the heat drives me in. And then, I go out again in late evening. It's the only way I can stand it.

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    1. That's rough, Laurie. It's still warm here, but nothing like last weekend!

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  14. Love this post and your style......happy June

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    1. Thanks so much, Chris - and happy June to you also!!

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  15. Your garden is so lovely! Mine is coming along nicely, also. However, it looks like the birds got all my cherries again, and they are devouring the strawberries too. Time to get some netting! I would love to have some rhododendrons also, but, alas, they are poisonous to honeybees (and I love my honeybees), so I will just have to enjoy pictures of yours for now.

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    1. Oh no, that stinks!!!! I didn't know about Rhodies and honey bees....hmmmm. I have tons of them around the foundation of my house - drat!

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  16. You garden is both beautiful and productive! I love all the plants that you have so carefully picked out. My blueberries are not doing well at all this year. I have added sulfur to them and also added a mulch that is heavy in pine needles. Praying this helps them!

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    1. I read something about putting coffee grinds around a blueberry bush - perhaps you should look into that!

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  17. Beautiful, beautiful garden flowers, all! The robins are a bonus, and I hope you're able to catch the babies' first flights - that's amazing.
    I can empathise with your struggles in the heat. I got all my annuals planted, and the the weather here in WV turned very hot and humid. I've had to water every day to establish all of the plants, and also because I started a few things from seed. Looking forward to a little break in the rain that's expected. Happy June!
    Rita C. at Panoply

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    1. My annuals in the ground are struggling a bit, too. Some of them didn't have great root systems, which stinks - I'm trying to save them, but not sure I can!

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  18. All your plants and flowers are gorgeous! I wish I had your green thumb. :) Take care. Maria

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  19. So pretty!! I understand that butterflies love chives. Have you been seeing them yet?

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    1. I haven't seen a ton of butterflies but I have seen an amazing amount of big fuzzy bumble bees! They seem to adore the chives!

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  20. Love seeing your garden flourishing. So much to enjoy!
    I can't decide what I like most among it all...I have marigolds, impatience, and hydrangeas in full bloom. I've been enjoying fresh lettuce for a while, and have had a handfull of cherry tomatoes. Our temps are warm but we've been in a rain pattern for the past couple of weeks. The plants are wanting sunshine and so am I!

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    1. We need rain here...should be getting some today, I think. I need to get my butt out to mow before the rains come!

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  21. Your flowers are so beautiful! You should be on a garden tour. I do like your angel also! Nancy

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