Saturday 21 July 2012

July 21, 2012


Allium cristophii





Time to climb a new learning curve...


First attempt at a blog...


I love to garden, and am always searching to create that perfect spot, that ah ha moment. Though I think I should know better, I do find my gardens are more plant driven, ie. I buy the plant, and then look for the right location, rather than making an intellectual choice as to which plant would be best for a certain spot!


We live in the Pacific Northwest, in Fort Langley, B.C., so we are blessed with a wonderful climate to garden in, and so many choices when it comes to nurseries, both commercial and home-based, in which to search for that elusive 'next plant'!


Unfortunately, I lost my camera while on vacation recently, so pictures will have to be from my files or taken with an old digital. I'm on the hunt for a new camera, and any suggestions will be gladly accepted.


Please send me a message  via Blotanical.com if you drop by, so I can take a peek at your blog too. Am hoping that I can use this sharing blogs to find out more about plants I have or 'should have' in my garden, and can hopefully help others out with what I have learned.


Some of my recent 'Successes'... always looking to create combos that work!



I love the Gold Heart Dicentra. I had let it languish for a year or two in its original gallon sized pot, but it survived and is flourishing in its new spot. Picture was taken one month ago, and today it is still blooming! Hosta 'June' is in the forefront, along with Primula vulgaris (bottom right) that will usually bloom twice a year - prolifically in spring and then again in September. To the bottom left and not showing in the picture is a variegated Japanese grass, Hakonechloa aureola. Behind this combo are two very large Rhododendrons, 15 x 15 ft each, so because of the deep dark green of their leaves, having three lighter leaved plants in close proximity works.



One of my favourite late spring combos! I have three Heuchera Marmalade spread out on the front edge of one of my borders. I have different plants behind each forming the 'middle layer' of my border. This one sets off the purple tones of the emerging leaves of Eucomis comosa. By mid-July the leaves will have lost most of their purple, but until they do, I think this combo is stunning!


Hostas are an indispensable staple of any Perennial garden, and here in the Pacific NorthWest, they  are a given! Here are two of my favourites... Hosta Guacamole on top, and H. Striptease on bottom. I'll have to split them this fall.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, yes, that Dicentra is something special! And the Heuchera is an interesting shade, too. My garden is chock full of Hostas. I'm not sure I appreciated them enough. Very nice blog! I'll look forward to comparing notes!

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  2. Marmalade has most glorious coloured leaves!

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  3. Great start! Keep going and it wont be long before your blog gets accepted by Blotanical.

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  4. Welcome to Blotanical! You have a lovely start... I'll look forward to reading more of your posts. Your Marmalade looks delicious.

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  5. Thanks for visiting Ladies! I am glad that I stumbled across Blotanical and hope my Blog will eventually be posted there too.

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  6. Hi Rae, I totally know what you mean about buying a plant and then wondering where it might go. I am a bit of a shopaholic when it comes to plants. Love some of the foliage combinations you have there. I have to salute the fact that your hostas are unblemished by slugs.

    I don't think your blog needs to be accepted by Blotanical, I just logged in and registered mine there...

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