Autumn Blush Coreopsis

One of my favorite perennials is Coreopsis. All types of them! I can't resist buying one when I see them at the garden center. This was the case a few weeks ago. As I was looking around, I spotted a rack of brand new plants they were just bringing in. They had not even taken the plastic sheeting that was wrapped around the rack so they wouldn't fall off before I started grabbing.

The flowers were so pretty and unusual. I didn't even know it was a coreopsis until I looked at the tag--and of course then I really couldn't resist buying one....well...I mean two! (two is better than one, right?)

This is a new hybrid coreopsis called "Autumn Blush." It has light peachy-yellow flowers with red eyes. I did a little research on the internet and found that the color will change to a wine rose blush in fall...guess that's how it got it's name.
It is a long blooming perennial forming spreading mounds of green fern like leaves. The article I read suggested that you shear it back lightly in August to encourage renewed blooms. It is suppose to tolerate heat and humidity, and..clay soil! (YES!) It is deer and rabbit resistant and attracts birds and butterflies. Now what more could you ask for? One thing....it requires 6+ hours of sun.
That is quite a bit of sun for most of my yard, but..perfect for one bed. I think this autumn blush makes a perfect addition to my wildflower garden.

Wordless Wednesday - The first Morning Glory

Where do YOU sit?

I treasure Saturday mornings when I don't have to do anything specific, or be anywhere. Unless it is really cold-I always have my coffee outside. Yesterday morning was one of those wonderful times. Hubby left early to go play golf, and I headed out the patio door. As I sat there looking around my yard, I thought of Nola and her new outdoor room; and I thought of Balisha and her front porch; and I thought of Brenda and her new patio that is being built. I wondered if they were enjoying their coffee outside on this beautiful morning. One thought led to another..and it got me to thinking...where does everyone sit and enjoy their garden?

I sometimes sit in this old red chair. Hubby sits in this chair quite a bit. It's so old and rusty-I know if chairs could talk, it would have lots of good stories to tell.

I don't sit here very often-sometimes if we have company, but this chair is just cute and seems to be happy on the flagstone patio.

Sometimes I sit here on the wicker furniture. It is old and the paint is peeling--which makes me love it even more! There is a ceiling fan that gives a little air circulation when it's hot, but most of the time I sit here when it's raining. This area is covered and it's heavenly to sit with a cup of tea and watch it rain.
This is where you find me most of the time..in the swing. I usually end my day here, listening to the pond and relaxing. On the weekends, I might sit here in the morning and watch the sun come up over the house. At night I sit here and watch the stars come out. This is without a doubt my favorite place to be.

But this Saturday morning I sit here, on the patio, pond side. I have my coffee and I am making a list of what gardening chores I have for the day. This is a great place to sit...you can see the beds along the walkway and the wildflower garden; you can see the bird feeders; you can watch the fish play; and on nice evenings we have dinner here.

I have been an outdoor person my entire life. I often come home at noon and eat lunch outside. I walk out back early every morning to enjoy the freshness of a new day. I end every evening outside thanking God for all this beauty He has created. We are all so very blessed!

So..where do YOU sit??

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

John Muir

A Shade Garden

A few months ago I mentioned the flower bed that is on the left side of the backyard. It's in shade, and I was looking for a plan. The clay soil was hard to work with-I just didn't know what to do. This is what it looked like in February.
This is what it looks like today. I added sand to try and amend some of that clay (thanks for the suggestion Tina!) and I really do think that helped quite a bit. I didn't have problems digging holes like before. I planted 3 coral bells earlier in the spring. Right now they are doing great--I just worry about what will happen when it gets hot.

The hostas came back and are beautiful! I moved some from the sunny side of this bed last year. I love hostas-they are so perfect for shade. I also planted 2 artemisia. I know they are more sun plants, but I am hoping the filtered sun that comes through might be enough. There is a small turk's cap that you can barely see behind the rock. I had it last year and was so happy to see it come back. It grows more and more everyday.
As an experiment, I put a few begonias around the plants. They are doing fantastic, so I am thinking of buying more to fill in the holes. As you can see, there are some container plants in the background. I already had these and liked them up against the fence, so left them there. I also planted a small boxwood that I am hoping will grow and give this bed some height.

I still have quite a bit to do in this bed, but I am pretty pleased with the way it is coming along so far. I would like to try and find more shade perennials-maybe this weekend. Of course, you know how it is--we are never really "done" are we? Gardening is never over, it's usually just beginning no matter how far we have come--and I absolutely love that!!

"A gardener's work is never at an end; it begins with the year, and continues to the next."

John Evelyn

Wordless Wednesday - It's a Forget-Me-Not!!!

Thanks everyone- Mother couldn't have been more excited to find out what this was!!

Welcome to Mother's Garden

It has been a busy weekend in the garden for me. I took the day off last Friday to spend working in my Mother's garden. My Mother is amazing..she is 79 years "young" and works in her yard just about everyday. But I really like to go over and help her with things in the spring and fall. Friday was the day to clean out beds and plant new flowers.
We started in the front. I cleaned out the area around her bird bath leaving the purple heart where it was, and trimming the dusty miller back.
This is a close up of what she picked out to put in front of the birdbath.
For Mother's Day I got her these hanging baskets that look really good hanging in front of this window.
This is a mixed planter we found at one of the garden centers we went to on Friday morning.
This scaveola
"Fan Flower" is one of Mother's very favorite plants. We get her one every spring, but I think the one we found this year is the prettiest she has ever had!
We always get several pentas for her front flower bed. This year she got some for the backyard too.
And..here is Mother's backyard. This long flower bed in front of the lawn has housed many plants. At one time it was the most beautiful rose garden. Now it is home to perennials. I did not do anything here-Mother takes care of this bed all by herself. I think this is her favorite, although she loves all her areas.
And now..
Mother asks for your help. Several years ago, a bird left her a gift. We have no idea what it is, but it is a very special plant as it reappears every spring. It is the most beautiful "cornflower" blue. This year she thought it was not going to come back..but not only did it come back in the original container..
..it also started growing in her perennial bed right beside the California poppies! Mother would love to know what this is. I thought it was a wild phlox, but she doesn't think so. So, what is this? I bet someone out there knows!

Mother has taught me so much about gardening through out the years. It is really nice to be able to help her now..and sometimes add a tip or two of my own!




"I'm still devoted to the garden..although an old man, I am but a young gardener."

Thomas Jefferson

Wordless Wednesday - A New Birdhouse!