The garden is in a quiet phase, after the spring show of bulbs, crab apples, rock garden jewel tones, and the peonies of June. There’s a bit of lull until all the meadow flowers of mid-summer come into bloom, and all our ornamental grasses come into their own. Thankfully, we have had plenty of rain, and all is lush. Here are a few photos of this moment of calm before the explosion of mid-summer color.
A quiet time color-wise in the four-square garden
Succulents and container plantings in our front courtyard - in the background some of John's stone carving studies
Pale coneflower portrait
In the meadow - Echinacea pallida
The rock garden on June 11, with peonies in the background
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Good Afternoon Yvonne; That’s what I call a Great Rock Garden.
Enjoy your afternoon,
John
Thank you, John. I have to give credit where it is due: the rock garden is entirely my husband’s creation. I wrote about it here: http://countrygardener.blogspot.com/2007/05/rock-gardening-anyone.html. I will definitely pass on your compliment.
Okay, Yvonne. I’m looking at the petunias in the pot and the agaves standing sentinel and I’m wondering if you stab yourself when you’re deadheading!?
Ha, ha, that danger certainly exists. Yes, in a word, it happens.
Dear Yvonne,
I love your succulent collection and admire the pots they are in. Can you tell me where I might find similar containers? I also grow succulents.
Hi Maria. And welcome to the blog. As to your question about the pots, we have collected a lot of garden containers over the years. Most of them were bought at local nurseries and garden centers such as the Garden Gallery and Terra, and White Rose when it existed, and some even came from Home Depot. We have also picked up interesting containers on our travels or at Canada Blooms, but really most of them were purchased locally. I think our operative rule is whenever we see a pot we love we buy it because it might not be there the next time. When the time comes to move or downsize, we will have an amazing garden pot sale.
Ok, for my own battered ego, please tell me you fixed it up specially for the pictures, or you have hired help??? Mine is rarely that tidy.
Our garden is a full time job: between myself and my helpers, it gets many hours of maintenance (weeding, mowing, mulching, etc.) a week. Just keeping up property values here on these 10 acres… If it reverted back to weedy mess, which it was when we got here 12 years ago, I’d be unhappy.
WoW! See you in Buffalo!
Wow, to you too. Just looked at the photos at your blog: your garden is gorgeous! See you Buffalo. Looking forward to meeting you there.
My garden is in an ugly phase Yvonne! I need to re-think and re-vamp. Well, I didn’t plant it so I guess I just need to work some magic! Everything there is looking great!
Hi Yvonne, your rock garden is spectacular. How do you store all your succulents in pots over the winter? Do you have a greenhouse or a storage area? I’m assuming you don’t leave them all outside as clay pots tend to crack and crumble with our winter weather.
Beautiful! I have to get some Echinacea pallida.