GardenAuthor's Flora

Frosty, Sunny and Wet

2011-11-17T01:49:00.001-08:00

The above is not a forecast, merely a description

of photos taken over the space of two weeks,

from early to mid-November.

First, the "Frosty" ~ From November 6th...

Frosted Mandevilla ~ still patiently awaiting winter

vacation on my sunny windowsill ~ Whoops!

Ice? On the birdbath? Seriously?

I've still got a garden to plant!

My pink Knockout rose ~ knocked out for the season

by Jack Frost!

Purple Smokebush and Blue Rug Juniper

with a light, sparkly layer of frost.

Frosted Physopcarpus 'Diablo' (ninebark)

'Rhumba' or 'Samba' ~ I've lost track of which dwarf

Weigela is on the left or right.

And, my autumn flag shimmers 'neath

the hoarfrost, as the sun rises.

And, the "Sunny" segment?

Scotch Pine ~ "Cloud Pruned"

'Mt. Airy' Fothergilla

Finally, the "Wet".....

Early morning irrigation in the garden center.

An Early Summer Garden Stroll

2011-07-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

Whether strolling through your favorite garden center or your own little piece of paradise, there are plants to astound us with lavish displays... from annuals and herbaceous perennials to the woody ornamentals that provide so much substance and character. Hide away from the relentless summer heat for a few minutes, pour yourself a frosty glass of lemonade and join me on a virtual garden stroll...

Let's start with a glimpse of something shade tolerant ~ Astilbe, in its many heights, colors and flower forms also presents us with foliage that lends beauty and texture to the shade garden.

Astilbe

Echinacea 'Milkshake'

Verbascum 'Jackie' (mullein)

Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Twist and Shout' (& below)

Buddleia davidii 'Peacock' (English Butterfly Series)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen' ('Glowing Embers')

Achillea (yarrow)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Together' ('Forever & Ever' series)

Echinacea 'Milkshake'

Buddleia davidii 'Peacock' (English Butterfly Series)

Hemerocallis (daylily)

Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'
Queen of the Prairie

Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincible® Spirit' (2 above photos)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'

Buddleia davidii 'Adonis Blue' (English Butterfly Series)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Vanilla Strawberry'

Hollyhock (Alcea), single yellow

More Astilbes...

Hydrangea macrophylla "Forever & Ever" 'Peppermint'

Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight'

Oakleaf Hydrangeas
(More compact than the species.)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' (2 above)
This one matures at 4-6' high.

Buddleia davidii 'Purple Emperor'

Showy Blooms!

Fabulous Foliage!

Three above photos are of
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' (2-3' high)

Now, while hydrangeas and butterfly bushes may have
dominated this little flower show, there are other shrubs
and many perennials still making any garden stroll
something to anticipate at this point in the growing season.

I hope you're enjoying some of these old favorites and new
hybrids in your own gardens this summer!

©Deb Lambert 2011

The Colors of Spring

2011-04-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

So that I don't "bury my lead," let me start with blossoms that bring the color of sunshine to our landscapes. Let's begin with two of the more unusual specimens...

Magnolia acuminata ‘Butterflies’ (Butterflies Magnolia)

20-25’H x 25-35’W. Striking yellow cup-shaped flowers

in early spring. Large blooms. Vigorous grower.

Very cold hardy.

Rhododendron 'Capistrano' 5-7’H x 6-8’W.

Rare, truly yellow flowers. Rounded habit.

More cold hardy than other yellow cultivars.

Blooms in mid-May

Unnamed yellow rose

'Lynnwood Gold' Forsythia

Forsythia intermedia 'Lynnwoood Gold' 7-8’H x 7-8’W. Medium-
yellow flowers in April. Broad, upright, with arching lower
branches. Very popular variety

Narcissus 'Dutch Master' Daffodil

Colorful spring display at Corliss Bros. Garden Center

includes redbud, bog rosemary, fothergilla, viburnum

and azaleas, among others.

Viburnum x burkwoodii ’(Burkwood Viburnum) 10’H x 8-10’W.

Pink bud to white flower. Very attractive glossy, dark green foliage.

A carlesii hybrid sharing its famous sweet fragrance. More
vigorous. Very dense with minimal pruning, tolerates shearing.

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) 20-30’H x 25-35’W.

Vase-shaped. Broad crown. Small lavender-pink flowers in April.
Heart shaped foliage. Lovely small tree. Likes moist soil.

Plant in very protected area, avoid open and windy areas. ~ Native

Fothergilla gardenii x major 'Mount Airy' 4-6’H x 4-6’W. Perfect

green foliage on rounded twiggy branching. Fragrant white

bottlebrush flowers appear before foliage fully emerges.

Brilliant fall color. Likes a sunny spot in acid soil but

will tolerate half shade. ‘Mount Airy’ is a hybrid fothergilla

cultivar that was discovered by plantsman Michael A. Dirr

at the Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Related to witch hazel and prefers a pH of 5.6-6.0.

Azalea 'Cornell Pink' 4-6'W x 4-6'H

Clear-pink explosion of color in early spring.
One of the first plants to flower. Great in borders.

Azalea mucronulatum (Manchurian Azalea)

Bright lilac-pink flowers before foliage emerges...

like 'Cornell Pink', this is a deciduous azalea.

Photos ©Deb Lambert 2011

Plant descriptions courtesy of the 2011 Corliss Bros. catalog

FROZEN FLORA

2011-02-24T03:07:00.000-08:00

As ice melts and refreezes on our landscape specimens,

visually intriguing, fleeting works of art are often

left behind by winter's frigid hand. Such an

occurrence caught my eye, on one particular

'Blue Princess' holly. One last glance at winter,

over the shoulder, as we turn our attention

toward visions of spring...

Encased, glittering like rare little jewels

Awaiting the blandishments of escalating sunshine

Anticipating the sweet release of spring

When unfurling flowers will rejoice

In constant visitation rounds

Of an apian nature

Text/Photos: ©Deb Lambert 2011

PLEASE NOTE: If you are reading this article on a website or blog, other than my own, it has been posted there without my knowledge or permission! I'd be grateful for an emailed "heads-up" if you notice such thievery! Just go to my website at GardenAuthor.com, scroll to the bottom of any page and click on the email button. On behalf of my fellow garden writers and bloggers, I thank you for helping to protect our intellectual property!

Wentworth Cranberry Bush

2011-01-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

When it comes to a hardy, large-scale shrub that offers a feast for the eyes and a feast for our backyard birds, Viburnum trilobum 'Wentworthi' has few rivals. Taken over the course of several years, the following photos reveal the innate beauty of these brilliant berries... drenched with raindrops, dusted with snow, attached to the branches or lying scattered on the soil, early on a frosty morn.

Description: Viburnum trilobum 'Wentworthi' (Wentworth Cranberry Bush) 10-15’H x 8-10’W. Fast grower. Flat white flowers in late May. Showy bright red berries late summer, heavy bearer. Tolerates moist areas and will flower in shade. Burgundy fall foliage color.

Enjoy the scenery.....

PLEASE NOTE: If you are reading this article on a website or blog, other than my own, it has been posted there without my knowledge or permission! I'd be grateful for an emailed "heads-up" if you notice such thievery!

Help stop theft and plagiarism of the intellectual property displayed within my many blogs, the blogs I maintain for Corliss Bros., and the content of my website. The "feed scrapers" that appropriate my material, insert advertising into my text and display my entire articles (complete with photos) have already stolen unknown quantities of my copyrighted works. Sadly, other garden writers/bloggers are experiencing similar theft, so we must all remain vigilant, assisting each other in this effort. We'd all be grateful for your vigilance, as well. Thank you ~ Deb Lambert, 'GardenAuthor'

Autumn Garden by Moonlight

2010-11-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

'Mt. Airy' Fothergilla

Amazing color for November 17th!

Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'

Foxglove "volunteers... Digitalis 'Excelsior'

A pink tea rose bravely soldiering on through

the cold and dark November evening.

Hovering, suspended in the inky blackness.

Only a wind chime breaks the silence

with its tinkling melody.

And a nearly full moon breaks through the clouds

to light the way home.

Astounding Autumn

2010-11-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

From the first hint of deepening foliage color,

to the last blooms and first frosty nights,

autumn continues to astound us. Join me for

an autumn stroll, through gardens and woods...

Get out there and enjoy all that autumn

in New England has to offer!

The Wild and Cultivated Blooms of Autumn

2010-10-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

These were but a few of the September/October blooms

that we enjoy, here in New England.

Garden Party for One

2010-07-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's hot... too hot to work in the garden.
Let's find some amusement on this hot July afternoon.
The light's all wrong at 1:00 PM for taking garden shots,
but it makes a great, bright backdrop from the cool kitchen.

New goblets, the color of summer, pair nicely
with the clean white of shasta daisies.

I feel cooler already!

Borago officinalis ~ Borage, also "Star Flower"
Often a bit floppy in habit, they usually need staking and
average 18" high by 12" wide. Suitable for garden or
container culture, they freely self-seed and "volunteers"
will continue to sprout and bloom during the same season,
and from year to year. They are annual and not invasive ~
simply a delightful surprise when up they pop.

From garden to ice cube tray, and ready for the party!

Float them in ice water or lemonade.

Pretty in melon...

in green...

and in blue!

Borage flowers and the youngest leaves are used to
decorate salads, cold soups and dips. Candied,
the blossoms make wonderful cake decorations.
Did you know? If you plant borage near tomatoes,
they'll taste better. Larger leaves are cooked as
greens, in soup or with cabbage and are
cucumber flavored.

Feeling cooler, yet?

How 'bout now?

See? They really are sky-blue flowers...
and the real stars of this garden party for one!

Well, thanks for dropping by. Just one last thing...
do you like lemonade with borage ice cubes?

CHEERS!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips...

2010-05-01T02:02:00.000-07:00

Those Photogenic Cosmos

2010-02-25T15:17:00.000-08:00