Support Your Plants

It sounds like a new movement doesn't it?  But, I really mean it literally, don't hesitate to support your treasured plantings by any means possible.  Several years ago at my other homes I said if a plant can't stand on its own it doesn't belong in my yard.  Well that eliminated many of the garden plants that have become my favorites.

We love decorative trellises, however, when covered with blooming plants the beauty is not visible!

Even the newly planted need a support to climb.

Pergolas are a great support but will probably require some ties to keep the plants headed in the right direction.

These are two type 2 clematis growing on one support.

Smaller clematis, six feet and under, do well on teuters.

In my small yard with fencing all around it is almost impossible to grow taller plants without plant supports.  The fence interferes with all around light so the plants bend forward.  I read a great article in Fine Gardening last year about using supports in the garden and this gave me the courage to go all out this year displaying my plants in the best possible manner.

This year I am ringing the Miscanthus Udine to keep it from encroaching on the pathway.  When the grass is grown the rings become invisible.

I brought the little metal fences from my last house and have always used them to keep the carex off the path.  Again, they will become invisible as the grass grows.

Blue Paradise Phlox is a favorite but it is much more floppy than other varieties.

The Limelight Hydrangea needs a little reigning in to keep it's branches from leaning over the neighbor's driveway, decorative fencing out in front is the answer.

Persicaria Polymorpha is a beautiful plant and this is my last ditch effort not to give it up.  It got beaten up pretty badly last year in our violent storms.  I have ringed them because the fence does not prevent the stems from breaking.

Lastly, the alley garden is fully supported this year, makes a big difference to ring them.

Many of my garden plants are supported by other plantings, i.e., daylilies coming up in front of Becky Shasta Daily, roses in front of phlox and lilies, etc.  But, if you really want to grow it you may have to support it!

Frost, Frost, Stay Away!

I remember covering up my containers in May last year because of a frost warning.  It is hard to believe what the garden looks like this year with trees blooming and leafed out, blooming shrubs and flowers.

Amelanchier Regent

A small Serviceberry about four feet tall

Viburnum Carlesi Compactum

I put this in last spring to replace one that became diseased.

It is difficult to find shrubs for the small garden but lately there seem to be smaller versions of many favorites.

I decided not to use fertilizer on the bleeding hearts or the carex grass this year.  Last year I fertilized and everything went crazy.  I could barely keep up trimming down the grass and the bleeding hearts were almost four feet tall.  They are still big but a more appropriate size for eight year old specimens.

Brunnera Angel Wings

Not as showy as Jack Frost but lovely with light blue flowers

Brunnera Jack Frost

Pulmonaria Raspberry Splash

The leaves of the Brunnera and the Pulmonaria remain showy in the summer border.

Heuchera Miracle

I purchased this last summer at Home Depot and the picture had the veining but the plant did not.  The new spring growth looks like the photo and this one will take full sun!

Heucherella Stoplight

The heucherellas (cross between heuchera and tiarella) are much hardier than the tiarellas and the foliage is stunning along with tall feathery blooms into the summer.

A view is important during all seasons and it doesn't matter if it comes from your garden or your neighbors!

Hyacinth Blue Jacket

Tulip Orange Emperor

Around The Garden

It is difficult to believe that plants are popping all over this early spring garden, some almost a month early.

The Star Magnolia was a beauty this year but it is already beginning to wilt and brown because of the heat.

The PJM Rhododendrons seem to be able to handle the heat.

I almost didn't plant forsythia in the front garden because their blooms are so short-lived.  However Forsythia Greenstem is a winner, only three feet tall and bright lemon yellow flowers and long lasting.

One little primrose came back from last year.

Daffodil Itzim
Very early and lasts much longer than Tete-A-Tete

Daffodil Fortissimo

Daffodils Marieke and Mount Hood

Daffodil Spellbinder

Chanticleer Pear

The tulips are opening, ferns are coming up, bleeding hearts are blooming.  I had better take some photos, just hope we don't get frost!

Motivate - Hort Couture

This is the most important part of a garden show because we need to be motivated to incorporate new ideas into our future gardening experiences. 

Many times these regional garden shows are over-the-top and we can't imagine doing anything they display in our gardens.  I felt the Chicago show was a bit more realistic this year with some obvious flights of fancy.

I like all of these ideas for planter boxes but know the ferns cannot take full sun.  House plants are still big this year for outside and this doesn't bother me if you can find them for a reasonable price.  Bromiliads are expensive as are the ferns, maybe extensive use will bring the price down like it has for succulents.

Try to incorporate some sculpture into your garden this year, something homemade, garage sale, found or from one of the outlet stores.  It doesn't have to be expensive to add interest to the garden.

Water plants can be put in small fountains.  I have mine in a smaller area than this, so there is no excuse not to have that pond you have always wanted but lack the room for an in-ground one.

Create a vignette outside (not quite this fancy)

I have a few birdhouses but these were special, modeled after vintage homes.  A birdhouse might be something new for your garden this year!

This is from the "try a new weird plant" this year category.  I do not have room for a plant this big but I hear it is a beauty!

Save all of your old tires for this display?

Some Hort Couture to wear in your garden!

Can you imagine setting a table like this on your patio?

A bedroom to die for!

The above is the bling part of a garden show, but there is a lot of work that goes into executing one of these events and hopefully there is meaning in what the producers are trying to say.

Educate - Hort Couture

To appreciate a garden show, it should educate us in regard to a different way of doing things and this show certainly did that.

A pergola made out of logs

A small garden area accented by a piece of rusty fence

Conifers intermingled with perennials

We don't often think of planting conifers in the midst of a perennial bed.  Usually the evergreens are lined up in the back along the foundation with shrubs and perennials in front.

A class on spring potted arrangements

I love this berm with just about everything, conifers, perennials and shrubs.

The White House Raised beds were depicted in an even more upscale manner.  The garden show organizer actually went to Washington to see the White House Beds.  He was very proud of the fact that he even made them look better!  Raised beds are bigger than ever, and as you can see, can be placed right on the lawn.  I am not sure how easy this would be to mow!

Guess what?  Everything is in rows again, remember we were told to plant in threes and fives in triangle formations not soldiers!

I kind of like the look of these massed rows!  I have nothing planted in rows, just triangles but it looks like they may have incorporated the triangle formation within the rows.