Here are some pictures of what we are seeing in the yard right now.
Pink Dogwoods!! There are two of these in the front yard, and we didn't realize they were pink- what a lovely surprise! The white ones are beautiful too but the pink are just so gorgeous. I think they will lighten up some when they are fully open- right now they look almost red.
In the back the apple trees are getting really full of blossoms. The bees are super busy doing their work up there too- it's fun to watch.
Flowers- we've got loads of pansies still doing very well- Pat had them in pots all around the house and they are so cheerful.
There are also a few tulips- not many but so beautiful. It is all I can do to keep Stella from picking them though- they are SO tempting to her.
Lenten Roses- these have been in bloom for a while now but are still hanging in there.
Just a couple of Iris already blooming- there will be lots more soon.
The peonies are getting taller! I am really excited about these, they are one flower that I remember so vividly from our yard when I was growing up.
Phlox in the back by our little fish pond.
And a few that I do not know the names of- (I can't find the paper I wrote all the names on!! It got misplaced in the move!) if you know them I'd love it if you'd post a comment and tell us. One of my goals is to learn all the names and even label most of the many plants and flowers so the kids can learn them too.
Thanks for the help, Sarah! After a little research (Oh, how I love the internet...) I know these are Virginia Bluebells, and a hybrid Verbena.
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And now- I need some advice from the experienced gardeners out there. We have a Star Jasmine (I think!) in the back at one corner of the deck. It has climbed up the post but much of the plant is drooping down and climbing up itself, making sort of a jumble. I'd love to put up some sort of trellis across the back side of the deck so that it can spread out and wind it's way up. It is just one plant by the looks of it, but it is getting quite large.
The deck is almost 9 feet from the ground on that end, and the only trellises I saw at the store were 6 feet. So I need to build something. I am thinking about using string and eye hooks to make a grid for the plant to climb, because it will almost disappear once the vines fill it in. If anyone has experience with Jasmine or with making a trellis out of string, I'd love it if you would leave a comment for me. Thanks!
My father-in-law has jasmine climbing up his front porch, I think it had a trellis, I can't remember, it's so big now...and wisteria (I think that's what it was) on the back deck roof...it's a ground deck, so he had just encouraged it to climb up one of the beams, and now it's completely covering almost the entire patio roof...and blowing flowers all over the place.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, they have another deck off the second floor master bedroom, and it has a two climbing roses intermingled together...It's been there for over 20 years. I have no idea what's supporting it underneith...we joke that the roses are what's holding the deck up, as it's become quite unstable over the years.
Anyhow, youre yard is fantastic! I am so envious indeed! What a great value you got in that back yard!
Verbena is the purple flower and I'm wondering if the other is bluebells? I can't really tell. Jason says the jasmine is probably confederate and will grow very well up anything you give it to grow up. He says to just pull it off and retrain it and not worry if you break anything, they will grow back. Good luck with it. I'm sure you could twist his arm to help you out somewhere along the way with pruning and limb trainings...
ReplyDeleteWe especially like the Irises! ;)
ReplyDeleteFrom the Cobb family
Looks like you have bluebells in there. (they look like they're hanging down and look like...tada... bells) hahaha
ReplyDeleteBut any climbing plant will climb anything if you just take a small part and weave it to wherever you want it. The material you'll want will have to be strong but not cut into the plant as it's growing. Hemp rope supported by cable (the kind used in clothes lines) is always a good start. Just zig zag it back and forth and make it into a weaving pattern for stability.
Good luck. You've got a beautiful garden and yard. I've been living vicariously through your photos although I don't have anywhere near a green thumb to keep up with all that! So thanks for sharing!
Those pink dogwoods and the pansies are gorgeous! I can't offer any help, I'm new at this gardening thing too.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous! We're still only barely getting green shoots and buds on the trees up here. It's been a long winter!
ReplyDeleteAs for the trellis: with the eye bolts, use clothesline. It's strong and durable, and will hold up well to the weather. My cucumber trellis is basically a wooden frame with eye bolts along all the sides, strung in a grid with clothesline. Works great.