Friday, May 13, 2011

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I think I am aware of every bone, muscle and joint in my whole body!  I am hosting my Garden Study Group on Monday and believe it or not, the presentation is on Body Fitness for Gardening.  I would say it comes a little late for me as I need to know what to do to repair a broken body.

I am loving the view on both sides of my home with beautiful foliage and flowers.  Even though we are in the suburbs our lots are urban in size and we love to share the spectacular flowering trees and flowers.

I believe this is a Crabapple but I am not positive, just lovely!

This is an old lilac on the other side of my home.  Both of my neighbors own 100 plus year old homes.

I usually do my own containers but every so often I see one that I cannot pass up because of the plants and they are a good deal price wise.

I bought this container at Home Depot a Proven Winners design for $16.98. I counted the number of plants and couldn't pass it up for the price.

The containers should look like they are beginning to bloom but not like the middle of summer.  So many containers are overgrown in the spring and you will spend the summer cutting back or replacing.


This one was also a Proven Winners design and full with many plants for $22.98 at Home Depot, again a good deal for the number of plantings and just beginning to fill out.

Allium Purple Sensation

Azalea Karen
Blooms later than the Rhodies, leaves stay on all year and one of the hardiest


Something blue, Intensia Blueberry Hill, just beginning to put together my containers and hope to show them to you very soon!

32 comments:

Balisha said...

Looking forward to seeing your containers. You always have such lovely ones. Is rain in your forecast? We cancelled a trip to the lake because of the coming weather.I would imagine that you are getting rain too. Have a nice weekend. Balisha

Beth said...

Hi Eileen, I love your header photo. Your containers are beautiful and a great buy. You have a gorgeous lilac and I'm surprised to see your allium are beginning to bloom already.
Have a wonderful wknd!
Blessings,Beth

Lynn said...

Oh, your alliums are a wonderful pop of purple. This year is the first time I've found allium bulbs locally and I'm impatiently awaiting the drumsticks to form flower heads and bloom. Only have scrawny stems so far.

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

That crabapple tree is so beautiful and there must be a lovely scent from the lilac. My containers are empty just now as I don't want to plant them until nearer the wedding. I do my own aswell but sometimes the planted up ones really do catch my eye.

I really like that Intensia - we don't seem to use that plant here in the UK that much - it's new to me so I must read up on it.

Randy Emmitt said...

Those containers are beautiful. You paid too much for them. Our Home Depot here once the plants are past blooming they haul them out back and you can just take them. Not sure about leaving the plants to die in the heat is the best way to run a nursery.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Randy,

Don't I wish I could have done that! Prices are always higher in the Chicago area for everything.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

We are quite cold here this am, in the 40's and I have to volunteer at the farm today, Ugh!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Beth,

I know it seems expensive when you say $23m but when I added up each separate plant it came to $35m so it was a deal! Even Home Depot has become more expensive for single plants.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rosie,

This is the first year I have seen Intensia. It is marketed by Proven Winners, they are in Canada but I am not sure about Europe.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Lynn,

I have grown allium in my last house but this is the first year I have had them here.

Eileen

Lona said...

Eileen your azalea is just so pretty. My lilacs are all gone and went fast this spring with a late frost. They smell so fabulous. The containers are beautiful. I love the yellow and lavender-blues.I found a bronze potato vine this year for a container. Finally! I so admired the one you had last year.I see you have Purple Sensation Alliums also. I am enjoying them this spring and want to add more for nest year this fall.

garden girl said...

Lovely, Eileen! Your home depot finds are wonderful.

GRACE PETERSON said...

Hi Eileen~~ I love your new finds. I wish my HD would put together such magic. Of course it helps when the gardener is someone with your eye for color. I hope your body heals quickly. Gardeners have no need for the gym do we? :)

BTW, my blog address is NOW www.gracepete.blogspot.com. I'm just letting everyone know. Thanks!

Diana LaMarre said...

I have been saying that I need to get to Home Depot, but so far have not done so. I hope I can find some nice plants like you did!

Everything is looking so nice and lush in your neighborhood.

It is still cold here (52 today).

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Those are some beautiful views from your neighbors! We have small lots too and it's nice when you can enjoy your neighbors garden as well as your own.
Those containers are so pretty! They are great deals. I've just started getting my containers done, it's still pretty cool here and I worry about some of the annuals.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Lona, still pretty cool here. I do like the azaleas because they bloom a little later than the Rhodiees.

Eileen

joey said...

You should be loving the view on both sides of your home with beautiful foliage and flowers, Eileen. Stunning! Often torn, I am so with you on well spent $$ and your lovely containers. I did/doing my own this year (although many annuals stilling hiding for dear life in the garage)!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl first let me say I am so sorry I haven't been by more (things are a bit more than whacky here at the O'Connors) .. I love your container plants ! I only have potted up herbs when the RAINS hit .. we have had non stop rain for so many days I am almost crazy seeing how far ahead the garden is jumping .. vines are outrageous since i didn't get them under controll before this hit.
When I look at your garden everything is so neat and in order, mine used to be that way ? LOL .. Ah yes .. gardener fitness!
I am very broken too so just getting garden missions completed is a miracle .. fitness ? will come at the end of the season if I don't break myself further ... but hey, we are a determined group us gardeners aren't we ? LOL
Joy
PS .. I am only to glad to move you into full throttle with my favorite plants ! wink wink

Becca's Dirt said...

Eileen it is looking good at your place. Love those containers and yes you did get good deals. Lucky you. Your header is stunning. Is that from this year? After working so hard in the garden the next day I always hurt from my fingertips to my knees. Feet don't hurt. Its hard work but worth it.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi GG,

It has been a very strange spring and I am constantly surprised by the weather.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Grace,

I had been looking for your blog so thanks for the new address.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Zoey,

I do like Home Depot for some plantings, great deals on perennials and some new introductions that we don't see elsewhere.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Catherine,

I just completed my containers today even had to replace some plants that got clipped by the cold earlier in the week.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joey,

I think I am done with the containers, not lush at this point, but I am glad that I did most of them because they will look better into the summer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know what you mean Joy, it is has been very unusual weather here, frost, wind, cold, rain then eighties predicted for the weekend.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Becca,

The header is from this year and all of those blooms are now history. I must plan a new header but it has been so cool there is nothing that compare to that bloom.

Eileen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, I agree that so many of the containers and hanging baskets that you find at garden centers are overgrown. Your Home Depot finds are beautiful and seem very well priced. I can identify with your soar muscles. I have a few myself!
P.S. That crabapple is stunning.

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I hope the Garden Study Group went well Eileen and how are those aching limbs!

Stunning crabapple (maybe!)

Love your new paws background. By the way Reggie looks such a sweetie!

Jeanne
x

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Jennifer,

I have some bushes to put in and then I hope I am done for now. I need to recuperate for the next group of projects.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jeanne,

It is a really nice crabapple and I have never noticed any disease on it. It belongs to my neighbor but looks like it could belong to me.

Reggie is a great little Westie, our third one, so sociable.

Eileen

Indoor Fountains said...

I believe that is a crabapple tree- I have the same one in my front yard!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Indoor Fountains,

I wasn't quite sure about he crabapple, so beautiful!

Eileen