Sunday, May 16, 2010

Weekend Gardening Notes

Every year, for Mother's Day weekend, I take my Mother plant shopping. Since I was in DC last weekend, this Saturday was our day to shop and plant. And we loaded up my SUV! Do ya think we have room for anything else? I worked Saturday morning in Mother's garden, and we were both pleased with the results.
I only bought a few things, as I wanted to have room for all the things Mother wanted, but I am happy to say I am now the proud owner of a Knock-out rose! Thank you Tina for encouraging me to get one. I think the blooms are beautiful. The tag says they are double blooms, which I think makes them look more like the old roses I remember when I was a little girl. I have no idea where I will put it, and I am wondering....is there anyway I can put it in a large container and grow it as a container plant? It sure looks good right at the start of this path, but I'm not sure if it would be safe in the ground here.
When I got home, I decided to take a stroll through my garden to check my blooms. Come walk along with me and let's see what we can find. The Hollyhocks are just now starting to bloom. I love this pretty pink color.
I have 2 of these growing around stones. I bought them last year. They are really a pretty yellow and perfect for a rock garden. But..uh, I cannot remember the name of this plant! Help!
The Gerber Daisies have been so happy this spring. I think they have enjoyed all the rain.
This is a new plant,
"Blanket Flower Torch." I bought this red one, and a yellow one. Both have produced many flowers.
My Nasturtiums are finally blooming. I have enjoyed the pretty, fragrant little flowers. I know they will not last much longer.
This is my favorite of all--Blackfoot Daisy. Isn't it gorgeous! It is in one of my old galvanized buckets. And, it came back from last year! Yes, I did baby it during that cold weather we had, but it was well worth it. That honey smell and those cute flowers just make my day! Love, love them!
The Marigolds are really doing well--so far no spider mites!
And here are the Red Geraniums I have had for so many years. I moved them from the front porch to a bed in back. They don't mind-they will bloom anywhere I put them I think.
I hope you enjoyed the walk with me looking at a few of my blooms. It has been such a pretty spring here at Meadow-
view Thymes, and I find such joy watching all these flowers grow.


I hope you found the time this weekend to enjoy the blooms in your garden.
Note: The french drain is about 2/3 of the way finished! Yea!

24 comments:

Susie said...

Beautiful Linda! I can't believe how loaded down your car is. I bet ya'll had the best time plant shopping.

Glad to see you got a Knock-out. I have three of them and love them lots. They are the easiest to take care of.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Hi Susie! Mother and I had a fun time..we laughed about how loaded the car was.
I don't know much about the Knock-outs, but hear such good things about them. Glad they are easy to take care of!

Nola said...

I've heard lots of good things about the knockout roses, too. I'll be watching to see how yours do. Your hollyhocks are so pretty, I love them.

Chandramouli S said...

I see you had great time shopping for plants! I love that Knock-out rose! I miss really great roses here. Most of the roses I buy would already be diseased and no matter how hard I try to save them, they die - I lost two roses from nurseries :(
I enjoyed the stroll. I wish I could also smell the fragrance!

tina said...

Good morning! You are going to love your new Knockout. Such an easy rose and I'm glad you found one. I am wondering what that yellow flower is as it is very pretty. Your geraniums are so happy. I've kept mine but they are not so big or blooming so pretty. Is there a special fertilizer I need? I bet your mother was happy with all the lovelies too. What fun!

Meadowview Thymes said...

Nola, I'll have seeds from the Hollyhocks later--let me know if you want some!
I'll keep you updated on the Knock-out. I hear good things about them too.

Chandramouli--I wish you could have smelled the fragrance on the walk too! The star jassmine and sweet alyssum are in full bloom and smell wonderful!

Tina--I thought you would be pleased I decided to buy a knock-out! And, this bush is so pretty! I need to find out about the yellow (come on brain!). It was pretty last year too.
For the geraniums--I just use Miracle Grow, the kind you mix with water. I feed them about every 3 to 4 weeks during the spring and early summer, then give them a rest during the hot months.

JenningsJunk said...

LOVED the walk through your paradise!! Just before checking in on your blog, I had talked myself out of going to the Arboretum today (I'll go at the end of the month *fingers crossed*) to do some clean up in my own yard and here you've provided me with my own private guided garden tour....just LOVELY!! Next time you and your mom have a haul like that give us a holler and my guys will gladly run out to your mom's and help unload it and place it around so you can work with it! seriously they will.

Anonymous said...

That's a wonderful Mother's Day tradition! My mom lives too far away for that, and I didn't get my gardening genes from her anyway. I love your nasturtiums. I haven't grown them in years, but I did buy some this year so we'll see if they behave any better than in the past. I haven't been a big fan, but everyone else loves them so I feel like I should!

Northern Shade said...

I like the little sitting nook you've created at the back of your garden, surrounded by flowers.

What a great present for our mom, a day with her daughter, and a garden full of flowers.

Anonymous said...

What a nice way to pay tribute to your Mom every year (a plant shopping trip). I'm sure she appreciates it very much! :) Congrats on the new Knockout Rose. Mine are quite large so I don't know if a container is a good idea or not. I trimmed that back severely (about 12" from the ground) each spring & give them a less severe trimming near the end of summer. It keeps them in bounds and neater looking. I love that last pic showing a broad view of your garden and the stone patch is very inviting. Love all the blooms too! :)

Lola said...

On my, that was a great shopping spree. Love it all.
Brother brought me 4 of the Knockout roses, 2 yellow ones, a dbl red & a dbl pink. I have seen theirs & they are gorgeous. I will love mine I'm sure.
If that yellow flower has seeds I wouldn't mind having some. I think it beautiful.
The drain will be finished before you know it.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you got a knock-out rose!!!! I have 10 or 11 of them and they bloom constantly - I just read in the Houston Chronicle that they are self-cleaning, so you don't have to dead-head, but I have a hard time not dead-heading roses...

I have 2 Laura Bush's now, they are a lovely orangey color and of course, daughter Laura is impressed!

I have never heard of knock-out roses until we moved here, but they are everywhere in our neighborhood. Let me know how your does. They do remind me of "old-fashioned" roses.

Sister Kim (um, that looks funny does't it! - perhaps I should stick with your sister, Kim!!)

Meadowview Thymes said...

JJ--what a sweet offer! Mother's neighbors peek out the window when they see us drive up. They know what we are up to! They all just love Mother's yard.

MsRobin--I will never get to start that tradition with my daughter either as she lives in the northeast, but Mother and I have done this for years!
Nasturtiums--my dream would be to have window boxes full of these flowers. It's just too hot here--they only last a short time.

Hi Northern Shade! So good to hear from you!
Glad you like the area we have created. When I have time, I start my mornings there, and I almost always end my days there. It's my little piece of heaven! :)

Hey Lola--I will try and find seeds for the yellow (I have GOT to find out what it is!) Do you use the bananas/coffee grinds on knock-outs? I put that on the antique roses like you sugggested.

Kim--(and I am not using "Sister Kim" cause yes, that does not fit you! :) ) I knew you had knock-outs. I think they are fairly new roses. Sherry has them. Mother has decided she wants one too. I would like to find her a pink one--and Lola (see above) says she has double/pink so I know it's out there somewhere. You need to send me pictures of your garden. Ask Libby how to do that..or Linda..or Laura.. You know kids know how to do everything!

Lola said...

Yes Linda, I will be using the banana/coffee grinds on my roses. It helps give them some nutrients as well as help make them smell sweeter.
For the dbl pink try Home Depot or Lowe's. I hope you find them.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Thanks Lola for the advice on both! I'll let you know how it goes.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What a nice tradition you and your mom have.
Your garden is just beautiful! I love all of your containers too.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Linda how funny are we as gardeners trying to squeeze as many plants as possible in our cars .. my back seat folds down so I can squeeze a lot in ? haha
Your gaillardia (blanket flower) is so pretty ! I have Amber Wheels but I think it is NOT getting enough sun so transplanting is coming up !
I love your flagstone path to your gorgeous sitting space : )
Very pretty garden girl !!
Joy

Meadowview Thymes said...

Catherine--thanks for the compliment! It's a nice tradition to have.

Joy--Mother kept telling me we were out of room..and I kept telling her, no we're not! :)
I really like the new blanket flower. It reminds me of a wildflower that grows in Colorado called King's Crown.

Anonymous said...

Linda - I will send you and Mother some photos, just trying to wait until things are in full bloom out there. We have finally gotten some rain - Friday night, Saturday and we had a small storm last night and the grand total here was around 3 inches. Hopefully, this will boost my garden into full time production! My morning glories are growing an inch or so a day - it is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

I love your philosophy about always being more room - I am always trying to fit in one more small plant here and there!

Kimberlyn

Lola said...

Hi Linda,
Could your yellow flowered plant be "Golden Globe", Lysinachia Procumbens? I still would like some seeds if it has any whether it's named or not. lol

Meadowview Thymes said...

Kim, there is ALWAYS room for another plant! :)
Wish you could send pics to my computer. I could put them on this blog!

Lola--I'll google that plant and look. I am trying to decide if the flower heads are producing. I will let you know. Can you try emailing me again:
lbmandeville@verizon.net

Brenda Pruitt said...

Your blooms are gorgeous! I just can't seem to get a hollyhock to bloom!
Brenda

Meadowview Thymes said...

Brenda--I am down to 2 plants for some reason this year. I think they do better out in the open, but I have mine in a bed along the side of the house. Not much room out in the open in my yard.
BTW--Congrats on your blog getting written up in a magazine! It truly deserves the credit!

Cindy, MCOK said...

Judging from the contents of the car, you had a very successful outing! Your garden is looking lovely ... I love that final shot!