Where have I been?

The "tulips" on the tulip tree

I have been busy with some unexpected family issues and haven't had time to even upload many pictures, although I have been taking some. The garden is growing and here I have a few pictures to share of some containers on my barn porch, a close up of a geranium and the two clematis in full bloom.

I have also, as many gardeners have been, busy IN the garden and not blogging about it. Seeds to sow, flowers to plant, annuals to pot, veggies to grow, and the never endind weeding to do.

Oh, and I almost forgot, mystery solved! Below is what bloomed when I was wondering what it was back in my April post . And Creative Country Mom was correct in her comments to me, it is a columbine.

Lavender

Lavender and Alice Hoffman
(Practical Magic )

There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can.

From High Country Gardens is Buena Vista English Lavender and Shimmer Evening Primrose. I took this picture to show how deep the pots are from High Country. Plants in deep pots are great to purchase, the roots are more established, which of course makes the plant have a greater chance to establish faster and thrive in your garden. In the background a gift from a friend of mine a football gnome featuring the Indianapolis Colts.

Viola 'Cornuta Purple Showers' that I planted April 13th and already blooming.


A close up of my Honeysuckle in full bloom.



Ghost Fern came out fast this year.


A three year old Clematis (type unknown) getting ready to bloom. Here it is last year.

A Year of Firsts - Clematis

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest. ~Douglas William Jerrold, about Australia, A Land of Plenty

This clematis , I lost the name but it looks like "Nelly Moser", was planted in the spring of 2006, that same year and 2007 it had around 2 or 3 blooms for the entire season. Now look at it! This is it's first year of such prolific blooms.

Last fall and spring 2007 I planted several other clematis none of which I have any blooms yet:

2 - Clematis Ernest Markham

2 - Clematis flammula

1 - Clematis Jackmanii

1 - Unknown of white variety

I think the bishop's weed helped as clematis like their roots shaded. Last year I dug up rocks out of this bed. The rocks were on top of landscaping fabric so I removed it as well, and surprise! the bishop's weed popped up.