Garden Ornaments for Macro Saturday

A garden just doesn't seem finished to me until you add a few ornaments to break up the scenery.  I just wanted to show you three of them today.   The first one is a butterfly solar light. It actually is in a cluster of butterflies on stems from a faux rock.  I hide the mechanics in the shrubbery and at night the little butterflies blink on and off by the side of the pond.  Sort of like little lightning bugs.  It is kind of cute.

This bit of blown glass hangs on a chain from a shepherd's hook in the garden.  It adds colour and a little bit of whimsy. I would like to see your ornaments.   What do you use in the garden to pretty it up.

This fellow I have posted about before but I think he is kind of cute too.  My oldest son made this for me out of garden tools: a large shovel, smaller shovel, some rebar and two washers. 

Weld them together and add a little rust and you have an interesting piece to stick in amongst the plantings


Macro Saturday is a meme for photos that are close up or taken with a macro lens. Join us. Valerie











 

Bloomin Natives for Wildflower Wednesday

When my husband and I built the pond in our back yard last year we added a small bog garden on the side of it.   The Spotted Joe-Pye Weed or Eupatorium maculatum, a native plant in North America.   It seems to be doing very well in the garden at about 4ft tall.   The leaves form from the stem in a whorled pattern and the blooms are a soft pink that appear slightly fuzzy.  This plant prefers its roots in moist soil but has been known to adapt to a drier soil.   This one had the added bonus of having the Monarch butterfly visit it yesterday.

The Swamp Milkweed or Asclepias incarnata is another native that we grow in the bog garden.  We have two plants of this one.   They look like they will take over the small bog garden in the next few years.  They are grow to 4 ft and ours are that now in full sun and in moist soil.   It has lovely deep pink flowers that have a fragrance of vanilla.   Yesterday when I was out taking photos this one had a yellow jacket on it.  Didn't want to get too close with the macro lens.

Cardinal Flower or Lobelia cardinalis is a new addition to the bog garden this year. I purchased it at the North American Native Plant Society's plant sale in the spring.   I thought it was toast when the first week it was planted the roaming ground hog came along and took the top off it.   Thankfully, it was tough and it came back strong with many branches and all of them have buds on them.   This one is just teasing us with its soon to be red colour.   This plant will attract hummingbirds.   Have to wait and see.

Boneset or Eupatorium perfoliatum is the last one in the bog garden I will show today.  This plant was purchased at the NANPS plant sale in the spring.  It is growing beside the Joe Pye Weed and is just as tall.  The bloom has not fully opened but will be a large cluster of white flowers.   This plant also attracts butterflies.

Black-Eyed Susan or redbeckia hirta is a bright pop of colour in the garden at this time of the year. It thrives in harsh conditions and that is good in this sandy soil.  It is also drought tolerant which is another bonus.  This plant reseeds its self and I am happy with that.  A no brainer in the prairie or cottage garden design..

And finally, the plant my husband is very fond of.  It is the Turk's Cap Lily or Lilium superbum, a tall plant that has a huge flower that is orange and spotted.  In my wildflowers book it says that this plant likes a moist site.  Mine are growing in the dry amended sand.   The only draw back to this one is the dreaded lily beetle is attracted to this plant.  Just yesterday when I took this photo I squished one.  

I hope you enjoyed this little visit with the native plants I have blooming at this moment.   Please join Clay and Limestone for more native plants grown in many locals. Maybe you will find one for your garden.    Valerie

It's Around the Pond for Mosiac Monday

This week I thought I would show you around the pond.  Our pond was constructed last August.  It has some finishing touches to be included to it but my husband and I cannot agree on what those may be.   He wants to add a side water area for shallow water plants and I want a deck where I can place the muskoka chairs and make it look like we are at the cottage.   Anyway,  we are really enjoying it this year.  We sit out most evenings till the mosquitos drive us indoors watching the wild life in the form of frogs.  We have on an off 4 frogs.  The birds come down for a drink.  The fish move the plants about.   A simple life for simple people.   Note:  In the mosiac you will find my pool boy.   LOL.   Have a great gardening week.   Valerie

Join us over at Mary's for Mosiac Monday. There is lots of things to see and nice people too.

Flowering Rush for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

The Flowering Rush or Butomus umbellatus is now flowering in our pond.   This is one of two plants we have in the pond.  The other one has a bud on it but has not yet opened.  I think it is very pretty. 

Straight out of the Camera Sunday is hosted by Jan at Murrieta365.com.   Take a picture but do not edit it.  You can crop it but that is all.  Post it to your blog and then link it to Jan's site.   It is fun and it is easy.  See you there.   Valerie

Native Cup Plant for Macro Saturday

Cup Plant or Silphium perfoliatum is in its second year in the garden.   It is 7ft or 2.13 meters tall.  It has thick stems and large leaves that act a cup to hold water.   The flowers are school bus yellow. It is easy to grow and maintain.  The plant tolerates clay and is drought tolerant.  Only draw back is its tendency to spread.  Give it lots of room.

You can see here the reason it is called the cup plant.  Water tends to accumulate where the leaves and stem form.

More interesting macros can be found HERE for Macro Saturday.  Do you take macro or close up photos?  Join us.  We would love to see them.    Valerie

Whats Growing in the Sandbox this Week

 Every morning armed with my one of two cups of coffee I wander around looking to see what is new in the garden.   I have discovered that I have a lot of daylilies and some I do not remember planting.  When I see them bloom I try to remember where did that come from.  I love daylilies so if there is one for sale at a church plant sale, fundraiser or in someone's garden I will bring home another one.   The unfortunate part of doing this is that you have no idea what the name of the cultivar is.  I am going to show you three of my collection that I do know the names of .   The first above is Strawberry Candy.

This one is called Canada Goose.   Don't know why.  A Canada goose does not come in this velvety deep red colour.

This is called Prague Spring.   I love its delicate colours.

The Belamcanda chinensis is also called Blackberry Lily or Leopard Lily.  It is not a lily at all but is in the Iris family.  It has fan shaped leaves like the Iris with 6petaled orange flowers on it.  The flowers only last one day.  It is native to China and grows in partial shade to full sun.  This plant is really at the end of its range in a zone 5 but it seems to come back in my 4b with a heavy mulch in winter. 

Pink Diamond Hydrangea is coming into bloom.  This large shrub stands at 7ft tall and at least 5 wide.  I did not realize that it would be so large when I planted it.  I give it a pruning in the spring to keep it in bounds.  The blooms go from white to pink as they age.  It is usually covered in bees and wasps as the flowers are very fragrant.

My cosmos are beginning to bloom also.  The roaming ground hog chewed the tops of many of them.  I am glad to see that they are doing fine now.   This one was a pretty pink.   I got fancy and texturized the photo with a light bokka.

Well I have lots more plants to show you but I will save some for another day.   I hope you like these.  I always enjoy showing them to you.   It is amazing the plants that will grow in our sandy soil.   Mother Nature has been very kind this year.  Our summer has been the best in many for temperatures and growing conditions.    Happy Gardening.  Valerie

Another Version of the Princely Pear Luncheon for Tea Time Tuesday

I have taken the invitation of Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspirations to join all her friends for Tea Time Tuesday. I thought it fitting that I started with another version of my friend Judith at Lavender Cottage posting of our lunch at the Princely Pear.  


The Princely Pear is a lovely little restaurant in the quaint town of Cookstown not too far from where we live.  It has a restaurant, a gift store and a bed and breakfast. It is unfortunately up for sale. 


My lunch was grilled vegetables on a foccacia bun with potatoe and leek soup made right on the premises.  I was very impressed with the way it was served with the little doily underneath the plate.  So dainty.

My teacup had a yellow rose on it.

My Teapot matched the teacup.  How coordinated.

For dessert I had a delicious and rich pecan tart drizzled with caramel.   It was devine.  Went right to my already ample waist line.  It is so nice to meet friends for lunch, relax over a lovely cup of pink herbal tea and talk about blogging.  It's as good as it gets.   Thanks for inviting me.

See the other lovely tea time items at Sandi's Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspiration

Summer Happiness for Mosiac Monday

What brings you happiness?  Happiness to me is summer.  This is the time of the year I can actually go out side in flip flops and shorts with no sweater.  The rest of the year I always seem to be cold but not in summer.   Happiness in summer  is a lot of things. Here are some highlights so far.
1. Colourful muskoka chairs sitting on the dock at Lake Simcoe. 2.Painted Lady Butterfly 3. Happy yellow Coreopsis 4. White Cleome 5. Morning Glory 'Chocolate' 6. Pink waterlily in the pond 7. Pickerel weed flower in the pond 8. Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake 9. Baby doves 10. Daylily 'Tiny Temptress' 11. Hardy Prickly Pear cactus 12. Astrantia

Join us at Mary's for Mosiac Monday.  Join in we are friendly.  Happy Gardening.  Valerie

Ready for the Grill for Straight out of the Camera Sunday

The first zucchini for this year picked this morning.  It is going to be on the grill tonight for supper.  My husband, the barbequer will slice the zucchini in thin strips and then slather both sides of each slice in EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and some salt and pepper and then place on the grill until nicely browned on both sides.  Oh, it tastes so good.   Served with a healthy turkey burger and you have a good supper.  

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday is hosted by Jan at Murrieta365.  It is easy to join.  Take a photo.  Do not edit beyond a crop and enter your blog on the list.   Valerie

Two for One on Macro Saturday

This morning I went out into the garden with my camera to take pictures of the Eucomis Autumnalis or PineappleLily that I have growing in a container.  As I was composing my shot along came a White Admiral butterfly and posed himself on the plant. This gardener being a blonde but no dummy pushed the plunger.   I love this little bulb.  I received it last year as a garden writer to give it a try.  This year it is just as striking as I remember it last year.  Gardenimports has many good quality plants that can be ordered online.  If you want to take a peek the site is http://www.gardenimport.com/

Eucomis Autumnalis is a relative of the hyacinth and so is a tender summer bulb.  The stalk on my plant is approximately 8inches tall. The stalk is composed of little white flower-ets with a cute tuft of leaf-like bracts at the crown.  The Pineapple Lily  comes from Zimbabwe and Malawi where it grows on the side of mountains or in grasslands.  The bulb can be planted in the ground in ordinary garden soil but would do much better in fertile soil.  Add an application of well rotted manure.   It can be grown in rockeries or herbaceous border or in containers. I give it a shot of fertilizer when I do the other containers.

In the fall I dig up the bulbs and shake off the soil.  Place them in a cool basement for the winter and repot in good container soil in the spring when the growing tip appears.

Macro Saturday at flowers-macrophotography is a meme for macro or close up shots.  Join us there. 

Echinacea in the Sandbox

Echinacea Purpurea is a staple in the Sandbox.   The birds and the butterflies are attracted to it.  This plant can take the sandy conditions here as well as the heat and humidity that occurs here in southern Ontario in summer.  Unfortunately, the rabbit thinks the plant is tasty and will nip off the tops of them.  Purple coneflower is a pretty easy plant to grow in soil that is average and with good drainage.   If it is happy in your garden it can spread but here it is well behaved.

Just for fun I antiqued this one in photoscape a free software program.  I am having fun figuring out all the things this program can do. 

This Echinacea is called Tango Meadowbrite.   As you can see it has tangerine-orange petals and stands about 2ft tall in the garden.  I love how the petals droop down.

Echinacea 'White Swan' is another coneflower in the Sandbox.  It has a pure white flower that could be confused for a shasty daisy I suppose.   Again it has a reflexed habit. 

Echinacea 'Doppelganger'  is an unusual variety of Coneflower.  This one has not completed its transformation but I wanted to show it to you anyway.  It will get a two tiered effect when it is completely formed.  

I have a couple other types of Coneflower or Echinacea in the garden that have not bloomed yet.  I will share them with you when they do.   I hope that if you have not tried this plant that you will.  When I was at the Nursery Lost Horizons last weekend I saw on display many more different varieties and some exceptional colours of red.   I did not buy one at the time because I had blown the budget already for the day but I will certainly be looking for one to add to this garden. Happy gardening.  Valerie

It suddenly occured to me after I had posted this morning that today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  The 15to of each month MayDreamsGardens hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day where you can see what Gardeners from all over have on display in their garden.  Come on along. 

Garden Tour in Caledon for Mosiac Monday

Mt. Albert Garden and Horticulture Society had a bus trip on Saturday that my husband and I took.   We saw a lovely country garden in Caledon hillls that had twenty-four acres of managed forest that included a garden centre and organic perennial nursery.  Lorraine Hunter and her husband Rob were very gracious hosts that led us on a guided tour of the property, identifing all the plants that they grow.  Many are started by the owners from seed.  We had a delicious  catered lunch  and after lunch we were let loose to buy plants before our bus took us to destination 2.  I had to have the Daylily called Desparado and a Crocosmia called Lucifer.
From the top: The flower bed out at the road; crocosmia 'Lucifier' ; Daylily 'Blueberry Delight'; a lovely maiden sculpture; double Shasta Daisy; Asiatic Lily; hardy prickly pear cactus and sedums; Daylily 'Desparado" and the garden sign.   We stopped at another Garden Centre called Lost Horizons and of course I bought another couple of plants.  We had a great day out.     Happy Gardening Week.   Valerie


Mary is our host at DearLitteRedHouse for Mosiac Monday.  Won't you join us there.

Hibiscus Bud for Straight Out of The Camera Sunday

My Hardy Hibiscus is just producing buds at this moment in time.  I am sometimes fascinated with the bud as well as the flower.  I like the lime green colour of the bud and foliage.  This plant is called Luna Blush and it has a very large saucer size bloom that is mostly white with a pink centre.   I will probably post it when it blooms.   For now join Murrieta365 for more Straight Out of the Camera shots.  Join us with your photo that is unedited with the exception of a crop.   Happy Sunday.  Valerie

Soft and Prickly for Macro Saturday

National emblem of Scotland the Onopordon Acanthium or otherwise called Scotch Thistle, Cotton Thistle or Scott's Thistle grows up to 7ft tall in my garden.  My husband is very fond of this plant so I let him keep one and I compost the siblings.  One is enough.   From a first year rosette of silvery-white foliage this plant becomes spiny in its second year.  It flowers the second year and produces seed to start anew all over.   The blooms on it are quite beautiful purple.
Legend has it that Norsemen trying to sneak up on the Scots soldiers took their shoes off so they could not be heard moving up the shore.   One of the Norse stood on a thistle and let out a shout of pain spoiling the surprise attack.  The Scots handily sent them on their way back to where they came from.

The Calla Lily grown here  in a container is a bulb or rhizome. This one is a soft yellow shade.  I took the shot just after it had stopped raining here.  We had a lovely rain this morning that we really needed after 4 or 5 intensely hot days.  The Calla is not really a lily at all but a relative of the Calla family.  It is native to South Africe.  Callas are most popular as flower in a Wedding bouguet.  In the fall after the first frost I dig them up and shake off all the dirt, let them dry out and store away in some wood shavings for the winter.   In the spring I start them up in the container and move them outside when all risk of frost is gone.

To see more macros photos visit flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com or click HERE.   Have a great weekend.  Valerie

It Is A Hot Day In The Sandbox

It has been blistering hot here in the Sandbox this week.  The temperature is in the 30s C but with the humidity it is in the 40sC.  I make my rounds in the yard with a cup of coffee in the morning about 6am.  I fill up the birdfeeders and replentish the water in the various troughs and birdbaths to look after my little friends the red squirrel, black and grey squirrel, chipmunks and various birds.   I have seen at least three garder snakes in the flowerbeds.  I give them their distance.  The first photo is a picture of the Lavendula or Lavender 'Munstead', a Sedum ' Autumn Joy' and Lychnis 'Maltese Cross' .   All pretty easy to maintain in the garden.  The Lavender gets a pruning in the spring to keep it in bounds.

Acanthus 'Mollis' is a first time bloomer.   A fellow Master Gardener and I shared a very small cutting of this plant a couple of years ago.  Last year I was thrilled when I saw that it survived in my garden.  It did not flower last year but it was alive.  When it emerges in the garden  it is rather late at about the time that the Columbine is in bloom.  It looks like the leaves of a dandelion although larger and shiny.   I was astounded when I saw one bloom stalk and then two and then three.   I just love the colouring on it.   I have been told it will create a huge clump if it is happy where you plant it.

I thought that the flower bed on the south foundation wall was looking kind of good this morning so I took a picture.  There is Daylily 'Chrimson Pirate', a dwarf daylily that reblooms, 'Stella D' Oro' Daylily, Trumpet Vine, Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Zegreb', Lychnis- Pink Campion, Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and Yucca or Adams Needle in this bed.  All take the hot sun with very little stress.  They give lots of colour here.

This is the Yucca or Adams Needle in bloom.  I think this is one of the very first plants we put in the ground on this property.  It takes the heat and the dry with no problem.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle' is an amazingly easy hydrangea to grow and it gives you these big full blooms.  They are great in floral arrangements.  The only downside I can see is its tendency to sucker.   If you grow it be ready to divide it often for plant sales.

A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak is sharing the birdfeeder with a sparrow.  It is a joy to watch the wildlife in the garden. 

In the vegetable garden the tomatoes are starting to put on fruit.  This one is 'Brandywine'.   Last year we had no tomatoes because of the rain.  I am looking forward to a tomatoe sandwich this year with one of these. 

Happy Gardening Everyone.   Valerie

Along Lake Drive for Water Wednesday

It was a warm day on Sunday.  My husband and I decided to just take a little drive to Lake Simcoe.  It is not far from here.  It was packed with boaters and bathers and picnicers.  Every beach was filled.  Our favourite part is the drive along Lake Drive.  There is little cottages and huge homes along the way.   It is very pricey to purchase a piece of real estate now on this lake.  So, we just gawk.  We stopped at several docks and took some pictures.   This one shows that all means of craft were out on the water that day.  Many of them take the boat out and anchor it for the day while they dive off the boat and generally enjoy themselves.   Do I sound envious.  Well maybe a little.    Have a great day.

Join Eyes Wind Heart for Watery Wednesday

Becky for Mosiac Monday

Leucanthemum x superbum or Shasta Daisy 'Becky' is blooming in the garden.  The plant has large white multi petalled flowers with a yellow centre.

Becky makes a nice big clump.  The flowers last for many weeks.  Dead head for more blooms  Seen here Becky is in combination with a yellow yarrow and purple salvia.  All are drought tolerant and happy in less than ideal soil conditions.

This butterfly would let me get my lens right up close but he would not open his wings for me.

Many more mosiacs can be found at Mary's DearLittleRedHouse.  Join us won't you.   Happy Gardening week.  It is going to be a scorcher here so water early in the day.   Valerie

Falling Water for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

Do you ever have trouble deciding what photo you want to post on any given day? Tonight I had that problem.  I wandered around in the yard for a bit looking at the flowers and the birds and the frogs in the pond.  Nothing really turned my crank.    I spotted the waterbarrel that used to be our only water feature.  My husband had fish in it and some aquatic plants.  It served its purpose until we finally decided to build a pond.   Now the poor barrel is falling apart.  If it wasn't for the liner on the inside it would not hold water at all.   We have an old fashioned hand pump that we circulate water through from a circulating pump in the bottom of the barrel.   To get to the point I decided to take a photo of the water dripping into the barrel.   It seemed interesting to me.   I hope you think so too.

For more Straight Out of the Camera photos visit Jan at Murrieta365.com  and see what others are thinking about through the lens.   Happy Sunday.  Valerie

It's All About the Colour for Macro Saturday

Digitalis or Foxglove 'foxy' has mauve-pink flowers on it with enchanting little spots.  

My one and only delphinium is a pretty irredescent blue.   This gardener did not stake it properly and in the recent windy days here it fell over.   The stalk would win no awards now. It was very pretty while it lasted.  

For more macros to ooh and aah over visit flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com  If you take macros or even close ups join us there.