joene's garden » Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: January in Connecticut

joenesgarden — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:47:45 +0000

With no blooms in my outdoor gardens eyes are drawn to the subtle colors of a so-far snowless winter. I bundled up for a winter morning photo stroll to see what winter color might reveal itself for this first Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, kindly hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens, of 2012.

Temperatures fell below 10 degrees Fahrenheit this morning in south-central Connecticut causing mountain laurel and rhododendron shrubs to curl their leaves in response to the cold.

I think the rhodos jealously eyed my winter garb as I walked by.

Holly, boxwood and pieris of different shapes and sizes add to the green contrast brought by native-growing mountain laurels and gardener-planted rhododendron. Young junipers and spruce will add their blue-gray tones to the landscape as they mature. But now the gardens are dressed in shades of brown highlighted with small touches of whatever green still survives the cold.

Golden shades ornamental grasses pick up early morning sun …

not to be outdone by copper tones of beech.

A newly planted Pieris japonica 'Dorothy Wycoff' hints at the intense purple shades its larger future-self will bring to the winter landscape,

while foxglove and carex dot beds with shades of green.

Winter calls for celebration of even the slightest touch of color. This tiny rose hip could easily be overlooked and that would be a shame.

Inside, protected from the winter cold, an amaryllis leans toward the light as it's companion, a holiday cactus, looks on.

Coleus brighten nighttime views of the window above the kitchen sink.

Houseplants happily soak up whatever morning sun the weather allows.

Garden color isn't always about flowers, or about gardening outdoors. Sometimes we must relish in color, contrast and light during chilly winter walks and from the protected warmth of home.

But flowers do tend to lighten a winter mood so join me as I head over to the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day links posted at May Dreams Gardens. There are always mood-lifting blossoms to enjoy there.

Garden thoughtfully.

Categories: Bloom Day, Seasons.
Tags: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, gardening in Connecticut, indoor gardening, winter in Connecticut.

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An October Stroll

joenesgarden — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:20:00 +0000

Unusual weather remains the topic of conversation in our neck of the woods. We continue to have heavy rains and, after chilly early-month temperatures, we've had a revisit of summer-like heat and humidity. Fall foliage has yet to blast in with its usual color. Salty tropical storm rains from Irene turned many tree leaves brown causing an early leaf drop. Leaves that remained have been slow to turn and, so far, show less brilliant color than Connecticut-living leaf watchers expect.

My south-central Connecticut gardens escaped the early light frosts that hit more northern gardens in the state. But rains have limited photo-taking opportunities so, instead of grabbing a few last minute shots for this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I offer a few photos taken since October's start.

This year nasturtium put on the best show I've ever seen. These photos are from early October but they look just as good now.

Usually aphids cover my nasturtium plantings by mid-summer causing me to cut them back and hope for a bit of late-season bloom.

This year I've not seen one aphid and nasturtium had a hey-day. The two photos above show Nasturtium 'Alaska Mix' grown from seed from Renee's Garden. Below is Nasturtium 'Moonlight' from Pinetree Garden Seeds. Both varieties will have encore performances in my gardens in future years.

They have never looked this healthy and vibrant this late. What a treat!

I managed to thwart sunflower seedling-eating squirrels this year by hiding a couple of sunflower (Helanthus debilis 'Vanilla Ice') transplants behind other plants. Even chipmunks left the blossoms alone, likely because they were so full from eating tomatoes. Here's an early October shot of my reward.

One Star Rose (Mystic Meidiland 'Meialate') continues to offer up a show, looking nearly as fresh now as it did at the start of the month.

Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) are by far the showiest, longest blooming annual in this year's late-season garden. They looked like this on October 11.

They looked just as nice late last night after a day of heavy downpours.

Warmth-loving moonflower vines (Ipomea Alba) keep offering stunning blooms on nighttime strolls. This late in the season every moonflower bloom that opens is a special treat to be savored.

Now, to see how other gardens look this October, visit May Dreams Gardens where, at Carol's invitation, garden bloggers from across the globe share the beauty of their gardens.

Enjoy the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day party and garden thoughtfully.

Categories: Bloom Day, Gardening, General, Seasons.
Tags: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, gardening in Connecticut, gomphrena, moonflowers, nasturtiums, rose, sunflowers.

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September’s Shades

joenesgarden — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Welcome to one of my Connecticut, zone 6a, gardens on this mid-September day. Today, being the 15th of the month, is when Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and people all over the world get to share and enjoy the garden glory of others.

My addition to this garden party includes shades of maroon, burgundy and pink that stand out among the plantings in one of my gardens.

Colorful globe-shaped gomphrena flowers stand tall and for the most part block fading iris and day lily foliage. They complement this unknown variety of phlox that, to my delight, decided to bloom continuously from mid-summer to now.

Gomphrena also play well with my newest day lily Hemerocallis 'Macbeth' that flowered during mid-summer, then surprised me with September blooms.

Stonecrop sedum, an unknown green-leaved variety, shows off in lighter pink blooms,

and the burgundy-leaved stonecrop sedum 'Maestro' beckons bees with its darker pink blooms.

But this garden's eye-popping star right now comes from the tiny-white blossoms of Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata).

Close-up shots show each blossom's simple beauty.

Together, they remind me of large but dainty snowflakes gingerly resting atop the leaves and stems.

When view from farther away, the effect is striking … like a rounded mountain-top covered in snow.

This morning's haze was not conducive to a clear photo of these blooms all together, but this is how the garden looked three days ago, just before the clematis burst into full bloom.

The pinks are joined by the low blue blossoms of ageratum, an occasional scabiosa flower, the taller repeat blooms of another phlox (P. paniculata 'Blue Paradise') and touches of white gomphrena. Late summer gardens may not match the color explosions of May gardens, but this color is enough to make me smile as I look out the windows with a morning cup of coffee.

Be sure to follow the link to May Dreams Gardens to take a virtual what's-in-bloom tour of other gardens so you can thoroughly enjoy another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Categories: Bloom Day, Gardening, Perennials & Annuals, Zone.
Tags: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, gardening in Connecticut, gomphrena, phlox, stonecrop sedum, Sweet Autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata).

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Rainy Connecticut for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day

joenesgarden — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:47:58 +0000

With my Connecticut gardens receiving soaking downpours – pushing three inches of rain since early yesterday morning – I have some soggy additions to the August 2011 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Carol, at May Dreams Gardens hosts this garden-fest on the fifteenth of each month so garden bloggers from all over the world can share what's blooming in their gardens.

Gomphrena and ageratum happily soak up the rain.

Autumn Joy sedum will soon burst into pollinator-attracting blossoms.

But phlox blossoms are putting on their final show.

The classic white zinnia I started from seed are off to a late start but that's okay … they will brighten the beds during late summer/early autumn.

Hydrangea paniculata and buddleia would have a flurry of bee and butterfly activity if not for the rain.

Just two days ago I caught the morning sun glinting off of the last of my Hemerocallis Hyperion. With such a sweet lemony scent, I hate to see it go.

The new-to-my-garden Knock Out Rosa 'Radyod' has lived up to its promise to bloom all season. It took just a brief flowering break in July after delighting me with many flowers during early summer. More buds stand ready to open after this flower fades.

Most of the Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer' blossoms – an Endless Summer selection – have shaded to their late summer purple-blue tinge. But one large blossom shows off the early summer blue and the late summer tint.

One of my favorite blossoms, scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue', has flowered since late spring. Deadheading is the key to keeping this perennial in steady bloom.

Some flowers of an unknown variety of variegated hydrangea macrophylla still look fresh and cool blue.

And, in spite of leaf-nibbles from hungry … and unwelcome … deer, plus weather fluctuations from hot and humid to cool and soggy, anemone blossoms started opening a week or so ago and will … Mother Nature willing … continue into September.

That's it from my zone 6a Connecticut gardens. Be sure to visit May Dreams Gardens to enjoy what other garden bloggers' have shared.

Categories: Bloom Day, Gardening, Perennials & Annuals.
Tags: ageratum, anemone, buddliea, daylily, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, gardening in Connecticut, gomphrena, hydrangea, rose, scabiosa, sedum, zinnia.

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Blooms of July

joenesgarden — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:06:05 +0000

Mid-summer blooms in my Connecticut (zone 6a) gardens stand defiant in the face of the hot July sun so on this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day there's much to share.

In the fenced garden, phlox steal the eye-level show. Blue Paradise fills the air with sweet scent.

David's Lavender grabs attention nearby.

Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' show off a cool bluish-lavender tone against boxwood green.

A trio of daylilies (Hemerocallis) put on quite a show of their own.

Catherine Woodbury on one side.

Macbeth, the newest addition, opened her first blossom this year and will carry the opposite end of the daylily trio.

Prairie Blue Eyes takes the middle spot of the trio.

Hemerocallis 'Hyperion' waft a sweet lemony scent along the opposite bed as they wrestle attention away from blooming hosta.

At the very end of the long perennial bed Echinacea 'Green Envy' is just starting to strut its stuff.

Japanese beetles will be its biggest enemy. Cousin Echinacea may indeed be green with envy as they, located in unfenced beds, must also ward off deer.

A mid-June deer stroll left some of the unprotected Echinacea without buds, but most survived. A few White Swan avoided deer but they, along with the common purple coneflower, seem to be favorites of an unknown munching bug.

The largest stand of common purple coneflower managed to avoid all deer munching this year … whew!

Elsewhere in the yard Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) peeks out from behind a blue spruce …

and otherwise plays in wild abandon with an unknown variety of Veronica.

Now head over to May Dreams Gardens to see what Carol, the originator of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, and others are sharing from their gardens. It's worth the trip.

Categories: Bloom Day, Gardening, General.
Tags: Black-Eyed Susan, coneflowers, daylily, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, gardening in Connecticut, phlox, scabiosa, Zone 6a.

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