Bloom Day After Buffalo

Crimson Pirate Daylily

After days of talking to the 70 other bloggers who gathered in Buffalo for a preview of the Buffalo Garden Walk I have a whole new appreciation for Bloom Day, created and hosted by Carol (who I got to meet!) of May Dreams Gardens.  For other mortals talk about the weather is banal chit chat, but for us bloggers, and all gardeners, it is shop talk. It is a topic filled with endless fascination – and we see the effects on Bloom.

Sweet peas

We saw daylilies in full bloom everywhere in Buffalo, but mine were just starting, in spite of the odd weather this spring which seemed to push the season two weeks early. My daylily bank is looking very colorful right now.  On the other hand, Renee’s sweet peas are just starting too.  They are sturdy though – growing in the midst of weeds and cauliflower.

Achillea 'Terra Cotta'

I’ve fallen in love with Achillea.  Terra Cotta is a new variety I planted this spring in the new Front Garden, right next to the yellow loosestrife.

I have other pink achilleas.

Achillea 'The Pearl'

Achillea ‘The Pearl’ is useful in flower arrangements.

Bee Balm

I planted this clump of scarlet bee balm in the new cutting garden near the vegetable garden where it is very happy.

Hydrangea 'Mothlight'

I love the flowers of ‘Mothlight.’

Hydrangea - oakleaf

Last summer I bought a tiny oakleaf hydrangea at Nasami.  It is still only about 16 inches high – but blooming!  This hydrangea, as well as ‘Limelight’, and ‘Pinky Winky are planted between the peony hedge and the road.  When they get bigger, as hydrangeas do, they will be another solution to lawn eradication.  They will be mulched and the lawn will be gone.

Phlox 'Blue Paradise'

I bought ‘Blue Paradise’ at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale. It is a stunner on the Bridge. It is a part of my new blue and white section which includes delphiniums that bloom earlier. You can see the daisies and white cosmos here as well. I had not anticipated how nice it would look against the cotinus.

Hawkeye Belle

Some of the roses are still blooming. In addition to Hawkeye Belle, I have Thomas Affleck, Double Red Knockout, The Fairy, White Meideland, Ghislaine de Feligonde, Betty Prior, Champlain, Apart, Martin Frobisher, Leda , Mrs. Doreen Pike, and the farmgirls.

Visit May Dreams Gardens to see what is blooming in Heath, Buffalo and everywhere!

A Celebratory Bloom Day

Poeticus

These late daffodils have just started to bloom, but all the others are pretty well done.  And I am celebrating having more than bulbs to declare on this Bloom Day. I do still have a few grape hyacinths blooming, as well.

Barren Strawberry

Barren strawberry, Waldsteinia, is one of my successes. I bought this native groundcover at Nasami Farm spring 2009 and it is spreading nicely. They did so well I bought more in the fall. This is part of my effort to do away with lawn.  More plants will go in this spring.

Boule de neige rhododendron

Because I wasn’t paying attention I was amazed to see that Boule de neige has its first blossom, with buds showing color, as are the Rangoon buds, in a rich red. The rhodies are coming into bloom a little more than a week earlier than last year.

Lilac

It is lilac season. This is an ancient tall, very tall, white lilac that was here when we bought our house. Although so many things are a week or more early, the lilacs are opening very very slowly.

Beauty of Moscow

As you can see Beauty of Moscow is just barely opening. Ludwig Spathe is even more reluctant to open to the slightly warmer spring days.

Once again there are quince-like coral blossoms on the cotoneaster, name lost, and the apple trees are losing their blossoms. The Sargent crab is no longer a pink cloud. Many less glamorous plants are in bloom: chives, horseradish, blueberries, a lone primrose, violets, johnny jump ups, dandelions and ajuga in the grass. Buds are fattening. This will be a fantastic wisteria year, but not yet.

Thank you Carol at May Dreams Gardens for letting us share the progress of the seasons across the  country.

Bloom Day April 2010

Scillas

A walk through the blooming garden does not take very long this month.  I do love the scillas reflecting the blue of this morning’s sky. They have increased and increased and even seeded themselves in unlikely places. Last fall’s moderate temperatures lasted so long, that we gave up mowing the lawn before the lawn had stopped growing.

Glory-of-the-snow

Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa) shares this area at the end of the  Rose Walk with the scillas. I planted them at the same time, but the glories didn’t seem to do much for a couple of years, and then, all of a sudden, a beautiful early patch of flowers.

The snowdrops have all gone by, but the experiment of moving them “in the green” and in bloom has gone well. Two clumps are now ripening in the Herb Bed in front of the house, where they will be easier to admire early next spring.

The antique Van Sion daffodills began blooming more than a week ago, but now other daffodils are coming into their season. I have moved nearly all of them out of the main lawn to the roadside strip where I am trying to eradicate lawn with groundcovers.  Although I loved the idea of a lawn full of naturalized daffodils, the reality was that I had varieties for a long season and could not mow the lawn until just before The Rose Viewing at the end of June.  That meant the lawn looked even more raggedy than usual and it was not a very inviting place to walk when called by the Peony Hedge that is still in good bloom at The Rose Viewing.

Recalcitrant forsythia

I guess you can say my forsythia is blooming, better than usual actually. These bushes were here when we moved in 30 years ago and they rarely produce this much bloom. Usually the buds are blasted by frost at a critical moment. I would remove them except they are such an entrenched tangle it would take enormous effort – and I have better things on my list that would take enormous effort.  One reader I suggested that I cut the whole area down and let it renew itself. That I will try. There is nothing to lose, and possibly a shower of gold to gain.

To see what else is blooming here and there, and give thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens who hosts this virtual garden party click here.

Earth Day is nearly upon us and celebrations are beginning everywhere. Tomorrow on April 16 there is a benefit family concert at All Soul’s Church in Greenfield featuring Jim Scott and Sarah Pirtle, both know for their music and environmental work. A light supper at 5:30 and the music at 7 pm. Sliding scale admission $5-10 for children and $7-25 for adults.

Sky and Wind

Today at 7 a.m.

Why is it that dawn skies are always so beautiful.

Who sees the wind?

I was nearly blown off the Welcoming Platform while taking these photos.

For more skies click on Skywatch Friday.

Bloom Day – January 2010

The first Bloom Day of the year. The first Bloom Day of a new decade. I wish I could post something really splashy, but I don’t really have much in the way of houseplants – but here we go.  I made a trip to Logee’s Greenhouse several years ago and the only thing still thriving after all this time is two scented geraniums. Their blooms are not notable. I bought them for their beautiful scented foliage which continues to please. Right now both plants are really leggy and it is time to cut them back before summer. I am always timid when I have to cut back, but I will do it.

The Christmas cactus is going by, but it has put on a good show.

And of course, there is the ever faithful abutilon, flowering maple or parlor maple. Take your pick.

What I really celebrate at this time of the year is the continuation of life, even when it is invisible.  Last winter I left my big jade tree out in The Great Room where it has lived for several winters. (It goes outdoors on the piazza with all the other ‘houseplants’ during fine weather.) Unfortunately, we had not paid realized, that with some new insulating we did between the Great Room and the main part of the house, the Great Room did entertain freezing temperatures during the night. When we finally paid attention I declared that the jade tree was deadern’ a biscuit. Henry said, not so!

And he was right.  We cut it back to bare stumps, and look what happened. New growth everywhere. Life will not be denied!  And so we celebrate on this gray, cold Bloom Day. To see who has more color visit our host, Carol over at May Dreams Gardens. It is also Blooming Friday, so for a double hit of blooms visit Katarina at Roses and Stuff.

Bloom Day – Everywhere

The Christmas cactus is blooming right on time! However, there isn’t much else in flower right now. The Thanksgiving cactus bloom has gone by and the abutilon has a couple of puny blossoms, but not photo worthy because there are so many different kinds of blooms to show this Bloom Day.

We visited daughter Betsy and her family this weekend. Her orchids are blooming. She says she regularly gets them to rebloom. She is not known for having a green thumb, but she and the orchids get along fine.

After admiring the orchid it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. This is a walk down memory lane because Betsy and the boys have stories to tell about all the ornaments they have made over the years. It is a joy to see the family blooming with health and happiness.

The weekend was full of celebrations. A surprise birthday party for Suzy (in red) on Saturday night. Fortunately someone had made sure that the martinis and olives were on hand. The evening bloomed with friendship and joy.

And in this season we celebrate the birth of Christ. The Charlemont Federated Church put on a Living Nativity. The Holy Family looks pretty happy. They must have made it to Egypt already.

But the Flight to Egypt was not easy. It began in a stable.  It might not have been quite so cold in Bethlehem as in a Charlemont snowfall, but we are reminded that in these modern days there are still many families struggling, and many children who are cold and hungry.

Happily, we could all celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, and our community with hot drinks and snacks in the warm church. Our community blooms with fellowship.

Can you believe we attended another surprise birthday party? Val (in gold), at 80, continues to serve the town as asssessor and in many other volunteer capacities. Camraderie was blooming at the Community Hall – just as planned.

We also celebrated the new snowfall by trudging out to our snowbreak to cut down a balsam for our Christmas tree. It will be blooming with ornaments. Very soon.

To enjoy more blooms across the county join our host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Only Two for Bloom Day

Early this morning, after yesterday’s rain, the sun began to break through the autumn mist. The grass is still lush, but all bloom has fled from the garden, except

for a single pot of verbena blooming in front of the house on this Bloom Day.  And indoors 

only the ever faithful abutilon is blooming.  Still, the Thanksgiving cactus is heavily budded and it may bloom right on schedule.

For many more Bloom Day treats visit Carol over at May Dreams Gardens and see how floriferous the blogging world is, even in November.

Bloom Day September 2009

I almost forgot it  was Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day!  I made a mad dash out into the garden with my camera, stopping briefly on the piazza where the Wave petunias, geraniums, Million Bells and verbena are still going strong.

I don’t have as many asters as Mr. McGregor’s Daughter, but I do love them. These are nameless.

Once heard who can forget Alma Potschke’s name?  She might be the brightest pink in the garden, but I always seem to have a lot of pink.

This nameless pink achillea is sending up fresh floriferous shoots from the middle of the plant. I wonder if this is a benefit of all the rain we’ve had.

Pink cosmos are still going strong. A few pink chelone, turtlehead, are still in bloom, but are not photo worthy.

I got this nameless pink phlox at a plant sale in May. It got off to a slow start, but should be very nice next year.

I love red zinnias. These are not artfully placed, but the ground was open here when they needed to be planted.

Dahlias are a wonderful autumn plant.  I decided to use the technique of picking one of each variety and showing them in individual containers.

I will try and name them. Back row, left to right: Purple Passion, Foxy Lady and Peggy Jean.  In the front row is Pattycake, then a dahlia I don’t even remember ordering, and finally Funny Face. I am coming to love dahlias more and more for the color they bring to the autumn garden. I even managed to winter over Funny Face, Foxy Lady and Pattycake, in the basement in peat moss. 

I was surprised at the number of rose bushes that are still putting out a blossom or two. In the first row, from left to right – Pink Grootendorst (planted this spring), The Fairy, Thomas Affleck (planted this spring) and Carefree Beauty. Behind them, Lto R – Double Red Knockout who has been a stellar performer, Applejack, and a final container with two rugosas, Blanc Double De Coubert and Apart.

In addition, my ‘old’ hydrangea is still blooming and making good bouquets, the newly planted Limelight hydrangea, but I can’t take credit for those blooms.  An annual salvia still blooms by the hen house, and wild yarrow, wild asters, Queen Anne’s Lace and goldenrod bloom along the edges of our road. Last Sunday I made a very autumnal arrangement for church that was amazingly full of color.

Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens and see what else is blooming around the country.  Thank you Carol for hosting this wonderful monthly garden party.

Bloom Day – Still Rosy in July

The roses were just beginning to bloom on June’s Bloom Day, mostly the rugosas, but this Fairy, one of two, had not yet begun. Unlike most of the roses in my garden The Fairy will bloom into the fall.

I fully expected the roses which had barely begun to bloom on June 15, to be done by today, but they are have a most floriferous and long season.  The Queen of Denmark is still petite, but blooming as she never has. At least the roses like all the rain.

I planted New Dawn last spring and got a couple of blooms, but this year she seems to have taken hold. I expect her to bloom for a long-ish season.

Buckland rose

This year it struck me that the nameless (in proper terms) Buckland rose which was given to me by a Buckland friend is the same rose I bought years ago and then lost the name and record of the name.

No mystery - Buckland rose?

Don’t you think this is the same rose?  The shrub habit and size is the same.  They are even out of focus to the same degree.

So many other roses are still in bloom, Celestial, Rachel, Ispahan, Dash’s Dart, Scabrosa, Mme Legras de St. Germaine, De la Grifferai, Mount Blanc, Blanc Double de Coubert, Apart, Belle Poitvine, Leda, Mary Rose, Mrs. Doreen Pike, 4 red Double Knock Outs, Ghislaine de Feligonde, Betty Prior and Mme Plantier. Oops, I just noticed the Pink Grootendorst I planted this spring also has a single blossom.

The farmgirls are more rambunctious than ever.  Does this farmgirl bear a resemblance to the Buckland rose? She is much smaller.

Even Thomas Affleck, planted this spring at the end of the herb bed is putting out blooms. This is a good rose year!  You can see almost all the roses on the Virtual Rose Walk page.

There are other plants in bloom right now.

I split this achillea plant last fall, and both are doing well.

This hydrangea and spirea are doing so well, along with a weeping birch, that I think something must be done. But what?

The bee balms are in bloom!  I didn’t dare call this Colrain Red at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale, but I think it is.

Last summer I saw great clumps of white cosmos at the Berkshire Botanical Garden. I was inspired, but this year the rains have knocked down the white cosmos, and these pink cosmos are very short.  This new bed needs some serious work. The soil is very poor and it shows in the poor growth of the new plantings.

Other plants in bloom: an undistinguished perennial salvia; an annual salvia, a veronica, a short pink astilbe and the inevitable johnny jumpups.  The pots full of annuals are doing well.  And now daylily season begins.

To see what is blooming all across the nation, check out what’s going on May Dreams Gardens with Carol, who is the gracious hostess of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Thank you, Carol!

Monday Bloom Day

Happily for me my Monday Report coincides with Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Be sure and visit there.  This is an exciting time because the roses are just starting to bloom in my garden. They loved all the rain last week.

Belle Poitvine

Apart rugosa

Leda

The Fairy

Harrison