Monday, June 20, 2011

Garden Beauties

Hello everyone,
     I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a family Father's Day brunch at our house and it was lovely but too cool and damp to eat on the veranda where we would normally enjoy our meals this time of year.This is definitely the coolest and wettest spring I can remember. Yesterday,parts of the Island had hail so I am happy the garden escaped that.
 Anyway, tomorrow is the first day of summer and the prediction is a hot dry summer for us so at this point I say 'bring it on' !
  However, the garden is doing well and the blooms are lasting so much longer this year then last.

  So,I have some collages to show you a little of what is going on in the garden now.

The above clematis is Guernsey Cream and I love the creamy color when it first blooms-later they fade to white.

The yellow bird magnolia is a young tree but it had several pretty yellow blooms this year that are still blooming.The snowball Viburnum is in bloom now and the bearded iris also.
The primrose lilac and a white Japanese tree peony.
The lupins are in bloom and there are many areas on the Island where they are very abundant in the ditches along the road making a pretty site. I like to have a few in the garden to bloom with the early peonies and the allium etc.(not shown). Dames Rocket is also in bloom and it too grows wild in ditches etc. I especially love when they are blooming together in the ditches. The Dames Rocket is fragrant and pretty but it is a spreader in the garden so I pull it out when it is done blooming but there are always seedlings for next year.
The peony above was from my Dad's garden and he gave me a piece of it many years ago. Over the years I have divided it many times and have moved it around the garden and shared some, with friends.
  I love the allium(purple balls) as they bloom a long time and even look good when they go to seed. They will also re-seed freely around the garden in a nice way.
The french lilacs are still blooming and the Canadian ones are almost in bloom now. After they are done the Japanese Ivory Silk ones bloom. They all have a lovely fragrance but different.

Well, that is a little of what is going on right now in the garden,but I see lots of buds on the early roses so in a week they garden will have a whole new look-that's what makes gardening so interesting, isn't it?

Have a lovely day!

Carolyn

21 comments:

Southerncook said...

I so enjoy seeing what you have blooming in your garden most of which in my garden bloomed months ago. Our heat, humidity and lack of rain (I have the irrigation on right now) has kicked in and it stresses my garden so much. Living in N FL I don't plant too many tropicals since our below freezing winters would kill them. I do keep a few blooming tropicals in pots though.

That yellow magnolia is so beautiful and being the Southerner that I am magnolias have a special place in my heart. We can't grow that variety here but it certainly is a beauty.

Your garden is just so magnificant and I enjoy you sharing it.

Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

Susan said...

Hi Carolyn....I so love seeing your gorgeous garden. Everything looks lovely.

I have a question....how do you keep the mirror clean that is behind the statue?

Hope your Monday is great. Susan

Pamela Gordon said...

Carolyn, your flower photos are just stunning! What a gorgeous place to live and enjoy. I'm glad you escaped the hail. We had a very cool and wet weekend here but it's partly sunny here today. Bring on that hot dry summer they're predicting! I am ready for it. Pamela

It's me said...

Every time i read your post....my mounth is wide open....so so beautiful is your garden....enjoy your weeek ....love Ria....xxx....

lilisinha said...

Olá Querida!
Não me canso de vir aqui nesse pedaço de paraíso admirar, cada dia que passa mais lindo!
Nosso final de semana calmo, os filhos e netos não vieram, aproveitei para pintar umas peças para reforma de um baú antigo, brevemente mostrarei,o clima aqui está quente e úmido previsão de muita chuva com granizo e vento, tenho medo. tomara que passe longe e não prejudique nimguém.
que sua semana e de sua familia seja perfeita!
Bjos Carinhosos.

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

I love the clematis color! I have tried and tried to grow lupines..no success here in Illinois? I have a white lilac like yours and yesterday for 1/2 off I got 2 new bushes a pink and a purple and added to my hydrangea collection with a limelight..which would look wonderful with the clematis u featured! all just gorgeous as always!

Linda said...

Beautiful blooms in your garden.

Isola Country said...

I love every picture you post .... each one of them contains a little dream, the finest is the one that told birdhouse and the sparrow. thanks
Carmen

My name is Riet said...

Your garden is so beautiful Carolyn. I love your collage all in color. Wonderful.

Sue said...

Oh what beautiful blooms in your garden!! I am a novice gardener and am so awed by everyone's gorgeous gardens. Your colors are just so pretty.

Shel said...

Oh, Carolyn.....why have I never discovered you before. I am speechless over your blog and your newest follower. I'm so grateful to Monique for introducing us...
Good luck with my little giveaway.
Shel

Marica said...

E' tutto stupendo!!!

Un bacio

Marica

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Oh such beautiful collages! I love that white lilac so much!

Beverly said...

Ah, Carolyn. Everything is just beautiful.

We are in the extreme heat phase right now - and just trying to keep everything alive.

Madelief said...

Dear Carolyn,

I am glad the hail did not destroy your garden. How pretty the lilacs are blooming and that yellow Magnolia...I have never seen one before.

I hope you will get your summer weather soon!

Happy new week!

Madelief

Bernideen said...

I am bringing my shovel to those ditches - wow - they are very expensive here so what a fortune! This gives new meaning to SHOVEL READY!

Sanna - My Blueberry House said...

Hi Carolyn,

Beautiful flowers. You have such a variety of them. I have always considered lupins a wildflower, maybe they are not? They are growing everywhere around here ;)

Have a nice week!
I am so hoping for nice weather, we are celebrating Midsummer on Friday.

-Sanna

Anonymous said...

Many thanks, Carolyn, for your glorious post, as always. I was out and about earlier in the fog, wind and horizontal rain here, and I could not wait to get home with a steaming cuppa to see what was blooming in your garden this day!!! You have mastered the art form of the beautiful, my friend... And, that tiny winged creature is the most precious!!! I cannot believe how fortunate you were to capture him with your camera lense for us all to appreciate. We are so fortunate that you are willing to share with us all!

Wishing you and yours a beautiful day,
Linda :-)

Camille said...

Your collages are beautiful, Carolyn. I've never seen a yellow magnolia. And the cream clematis is lovely ~

Lounging with a Latte said...

Your garden is so beautiful, it must bring you so much joy. Must be lovely to have a ready supply of flowers to bring inside.

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